No one wants to hire a second rate removals firm when they’re moving home or office but picking out the good from the bad can be a time-consuming process. But with a few little steps you can sift out the cowboys from the rest, leaving you to enjoy a stress-free move. So before you sign on the dotted line, why not take some time out to see whether they meet the criteria below. 1.    Excellent Credentials Every good removals company should have a reputation to match, so ask around the area, research them on the internet or read some reviews to see what other people have had to say. This should give you a general indication as to how they treat their customers and how successful they are with house and office removals. In addition to this, you could also check a few basic company facts to see how well they are performing; the number of years trading, security record and yearly profits are all useful indicators to check. 2.    State-Of-The-Art Moving VansA reputable moving firm should also have a fleet of modern removal vans which are suitable for all sorts of house and office moves. Old or dirty moving lorries may be a sign of an underperforming or badly organised firm and should be steered clear of unless you have a trustworthy source which says otherwise. 3.    Trained Moving PersonnelIf a company has a record of training their personnel then this is a sure sign that they take the removals business seriously. Lorry drivers are legally required to have specialist training, while professional movers should have experience in how to plan, organise and carry-out a move. If you use a moving company that does not train their employees, you may find that you’re household or business items are not in the best of hands. 4.    Good Customer Service TeamIf you contact a moving firm and find that their customer services team is professional and helpful then it tends to indicate that you will receive a good level of service throughout. While it should not be taken as a sign of a good removals firm by itself, it can often reflect the company’s standards on a much wider level. So, if you find the customer services staff to be unhelpful, unknowledgeable or generally uninterested then you may want to find someone else. 5.    Good Range of ServicesIf a moving firm offers a good range of services then it can show that they are proactive and customer-orientated in their approach. So before you hire a removals service check what additional extras they offer as well; packing, storage and packaging materials are just a few. 6.    FlexibilityMultiple house chains and busy offices can make moving property a bit of a nightmare. That is why all removals companies should have some sort of flexibility built into their service so that they can help you deal with any last minute moving dramas. If you see that a company has high cancellation charges or strict guidelines to follow then they may be trying to make money out of your moving woes. If you can see that a company meets even just a few of the above criteria then you should feel much better about them organising your move. Modern moving vans, professional movers and excellent credentials are a sure sign that a company is doing well and motivated to continuing with the highest standards possible. Having the additional help of a friendly customer services team, a good range of services and a good level of flexibility can also help you to feel at ease when you’re finalising your move.