On moving day, a professional team with experience can save — or ruin — everything you have been planning for weeks. How do you tell the difference between a serious removals company and a mere haulier? This guide compiles the 10 signs that separate a true professional from someone who only has a van, with a focus on moves to the Canary Islands where the added complexity multiplies the risk of hiring the wrong company.
1. FREE pre-move technical survey
A professional always offers a free technical survey for medium and large moves. They visit your current home, measure furniture, identify critical points (access, lift, balcony for a crane), ask about special items (piano, antiques) and provide a detailed quote based on that real information.
Warning sign: a company that gives you a quote only over the phone or via WhatsApp without having seen your home.
2. Company legal documentation
Verify that the carrier holds:
- A valid Transport Licence (MDP-N or MDL-N)
- Tax registration number (CIF) and registration with Social Security
- Public Liability Insurance for goods (minimum 600,000 €)
- For international moves to the Canary Islands: registration as an authorised economic operator (AEO) to process DUAs and duty exemptions
Ask for copies of these documents with the quote. A reputable company provides them without issue; a carrier without documentation will make excuses.
3. Detailed, signed inventory
On moving day, the crew must draw up a numbered inventory of every item, which you sign at the time of loading. At destination, each item is checked against the inventory before you sign a delivery note. This is the legal basis for making an insurance claim if anything is lost or damaged.
Without an inventory: if you make a claim, you cannot prove what was loaded. Your word against theirs.
4. Professional packing materials
A professional uses:
- Reinforced double-wall cardboard boxes (not supermarket boxes)
- Padded moving blankets (not old towels)
- Bubble wrap, corner protectors, certified strapping tape
- Hydraulic trolleys for appliances and heavy furniture
- Aluminium loading ramps for staircases
A move carried out with makeshift materials and no proper equipment is a guaranteed disaster for bulky or fragile furniture.
5. Adequate, trained crew
For a standard 3-bedroom flat move, the correct minimum is 3–4 crew members. For a piano, an external crane or an office move, 4–6 people. If the company offers you “2 workers and a rush”, be wary: either the job will take three times longer than promised, or something will get broken.
6. Optional declared-value insurance
Standard RC insurance covers up to €12 per kilo of goods, which is low for valuable items. A professional company offers optional declared-value insurance for jewellery, works of art, collector’s wines, musical instruments or premium electronics. Additional premium: 1–2% of the declared value.
7. Fixed written quote
Professional: a written quote (by email or on paper) with a breakdown by item, VAT/IGIC included, validity period, and payment terms. The fixed price is the price you pay, unless changes are agreed in writing.
Amateur: “I’ll charge you approximately X, depending on time and kilometres.” When the job is done, the invoice has gone up 40–60% with no explanation.
8. Municipal permit processing
To reserve a parking space outside your building (OVP, public highway occupation) and, if an external crane is needed, to obtain the relevant permits, a professional company handles all of this at the local council on your behalf. You do not have to waste mornings at municipal offices.
9. Customs formalities included (Canary Islands)
For moves to the Canary Islands, the professional includes in the price:
- DUA (Single Administrative Document)
- AIEM duty exemption processing if you are relocating by change of residence
- If you are taking a car, IEDMT and Canarian registration
- If you are taking a pet, coordination with the shipping company for a pet-friendly vessel
More info: fiscal regime of the Canary Islands.
10. After-move service
A professional does not disappear once you sign the delivery note. They offer:
- A 7–14-day claims period to detect damage not visible at delivery
- Free collection of empty boxes and packing materials 1–2 weeks later
- Post-move advice (change of address registration, utilities, etc.)
- Guarantee on assembly and reconnection work
Red flags: what you should NEVER accept
- 100% payment in advance. The standard is 30% deposit + 40% on loading day + 30% when you sign the delivery note at destination. NEVER pay everything before they move a single item.
- No invoice. If they offer “cheaper without an invoice”, you have no legal protection whatsoever and the company is probably not operating legally.
- No written quote. Only verbal or via informal WhatsApp without any breakdown.
- Suspiciously low quote (50–70% below competitors). Either the scope of service is misrepresented, they are not going to show up on moving day, or they have no insurance.
- No verifiable references. A company with years of track record has genuine reviews on Google, Trustpilot, etc.
Frequently asked questions when hiring a removals company
What happens if the company does not show up on moving day?
If you have signed a contract and paid a deposit, you are entitled to recover what you paid plus compensation for breach of contract. But this rarely happens with reputable companies: the problem arises with “companies” that have no structure or reputation. That is why it is critical to hire companies with a verifiable track record.
How much should I pay in advance?
The standard is: 30% when confirming the booking (secures the date and your space in the container), 40% on loading day at origin, 30% on final delivery at destination with signed delivery note. Total: 100%. Some companies charge 50% upfront and 50% at the end.
Can I cancel the move if I need to?
Yes. If you cancel more than 14 days in advance, your deposit is refunded in full. Between 7–14 days, they retain 30–50%. Less than 7 days, they retain the full deposit because resources have already been committed (container booked, crew assigned).
Does the company cover damage to my property during the move?
Yes. RC insurance also covers damage to the properties at origin and destination (scratches on walls, staircases damaged by moving heavy furniture, etc.). Document the condition before and after with photographs.
What do I do if I find damage after signing the delivery note?
You have a period of 7 days under the Transport Contract Act to claim for damage not visible on delivery. After that period, the company may argue the damage occurred afterwards. That is why it is worth unpacking at least the critical boxes in the first week.
Is it better to use a Canarian company or a mainland company for a move to the Canary Islands?
A company based in the Canary Islands with operations on the mainland (like Horizont Atlantic) offers the best of both worlds: it manages the mainland origin AND the Canarian destination with its own staff at both ends. A mainland-only company subcontracts the Canarian leg, which doubles costs and multiplies the risk of poor coordination.
Your checklist before signing
- Have they carried out a prior technical survey?
- Do they hold a valid transport licence and insurance?
- Have they provided a fixed written quote with a full breakdown?
- Does the quote include the DUA and AIEM exemption (for moves to the Canary Islands)?
- How much deposit are they asking for? (30% is normal; 100% is a red flag)
- How many crew members will they send on moving day?
- Do they offer declared-value insurance for valuable items?
- Do they have genuine, verifiable reviews on Google/Trustpilot?
- Is there a contact phone number during the move (not just email)?
- Have they signed a contract with clear terms and conditions?
25 years of experience behind every move
At Horizont Atlantic we meet all 10 points and more: free technical survey, valid MDL-N transport licence, €1,500,000 insurance policy, own teams on the mainland and in the Canary Islands, fixed written quote, DUA + AIEM + IEDMT management included, no surprises on the invoice. Contact us for a no-obligation technical survey or request an online quote.
