It’s an art to hire movers in Dubai who know how to move everything in one piece.
Earlier, it was rather easy to track a trusted moving company but now, it’s as difficult as finding the needle in the digital sea. You look up on the internet, find thousands of never-ending pages claiming to be the best movers in Dubai.
But you can’t trust all of them just by a simple search, can you?
Imagine hiring someone offering lower moving quotes but inexperienced moving crew? You’ll be simply handing over your expensive furniture in wrong hands. And end up making several calls back to their supervisor for compensation.
So, how can you find the best movers who don’t cost you much and still get the job done?
Read on and discover how you can get hold of a professional moving company in Dubai as an expat. And avoid some major mistakes that tenants make while hiring the movers.
Why Hire a Moving Company in Dubai?
You may ask “why even hire a moving company” if it’s your first time in Dubai!
And it’s quite natural thinking to DIY your whole move. But Dubai has changed a lot over the decades. There are tall residential buildings, multiple elevators, and several rules to follow when it comes to shifting apartments. And there are several more logical reasons that government of Dubai has set for tenants, landlords, and residential communities.
- You’ll need experts for handling both fragile and heavy furniture when you shift the apartment. Especially if you live on 8th floor and your new apartment is on 16th floor of the building.
- Each residential community has set different rules for moving in and out that may prove exhausting for you. And hiring professional movers can save you time and energy for obtaining different building permits prior to the move day.
- In Dubai, moving companies provide insurance to reduce the risk of breakage or theft. Meaning you can easily entrust your belongings knowing that everything would be smoothly done. And even if something goes wrong, you’ll be compensated.
- Another benefit for hiring movers in Dubai is that you’ll find additional help in setting up the new apartment. Chores like changing curtains, fixing doors, and taps all can be added to your moving invoice (and most of time it’s free).
Answer This Before You Hire Movers
The part where you hire movers in Dubai comes a little later!
First, you need to understand why you’re searching for these professionals. Is it for a villa move, apartment shifting, or something else? Answering these concerns would be your starting point of finding the best movers. Because some of them would have expertise in moving villas, some deal in heavy furniture, and others, they are known for handling apartment moves only.
- As a first step, define why do you need the movers in Dubai? Villa moves, furniture shifting, specialty move or simply the truck, be as specific as you can. Because this would serve as a base of your whole moving plan.
- Next, calculate your items, the rooms moving crew would be covering for packing, dismantling and more. If you’re moving from a villa, the rooms may vary from a standard 3-BHK.
- Thirdly, you must decide in advance if you will be requiring packing services from the company. Although this would increase a few digits in your moving invoice, it could prove a useful service if you don’t know how to properly pack everything.
- Look at your household items and spot any fragile or heavy furniture in it. As you’ll be sharing this detail to movers during initial survey, it’s important that you know what’s being moved from old address to new one. Otherwise, your moving plan may experience a delay due to last-minute quotation discrepancies.
- Also, check with your building management to see if they require move-in/move-out permits before you hire movers in Dubai. This would give the movers clarity if obtaining permits should be on their checklist or not. And sorting this part early will save you time later when the moving date arrives.
- There’s one important ritual that you need to perform before starting your hunt for the right moving partner – the budgeting. Sit down with pen, paper or your phone to run some numbers and understand how much you are willing to spend on a moving company. Understanding your budget will allow you to understand your limits for hiring a certain moving company, too.
- An essential step before you start comparing movers in Dubai would be to decide how soon you are planning the move. Decide if you’re moving next week, next month or after 90 days. And then begin your search for a professional moving company in Dubai.
Steps for Hiring a Moving Company in Dubai
Once you decide the key objectives, your moving company hunt becomes much clearer. In fact, we’ve jotted down some easy-to-implement steps to locate trusted, experienced and affordable movers in Dubai.
Let’s discuss each step briefly so you can begin with your moving plans:
Step 1: Start with Shortlisting Movers
Most people stick to Google search only but there are more search options!
Instead of limiting your research to first 5 results only, include Facebook groups, Quora, and Reddit into your options. People share their experiences on these platforms and some of them ask for recommendations there, too.
The idea is to collect as many leads as you can so when you start picking, you have several options.
Step 2: Don’t Just Stop at 5-Star Ratings
When finding the right moving company in Dubai, you’ll come across many 5-star rating movers.
Don’t fall for this trap until you’re sure about their credibility!
The easiest way to spot trusted companies is to check their social media post comments. Expats are quite vocal about their experiences and share detailed feedback on social media when they use a certain service.
Looking at these places can help you verify these claims and you can make the hiring decisions with ease.
Step 3: Always Get Multiple Moving Quotes
When planning to hire movers in Dubai, always collect multiple quotations!
