Johannesburg - Under the best of circumstances, moving house will leave you without the will to live.
But by taking the time to make the right decisions about your move and planning well in advance, you can keep the chaos and unforeseen costs in check.
When you invite quotations from removal companies, consider sticking to members of the Professional Movers' Association (PMA) and the South African International Movers Association (SAIMA).
If you are unhappy with your move, these organisations will investigate your complaints and act as a mediator between you, the consumer and their member. A list of member companies can be found on www.pmamovers.co.za.
Don't base your decision on price alone. Decide what your priorities are and choose the company that will best serve your needs. Some companies, for example, offer special services to make things easier for children during a move.
Pore over the different quotations to make sure there aren't any hidden costs - make sure VAT is included as well as storage tariffs (if needed). If the company does the packing for you, find out how much it will cost per box and exactly how many boxes will be needed.
It is preferable to get companies to view your house so that they can give you a more accurate quotation.
Make notes from the start about what a removal company promises, says Heather Badenhorst, director of Stuttaford Van Lines and president of the PMA.
Customers often confuse what different companies may offer when they invite quotations, and then expect something from their chosen removal company which was not part of the deal.
The removal company does not assume risk for your belongings. You have to insure them yourself against a number of eventualities. These include mechanical failure and accidental handling damage, accidents and loss as well as storm, flood or fire damage.
There are two options: you can get transit insurance from a short-term insurer, or you can take the insurance offered by a removal company.
PMA members offer a tailor-made, all-risk transit insurance package, which is more comprehensive than the standard transit insurance cover. It may work out to between 1% and 3.75% of the value of your goods.
Make sure that you insure your belongings at the replacement value and that you understand the specific exclusions. Note that a number of items are usually not covered; among these are jewellery, watches, money and cellphones.
Pay the insurance premium before the move takes place.
While your computer may be insured, data isn't - make sure your computer files are backed up.
- Remember that keys are your responsibility.
- Save money by scheduling your move mid-month, when demand for removal vehicles is low and you may negotiate discount. (This can be up to a third of the price.)
- You can also save money by doing some of the packing yourself. This can, however, affect your insurance, as insurers will provide limited cover on items you packed yourself. If you are moving overseas, don't seal boxes yourself. The removal company has to vouch with border authorities that no illegal items were packed.
If you do your own packing, use strong cardboard boxes that can be carried by one person. Don't pack books into a gigantic TV box, for example.
- If you are concerned that your belongings may not fit into the allocated space (removal van or shipping container), leave non-priority items at the back of the house and ask that essential belongings are loaded first. Go through all your stuff before packing to make sure you are not paying a lot of money to move disposable items that take up a huge amount of space, like potplants or building materials.
- Before you agree to an international removal company's quotation, make sure you understand what forms of payment are accepted.
- You will need to make arrangements for items removal companies are not allowed to transport, like firearms, ammunition, chemicals and paints.
- Remember to defrost the fridge, dismantle outside aerials, disconnect the stove and drain the fuel from primus stoves, heaters, lamps and lawnmowers, said Badenhorst. "It's also important to anchor the drum of your automatic washing machine before transporting it. You can do this by simply attaching the shipping brackets."
- Don’t book a flight on the same day as the move. If there are any delays, you may end up missing the plane and incurring extra costs.
- Plan ahead and allow plenty of time to make all your arrangements.
While people used to plan moves three to four months in advance, these days a move is often only scheduled two to three days before the required date, said Badenhorst.
To avoid complications, disappointment and extra costs, take the time to go through all the removal company literature and insurance documents.
- Fin24.com