With the increased population in the urban areas of Uganda, there has been a surge in the demand for moving services across the country. While this has created opportunities for many people, it has also opened doors to some unscrupulous business people who don’t care about their customers. These rogue movers lie, cheat, steal and sometimes out rightly con their clientele.

Being a relatively new sector, Uganda’s industry is unregulated. A few laws that apply to related industries sometimes touch this sector, but there is very little regulation targeted specifically to the moving industry. This means that any procedures and protocols that moving companies employ are solely up to their discretion. 

In this article, we discuss the indicators of a reliable moving company, what you should look out for, and what you should expect from a professional mover. By the end, you should be able to comfortably distinguish a reliable mover from a rogue one. Take the time to understand the information held below, as it can make all the difference between having a seamless moving experience and losing your priceless possessions.

How to Identify a Professional Mover

Brand Presence

This refers to the degree to which the brand is perceived in the mind of a prospect.

While this is an extensive area, serious mover maintains a consistency in their brand with clear markers, from the uniform of the staff to the colour of their truck. Other brand elements include branded moving boxes and materials, a functional website, active social media pages, and the presence of their logo on all the above.

Clear pricing

The single most important element determining the price and execution of your move is the volume of your goods.

A large component of the mover’s price is based on the volume of your goods.  A reputable moving company will take inventory of all your belongings and determine the bulk and weight of your move either in person or through a virtual survey. This pre-move survey informs the mover in preparing for the required materials, manpower allocation, time allocation and determining the size of truck(s) to be used. Your quote provides a breakdown of all these charges associated with your move.

A professional mover will only provide a quote for the move after assessing the volume of your goods. Other factors that affect the valuation of a move include the distance, complexity, and its nature (different pricing applies for International Moves, Inland Moves, and Storage). 

Here are a few red flags to look out for:

• The mover gives you a quote before assessing the needs of your move
• They require full payment before the move

Any mover who does this is bound to give you trouble at some point during the move. Avoid them like the plague.

Is the Mover Insured?

A moving company that is not insured could mean a big risk to your belongings. Every competent mover tries to execute each move perfectly, but to err is human. A professional moving company understands this and puts safeguards in place to protect itself and its clients. It is prudent to always ask a moving company about their insurance cover and to what extent you are protected before engaging them.

Check Their Reviews and Testimonials

Reviews are a great way to vet a moving company as they tell you the quality of service they give to their clients. No company is perfect. Avoid reading the 1 star and 5 star reviews. Read the 2-4 star reviews, this way you get to read the good and bad comments, hence get a broader perspective which will enable you make a better decision

Beware of fake reviews. No company receives positive feedback only. Look out for a sudden spike in positive reviews. Also check how a company responds to the negative reviews to gauge their authenticity. 

You can find Nellions Uganda’s client reviews both on our Facebook page and Google Maps listing.

Moving Equipment

All good movers need the right equipment and resources to pull off a job. They should be well equipped for any moving job they are hired to do. This will include all the tools used to handle your goods, the type of packing boxes and any other materials that will be used for packing and moving. All of their equipment should be quality. 

Documentation

A well-run company should have proper contracts, receipts and books of records for the company and their customers. Everything should be formal for legal and accountability purposes. Other documents include; signed quotations with full details of work scope, confirmation of work done, written disclaimers (if required), and written invoices to name a few. 

Membership in professional organizations

Since Uganda lacks a trade association for the moving industry, professional moving companies join established international professional moving organizations such as the International Association of Movers (IAM), British Association of Removers (BAR), FIDI, etc. These organizations have very high levels of quality that they require from their members, and such membership alludes to the trust and authority granted to these entities from the respective bodies. 

Nellions Moving & Relocations Uganda is a member of the International Association of Movers.

Physical Address and storage facility

Any serious moving company should have a physical location where one can visit for any enquiries and follow-ups. Since storage is a huge part of their service offering, they should also have well maintained storage facilities — particularly for moving companies that undertake international moving. 

Customer Service

For service businesses, the quality of their customer service usually gives you an impression of what you can expect in the service delivery. It clearly embodies the spirit of the company and will quickly show you how the company is run. Before settling on a mover, we advise to call their professional line, make a few enquiries, and observe how they address them. 

Privacy

Your mover will interact with some of your sensitive items or witness private encounters. As such, it is vital that they act in a discreet manner to protect your privacy. In order to further secure your privacy and peace of mind, we advise clients to personally pack their most sensitive and valuable items in crates that we provide.

Above all, a moving company should exude professionalism is all sense of form. They should be compliant with the law and offer quality services to their clients.

How do the best movers in Kampala, Uganda conduct their moves?

Let’s take a case of Nellions Moving & Relocations Uganda – Uganda’s leading moving company. What are their service offerings, and how does the moving process break down?  

1. Pre-move survey

Before we conduct any move, we have to conduct a survey to assess the volume of the goods and the requirements on our end in terms of equipment and personnel. This survey is also the basis from which we calculate our moving quotation.   In the recent months, and in response to the coronavirus pandemic, we are increasingly relying on video technology as the primary medium for our clients to receive their moving quotes. 

It’s as simple as 3 steps:

📹 Film your belongings. Ensure the wardrobes and cabinets are open so we can see all the goods that we’ll be moving.

📤 Send us the video via WhatsApp to +256 783 294 229. Include your other contact details such as email address, your current address as well as your new location’s address. Also include the date when you wish to move.

🚚 We’ll revert to you with your quotation as soon as possible – usually within 2 hours during business hours – together with a note on our availability during the proposed moving date.

 

2. Moving services

Nellions Uganda offers a diverse range of moving services – available for both individual and commercial customers:  

• House Moving: we move you from your old house to your new home. Pricing is mainly based on volume of goods and distance from House A to House B.
• International Moving (Origin Services): Moving from Uganda to any other country world-wide. We’ll handle all your transfers and give advisory on all necessary paperwork. Our network of global partners help make the process move swiftly.
• Office Moving: Moving office? We’ll move you with minimal disruption to your business.
• Destination Services: Moving to Uganda? We will handle your goods safely and get you installed in your new home.
• Cross-border Moves: Moving to Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, or the DRC? We have the capabilities to execute such an engagement quickly and efficiently.
• Storage: Short- or long-term storage for all your goods.
• Furniture Installation: Nellions employs a diverse and highly skilled team of carpenters who can ensure the safe disassembly, movement and reassembly of literally all household and office furniture.
• Auto Relocation Services: For when you require your vehicle to be moved discreetly and anonymously.

3. Post-move services:

We usually conduct an interview within 2-4 days of completing a move in order to gauge the clients’ experience and address any issues that might have been left pending.  

Are you looking for a professional moving company? The guidelines laid out above should help you identify a reputable mover for you.

Are you looking for a world-class moving experience? Nellions is the mover for you.