Category Archives: House removals

Highest Standards of House Removals and Storage Services

20 December 2022 Colin Batt Removals 1 Comment

We are proud that we have once again passed our annual British Association of Removers and British Standards audit. The audits give an independent view of our house removals and storage company, and show we provide the highest levels of professionalism and customer service.

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British Standards for Furniture Removals and Storage

This year was a little unique. We retained our British Standard for furniture removals activities, BS EN 12522. However, this was the first year we applied for the standard for storage, BS EN 14873. Both standards are an independent validation of our commitment to the highest levels of customer service. We passed both British Standards at the first attempt with zero non-conformities, meaning there were no major or minor discrepancies with any of our processes, polices or procedures. The team’s hard work, dedication and professionalism has been recognised again with the award of these quality standards.

Quality Assured Removals

The quality standards and other awards confirm we are operating to the highest levels in the house removals industry. Whatever removals service you need, you can rest easy knowing that Colin Batt Removals offer quality assured, independently assessed and verified house removals and storage. You can also read the great feedback we receive from our customers at Checkatrade, where each review is independently checked and verified. Click here to learn more about our removals and storage services.

If you are moving house, call Colin Batt Removals, your move will be in quality-assured hands – call 01233 740395 or enquire online.

Colin Batt Removals – Where Service is Key.

Covid 19, House removals

Moving Home and Keeping Safe

8 February 2021 Colin Batt Removals 2 Comments

As a house removal firm based in Kent we are still allowed to operate and we are following the government guidance on safer working to ensure we keep our staff and customers safe.

If you are moving house within the Maidstone Kent area then we have some guidance on what we can all do to keep everyone safe:

We will contact the household in advance to check that no member of the household is showing symptoms of coronavirus or self-isolating. If anyone is then we will delay the move
We request that you please ensure all internal doors are open, surfaces and possessions are cleaned with household cleaning products before we come
No work should be carried out by a person who has coronavirus symptoms, however mild
We wash their hands on entering the property and we will use clean towels to dry our hands
We will minimise contact with you and keep socially distant at all times
We will have enough staff on your move to not require household members to help us move bulky items
We will bring our own refreshments but please ensure we can access hand washing facilities, using separate towels or paper towels if possible, which should be washed or disposed of safely afterwards
We commit to keep up to date on the latest guidance on travelling safely

House removals

Coronavirus: New Government Guidelines on Moving House

27 March 2020 Colin Batt Removals 2 Comments

The Government has issued new guidance urging people not to move house during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. New guidelines place restrictions on buyers, sellers and renters as well as the wider Industry including Estate Agents, Solicitors and of course House Removal Companies.

So, what do the latest guidelines mean to you if you are due to move home imminently?

Buying and Selling Homes during the Stay-At-Home Measures

We are all being urged not to move house during the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) and be flexible. This is to limit the spread of the virus and maintain social distancing rules. If the property to be sold is unoccupied the sale of the house can continue with due care. However, if the property is occupied the guidance is to find a mutually convenient alternative date to move after the coronavirus (COVID-19) stay-at-home measures have been lifted.

Coronavirus Home Mortgage Extensions

UK Finance, formally known as the British Bankers Association, has advised that all mortgage lenders are working to find ways to support mortgage customers. Specifically, they are looking to extend mortgage offers for up to three months for those for those who have already exchanged contracts to enable them to move at a later date. In addition to this, new measures have also been put in place to protect those individuals who are tenants, the main one being that there is a current ban on any evictions taking place during this period.

Follow this link for the full Government home moving advice, which cover the full Industry.

The specific advice for removals firms is repeated here:

Removals Firms

There will be people who have already committed to moving home; where possible we are encouraging them to delay their move but a small number of moves may need to go ahead. We would urge everyone to take all sensible precautions to ensure the move can happen safely.

- Removers should honour their existing commitments where it is clear that the move can be done safely for the client and your own staff and it is clear that the moving date cannot be moved.
- Removers should follow the latest Government guidance which currently (26 March 2020) states that work carried out in people’s homes can continue, provided the tradesperson is well and has no symptoms or coronavirus (COVID-19).
- It is important to ensure Government guidelines are followed, including maintaining a 2 metre distance from others, and washing their hands with soap and water often for at least 20 seconds (or using hand sanitiser gel if soap and water is not available).
- No work should be carried out by a person who has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, however mild.

If you have any questions regarding these guidelines or any part of your home move, whether this relates to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic or not, please do not hesitate to call 0800 328 9175 or email info@colinbattremovals.couk.

House removals

Let’s move to… Folkestone

13 November 2019 Colin Batt Removals Comment

Thinking of moving to Folkestone?

With its trendy eateries, galleries, boutiques and elegant period buildings, Folkestone looks like – and is – a town on the up again. Its story is that of seaside towns around Britain – a thriving resort at the start of the 20th century, it fell into decline and disrepair until regeneration began to turn its fortunes around. Yet Folkestone stands out for its character – underneath the gloss of recent investment, the town still has a thick layer of grit. And it’s all the better for it.

