Boxes are a fundamental part of moving home. You have to be able to pack all your small things into a container that will keep them safe and make it easy to stack up.

When potential customers are making enquiries regarding the costs involved in removals, we always ask whether or not they have boxes. Most people haven’t arranged their own boxes yet and so we offer our boxes, which are a reasonable £1.20 per box, including tape to make up the boxes and paper to line them. We also offer that any boxes that are left unused at the end of the move will not be charged for.

Some customers have chosen not to pay for boxes at all, instead opting for used boxes from shops. The upside is that if they needed, say, 50 boxes for their move; they’ve now saved £60 with this strategy.

However, the boxes are different sizes and some actually have quite weak walls. The result of this is that the men need to spend a good while longer loading up the van because the boxes are not only difficult to stack because of their different sizes, but some cannot be stacked at all because they cannot take the weight of any boxes on top of them. Now, the bill has just increased by £80 because of the extra labour. As you can see, using lots of ill-fitting free boxes is a false economy and it is better to stump up the cash for the boxes first as it saves a lot of effort later.

LC3 Crates are used for transporting paperwork

When moving office, there are many things to consider, but one thing we could absolutely not do without is the good old crate. So here is the info you need to better understand the requirements for your office when relocating.

LC3 crates are used to transport paperwork and other miscellaneous items such as stationery and personal effects. They measure 600 x 415 x 330 mm which is equivalent to 3 cubic feet and they are lidded. They can also be provided with security seals and labels to ensure confidentiality of records during the relocation and clarity regarding their contents. These crates also have runners along the sides that allow suspension files to be transported in the same manner that they are housed in the filing cabinet.You can fit approximately 6 arch lever files or the contents of 1 suspension drawer into an LC3 crate.

IT Crates are used to transport computer systems, i.e. a computer box, screen, keyboard & mouse; as well as fax machines and desktop printers. They are larger than LC3 crates in order to accommodate a full computer system, keeping the components of each workstation together. They measure 590 x 550 x 600 mm which is equivalent to 7 cubic feet and are also lidded.

Most companies prefer to have their staff pack the files and personal effects into the LC3 crates as they know best which files should be kept together and if any particular order is relevant. It often falls to us to pack the IT crates as this requires greater skill and care. The computer systems must first be switched off and disconnected from the main power supply and the local area network. The various components are then disconnected from each other. The computer box and monitor are wrapped in bubble wrap and placed in the crate in such a way that these pieces will not move once they start to be transported. The mouse, keyboard and all associated cables are the last to be placed.

Our vans can hold up to 140 crates. Even though LC3 crates are about half the size of IT crates, they tend to weigh twice as much. We have to take this into consideration when loading the van.  Crates are generally delivered about 2 working days before the move and collected about 2 working days after the move, to give staff time to pack and unpack their crates. More often than not there is also a weekend in there as well, meaning most companies need to hire crates for at least a week.

The Amber Moves Difference

What makes one removal company differ from another?  Essentially we all have removal men and vans and charge for our service to move your home.

The difference is in the level of service and the staff we employ.  We pride ourselves on not using casual labour – all our staff have been with the company for an average of 5 years.  They are highly skilled, personable gentlemen who understand family life and the stresses and strains of moving.  Nothing is ever a problem, and they have a totally different work ethic to the average removal man.

A client recently found an article on a removal company and sent it to us, saying “I saw this and thought it described your company perfectly!”  Here are a few extracts from the article:

They discovered the local furniture removals industry seemed to only hire tattoo adorned, singlet wearing, sweat-laden workers with ‘experience’ in removals.  Frankly, not the sort of people a lady alone at home might feel comfortable with. 

So Adam and Karlee decided to hire their removalists WITHOUT this industry experience.  They looked for applicants they’d feel comfortable having in their home, even when they’re not there.  Family men usually.  Karlee said she could pick them in seconds.  Something she was sure, every other women would be feeling too.  BIG difference.

 “Take the insurance policies on removals.  What does the industry do?  They give you a long document with heaps of fine print and loads of exclusions and YOU have to wear a $500 excess if you claim on THEIR damage!  Our insurance policy is simple.  If we break it or damage it, we’ll replace it.  No argument.  It’s not the client’s problem.  Damaging their furniture is OUR problem.”

