Dubai-Based Relocations Company Scammed Hundreds
At Paul’s Removals Melbourne we are aware that organising your move in a cautious and responsible way might be one of the most important things we will do to help you start your new life in your new home. Not all companies understand this responsibility though. Or even if they do understand it, they have mastered their way around it and are conning hundreds by initially offering a competitive quote, only never to deliver… literally. When news broke yesterday about a Dubai-based relocation company that conned hundreds of people, including Australian citizens, we at Paul’s decided to help spread the word and provide tips how you can identify and avoid dodgy relocations, both here in Melbourne and anywhere in the world. The Emirates relocations company, ReloGulf (also known by other names) contacted people to help them with their move, offering the most competitive quote on the market, promising quality and results in a given time. Ex-banker Elaine, for instance expected a pre-Christmas delivery of her items from Portugal to her apartment in Dubai. When the dodgy removals started cooking up stories to explain the delay, Elaine took things in her own hands and decided to track her items down only to find out they are still in Portugal and no one has even contacted the storage to begin the move. The Dubai company took the payment, but never initiated the move. Now Elaine has to once more organise everything from scratch. If you think this is bad, here is more, because Elaine turned out to be among the luckiest. She only lost the money she paid them and not her belongings, some of which can be priceless like a wedding album, which is precisely what happened to the next victim. After living and working in Dubai for 16 years, Vangi Radhu Samarasinghe decided to move to Norway. For the purpose she needed to move 10 boxes labelled “sentimental and priceless things”. After landing an offer from the company in question, devastated Samarasinghe haven’t seen her boxes since and the company claims they don’t know where these are. Another victim, Aussie Daryl Wake was lucky to see his belongings again after entrusting ReloGulf, but was appalled by the way the removalists mixed people’s items in the truck without caring. He immediately asked himself what if he ends up with something that could be deemed by the law as contraband? In Dubai this could mean years and years in jail. The worse part of this whole story is that the local authorities are not doing anything presently and have not taken any action against the company. As for the dodgy removalists, they just keep changing their name when the bad press is getting too much. So, here are our quick tips that in most cases will save you from being scammed: – Always take your time to compare quotes and do your research. A simple Google research will help you identify scammers in most cases. Just check what the company’s activity online is and what people say about them. – Don’t always go for the cheapest quote. Here is a list of differences between cheap removalists and professional companies. Sometimes less is not more! – Hire insured, vetted and trained individuals for all your relocations. As seen on Gulf...
read more Tags: relocation scamEnhance Your Moving Experience
Few things are better than receiving a quality service, tailored to your budget, addressing all your needs and administered by a single company. When we talk about having a peace of mind during a stressful relocation this is what we mean! At Paul’s Removals Melbourne we offer additional services that will make each and every step of the relocation hassle-free and seamless. Remember last week, when we discussed the differences between cheap removal services and professional companies in Melbourne? Not only it turned out that sometimes cheap comes out more expensive, but it was also true that professional removal companies on many occasions offer additional services to help your move run even smoother, or to just make your day-to-day life easier. Here is a list with additional services and benefits offered by our quick pick movers for your moving day. End of Lease Cleaning this is a particularly important service for everyone who is vacating a rental property. As most of you probably know landlords can be very strict when it comes to all the small details. During a vacate cleaning, you need to do a lot more than your usual routine. A thorough lease cleaning includes cleaning the ducts, carpets, bathrooms, blinds, toilets, tiles, cupboards, behind furniture, door knobs, lamps, etc. A professional move out cleaning as the one we offer at Paul’s Removals Melbourne will quickly impress your landlord and will guarantee you get your lease money back. Our end of lease cleaners: – are professional and thorough; – follow an extensive checklist, covering all necessary areas; – are insured, vetted and quick; Move in Cleaning This is not a very popular service, but it is a very useful one. Imagine that while the end of lease cleaners clean your former home, the move in cleaners prepare your new home for you. This service is often used when minor works were done in the apartment and cleaning is required, or if the previous tenant has left the property in an untidy state. In such a case you can discuss with the landlord the need of a move out cleaning. The benefit of such a service is that upon arrival at your new place the only thing you need to worry about is finding your sleepers and sorting out your luggage. Everything else will be taken care of by our removalists and cleaners. Indoor and Furniture Removal Want just one furniture moved from A to B, or from one room to another? No problem. We offer furniture and indoor removal services for all awkward items and for people who shouldn’t be lifting heavy objects. Deliveries We offer a safe and secure way of getting any kind of parcel delivered anywhere in Melbourne. This could be a great way to save money by transporting safely any object purchased on eBay or IKEA to your...
