The six checks that matter
- Companies House: confirm the trading name. Registration number and how long it has traded.
- Goods in Transit insurance: ask for the certificate and check the per-item limit. Not just the total.
- Public Liability: £1 million minimum · £2 million if you are in a managed block.
- A real address and landline. Not just a mobile number and a social media page.
- Written terms covering delays. Cancellation. Damage claims and the claim window.
- Reviews tied to confirmed bookings. Spread across months rather than clustered in one week.
Getting comparable quotes
Insist on a video or home survey for anything above a one-bedroom flat. A quote given over the phone without seeing your loft. Garage and garden furniture is a guess. And guesses get revised upwards on the day.
Ask each firm for the same written breakdown: crew size. Vehicle size. Hours included. Materials. Dismantling. Insurance limit. Parking costs and what happens if completion is delayed.
Red flags
- A large cash deposit. Or any request to pay by bank transfer to a personal account.
- No written terms. Or terms that exclude all damage claims.
- A quote dramatically below the others with no survey.
- Unwillingness to send insurance certificates.
- No fixed address. And a phone number that changes between calls.
Questions to ask before you book
- Are your crew employed or subcontracted. And are they DBS checked?
- What is your insurance excess and the deadline for reporting damage?
- What happens if my completion is delayed by a day?
- Is the price fixed or an estimate that can change on the day?
- Will you apply for parking permits at both addresses?