The other area where we differ to the standard removal company is the quoting process.  We believe in a charging system, similar to other professionals such as accountants and solicitors.  Quoting an hourly rate offers the client greater flexibility as so much can change between booking the move and moving day.  The totally transparent charging system allows the client to change their requirements, rewarding them with a lower bill on the day if in fact there is less to be packed or moved.  There are no exclusions or hidden small print in our quotes.  Look out for phrases such as “basic removal service “ – this implies that the move is blanket wrap only.  We use export bubblewrap for glass and special pieces, plastic mattress covers and purpose made covers for all furniture.  Carpets and stairwells are protected as a matter of course.

The main difference is not what the removal company promises; it is what the removal company delivers.  On every occasion, we exceed all expectations.

The run up to the year end and xmas is always stressful and of course do you put up the decorations or pack them?  Family life has to carry on and with the time between exchange and completion so short, it’s hard to know how to plan for your move.

Our advice is always to start clearing and sorting.  Have an advance delivery of packing cartons, as you may as well box up those things that aren’t essential thus making the packing up of your house much easier once you get that phone call that says it’s all on.

How do you clear and sort and where should it all go?  Good old Ebay is always the first place to start as the extra cash will come in handy.  The alternative is to try the website Freecyle – post up your unwanted items, and give them away in return for having them collected. 

The charities are always looking for stock as this is the lifeblood of their shops.  Remember that they don’t want items they can’t sell – good quality clothing that you never wear, books, kids toys and bric a brac are always appreciated.

As a reputable removal company with strong ethics, we are happy to drop your donations off the local charity shop.

A removal company in Vancouver has produced videos on:

How to pack books

How to pack lampshades

How to pack clothing

How to pack glass

How to pack pictures and mirrors

Follow this link,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NBmUxX58_w

Post your feedback, we’d love to hear what you think of them.  Even better, if you’d like to star in our videos, we’re always on the look out for budding stars!

The truth is that it is the run-up to the move that is stressful, not the actual removal day.  The key, like everything else in life, is to surround yourself with good people.  Make sure you have the best solicitors doing the conveyancing so there are no snags on the day with money going through and collecting the keys to your new property.

Ask and delegate.  Your removal company can organise the parking suspensions for you so let them.  You can have a packing service the day before your move – so treat yourself.  You can book a cleaning company to clean both the old and new house – you will have more than enough to do without trying to do a full spring clean.

There are a number of websites now that offer a change of address service, such as Iammoving.com – use it, it’s free!

Have a good clear out and ask your removal company to drop these items off at the charity shop.

Book an online grocery delivery service to your new home for the first evening in your house.

Above all choose a reputable, preferably recommended, removal company and make sure you have a contract and fully agreed what is required on your move.  Choose a company that offers a flexible service as moving is never straight forward and your requirements may change many times between the initial booking and the actual removal day.

Perhaps not the most organised move!

We recommend Evaclean, a company who has the same values and high level of service we have.  They have kindly provided their details to assist you in your choice of cleaning company.

Evaclean Ltd is a commercial company which provide excellent  commercial industrial and domestic cleaning services for:

• Private properties;
• Office buildings;
• Schools;
• Nurseries;
• Churches;
• Hospitals;
• Surgeries;
• Shops;
• Factories; and
• Homes

We also clean carpets and upholstery professionally either on a regular contract basis or as a one-off cleaning service.

We understand our clients’ needs, and can ensure you receive a high quality and reliable service. Our high standards are helping us to grow rapidly.

Evaclean believes that the services we provide for you ought to be of a high standard in cleaning and ironing with a friendly professional service by highly trained and motivated staff. 

What Makes Evaclean Outstanding?

We have a strict vetting process when we employ new cleaners so that our clients can be confident in using Evaclean. We don’t take everyone who is looking for a job to work for us.

 What Are the Benefits of Using Our Service?

• Your cleaner will be fully vetted;
• You receive full support from a professional cleaning agency;
• Your cleaner and you premises will be monitored by our inspector to ensure your satisfaction; and
• You will have the comfort of knowing that your home is being cleaned using your chosen cleaning materials;
•  You get temporary cover if your cleaner is unavailable for any reason;
• You will have the continuity of the same regular cleaner;

To find more about our services please visit

 www.evaclean.co.uk or call 02088290811.