read more Tags: move out cleaningMoving With Piano vs. Moving With Pool Table?
Moving is indeed our favourite subject and we can talk about it for ages and still have something new to tell you! As a professional removals company in Melbourne we know that every item requires individual approach, preparation and equipment, which is why we would like to stress the differences and similarities between a relocation with a pool table and a piano. Similarities: – Both pianos and pool tables should be handled with extreme care as they can be severely damaged by bumping, rocking and dropping. – Same applies to people that carry any of the two large items. Handling pianos and pool tables with extreme care is crucial for the health and well-being to the people who carry on the move. Probably all your pool buddies tried to give the table a lift when you mentioned you were moving? They probably managed for a few seconds, right? Well, the professional removals of your choice will have to do a lot better than that. This is why physical fitness, careful preparation, proper tools and extreme care are crucial for the move to go as smooth as possible. – Both need to be wrapped in blankets and fabric to protect from scratching their wooden legs; – When it comes to pianos and pool tables no one should tell you they are both heavy as heck. Yes, they are! Nobody knows that better than you, right? Especially if you’ve tried to move them yourself. Differences: – While moving a piano with a single heavy duty furniture dolly and some straps may be good enough, moving a pool table with furniture dolly is very difficult. To begin with you might need at least four furniture dollies for the four legs. Pool tables are wider and most of them are way heavier than the piano. If you are really unfortunate you might have your pool table in the attic or other rooms on the second or third floor. In such a case pool tables are a lot more awkward to turn when you have to come down the stairs and mainly when you come across the awkward corners and tight spaces. – While most pool tables can be dismantled, not all pianos leave that option open for owners. Some pianos are not only old, but extremely fragile and expensive. The dismantling of such a piano and its assembly might cost a fortune. With most pool tables this is not a case. – Pool tables have different regulation sizes – if you are asking for a quote online, you need to always make sure you’ve given the right regulation size. Saying it’s a standard size isn’t enough as there are three “standard sizes”. This may drastically affect your quote and will determine whether the movers will arrive with the proper equipment. Image Credits:...
