Removals: planning a house move with one removal company in Malta

Removal prices are driven by volume, not by the number of bedrooms. A three-bedroom house with a full loft, a garage and a shed can need far more van space than a tidy one of the same size. That is why a proper removal company wants to see your belongings before it commits to a price, either on a home visit or on a video survey where you walk round with your phone and open cupboards, the loft hatch and the garden shed.

The survey is also where access problems come to light: a narrow staircase that means the wardrobe has to come apart, a flat on the fourth floor with a small lift, a lane where a large lorry cannot turn. Tell the surveyor about anything that is not going, items you are selling, and things that will still be in use on the day, such as a bed you sleep in the night before.

Be wary of a firm that quotes a fixed price over the phone without asking about volume or access. The figure tends to move on the day, once the van is too small or a second trip is needed.

A clear quote lets you compare what is actually included rather than a headline price. It also protects you if something goes wrong, because it shows what the firm agreed to do.

• the estimated volume, the number of vans and the size of the crew
• whether packing, packing materials and unpacking are included, or only loading and transport
• dismantling and reassembling beds, wardrobes and other furniture
• specialist items: piano, American fridge freezer, safe, large mirrors, artwork
• insurance cover for your goods, the limit per item and any items excluded
• access at both addresses: parking, distance from van to door, stairs and lifts
• storage if there is a gap between moving out and moving in
• what happens and what it costs if completion is delayed and the van has to wait

Where the van parks matters more than most people expect.

In a chain that can mean waiting until the afternoon. A realistic plan loads the van in the morning and allows for a delay before unloading. Ask what the firm charges if it has to hold your goods overnight, and whether it can store them if completion slips by a day or more.

Clear out before the survey, not after it. Everything you sell, donate or take to the tip is volume you do not pay to move. If you have a lot to get rid of, a separate house clearance may be cheaper than taking it all with you.

Label boxes by room at the new address, keep an essentials box with kettle, chargers, medicines and bedding in your car, and defrost the freezer the day before. Measure large furniture against doorways and stairs at the new place, especially in older houses and flats with tight landings.

For long-distance and international moves the planning starts earlier. Crossing a border brings customs paperwork and longer lead times, and a firm needs to know whether your goods travel in a shared load or a dedicated vehicle.

The GDPR applies to your move or clearance; in Malta the Information and Data Protection Commissioner (IDPC) is the supervisory authority. If a supplier processes personal data on your behalf, you need a data processing agreement.

Maltese companies are registered with the Malta Business Registry. Ask suppliers for their company and VAT numbers, and whether they work in English, Maltese or both.

Source: idpc.org.mt · eur-lex.europa.eu · mbr.mt

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