In our 8th edition of Industry Insights we chew the fat with David Sayce, Co-founder of Compare My Move.
Q1: In the last 10 years, what would you say have been the biggest changes in the way people approach moving home?
There have certainly been changes in relation to the technology that’s available. The prevalence of smartphones means that more and more movers are using video home surveys to ensure accurate removal quotes.
However, the biggest change would be in the movers themselves. As with any industry, the advent of the internet has changed how people find and research services and companies.
People are wiser, seek more information, ask more questions, and do their research.
There’s been a huge surge in comparison services for other industries which has really normalised the idea of consumers shopping around for the best deals and services. This shift is positive as it empowers the consumer and means we can provide real value to our users by offering expert guidance.
Q2: Do you see there being many more changes over the coming years?
In many
Short-term issues around Brexit affecting international removal companies and long-term questions posed by automation of freight vehicles are examples of potential areas for big future change.
But for the foreseeable future people will need human help from trusted removal companies.
Q3: There is a lot of uncertainty in the housing market at the moment, what do you think 2019 has in store?
Although there are uncertainties across the market, we see 2019 as a year of growth and opportunity. As a business we’ve concentrated on growing sustainably, which means month-by-month and year-by-year our team has steadily increased alongside our revenue.
With a strong foundation in the house removal industry, we’ve now branched out into conveyancing and property surveying. We forecast continued growth across all three of our services and look forward to the expansion 2019 will bring.
Q4: What are your top 3 tips for someone preparing to pack for their next move?
Declutter
Sell, donate or recycle any and all unwanted belongings long before moving day. Moving should be a great chance for a reset, and you certainly don’t want to lug anything from door to door that’s not needed.
Remember it takes time to declutter, but it’s worth doing as it will lower the volume of items you’ll need to pack.
Get professional help
You’ll want to look into getting professional packing help for at least your most valuable or unique items. Pianos, Welsh oak dressers, artwork and sculptures will all require special attention, even if you perform the majority of packing yourself.
Pack room by room
Pack room by room and clearly label the boxes so you know where to unpack them in your new home. Start with your garage, loft and shed as there will likely be a huge volume of long-forgotten items here.
Q5: Tell us a little bit about what you do at Compare My Move?
We aim to save UK movers time and money on the whole range of services they require when moving house. In a nutshell, we connect UK users with local removal companies, RICS Chartered Surveyors and Licensed Solicitors on demand.
Our service is free for the user, who choose between a selection of our partners within their local area they match with.
On the business to business side, we’re a lead generation service for surveyors, conveyancers and removal companies. We place huge importance on digital marketing, with half of our staff within the digital team.
Q6: Have you ever been asked to help with moving a particularly awkward or unusual item?
Compare My Move don’t actually perform the moves, our network of removal partners do. I’ve had many years of experience in the industry, but my moving days seem a distant memory now!
Q7: What are the biggest benefits you offer someone who is considering using your service?
We save users the effort of searching by bringing the best local companies directly to them. Users can expect only the highest quality service when using Compare My Move to find a removal company, chartered surveyor, or conveyancer.
This is because our partners must pass a multi-stage verification process before joining our network, and must follow our code of conduct at all times.
This means fully regulated, accredited and insured companies for our users to choose between, giving peace of mind. Plus, we encourage all users to review and rate our partners, to help future movers make their choice.
On top of this, we offer expert advice on every step of the moving journey to ensure all movers are fully informed.
Q8: If you could move anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
Anywhere with sun, sea and wine.
Q9: Finally, are there any exciting plans for the Compare My Move brand we should be aware of?
I’ll have to keep the details under wraps but we’ve been hard at work over the last few months giving our whole brand a refresh. The results of which will be revealed later this year. So until then, watch this space!
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