How To Choose A Removal Company For An International Move
Whether you're moving to Europe or to another continent across the globe, when you're moving abroad there's so much you need to plan, coordinate, and arrange. While moving your belongings to your new home in another country is a critical part of your move, it most likely isn't your only focus during this stressful time. Because of this, picking the right company for your international move is crucial to the success of your move abroad.
Carefully selecting the company for your international relocation is a key factor to ensuring your belongings arrive in your new country safely, with only normal customs duties and charges. An expert international removal company will help your move abroad be as stress-free as possible.
Even if you don't choose Britannia Goodwins International Removals & Storage for your move abroad (but we really hope you do!), it is important to know what to look for in the removal company you choose for your international move.
What's their international removal experience?
International removals are very different from local and national moves, and require specialist knowledge of customs and duty, in addition to specialist export wrapping for your goods. Each requires experience and knowledge to ensure not only are your goods packed well and according to the requirements of your new country, but also so that they arrive safely through customs at your destination and at the door to your new home. Ask any removal company you speak with about your move abroad about their previous international moves and find out how knowledgeable they are about your destination and the procedures to move there. Also ask if their staff have had any specialist training on export wrapping, as this is a specialist skill that needs to be learned and is different than simply packing your items to avoid breakage in transport.
Are they accredited?
Is your international mover a member of FIDI? Are they a member of the British Association of Removers (BAR)? Both FIDI and the BAR insist on minimum standards for removal companies, and will help should something go wrong. It is also worth checking if your removal company is ISO certified, keeping to international standards of quality for both their business and customers.
Who works for them?
Are their staff experienced in export packing and international removals? Are they trained on an ongoing basis? Reputable international removal companies provide ongoing training for their staff to keep their skills at top level and to ensure they're knowledgable on the latest techniques.
Make sure they perform a CRB check (at minimum) on their employees. With an international move, you'll need to fill in customs paperwork and you'll normally need to provide a copy of your passport to the removal company - make sure your private information is in safe hands.
What kind of packing material do they use?
It may seem like a basic question, or even something you've never considered before. However, a quality international mover will only use high specification packing material for your move abroad. The items you're moving abroad are of great value to you - emotionally and financially - and your international removal company should also want your household goods to arrive at your new home in good condition.
What's the company's health?
We don't mean if the people working there are ill with the flu, rather, you should check if the company have a long history of trading and a stable financial profile? Do they have long-term employees on staff? The knowledge and experience gained over the years is invaluable when it comes to your overseas move - especially when creating relationships with partners overseas.
Do they offer the services you need - both in the UK and at your destination abroad?
Choose a removal company that has solid, long-standing connections with partners overseas - feel free to ask your chosen company about these. A good company will be happy to tell you about their plans for your removal, especially once your goods have left the UK.
Removal quote appointment booking service
Britannia Goodwins Removals & Storage can help your overseas move go smoothly. Contact us for a free, no obligation quote, or by calling 01785 251161 and speaking with one of our Stafford and Cheshire removals specialists.
How are our appointments carried out
In the current times you might prefer that we don't visit your house in person to carry out a survey. This is fully understandable and we can just as easily undertake the survey by video call, using whatever method you're comfortable with, usually FaceTime or WhatsApp.
See what our customers think of us...
Cannot praise them enough for their professionalism and work ethic.
Why did you choose to get a quote from us and where did you get our contact details?
Reputation, online
How would you rate the way we dealt with your initial enquiry?
10/10
How would you rate the survey that we carried out?
10/10
Why did you choose to move/store with us?
A great service
How would you rate your move team?
10/10
Would you like to tell us anything about your move team?
Chris, Gaz, John, Adam, Jack, Ant and Kim all worked extremely hard in very difficult weather conditions over a 5 day period. I cannot praise them enough for their professionalism and work ethic.
How would you rate our communication?
10/10
How can we improve our service?
There is nothing that I would suggest which could be improved.
How likely are you to recommend us to your friends / family?
10/10
Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your move?
Extremely satisfied because the team helped us through every step of the way.
Never seen something so well protected before
Why did you choose to get a quote from us and where did you get our contact details?
You came recommended at the local level by my parents and have a strong international presence
How would you rate the way we dealt with your initial enquiry?
9/10
How would you rate the survey that we carried out?
9/10
Why did you choose to move/store with us?
Your team immediately put me at ease and I felt my goods would be really looked after. The quote was actually a little expensive that your competitor, but peace of mind was most important for me.
How would you rate your move team?
10/10
Would you like to tell us anything about your move team?
Honestly excellent and cannot praise them enough. Moving is always stressful and moving to California even more so. The items they sent are irreplaceable to me and they were extremely well contained. I have never seen something so well protected before -- Thanks Chris and Alan. Everything arrived exactly as it left. This was all managed by Matthew Myers who was excellent from start to finish
How would you rate our communication?
10/10
How can we improve our service?
Honestly hard to find any faults.
How likely are you to recommend us to your friends / family?
10/10
Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your move?
Thank you for making it so smooth and flawless
Email to Matt
I’m just dropping you a line (and some photos) to say I have received my goods from Stafford.
I’ll be honest, I have never seen something so well wrapped and protected before! Please can you pass on my thanks to the guys that collected my things, wrapped and shipped? I am very grateful for their care and diligence.
I would also like to thank you for all your efforts these past 2 or so months. It’s been a pleasure to work with you and I will definitely recommend yourself and Goodwins to others in my position. If you have a form or review you’d like me to fill out, please let me know.
All the best!
Sachin ReddyVery obliging, polite, friendly and uncomplaining
Why did you choose to get a quote from us and where did you get our contact details?
Card through post
How would you rate the way we dealt with your initial enquiry?
10/10
How would you rate the survey that we carried out?
9/10
Why did you choose to move/store with us?
Availability at short notice and competitive price
How would you rate your move team?
10/10
Would you like to tell us anything about your move team?
Very obliging, polite, friendly and uncomplaining
How would you rate our communication?
9/10
How likely are you to recommend us to your friends / family?
10/10
Lovely friendly lads
Why did you choose to get a quote from us and where did you get our contact details?
Friend of an employee
How would you rate the way we dealt with your initial enquiry?
10/10
How would you rate the survey that we carried out?
10/10
Why did you choose to move/store with us?
Trusted you would do a good job
How would you rate your move team?
10/10
Would you like to tell us anything about your move team?
Lovely friendly lads
How would you rate our communication?
10/10
How can we improve our service?
Everything was great
How likely are you to recommend us to your friends / family?
10/10
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