Drop us a line at enquiries@ambermoves.com

These clients want us to collect keys, pack up everything (right from screwing back the cap on the toothpaste!), move, unpack and a spot of interior decoration thrown in.  Fortunately the men we employ all have the common sense, resourcefulness and experience to carry these requests out. Having moved so many homes and seen the inside of all types of properties, they have the knack of just know ing where to place the furniture and how to make it all fit in.

The initial request is always made quite tentatively but when we say yes, we will do whatever is required, the relief and appreciation is always quite incredulous.  So spread the word, we wiill do whatever  is required to take away the hassle of moving home.

We continually strive to improve the service we offer and would welcome your views.  For too long the industry has been rife with “cowboys” and now we want to take removals to the next level. 

For every comment, tip or funny story we will respond with one of ours.  I’ll start the ball rolling by telling you how one of our removal men went into the bathroom to wash his hands during a move (door wide open) only to discover our elderly client having a bath!  Poor guy is still blushing!

I really appreciate the way Andrew put them at ease, and the helpful way you have dealt with my enquiries.  They have not been in good health and the last time they moved was in 1957, so this is a very big deal, and it is a great relief to me that you understand this.  I fell very hopeful that you will make this as good an experience, and as stress-free as possible.  Your website is very good and reassuring.  Thank you.

We do appreciate how difficult moving elderly people is and our staff are trained to deal with the personal and emotional side of moving too.  Our aim is always to offer peace of mind, and on this occasion we certainly have.  It is also so heart-warming to deal with lovely people and receive such a kind and thoughtful letter.

Rest assured we will look after our client’ s parent’s move and deliver everything that has been promised and more.

As is typical of all the removal business these office moves are very often only booked in at short notice.  But this is where we excel – we can take the inital enquiry, survey the building, deliver crates and carry out the move all in the space of 3 days.  Due to the short notice that both the client and us as the removals company has, there has to be a lot of flexbility and starting out the day thinking “think the unexpected”.  Being a small to medium size firm  we can adapt and provide the flexibility that larger structured firms are unable to do.  The outcome is always that the move is done in time, everyone is sitting where they should and the company is up and running the day after the move.

So it’s crates and bubblewrap all the way for 2009!

Everyday we continue to thrive, keep our workforce at the same level, and booking in new jobs and this makes me proud of our achievements.  In essence we must be doing something right!  It is fair to say that we do lose some business on price as our competitors offer cheaper and cheaper deals but running a removals company for this long has taught me that if you cut your prices you also have to lower the quality of the service you deliver.  We have grown from strength to strength providing a very high level of service on all removals work we do and it’s not an area to compromise on.  The outcome can only be no repeat business, insurance claims for damages and the loss of your reputation, which is invaluable.

In times of a recession everyone will of course consider any purchase they make more carefully and price is often a deciding factor.  However, the old adage that  if something is too good to be true, then this is often the case.  Buy on quality, recommendations and above all your instinct which if we listen to it, is always right.

I believe 2009 will be a tough year, but people will still move, offices will restructure and the world will keep turning on it’s axis.

This is all good of course, but as with all moves there are so many variable and dates change, builders get delayed, leases don’t get signed and so on.  The best strategy to deal with the constant date changes is to work in pencil!  Somehow it always works out and in the end everyone gets moved on the date they want, even if this wasn’t necessarily the originally planned date.

There is a lot of work involved in planning an office move and not all of it revolves around the removal company.  From the client’s perspective the objective is to have everyone sitting at their new desks with working computers and phones and no grumbles.  Careful planning and keeping everyone up to speed is key whether this is done with coloured zones, CAD drawings or just a good old excel spreadsheet working matrix. From a moving point of view, the more information we have in advance the better coupled with one person in charge on the day that can make decisions and sign off the floor at the end of the move is paramount.

All the emails, phone calls and site surveys pay off in the end because this way the move is so well orchestrated, it actually can come in under budget.  Our strategy of charging an hourly rate also works very well as the client is then not locked in to a fixed price with pre-agreed move criteria.  Moves very rarely happen as planned as there are often unforseen circumstances.  Often the move actually reduces in size, and with our pricing structure, so does the cost of the move.  The client only pays for the work actually done at the time of the move.

