Moving this Christmas?

DON’T GET LEFT OUT IN THE COLD THIS CHRISTMAS

BUT BE SURE TO TELL SANTA TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT

Christmas is coming up fast and many are in the midst of buying presents and organising family get-togethers. On top of this and the round of Christmas parties and organising festive food ready for the big day, a surprising number of people choose to move in December and right up to the Christmas period.

Philip Pertoldi, group managing director of Abels Moving Services explains: “You would think that everyone would avoid moving so close to Christmas, but we find its one of our busiest periods. We will be moving people right up until Christmas Eve, with a large number of these being out of storage as customers try to have refurbishments completed or new homes made ready for the festive season. There are also a surprising number of moves overseas between Christmas and the New Year.

“It appears that the credit crunch and recession has not affected the main moving seasons. Summer, our busiest period, saw demand for our services exceed the crews and vehicles we had available, and this Christmas is going to be just as busy.”

In these peak moving seasons, most quality removal firms are booked up weeks in advance and some even have to disappoint potential customers due to the workload. As well as removers, those involved at the end of the moving chain like carpet fitters and solicitors are also hectic in December especially the last two weeks pre-Christmas.

Phillip Pertoldi continued: “Throughout this credit crunch we have been witnessing increasing incidences of people leaving the selection and booking of a removals firm until the last minute, thinking that there would be no problem. Choice is very limited at these times of year, with all the good removal companies booked up well in advance. Although never keen to turn people away, some are bound to be disappointed.

“To avoid disappointment it is a good idea to arrange a home survey of goods to be moved and obtain quotations for a move as soon as you market your property. And when you have a good idea of the moving date, discuss this as early as possible with the mover of preference to avoid disappointment.

“Planning well ahead of the moving date is time well spent as it will help ensure a stress-free move, as much as possible avoiding the last minute hassles as everyone else seems to go into holiday mood, and you can also enjoy good cheer over Christmas!”