read more Tags: table pool removalsFive Reasons Why Moving Is Actually a Blessing in Disguise
And, no, we are not kidding! Moving actually hides a lot of positives you may have missed while packing and stressing over. In this blog post you find all about the actual joys of moving to a new home. If you are lucky enough you will find a good removals company Melbourne to help you with that, so you can focus on all the good things that will come your way. 1. Moving to a new home means a fresh new start for you and your family. Hopefully you are moving to a bigger home, because your family expands, or you are going to a nicer area because of yours or your partner’s new job. Most times moving to a new home means that something good has happened in your life that requires this transition. Embrace this opportunity to actually enjoy the moment. 2. Moving to a new home means you will re-organise your items and your life. It doesn’t feel good to be stuck in a rut. Neither it feels good to be surrounded with the same furniture and items you’ve been keeping in the past 20 years that you have never moved from their place, like ever! Moving to a new home will change that. When you are anticipating relocation inevitably you will part with items you no longer need, nor use, or even like anymore. Remember, there are powerful emotions lurking amid our items and when we get rid of things we no longer use, or associate with unpleasant events, we are allowing for new and positive things to come our way. Getting items and furniture removed could feel really empowering. 3. Moving to a new home might offer more work, leisure, sports, educational or family activities. Whenever our quick pick movers handle a relocation they notice that all families move, hoping for the best. We, too, hope you will find it wherever you go, which is why we offer good removal and move in cleaning services to help you get started on the right foot. From there on, we hope you see your relocation as the blessing in disguise that it is. If your new home home has a pool – enjoy it with your family as often as you can, if your area offers great courses – benefit from them and learn a new skill or employ a new hobby. Sometimes even moving from an apartment to a house with a garden can be enough of a blessing – imagine all the barbecues you are going to host! 4. Moving to a new home means you get to meet new people and create friendships. Be friendly to your new neighbours and the people from your local community – use the first few weeks to get to know them and you might make friends for life! Ignore their attempts to approach and get to know you and you might miss on some really good relationships. 5. Moving to a new home can also get you far from unpleasant relationships, people and places. As emotions are lurking amid our items, the same way they are lurking on the streets you’ve walked thousands of times and they places you’ve spent nearly your whole life. Sometimes moving to a new place feels deliberating, because they are no expectations...
read more Tags: moving homesCheap vs. Professional Removal Services
…or when cheap comes out expensive… Have you ever purchased something on a bargain and felt lucky about it? That cheap gadget you bought at a surprisingly low cost, however soon ungratefully falls apart? This is what often happens when we seek for the cheapest company and expect a 5-star service. Many people believe such a service can be delivered by almost anyone who has a truck, but this impression is only left by the professional removalists who can complete a successful and hassle-free move in their sleep. When you take a better look at the differences between reliable and insured companies and individuals who lack the training, you will see for yourself. Cheap Removalists in Melbourne: – Cheap removal services lack the correct equipment. This is the first hazard as the lack of proper equipment can cause serious damage to your items and even harm the person who is lifting the furniture and boxes. Proper equipment includes – packing furniture dolly (standard and heavy duty), sack trucks of different sizes, ropes, tape, blankets to wrap fragile items, ratchet straps, moving pads and scrap paper to wrap items. – It is often unclear whether the removalists in question have the right to work in Australia and it is highly likely they lack the proper insurance policies that cover them against any possible accident that may occur during the move. Remember, if you are hiring them, you might be liable to cover their medical expenses shall anything happen, not to mention any damage done to your items will not be covered by a cheap company. – Cheap movers are not trained according to the highest standards. They may cover some of the basics, but they don’t really know all the essential details that help deliver a red carpet service all the way. These may include: proper packing techniques, proper furniture and box arrangement in the van (which guarantees nothing breaks during the drive) and of course professional attitude towards your home and personal belongings. – You are not guarded against hidden charges and unfair terms and conditions. Some removals will give you the cheapest quote, but as the move progresses additional costs will be added and your total may exceed a great way your budget. – Cheap removalist Melbourne could cost you a penalty if they are not punctual and not experienced enough to complete the move in the expected time. This is often the case when one family moves out and another has to move in. When the removalists, or cleaners in question are late, this causes a great discomfort for the landlord and the other family who were supposed to carry on their move. The penalties for this delay may vary, depending on the damage done, but are never cheap. Professional Removalists in Melbourne: In comparison with cheap removals, all decent and professional moving companies: – Train all their members of staff not only in the fine art of moving and carrying other people’s possessions, but in being polite, respectful, discrete and most importantly punctual. With such movers the process goes by smoothly and stress-free, because the movers themselves are experienced, relaxed and in control of the process. – They have customer reviews you can read on reputable websites. – All removalists are covered by insurance policies and...