Folkestone’s regeneration owes a great deal to Roger de Haan, billionaire entrepreneur (he is the former owner of Saga, one of the town’s biggest employers) turned benefactor who has donated tens of millions of pounds to develop the town and support charities and schools. In particular, de Haan has funded the regeneration of the Harbour Arm, now a vibrant promenade lined with food and drink outlets, open-air seating and a big screen showing sporting events and films.

Across the harbour sits the much-lauded, Michelin Guide-listed Rock Salt restaurant; but the town’s best food is actually found at its more homespun establishments, from pub grub by the fire in the Pullman to fabulous vegetarian and vegan food at Beano’s, whose vegan sticky toffee pudding beats most other sticky toffee puddings we’ve eaten.

The beaches are, of course, the town’s best asset; both Folkestone and Sandgate are rated excellent for water quality, and though they’re mostly shingle, there’s a sandy beach by the harbour called Sunny Sands. You can enjoy a lovely walk along the seafront promenade, lined with pastel beach huts, from the harbour up to the Lower Leas Coastal Park, which has the south east’s largest free adventure play area. Keep going and you’ll find yourself in Sandgate, with its cute Victorian cottages and independent shops and cafes.

The arts scene is another of Folkestone’s strengths; there are two theatres, an annual book festival and a charming creative quarter of independent shops, galleries and cafes. Here you’ll find record stores, clothes shops and the delightful Steep Street coffee house, which has shelves of books for customers to peruse. Plus there’s the Triennial art festival – as part of which, in 2014, artist Michael Sailstorfer buried gold bars collectively worth £10,000 on the beach. No one knows whether they’ve all been found – you might strike lucky.

Houses here are not only cheaper than in much of Kent, but are really truly stunning in the west end of town, whose wide tree-lined boulevards are graced by enormous Victorian and Edwardian villas and period townhouses converted into flats. And transport links are fantastic – London is less than an hour away by train, with three services an hour to St Pancras and Charing Cross, plus you have the Eurotunnel on your doorstep and the Eurostar terminal 15 minutes away at Ashford.

At family-run Kent removal firm Colin Batt Removals, we’ve been helping people settle into homes across the county for 40 years – and are proud of our lovely corner of England. We’re based in Ashford and cover all of Kent, carrying out removals in Folkestone, Maidstone, Canterbury, Tonbridge and anywhere else you care to mention – we often work nationally and internationally too, as we specialise in piano removals. Call 01233 740395 for a free quote.

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House removals

Why use a BAR Member for your house move?

1 November 2019 Colin Batt Removals Comment

Choosing a BAR Member for your removal

A good removal firm can take so much of the stress out of moving that it can be quite transformative. But how do you know you’re choosing a good company? One sign to look for is membership of the British Association of Removers professional body, to which Colin Batt Removals is proud to belong.

The association has existed for more than a century, and around 400 removals and storage firms across the UK are now members, carrying out more than 280,000 home moves between them across the country each year. One of the main roles of the association, alongside giving professional advice and lobbying governments, is to ensure members meet high standards of service and transparency – if they don’t, they get booted out.

Code of conduct

To become a BAR member, a removal company has to prove that they can meet certain criteria, covering things like premises, vehicles, staff, operations, contracts, insurance, complaints and quotations – BAR members must provide free, no-obligation, clear and fair quotes. They must adhere to the BAR code of practice and provide evidence that they are giving good service.

All members are inspected annually and are also financially vetted to make sure they are sound.

Deposit guarantee

It’s standard practice in the removal industry that you’ll be asked for at least part of the cost upfront. When you choose a BAR member, that money is protected by the association’s Advance Payment Guarantee. This means that, if the firm you choose ceases trading before you move, either another BAR member will step in and move you or you’ll get your money back. Visit the BAR Advanced Payment Guarantee Page to learn more, including the full terms and conditions.

Dispute resolution

If you have a dispute with your removal firm, the Association offers an Alternative Dispute Resolution Scheme which is independently operated by:

The Furniture and Home Improvement Obudsman 3-4 Viewpoint Office Village, Babbage Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 2EQ. Tel: 0333 241 3209. Web: fhio.org

Specialist movers

If you’re moving outside mainland Europe, you’ll want a specialist in international moves who can ensure your possessions are packed and insured appropriately, and delivered safely and promptly by sea or air. The BAR Overseas Group consists of around 50 firms who have the necessary expertise and experience. Around the same number are members of the BAR Commercial Moving Group thanks to their expertise in commercial relocations.

How do I find out if a firm belongs to the British Association of Removers?

You can check on the association’s website at www.bar.co.uk or call them on 01923 699480, or you can check on the removal company’s website. The BAR logo should be displayed alongside the CTSI (Chartered Trading Standards Institute) logo as a link. If you click on it, it will take you to a page on the association’s website confirming that the company is a member.

At family-run Kent removal firm Colin Batt Removals, we’ve been making moving house as stress-free as possible for our customers for 40 years. We’re based in Ashford, but cover the whole county, particularly Maidstone, Canterbury, Folkestone and Tonbridge, and regularly work further afield and internationally thanks to our expertise in piano removals. We offer a packing and unpacking service to make moving easier, and also have our own secure storage facility in Kent if you’re not able to move all your belongings into your new home straightaway. Call us on 01233 740395 for an informal chat or a free quote.

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