The problem with crates is that staff often don’t realise the cost of hiring or replacing and quite frankly they are handy things to appropriate for home.  Alternatively they lie around the office half emptied and become a health and safety hazard.

The best way to manage your crate hire on an office move is to sign over small amounts of crates to a designated team leader of each department.  That way they are responsible for their, say 10, crates and will be responsible for returning them at the end of the move.  Ten crates are far easier to keep track of than 500, for example.

Another solution to the problem is crate liners – single wall cardboard boxes that fit snuggly inside each crate.  At the end of the removal, the crate liners are lifted out and placed on the appropriate desk for unpacking and all the crates are counted up and taken back with the removal company on the day of the move.  This can save weeks of unnecessary crate hire and multiple collection charges.

The bottom line is speak to your removals company – they are specialists in office removals and will have lots of valuable advice to offer.

There are lots of short cuts and tricks of the trade and the internet is a goldmine of information and help.  Your removal company wants your move to go as smoothly as possible and don’t be shy – even if it is a service you have not contracted them to do, they can still provide you with valuable advice on how to get it done.  A good example is getting rid of unwanted items.  As a well established removals company proud of our “green” credentials we have charities we work with who will be glad of old office furniture, kids toys, books or even washing machines.  We can also advise you on the best storage options and understand that sometimes self storage may be more suitable to your needs and will help with the arrangements instead of insisting you use our containerised storage.  Remember “ask, and you shall receive”.  This applies to the price too – discounts can be negotiated especially if your move involves two moves or if you require long term storage.

Moving home can be very stressful and sometimes it may just be worth indulging yourself and treating yourself to the little extras – perhaps a packing service or proper packing materials like wardrobes to make the job easier.

Regardless of the credit crunch the world will continue to turn on it’s axis and the same applies to work – the majority of us will continue to work and more often than not this takes place in an office.  London is made up of pockets of industries – the City will always be the financial heart, Soho will always house media and marketing companies, Islington is a new hot spot for design being closely located to the Business Design Centre and Portland Place and surrounding areas, the fashion industry.

Commercial property is struggling just the same as the domestic housing market and many bargains are to be had if a company is considering moving office with the end of their current lease in sight.  Location will always remain important both for you and your customers.  Considerations from the removals company point of view are good loading access – Trafalgar Square or Covent Garden could double the cost of your move because of the logistics of getting vehicles close to the front door.  Sole use of a goods lift can halve the time of an average move whilst conversely no lift access and delivery to the 3rd floor can double the cost and time of a move.

When it comes to fitting out your new office as expensive as it sounds it may be a sound investment to sell your old office with the furniture in situ and arrange for the new furniture to be delivered to your new offices by the manufacturers.  Consider what type of desks you are purchasing – will they need to be dismantled everytime you have an office reshuffle?  Are they easy to take apart and put together again?

Moving office is a great time to have a clear out and consider off site storage.  Why pay expensive office rent for storage space when archiving and storing off site can be so much more cost effective?

Your removal  company will have many ideas and solutions that you may not have thought of.  Take time to talk them through before your move and keep your options open and as long as you have a flexible office moving company, many savings can be made.

It really depends on the size of the property you have to move and your lifestyle.  If you have small children and both parents are working do you really have time to do the move yourself.  Consider how much you earn a day and how much time you would have to take off work to pack and move.  Does the saving out way the loss of earnings?  Moving house can be like pulling off a sticking plaster – do it as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Savings can be made, and consciences assuaged, by packing up your house yourself.  Most removal companies will be happy to deliver you packing materials in advance and offer helpful advice on how to pack.

Certainly when money was abundent we all spent freely on luxuries and no doubt splashed out on expensive furnishings for the home.  Remember what it cost you and consider that in these frugal times, you want the furniture to last you a lifetime so best it gets moved with lots of care and attention and special care.

In summary, moving house is a necessary luxury.  Spoil yourself and concentrate on all the other matters in hand while the removal company does the hard, physical labour and tranports your possessions safely to your new home.

