Author: Removals CMS Removals CMS

What about insurance?

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This is an incredibly common question and its certainly an important one. This article will quickly go over a few small things that can make a big difference to your hip pocket if something does go wrong. Ill briefly explain what public liability insurance and transit insurance covers and why you should be wary of any company that says they’re “fully insured”. Obviously I can’t go into absolutely everything about insurance but I should be able to arm you with a bit of knowledge for your next move!

1.The best way to get covered for your move is through your home and contents insurance. Not every policy includes moving insurance but the majority do, the catch is they have to be activated. If this is an option for your move, take it. It means that you have your own insurance policy rather than one held by the company.

2.The most commonly held insurance policies are public liability and transit insurance. Removalists are required to hold these insurance policies but they are in no way comprehensive or “fully covered”. The Public liability insurance should cover major damage to your home, e.g. the truck backed into your house and took out some guttering. Transit insurance will cover your belongings while they’re in transit but if at the other end if one of the movers tripped and dropped your tv, if it was off the truck it would no longer be considered in transit and not covered.

3.Quality removalists will have something similar to our pledge of care. They aren’t insurance policies but they do give a good indication of the level of service provided. It should be a clear written guarantee that you can have a copy of. We know that we can offer to repair or replace any damage caused by our negligence because we know that we have quality staff. If we weren’t able to live up to that pledge we would’ve gone bust a long time ago!

These are just some quick major points to consider when considering removals insurance, if you’d like to read further check out this article and as always if you need any guidance about your upcoming move feel free to call!

How to spot fake reviews

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We’ve worked hard on our online reputation, gathering reviews on multiple platforms by providing consistent top quality service. The other way we could’ve built our online reputation is to pay for a bunch of fake reviews. Unfortunately, this kind of behaviour is rampant on the internet so its vital that you understand how to spot a fake review.

  • Sort by most recent first. This will give you an idea of the reviews coming in day by day, if they have a 50/50 mix of 5 star reviews full of glowing praise next to 1 star reviews , the companies probably paying for those 5 star reviews.
  • The highest rated reviews are short and similar. Lots of short reviews that are similarly worded aren’t necessarily fake but it may mean that they’re paying for those reviews or offering inducements
  • High rated reviews that seem to directly address concerns you might have about the product or service. Companies will create reviews specifically designed to be picked up by googles algorithm so that they will rank higher. They will also use their own marketing materials when creating fake reviews. So if the review looks like the companies “about Screen Shot 2017-10-26 at 1.27.45 PMus” or “what you can expect” page, theres a good chance its a fake review. In the example on the right the review was wedged between two 1 star reviews with very specific complaints with the exact opposite experience. This looks more like a review designed to target people in the suburbs mentioned.
  • Companies that don’t reply to or address negative reviews. Obviously this is within reason, if the company is getting hundreds of reviews a day you can’t keep up, but a few a week is simple enough to keep track of. It’s a big red flag because it tells you that the company doesn’t care that much about the customer satisfaction, their own reputation or that they know they can just dump a bunch of fake 5 star reviews and artificially inflate their rating.
  • The reviews are all over the place. If right below a glowing review theres a stinging rebuke it tells you that either the company doesn’t provide consistent service or they’re using paid reviews. Obviously every now and again you can get a difficult or unreasonable customer but you don’t get 20 or 30 of those a year. For example the low rated reviews are much longer and provide much more detail than the highly rated reviews, the low rated reviews are probably genuine and the high rated are probably fakes.
  • Check other reviews that have been left by the person leaving the review. In the example below I have removed the names of the business’s being reviewed as we can’t know with certainty that its fake but it is suspicious that they have two reviews for Melbourne based services and one for a Cafe in Brisbane where they “will be back”. All of the reviews are 5 star, one sentence reviews that don’t provide much detail about the customers experience. If they are genuine reviews, they offer no real insight as to why it was such a good experience.Screen Shot 2017-10-26 at 1.54.48 PM

There are plenty of ways to create fake reviews but fortunately for us you cant stop the genuine reviews of the customers you actually do work for or with. Those reviews will always be longer and more detailed without feeling like it was written by a marketer. The people who sell reviews know this and will try to write more convincing reviews but they’ll always look silly next to a detailed 1 star review about another customers horrible experience. so keep your eyes peeled and spend a few minutes scrolling through not just the highest or lowest rated but by the date they’ve been left, that’ll give you the best overview of their customers experience.

What’s the difference between budget removalist and Premium Removalists?

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What makes us a premium mover and a better question what’s the difference, if any, between a budget removalist and a premium removalist? The main answer is that they have less money to reinvest into the business. This article is the first part of a four part series exploring how we reinvest into HomeMove to make it the best possible Removals and storage company it can be.

