For men especially, it can feel a bit weird to pay someone to do labour it feels like you should be able to do yourself. We’ve all helped a mate move a couch or fridge, so it’s easy to feel like you’re slacking off when professional removalists are doing all the heavy lifting and you’re parked in front of the PlayStation.
But before you feel guilty and jump on the end of a bookcase, think about your coverage. Do you have liability insurance? Can you afford to have a week or so off work if you get injured? Because the removalist’s policy won’t look after you in this situation.
The same thing applies to damage. If an accident happens and you’re not involved, you’re well within your rights to demand compensation for a broken item. But if that antique dresser scrapes along the wall and you’re holding one side of it, who’s to say it wasn’t your lack of training that caused the damage? No-one wants to point fingers, but it’s difficult to work out fault in these often murky scenarios.
That’s not to mention the situation in apartment blocks and similar shared living spaces. If you accidentally knock the head off a sprinkler in a stairwell, those things flood buildings very quickly – and as in the case of dinged furniture, your involvement in the accident could come back to bite you in a way that wouldn’t happen if you’d been separate from the action.
Prior to the day, you might want to set things up to make it easier on everyone. Some movers prefer you to have done your own packing, while others are happy to tackle to whole operation from go to whoa. A lot of that will depend on which company you go with, how many people and hours you’ve budgeted for, what you’re paying – as well as whether you want removalists packing up any private or intimate items! At China Bear, we offer a range of services, and it’s really up to you to decide how much prep work you want to do before our boys arrive.
On the day, by all means offer a cup of tea or coffee, grab the front door and mention anything that might be delicate or tricky. But don’t feel guilty about parking yourself in front of the TV for another round of Grand Theft Auto (until they need to load the couch on the truck). Removalists are trained professionals, and you’re paying for their service.
Trust us, they won’t mind.