Moving is a life-changing event for most people. When you move, you’re essentially packing up your whole life, and moving to a new location. And one of the most nerve-wracking aspects of a move is trusting strangers with your valuables. We’re talking about everything, right from your priceless family heirlooms to irreplaceable possessions such as your children’s memorabilia.

To ensure that you choose a good removalist and steer clear of dodgy or untrustworthy moving companies, read on.

1. The Rates Are Too Good to Be True

While it’s natural for removal companies to offer competitive rates to entice customers, if the rates are too good to be true, then beware. When it comes to moving your belongings safely, you need to remember that you get what you pay for. So, if a company offers rates that are way too low, chances are that they are an inexperienced company looking to attract unsuspecting customers, or they plan to hike up the final price with hidden costs.

2. They Don’t Have A Strong Online Presence

If a removalist does not have a strong online presence, that’s an immediate red flag and you shouldn’t even consider choosing them. With online customer reviews and feedbacks being the most important tool to help potential customers make informed purchase decisions, a company that does not have a strong online presence basically has not earned the trust or loyalty of its customers. And the last thing you need is to trust your valuables with a company that hasn’t proved its worth.

3. They Are Not Very Forthcoming with The Details

As a customer trusting them with your belongings, you have every right to ask questions to clarify any doubts that you might have. For instance, if you have a lot of items to be moved, then you should know if the moving company has trucks large enough to transport all your items in one run. What some dodgy removalists will fail to mention is that their trucks can’t fit all of your items, so they will have to make multiple trips. And of course, they’ll charge you extra for it. So, make sure you get all the details, from information about their moving trucks to their experience and expertise in the moving business, before you make your decision.

4. They Don’t Provide Insurance

Perhaps the biggest red flag is when a moving company does not provide insurance. Any respectable removalist should offer insurance options. We’re talking about transit insurance, public liability insurance as well as worker’s compensation insurance. If a removal company does not offer insurance and tries to convince you that it’s unnecessary, you should drop them like a hot potato.

Choosing a reliable and trustworthy removalist is pretty easy and shouldn’t take too long. All you need to do is visit their website to know more about them (how long they’ve been in business, how much expertise & experience they’ve got), see customer reviews & ratings on Google and Facebook and you’ll get a clear picture of the moving company, and can then decide whether or not to hire them for your move.