6. Provision of Crates
Crates (and associated equipment such as roll-cages)
play an essential role in every move. There
is an increasing variety available and while the
majority are general-purpose such as for desk
contents and paperwork, other designs have
specific purposes, for example, for flat screens, and
some are fully lockable while most can simply be
secured with numbered plastic seals.
If you have regular internal moves you may already
have some crates of your own, but for a major
relocation you will almost certainly have to hire
more. You might think that it would make sense
to arrange this yourself directly with one of the
specialist crate hire companies but this can lead
to problems as you may easily under-estimate (or
overstate) the quantity required, or misjudge the
stages of the move at which you will need them.
You will also be directly responsible for any losses
or charges for delayed return.
20 Best Practice Guide
Trust Your Contractor
The contractor will assess the quantities and types
required during the pre-move survey and although
you may be surprised at the number he suggests
or the proposed timing for collection and delivery,
you should trust his judgement as he will have
gone through this process many times before.
The contractor will have his own stock of crates
and even if he needs to source additional types
or quantities to meet your needs, it is far better to
leave this to him to arrange. He will bring them in as
needed, remove them when no longer required, and
will keep account of the quantities still “out on hire”
and will provide you with regular reports to enable
you to oversee the emptying and return of crates
that are still in use after delivery to the new location.
Always remember however, by whichever means
you arrange the crates, ultimately you the customer
will be responsible for any losses or retention
charges. Make sure that you know the relevant
terms in advance, and negotiate the most generous
deal that you can, which may be as part of an
all-in price. The contractor will have its
own stock of crates and even
if it needs to source additional
types or quantities it is far
better to leave this to them to
arrange.