Suppose you’re moving to Downtown from Al Barsha. One moving company quotes AED 2300/-, another offers AED 2100/- and the third agrees to move in AED 1950/- only. All three offer same service quality, have positive reviews and experienced crew.
Who would you select out of these 3?
Obviously the one offering AED 1950/- since they’ll charge lowest while offering exact service level.
That’s the reason why you shouldn’t settle for single moving quotation when finding the best movers.
Step 4: Cross-check Experience & Expertise Claims
For selecting the right fit to handle your move, don’t miss these aspects of selection process!
Look for how many years of experience prospective movers have. Are they new in town, working from last year, or have a long history of working as professional movers in Dubai?
Also, study what kind of moving projects they’ve done in the past. Meaning if they’re more suited for commercial moves or have experience with apartment/villa moving.
Knowing this can help you narrow down the selection for movers in Dubai.
Step 5: Thoroughly Study Moving Offers
In your quest for finding the best movers in Dubai, you’ll come across various companies.
Some would only provide you with moving trucks, others can load/unload your packed boxes. And there would be those offering a 360 moving solution based on your moving needs.
Before you hire movers in Dubai, make sure to check what’s included in their service structure.
Ask if:
- Packing included?
- Dismantling/reassembly added?
- Specialized moving equipment included?
- Moving crew is vetted and trained?
And several other important questions before you lock a moving company in Dubai.
Step 6: Decide the Terms Before You Say “Yes”
Moving companies shortlisting, check!
Experience verification, check!
Service offering evaluation, check!
Now comes the part where you discuss your move, the little details and everything associated with it with the movers.
The discussion would probably revolve around:
- Picking a moving date
- Moving crew’s expected arrival
- Obtaining moving permits
- Getting elevator clearance
- And the parking area access (for the truck)
And while you discuss all these essential terms, make sure to cross-check any restrictions set by building’s management. So, you won’t be running to administration on moving day to sort out any unexpected issues.
Step 7: Ask for Discounts While You Sign Agreement
At this point, you’re all set for hiring a professional moving company in Dubai!
But here’s a last ritual that you shouldn’t skip – asking for discounts.
Most companies (that care about their clients) already know the financial burdens that come with residential moves. And they are willing to offer you either a customized moving quotation or offer a decent discount.
All you have to do is…ask!
So, before you make any advance payment or sign the contract, do ask if you can get a discount on your move.
Key Questions Before You Hire a Mover in Dubai
How can I find movers in Dubai?
There are several ways you can locate and shortlist professional movers in Dubai. From Google search to Reddit Q/As and asking into your social circles, you have many options. Or you can simply rehire your previous movers if your last experience was good with them.
What documents to check when hiring a moving company?
Moving quotation, payment terms, and insurance copy should be on your must-ask list when hiring a mover in Dubai. Plus, do check if the prospective movers can send their license copy for verification purposes.
What to seek in a moving service?
Check their moving quotation and you’ll get an idea what’s included in it. See if they’re offering packing in the same amount or charging a different invoice. Also, check if dismantling/reassembly is part of the offer or not. Similarly, check if moving your items through stairs or elevator is in the quotation or not. Also, make sure to understand their pricing structure as some companies offer a standard pricing model and others provide a customized invoicing structure.
Should I include packing service or DIY packing?
Adding packing facility is totally dependent on your moving budget. If your moving distance is short and there aren’t many boxes, you can DIY the packing. If there are specialized or glass items, include the packing in your moving quotation for safety.
Do I have to pay for insurance separately?
Not always! There are 2 types of insurance options when a company mentions “Insured moving” term. Public liability insurance is mandatory by renowned developers (like Emaar or Nakheel) for movers to obtain permits. And there is “removal insurance” that covers your furniture when you hire a mover. So, always check with your prospective moving company what insurance they offer with their services.
Final Words
While hiring a mover in Dubai, your goal shouldn’t be entirely saving money but finding a trusted partner!
Before you leave this blog and initiate your research, let’s revisit some of the essential points discussed above:
Every move comes with a different challenge. Some would need better execution strategies, and others would require affordability. Before you hire a mover in Dubai, decide what exactly your move demands and hunt for a company accordingly.
Sometimes prioritizing a lower moving quotation can expose your moving plans to instances like breakage or mishandling. So, always prefer an experienced moving crew to a moving company willing to do it at the lowest price.
Never ever rely on a single Google search especially if you’re moving for the first time. Ask friends or family members about their recent moving experiences. And based on that make your selection to ensure your moving plans remain on track and you spend on right moving crew.
Hiring a moving company doesn’t mean that your job is done there. You’ve to stay in touch with the moving crew to stay updated with your move’s progress from day one. From obtaining permits to selecting dates and deciding routes, you have to discuss every little detail with them in advance.
Dial 800 668348 to request a survey with our moving experts if you’re still not sure on selecting the right movers for your move.