IMG_0347
Risto showing you how it’s done

The blankets or pads that a removalist uses to protect furniture in transit is one of the most overlooked yet important pieces of equipment that your mover has. Removals blankets should be,

  1. Quilted 
  2. Double stitched 
  3. At least 2m by 1.5m in size 

The quilting in the blanket is what will actually protect your furniture. If you hire a mover who isn’t using quilted pads there’s a much higher chance of damage at the other end. The quilting is what gives the blankets their thickness and stops the furniture from grinding against one another while in transit. Thin blankets mean less padding and less padding means less protection.

Double stitching is important because removals blankets get used constantly. Everyday they’re being pulled, stretched and thrown around, if they have weak stitching they end up full of holes and pretty much useless. A blanket thats meant to protect furniture isn’t very useful if it looks like a hipsters sweater.

il_340x270.1162872169_nc0xBecause budget removalists work on lower margins and don’t have the money to invest back into the business, generally the first thing they do is buy half size blankets. Half size blankets look similar but you end up having to wrap larger items in two or three pads. This not only takes longer but doesn’t provide as much protection. If you use one blanket you can make sure its secure, whereas using two or three means that one is more likely to slip or fall off and leave your furniture unprotected.

We charge what we charge so that we can get jobs done the right way. If our rates were lower we would have to cut back on training and equipment which just isn’t who we are. So if you’re tossing up between a budget removalist and a premium Removalists ask yourself, where are they cutting back?

How to pack a Removalists truck

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There’s lots of different ways to pack a truck but this article will give you a general overview of the best way to protect your furniture. If you’re not sure wether to do it yourself or hire movers this guide should give you an idea of the kind of day you’re in for. So get ready, because in a few short paragraphs you’ll know how to pack a removalists truck!

IMG_0030 copyStart with Boxes and Square furniture

Start by taking all boxes, bedside tables and other square furniture on the back wall. What you are trying to do is build a wall and move forward. As you can see in the photo on the left making walls from boxes is easy, the hard part is smaller and more oddly shaped items. they will need to be packed into small gaps in the wall you’re making. Things like pillows and bags of clothes are great gap fillers. The tighter the pack the better as this means things will shift less on the drive. Once you’ve built as many walls as you can its time to block it all of with the beds. Keep in mind that if the wall shifts during transport because it was not packed tight theres a good chance you’ll damage the goods you’re trying to transport.

Grab the mattress

You can use mattress and bases to hold back the walls of boxes you just made. In-between mattresses you can store glass and artwork. Storing glass and artwork this way means that you are less likely to accidentally break it while packing the rest of the truck, just be sure not to forget its there. Mattresses should be placed on a blanket and not on the ground as while you are driving there will be some movement and you don’t want to rip or tear the mattress. Once you’ve tied the mattress and art off its time for the couches.

 Couches and armchairs

Couches do not stack well they generally won’t sit flush and leave awkward sized gaps. You want to get the feet of the couch into the wall with its back to the mattress. Alternatively if the couch is too tall to stand, place the knees of the couch into the wall. This is where the load starts to become more difficult. You either want to stack dining chairs in or around the couch or basically anything without too much weight. Dining chairs should be wrapped individually in blankets to protect them. Once you’ve got all couches and armchairs its time to get the dining table in.

How to pack a removalists truck          The dining table

First check the legs of the dining table to make sure that when the truck is moving the legs don’t snap. If the table doest feel that strong you’ll have to tie it off with is back to the wall. This can lose you space inside the legs as you don’t want anything too heavy in there that might snap the legs off. Dining chairs or linen bags can be great to fill that gap.

         White goods

The least fun part of any move is the white goods. They mark easily and are expensive to repair or replace. They should be the last on and the first off at the other end. Tied to the back wall of the truck wrapped in two blankets. Next to the fridge i will generally have a washing machine. if there is enough space, you can put the drying next to the washer but they will transport ok stacked on top of each other so long as they have adequate protection.

So hopefully this article gave you a better idea of how to pack a removalists truck and make you move day a little smoother! If you want to be even more ready have a quick read of this article to save you time!

Should pack my own On demand Storage?

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With so many great options out there for on demand storage it’s harder than ever to discern which option is best for you. The costliest part of on demand storage is moving your goods in and out of the crate. The cost isn’t just monetary, if you do it yourself it’s at least a day of heavy lifting and playing Tetris in small spaces. The obvious solution is getting HomeMove to pack for you! This article will dive into just a few of the advantages and savings you get when you let HomeMove pack your on demand storage.

On demand storage saves customers money because it can be loaded on site. There’s no travel time to and from storage facilities or dealing with the fickle Melbourne traffic. Loading the crates on site cuts down on travel time and it also allows you to watch the crate being packed. You can have piece of mind knowing that your goods are being stored safely, and when the crate comes back, all of your items will be in the same condition. It’s just as easy when you would like the items you’re storing returned, they come right back your door! This is one of the big advantages that we have over traditional storage centres and other on demand storage. Rather than just a place to store some extra bits and pieces, HomeMove are a concierge for your stuff!

