The family firm that's
more than just a Moving Company

Googling removals

Today we looked at our Google Analytics and were delighted to see an increase of visitors to our site via Google.  We always make a point of asking our customers how they found us and more and more the answer is “I googled”.  The verb “google” was first added to the Oxford English Dictionary on 5 June 2006 and it’s hard to imagine how we unearthed information before this time.

Fathoming what key phrase people will search in is always fun - do they call us Movers, Removals or Removers?  Do they type in their postcode or their borough or their town?  Of course the most searched phrase is Amber Moves which is good because it means we have an established brand and well know name.  Our liveried vans proudly sport the Amber Moves logo and web address which is a great form of advertising - they are effectively mobile billboards.

With the home computer becoming the equivalent of the good old fashioned pen and paper and telephone, the internet is now the first port of call for anyone looking for a service.  In return the website they visit needs to be clear and easy to understand and navigate whilst still being informative.

Probably the biggest challenge is how to make removals seem exciting - by it’s very nature, it’s hardly the most glamorous of industries.  The addition of our recently added Cruise Promotion along with Hotel Chocolat banners have at least spiced the site up some but of course our main priority is guiding people through the moving process.  The feedback is very positive and we continue to work on the site, introducing new clientele to Amber Moves and welcoming our old customers back.

Is hiring a removal company a luxury or a necessity?

As we are all being accused of living champagne lifestyles on Babycham budgets, we have to look at our spending and cut back on life’s little luxuries.  Is hiring a removal company to move you a luxury or a necessity?

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.

How to protect yourself during the Credit Crunch

It seems that not a day goes by without another report of a company going bust, unemployment rising and general bad news on the economy.

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