read more Tags: cheap removals, professional removalsHow To Move With a Piano
Everybody knows that moving homes isn’t an easy tasк, it is even worse when you have way too many large and awkward items to take with you, especially if those include a piano. Pianos can be challenging even for the most experiences quick pick movers and this should come as no surprise. They are heavy! Not only they are heavy, but they are fragile, expensive and awkward to carry, especially if you need to negotiate elevators or stairs. Be aware of the weight of your piano, so you can estimate the manpower you will need to move the item. Hiring professional moving company Melbourne is essential when you plan your relocation with a piano on your hands and will ensure you don’t damage the inside mechanics. For piano removals you need on average at least 4 men. Depending on the size of the piano you might need more. Before you call the removals company, get your estimates right. When you are moving with an upright piano, keep in mind they carry all their weight in the top half and their legs and feet can be fragile. There are items that furniture removalists use when it comes to heavy awkward items of this kind. Some of this equipment includes furniture dolly and heavy-duty straps. You will also use some sort of padding, or blankets to secure your piano from bumps. If you are dealing with a grand piano, you once more need to mind the legs and to keep in mind grand piano take more floor space. It could make all the difference between one truck and two trucks. Professional piano movers Melbourne would also advise you to protect the keyboard lid by locking it so the keys are protected. They are a fragile item and if the lid doesn’t lock, you need to consult with your piano removals how to seal the piano best so the lid stays closed. We know tape may seem as the obvious solution for a problematic lid, but keep in mind tape can damage the wooden finish of your piano. When you’ve made sure the piano lid is sealed wrap in blankets and especially secure the corners. When you lift it, whether to load on the truck, or the furniture dolly, or to move in the next room, do not hold the piano by the legs. Use the straps instead. When you secure the piano in the moving truck make sure you level it. Some piano movers from Melbourne suggest to use wood planks to ensure a level flooring. Secure the piano in the truck so it is as near as the cabin as possible. This will minimize damage if there are bumps on the road. Image Source: Malta...
read more Tags: piano movers melbourneWho To Notify Before Your Move?
So you are changing your address and need to know who should you contact? We, at Paul’s Removals Melbourne are very much into making lists and careful planning. In fact writing everything down helps both you and your moving company Melbourne and is crucial so our removals men know what goes where. However, you can use the pen for more than marking boxes and ticking tasks off our lovely moving house checklist. You can also plan who to contact before your move and that doesn’t just include your friends and family. Obviously there are institutions and companies that need to be informed of your planned move. Remember to arrange all your mail to be forwarded to your new address before the quick pick movers arrive. That will save you the headache to try and chase your mail plus it is also annoying for the new owners to receive your mail. So here is a number of organisations that need to know of your move. Your bank or building society; Your employer; Your insurance company – property, contents, life and/or health insurer, etc.; Credit card companies; Council rates; Water, electricity, gas, TV and Internet Providers; Doctor, dentist, hospital, clinic, local surgery etc.; Schools, clubs or organisations you belong to; The library; Australian Taxation Office; Your union or association; Pension fund; Australian Electoral Commission; Friends, colleagues, neighbours and relatives; You can inform them via the post, by printing small change of address cards, or by calling them directly. If you go with the cards make sure your old address is also present as well as your new address. Image Source: Katie...
read more Tags: change of address, removalsHouse Security During Relocation and Removal
Leaving your house empty during the house relocation can play a bad game on you creating an opportunity for intruders to break in. If you want to secure your property and guarantee a safer removal for your belongings, follow these tips. Never leave the house empty with your belongings still in there. If you are leaving to go deal with housing registration, bank information management and real estate issues and you have to leave the house, call a friend to stay for a couple of hours or ask the neighbors to watch over your property while you are gone. Houses on sale can be an appetite target for burglars and the fact that outside is still a sunny day won’t stop them from finding a way to enter. Don’t make this easier for them by leaving a key under the door mat or near the entrance. Flower pot and garden gnome stashes are out the question as they the most common hiding places. Try to move everything from your old dwelling to the new one within a day. This is only applicable for short-distance transportation. Try not to leave any valuable items in your new dwelling during the house relocation without having someone to watch over the house. Shorten the removal and relocation process to avoid having your belongings on two different places for the night. Don’t leave your packaged belongings outside the house without oversight. Same goes when you are putting up a yard sale. Make sure to lock the doors and windows and always keep an eye on your house while you are with your neighbors and potential clients. Don’t showcase expensive items on the sale or this may attract the wrong people and put your and your property’s safety in...