What makes our system a little different is that we don’t just drop the crate at your door, we pack the crate for you. This saves you time, money and strain on your back! Not only that but by using our professional packers we’ll be able to maximise the space available, which again, saves you money on unused storage space. We developed our on demand storage system alongside our removalists, this gives us a huge efficiency advantage over other on demand storage companies. Our HomeMove heros will be able to load and pack your on demand storage faster and tighter than anybody else.

The second major difference between our on demand storage and other companies is that we don’t leave your on demand storage in the street. We take the crate back to our secure warehouse. The warehouse has 24/7 back to base security monitoring. Your crate will be individually locked within the larger warehouse making this solution far more secure than a box sitting in the street. Having the piece of mind knowing that what you are storing is safe, is paramount to any customer, which is why having a secure, monitored, and alarmed storage centre is a huge advantage. Our warehouse is only accessed by HomeMove employees rather than a public storage warehouse, making it even more secure than Public self storage. By combining the flexibility of on demand storage, with the security of a storage warehouse we have created a unique on demand storage system.

On demand storage has a lot of really great options to choose from but there are a few ways that you can tell them apart from HomeMoves On demand storage system. Our storage crates come to your door and are loaded onsite without the hassle of driving to and from a storage warehouse. Once we arrive with the crate we will take care of all the heavy lifting and pack the crate for you. That packed crate will be stored in a secure warehouse just waiting for you to ask for it to be redelivered. We truly have the easiest on demand storage system which only has you lifting a finger to dial the phone. If you would like an idea of how our storage works, read on, http://homemove.com.au/modular-storage-explained/

Moving on a rainy day?

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There isn’t much that you can do if the heavens decide to open up on move day, but there are a few precautions you can take to help things run smoothly. This article will go through some of the best ways to keep your items dry, your floors free from mud, and most importantly, keep costs down! Rain will slow your movers down but there are ways to mitigate the problems that it causes.

Obviously the biggest concern is how you can keep furniture and your belongings dry while they are being transported. The best way to do this is to either use furniture protectors or plastic wrap. Check the weather forecast the day before the move and if it looks like rain call your removalists! Make sure they can provide things like plastic wrap and furniture protectors for you on the day. It’s a good idea to ask these questions when booking anyway, as a reputable removalists service should be able to provide them.

The next problem is protecting your floors from mud, dirt and moisture while the move is taking place. You shouldn’t have to ask your mover to do this but just in case make sure there is a blanket down at the entranceway. Any good Removalists will do this without thinking and will usually lay out a few blankets to be doubly sure that your home is protected.

Inevitably the rain will make the day run a little slower than usual but you can help the movers get it done faster. If you feel capable offer to plastic wrap the items yourself while the movers take other items.  This means they spend more time doing your heavy lifting rather than wrapping your items.You can also use bin liners to cover the boxes as they are take to and from the truck. If there are items that aren’t too heavy you can ask the movers to place it near the entranceway and then move the item to where you would like it, almost like a production line. If you have a garage where items can be stacked that’s even better. If the movers can take items to the garage and you move them inside it will save time and make sure that people with dry shoes stay inside and the movers with wet shoes stay outside.

These are just a few quick ways that you can make a move on a rainy day a little easier. I think its important to mention that there is never a perfect day to move with each day giving us different challenges to overcome. Even if you aren’t booking with us make sure you go through different scenarios with your Mover of choice to make sure they have the experience to move you right! If you would like to hear about how our experience can make your move easier feel free to call on (03) 9077 3120 alternatively have a read of http://homemove.com.au/your-move-melbourne/ to get a feel for how your move should run.

Watch out for the storage sting

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It can be a tough time finding affordable storage that is relatively easy to organise and simple to understand. With new options such as mobile self storage recently becoming more popular it is harder than ever to compare the options. Some companies will deliberately try to make it more complicated than it needs to be so they can make their rates seem more attractive. This article will give you a few tips and tricks you can use to avoid any unwanted surprises.

The hardest part of storage is trying to compare companies. There are two main types of storage, mobile storage and public self storage. Mobile storage is generally companies that can bring storage crates to your home, they either let you load them or have employees to load them for you. To compare mobile storage it is key that you know who will be packing the crate. It will generally be pricier if someone is packing the crates for you but it does mean that the space will be used more efficiently and that you will have a much easier time! If you’re loading yourself make sure you know if they supply protective materials such as blankets and mattress protectors. These can add additional cost to yourself that make other companies that pack crates more competitive. Weight up the pros and cons of the services that they offer before you make a decision based on the cheapest rate.

