Helping house moves stay on track

Moving house is often a longwinded and stressful experience but since lockdown a whole new set of challenges have presented themselves.

Removals that were actually in progress were completed, but then, on Government and British Association of Removers’ guidelines, all future removals were suspended. This was, and is, a headache for homeowners, removal firms, estate agents and solicitors alike. Many chains have stalled whilst the lockdown is in place in the hope that once restrictions are lifted everything can (literally) start moving again.

In the meantime is there anything homeowners can do to ensure their sale and purchase stays on track? Yeates Removals and Self Storage Managing Director James Griffin said: “We are offering customers virtual quotes via platforms like WhatsApp or Facebook so that when the restrictions are lifted they already have a price and we have them pending in our diary. Getting things going again as quickly as possible will be vital to ensuring that chains don’t breakdown and set people back to square one again.”

Although we do not know when restrictions may be lifted it is clear that new ways of working and operating will be vital to ensure safety of both homeowners and staff. As well as increased hygiene routines, measures could also include homeowners having to leave the house during the actual removal, the use of more vehicles (so that workers do not have to travel together) and removals taking longer to complete to allow for social distancing precautions.  Detailed guidelines from industry bodies are eagerly awaited.

Yeates MD, James, added: “Health and safety has always been a focus of our industry, however, we are now in the process of setting out extra regulations to meet the changing situation. It will take some adjustment but we have a very flexible and proactive team and we are always on the end of the phone to help customers with any concerns they may have.”

If you are hoping or waiting to move house contact Yeates for an informal chat or to book your virtual removal quote.  Just call 01275 877900, email info@yeates.co.uk or visit www.yeates.co.u