Everyone booking a holiday must now be thinking – what if I book and the airline or holiday company goes out of business?  The same should apply to your removal and storage company.  If your removal company is struggling and charging you to store your goods at a trade warehouse – what will happen to your goods in storage if they stop paying their suppliers?  What if they haven’t been paying their insurances – will you still be covered?  What if they take a deposit from you in advance of your move but go out of business before your move?

Protect yourself from the outset by doing your research and keeping an eye on the small details:

• Is the company vat registered
• Are they members of a trade body such as BAR or the National Guild of Removers and Storers
• Are they part of an ombudsman scheme?
• How long have they been in business?
• How busy are they?
• Are they charging realistic prices – beware of the man offering you a cheap deal – it will be too good to be true.
• Where ever possible, try to book a company that has been recommended by a friend or colleague
• Get the name and address of the storage facility and ensure it is a bona fida storage warehouse
• Go with your instinct – this is a powerful too we all too often ignore

I moved home in March of this year with my 22 month old daughter.  Now it should be easy – I organise moves for a living and of course I didn’t have to worry about finding a good removal company, since I own one!  Not the case however – every time I booked my move in the diary another client would ring and ask to move on the day I had chosen and of course, I said yes we can fit you in.  So I duly changed my date, contacted estate agents, utilities suppliers, BT, Sky etcetera only to go through the same process the next day when my move date was surrendered to another client wanting to move.

Coupled with starting nursery and horrendous teething, living with a stressed mother trying to pack boxes every evening only made my daughter even more cranky.  I blindly carried on thinking she’s too young to know what’s going on and will take it all in her stride – how wrong could I be?  I totally underestimated how much she understood.  I followed all the guidelines and took her to see the new house three or four times before the move, got her to help pack her toys into boxes and kept her at home to see the removal vans arrive so she understood what was happening.

The actual removal day was really stress free and easy – in fact i could almost say it was fun.  I worked like a trojan to try and make the new house look like home with all the familiar things around and made sure her bedroom was as ready as possible.  On the way back from nursery to the new house, she asked about her families – I realised she meant her Sylvanian Families – I duly explained they were all at the new house.  She then continued to ask about each and every one of her toys.  I was devastated – the poor mite had been worrying all day about her toys.

Apparently small children rely on their sense of smell to a greater extent when perhaps their vocabulary is not at its best so the new house “smells” all wrong.  The like routine and don’t like change so moving house just throws them off kilter.

Anyway, we both survived the experience, despite the fact that the 101 Dalmations DVD is still missing, and the new house is wonderful and has become home now.  I also have a whole new understanding when speaking to clients who are moving house with a family to consider.

These are also probably the three most stressful life experiences so couple it with moving house and you may have meltdown.

As a removals company we can’t help tackle the three D’s but we can provide a stress free solution for moving house.

When you are under pressure it is almost a reflex action to find a quick fix solution and very often the cheapest, easiest option.  If you have to  move in a hurry, many people put their things into storage.  £30 or so a week doesn’t sound very much but if you land up having to store for longer than expected, the costs soon mount up.  You will also have the removal costs into and out of storage.  If you do need to store, only put the absolutely essential into your container.  Storage is very effective short term or for those irreplaceable items with sentimental value.

When it comes to booking your removal consider the price of your time and your stress levels.  Choosing a company that can offer the whole package will at least ensure you have nothing else to worry about on the day.  Will you really have the time to pack up your house in advance of the removal company arriving?  Enjoy the luxury of having everthing done for you and having some fit young men at your beck and call for the day – how often does this happen?  A cheap removal will often result in shortcuts and inferior skills so after your move you may then have the hassle of making an insurance claim for breakages and loss of items plus a very stressful removal day.

Downsizing seems to be the buzzword of the credit crunch and we can advise and assist you in advance of your move for the most cost effective solutions.

We did a full survey and, based on volume, quoted a very fair price.  A smaller company came in and quoted around £700.  This lead us to wondering just how the job could be done at that price?  These are the costs a fully fledged removal company should be incurring and basing their price on:

Staff wages – We don’t pay the minimum wage because, of course the old adage, you pay peanuts, you get monkeys, is very true.  Our staff are well remunerated for the work they do and never feel the need to string a job out, help themselves to little extras etc and of course they have pride in the work they do because they feel valued.  We also provide our staff with smart uniforms, safety boots, and rain gear.