Self storage centres are your next option, these tend to be cheaper than mobile storage options but unless you are able to pack the storage cage yourself you will have to budget for removalists to move you in and out. The cost of move in and outs can vary wildly depending on where the storage cage is located in the centre. This added cost of moving in and out makes the mobile storage more comparable depending on the length of the storage. Mobile storage will often have a fixed price for move in and outs, this makes it easier to budget compared to Storage centres. Storage centres are generally better if you need to regularly access the items that you are storing. Most mobile self storage centres won’t let you take a few items and put a few more items in without a significant cost to yourself.

The biggest complaint that we hear in this industry is rising rates. Less reputable storage companies will lure customers in with very low and attractive rates to use their service but over the coming months the rates begin to rise. I recently spoke to a customer who had their rate raised by 35% in just one year. Ask the company you select if they can lock the rate they offer for 12 months or if they have a set amount that rates go up. These rate rises can be linked to inflation or just a flat rate but its just important to find out early on.

The biggest trap of both mobile self storage and public self storage is the laziness factor. Try to have a clear picture of what will happen to the goods you are storing. If you’re storing just because you’ve run out of space it might be time for a garage sale rather than storage. If you’re building a new home or going overseas for a few months its easier to make a plan for what will happen to your goods in storage. Storage companies are more than happy to have your goods for as long as you are paying rent! if you’re not sure if storage is worth it, add up the value of every item in storage then compare that to the yearly cost of storage.

To recap, when storing make sure you compare the advantages and disadvantages of each storage option including the cost of moving in and out. Ask the storage company what their rate rise policy is and get it in writing to avoid surprises in the future. And finally, have a plan for your goods! It’s easy to pay more for storage than the items being stored are actually worth, by having an idea of how long you’ll store you too can avoid this trap.

With all of this in mind why not have a look and see if our storage would be right for you

Melbourne Storage

Alternatively feel free to call on (03) 9077 3120 and one of our friendly staff can quote you over the phone.

Modular storage explained

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HomeMove began because we saw that there was a gap in the market for professional quality service in removals. This way of thinking led us to opening our own storage warehouse because we saw a gap in the storage market for a easy one stop storage solution. So we all sat down and worked out the easiest way for someone to have their goods stored and came back with our modular storage system.

As a customer you make one call to our friendly office staff, they will go through a quick checklist to determine how much storage you need. Once we have you booked in you just sit back and wait! On the day we will arrive at your home with all of the storage modules loaded onto our truck. Then two HomeMove heros will carefully pack your crate lock it up and return it to the warehouse, you don’t have to lift a finger.

Once we had the storage system designed we wanted to make it as easy as possible for our customers to understand how much it will all cost. So with simplicity in mind once again, we decided that rather than an hourly rate we would just charge per crate. So each crate costs just $99 to be delivered and redelivered to your home. That includes professional removalists using blankets, mattress protectors and bubble wrap to protect your precious goods.

This service is simple because that’s just who we are as a company and it’s where we focus our energy. From the quality staff in the office that are able to provide accurate quotes, to the professional removalists on the job we are all focused on providing a top quality service. So if you just want an easy simple no fuss storage solution call homeMove today to find out more about modular storage!

Ramps vs lifts the great debate!

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Regularly customers ask us if we have a tailgate lift fitted on our trucks. While some of our fleet have tailgates not all of them do, mainly because they aren’t always the best thing for the job. There are advantages and disadvantages to using a hydraulic lift and this article will explore just a few.

A tailgate is great for getting big heavy items onto the truck with less hassle and strain. However, it can make the day move a little more slowly as the movers have to wait for it to go up down each time they need to use it. A ramp does have a speed advantage over the lift if your movers are fit, strong and well equipped. The ramp will actually be faster when moving boxes on and off the truck. It doesn’t look as fancy but it does save time, so if you’re confident in your movers ability the ramp is generally going to be the faster option, which will save you both time and money.

The downside to using a ramp is that you have to have enough space to put it out behind the truck and you have to be careful when manoeuvring on the ramp. Less experienced movers can be slowed down by a ramp especially if they don’t have a great level of fitness. This is why well trained quality removalists are important, the last thing you want to see on move day is your precious belongings tumbling off the edge of the ramp.

Whilst the lift look great and are really helpful in certain circumstances they can also result in standing around which will cost you more money. Here at HomeMove we make sure that we have all of the information we require to send you the correct vehicle on the day. This can mean checking google street view to see if there would be room for a ramp or making sure that there is a hydraulic lift on the job because of some extra heavy items.

Neither is necessarily better and both ramps and lifts have their advantages, it’s more important to make sure you’re using a reputable company who will take the time to understand your needs. This way come move day you’ll get the right team, with the right equipment to get the job done!