In general, a basic quote for a house move in the UK will only cover collecting goods from one address and delivering to another. However, as we are all aware, things are rarely as simple and straight-forward as we would like.
AIM members are all professional movers that are able to adapt to a customers specific requirements and offer additional services to make a move go smoothly.
Here are three of the extra services that are not usually covered in a basic quote, but which a mover may offer when needed.
Dismantling and Reassembling
One of most common extra services is dismantling beds and flat-pack furniture. These items are usually originally assembled in the rooms in which they are used, so there is no guarantee that they can be moved out of the room in their built state. To avoid the risk of damage to the furniture, walls and doorways, the mover may recommend that they be dismantled for loading and reassembled at the delivery address.
While this is fine for most beds, there are other things to consider for items such as wardrobes. Flat-pack furniture is designed to be built once and left in place. If a wardrobe has been dismantled multiple times, the wear and tear on the fittings and joints may mean it is less stable when reassembled.
Dismantling services are often charged per item, or on an hourly rate, depending on the work involved.
Lofts
For insurance reasons movers will not go into a loft unless it is boarded-out suitably for a person to move around safely and without damaging ceilings.
Lofts that are suitably boarded are not usually covered in a basic quote but can be added as an extra. The cost is often calculated based on ease of access and the amount to be moved, but can sometimes be on an hourly rate.
Waiting Time Waiver
A removals quote is based on the work being unhindered. But sometimes unforeseen problems that are beyond the control of the customer or the removals company, can arise. The most common of these is the delay in unloading due to waiting for keys or transfer of funds. In such cases, there may be extra costs incurred for “waiting time”.
The extra charges are usually calculated by the hour, according to the size of the removals crew, so a three or four hour wait can be expensive.
Many movers now offer a waiting time waiver, which is a fee paid at the time of booking that waives any extra charges for waiting time. This is a set fee, so it makes no difference if the move is delayed for two hours or four. However, if the delay is too long, the mover may have to postpone unloading until the following day or risk being in breach of working time regulations.