Insurance – legally we are obliged to have public liability insurance, goods in transit insurance, health and safety insurance, fleet insurance, employers liability insurance – these are all enormous but vital costs for the protection of our staff and our customers

Vehicles – everyone knows the cost of rising diesel but there is also the general upkeep of the vans, to ensure that breakdowns don’t occur thus inconveniencing everyone.  All our vehicles are smart, clean and new and conform to the goverment vehicle emmissions programme.

Time - a huge factor involved in the cost of removals is the time taken.  Our quotes allow for the time to wrap and protect each and every piece of furniture plus the time taken to pack the van safely and securely for transit.  Yes, you can load a luton van in an hour if you literally just lob everything on as is, but what state will it arrive in at the other end?  Mirrors and pictures are all bubble wrapped in export bubble and the corners protected with blue foam corners.  Sofas and armchairs are covered in custom made protective covers.  Mattresses are covered in plastic. Plasma TV screens are now transported in a specialist protective bag with cushioning and hardboard.  Very often furniture needs to be dismantled and reassembled in order to get it in and out of the property without causing damage to the walls – this of course takes time – we all know how long it takes when we’ve made an Ikea purchase!  Our men arrive with electric drills and toolkits and the speed with which they do this is amazing but it does take time.

Pricing exclusions – our experience of fixed price jobs is that no extras are taken into account.  If you read the small print, there may be many extra charges added to your final bill.  Examples of these are dismantling, packing, materials, and overtime.  We try to offer a very transparent pricing structure which allows for flexibility on the day as no one can be precisely predict how the job will go.  There are often delays or unforseen circumstances or alternativley the client may have done so much preperation and packing that the job is completed in much less time than predicted.  Our final bill is calculated on the actual time taken that way if you want a bit of extra packing on the day, or an additional pick up en route, it’s no problem.

In summary, beware of the man offering to do the job cheaply, he has to be taking short cuts that will impact on your removal experience.  Our customer base is full of people who have come to us following a bad removal and are happy to pay that little bit more for peace of mind and a stress free move.

Do you buy and sell now before prices drop even lower or just bite the bullet and, if you are able to sell your house and have found your dream home, move now?

It all comes down to the Ikea advert – is your house your house or is it your home?

There is never going to be  a perfect time to buy or sell, neither we can confidently predict when the market will turn.  Take your family’s needs into account and consider what works for you now.  If you need more space, or to be nearer good schools why wait – these improvements will be immediate and you can start enjoying the benefits straight away.

Consider that the moving process is never straightforward and it could take a good 6 months from starting to view properties to actually moving in.

The estate agent’s quick fix is to drop your price now for a quick sale – what pressure is being exerted on your seller to lower his price?  There is no point in moving if you haven’t made any money on your current property and you need to take into account the costs of moving from solicitors to estate agents to removal companies.

In the end it’s all about being in a property that you love and call home.  You can’t put a monetary value on yours and your family’s happiness and security but we all know these are priceless.

One would like to think that the traffic warden would see a removal van, with the company logo emblazened across it’s sides, and the removal men obviously loading and unloading, and leave them alone to get on with the job in hand.  Very often this is not the case, the ticket is slapped on, and no amount of reasoning or cajoling works.

We make a point of appealing against every ticket issued and our success rate is phenomenal.  We get off at least 8 out 10 tickets and even if the first appeal is unsuccessful, we appeal again.  A carefully worded, polite letter appealing to their sense of reason, even if the stated contravention did occur, is a very good tool.

We are fiercly protective of our customers and know that a £60 parking fine can be that final straw that breaks the camels back.

Join the fight and let’s challenge every ticket until eventually they capitulate.  Everyone needs to move home and it should be their basic right to have a removal van parked outside the front door at no additional cost.

We are an independent firm with no preconceptions about how removals should be done and neither do we have the old guys saying, “but we’ve always done it this way”.

Every customer ringing the office gets straight through to someone who can give them a quote then and there, answer any questions and deal with queries or problems on the spot.  Even if someone is not at the point of booking or we don’t have any availability for their preferred move date, we are still happy to offer moving advice or assistance with the purchase of packing materials.

