To choose a removal company, check five things before you book: what insurance they hold, whether the quote is written and specific, who actually turns up on the day, what independent customers say about them, and how they handle problems. Price matters, but a cheap move that goes wrong costs more than a fair one that goes right.
This guide is written by LMD Logistics, a family-run removals and logistics firm working from a yard in Birtley. We would rather you asked us all of these questions than none of them, and the same checks apply to any company you compare us with.
1. Insurance, named properly
"Fully insured" appears on almost every advert. Ask what it means. A removal company should hold goods in transit cover, which protects your belongings while they are loaded, driven and unloaded, and public liability cover, which protects the property around the move and the people nearby. If they cannot tell you which covers they hold, move on. Our separate guides explain both in more detail.
2. A written, specific quote
A proper quote says what is being moved, between which addresses, on what date, with how many people and what vehicle, and what is included, such as dismantling, packing or storage. Vague quotes are where disputes start. Our guide to what a removals quote should include has a full checklist you can hold any firm to.
3. The crew you actually get
Some firms advertise under one name and pass the job to whoever is free. Ask who will turn up, how many people, and whether they will carry and load or just drive. With us, every van comes with two or three movers who do the lifting; you are not expected to load a van while the driver waits.
4. Reviews you can check
Look for reviews on an independent profile you can open yourself, such as Google, rather than quotes on the company's own site alone. Read the recent ones and the critical ones. What you want to see is care with belongings, turning up on time, and a sensible response when something did not go to plan.
5. How they handle problems
Ask what happens if something is damaged, if the chain collapses on the day, or if the van cannot park near the door. A professional firm has answers ready. Ours are set out in guides on damage, completion delays and narrow-street moves, because those are the situations customers ask about most.
Red flags to watch for
- Cash only, with no written quote or invoice.
- No business address, or one that turns out to be a postbox.
- A price that changes on the day for reasons that were known at the quote.
- Unwillingness to name insurance or send proof when asked.
- Pressure to book immediately without time to compare.
Local firm or national broker?
National booking platforms can be convenient, but the job is often passed to an unknown local operator. A local firm with its own yard means you know exactly who is responsible from the quote to the last box. Our guide comparing local and national removals looks at the trade-offs in more depth. Whichever you choose, the five checks above still apply.
Where LMD Logistics sits
We run from O'Briens Yard, Durham Road, Birtley, DH3 2TB, seven days a week from 8am to 8pm, with our own vans and crews and goods in transit and public liability cover. Quotes are free. If you are comparing firms, call 07376 293540 and put these questions to us.
Common questions
What insurance should a removal company have?
Goods in transit cover for your belongings and public liability cover for property and people around the move.
Should a removal quote be in writing?
Yes. It should list what is moving, the addresses, the date, the crew and vehicle, and what is included.
How many movers come with your van?
Two or three movers come with every van, and they do the lifting and loading.
Related services
- Removals in Chester-le-Street — Small or large home moves over short or long distances — fully insured.
- Man and Van in Chester-le-Street — Two or three movers and a van — we do the heavy lifting for you.
- Packing Services in Chester-le-Street — Full or part packing with proper materials, so everything is box ready before the van arrives.
Areas this applies to
- Chester-le-Street — DH2 / DH3
- Birtley — DH3
- Durham — DH1