read more Tags: relocation, securityShould You Tip The Movers
Many people wonder about the sensitive issue of whether they should tip the movers and how much should they give. Often people want to be appreciative, but they don’t know what is acceptable when it comes to moving. Here is our stand on this. You pay us good money for a great service and we should be giving you a great service and we are not looking for anything extra. All our terms and conditions are fair, we don’t have hidden charges or extra costs and we are not looking for a tip either. Certainly, though, we understand that when people get an excellent service, when they are very stressed out, in a tough situation like a move, they certainly want to show their appreciation. The removal teams love when their efforts are praised. So, if you want to express your satisfaction with the service, why don’t you buy them lunch during a long move, or provide refreshments in a hot day? That surely goes a long way. The other question that follows when it comes to tips is how much do you tip? It is an individual decision, determined by what you are comfortable with. Our advise is to not go crazy and think of hundreds of dollars. Surely $10, $20 or $30 is enough to make your movers feel appreciated. It is the fact that you loved the services they provide that counts. Personally, we would never want to make our customers feel they have to tip our movers. That puts too much pressure on an already stressed-out person. From our perspective, we train all our removalists to expect nothing. They show up without expectations and bring their own lunch, their own refreshments and if the customer offers something, that’s awesome. If, however, you are overly pleased with the job, certainly let the team know in a verbal manner, and are free to give them some money that is comfortable for you and your family. Feel free to also write an e-mail and let the company know what great job they did. It really helps in terms of improving services and providing great...
read moreThe Moving Challenge – Do You Got What It Takes?
So can you measure up to professional removalists? Relocation is one of the toughest decisions when it comes to choosing your new area of residence and moving your belongings to your new home. There is plenty of material out there teaching you what are the perks of calling the removalists in to help you with the move, yet neither one explains the downsides of actually choosing to do everything by yourself. If you think you’ve got what you need to take upon the wild adventure of moving house on your own, step aside into our next insights on house relocation and try matching your skills with the professionals and, please note, speed is not the only skill on their list! Game One: Packing Your Stuff Looks easy, but it is one of the hardest task when it comes to packaging fragile objects. For this round, you will need one cardboard box and a couple of old glass bottles or cups. Wrapping up these easily breakable items in newspapers won’t always do the trick. If you are going to move your belonging more than 10 kilometres along with all of your other furniture, keeping everything safe might become a problem. Do you have quality packaging material and skills to secure your safe trip to your new home? If not, this round might be ours to win. Game Two: Moving the Couch Let’s be realistic, if you are going to move, you will probably have to lift heavy furniture and the couch is the perfect test subject on that manner. Since moving is a two man job and you are just one, you will have to push your lifting skills to the maximum. If you are lucky enough to find a moving buddy, you try taking the steps down and exit the building. Be careful on your way down the stairs and try keeping up with your friend’s tempo. Tough, ah? Game Three: Driving the Van If you happen to have in hand a small bus or a large family car with lots of storage space, try competing in this final round. Pack a couple of boxes with old, useless fragile items and load one bigger furniture piece together with them. Try making a couple of circles around the block without braking the cargo and bumping into too many holes on the road. The Conclusion: If you find those round hard to win, you might consider calling us the help. And in case you won all the games, you might actually take a shot in our team and master your already well-developed mover skills in our team of professional removalists from Melbourne. Either way, take care on your trip to your new home! Image Credit: Commons...
read more Tags: relocation challenge
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