The contrast between us and other removal companies, is that large firms require you to speak to several people or wait for someone to get back to you or alternatively the company is so small that you are calling a mobile number and speaking to someone whilst they are physically moving someone else.

We do our move surveys differently too.  Our surveyor is highly skilled as well as being passionate about the service we offer and the company as a whole.  He will sit down and ask you all the questions about your move and your needs, taking family situations, time constraints and complications into account.   Once he has surveyed the property and calculated the volume to be moved, he sits down with the customer and talks them through the quote.  That way they are left with a full and accurate estimate and a complete understanding of how the job will be done and charged for.  We pride ourselves on not having any small print, hidden extras and secret costs that get presented on the day.

As a result of a good survey, we are then able to brief our removal men on the day of the job so they know exactly what to expect, what items require special care and attention and even know the names of the children of the house!

Our quotes often allow for more time than our competitors but that is because we wrap and protect every item.  Of course a job can be done quicker if it is just “lobbed” in the van but that is not the service we offer.  We would rather do the job properly or not at all.

Once the men are on their job, they are charming, understanding and polite and nothing is ever too much trouble.  They do so many little extras that make the move special and more than just another chore to be got over with as soon as possible.

In summary, we always exceed expectations and know that we are only as good as our last removal.

• How often do you have fit, good looking young men in your house and at your beck and call?
• Having a good clear out before the move can be very cathartic
• If you’re good at it there is lots of money to be made selling your unwanted items on ebay or bootselling – car boot sales are having a revival!
• You have two excuses for a party – house-leaving and house-warming
• You no longer have to spend every weekend viewing properties
• When you start packing up, you will find things you’ve been looking for since your last move
• The excitement of pastures new

Amber Moves are a unique removal company based in London offering a professional packing and moving service with that little added extra that makes all the difference.

Look at the value of the new home you are purchasing, the value of your household and contents insurance and consider that a good pack and move will cost you less than 1% of this amount.

The removal company is often the last organisation in the chain of people wanting your money when moving house – after the surveyors, hip’s, stamp duty, estate agents and solicitors comes the removal firm.  So by the time it comes to choosing and paying for a removal the poor home mover shuts his wallet and screams “no more!”.  The guy who offers to do the whole move for £400 seems like a dream come true – a chance to save money and the only person willing to negotiate costs.  In our experience the government and solicitors are never inclined to negotiate.

On our website, we have some Wise Words about spending too little.  The gist of the message is…The common law of business prohibits you from paying a little and receiving a lot – it can’t be done.

In return we deliver on our promise of a stress free, expert move with no hidden costs or extras.  The number of people who move home with us regularly and recommend us to their friends and family are testament to this.  We’re certainly not the cheapest but we do a great house move.

We’re fully insured, all our staff are employed by us and are uniformed, smart and presentable.  All our removal vehicles are clean, new and proudly sport the Amber Moves logo.  The office is manned throughout the working day and your call is always dealt with swiftly – no getting diverted to someone’s mobile while they’re actually carrying out a removal.  All these are signs that you are dealing with a bona fide removals company and not the cowboys!

A good deal of our clients are casualties from DIY moves.  A bit of a boys day out springs to mind, blokes all doing some physical work and driving a big truck.  The reality is often a different story.

When you hire a van for removals it is often smaller than the average removal van and does not come equipped with ties and blankets- essential for securing and protecting your furniture in transit.  The offer of help from friends and family often dwindles to nothing on the day and there you are left to move house by yourself.  There is a very definite skill to packing a van and an inexperienced person may only manage to fit half the volume on as opposed to an experienced removal company.  This results in having to do several trips, extending the van hire for another day and frayed tempers all round.  Moving home in London is never easy when it comes to traffic and parking and it is only when you’re in it that you think “Why didn’t I just pay someone else to move me?”

Age is another sad factor of life and a great deal of stamina is required for a removal day. Carrying heavy furniture and removal boxes up and down stairs is not easy.  Count the cost of a possible back injury and time off work – is it worth it?

They say moving house, divorce and death are three of the most stressful things – we concur.  We have in fact had 2 divorces occur on a moving day!  Take the stress out of your move, get a professional moving company to do the job and sit back and enjoy the moving experience with Amber Moves.