Removals Overview

So you've hired your conveyancer and your sale or purchase has gone through and its time for the big move. Removal companies can take away much of the stress involved in moving house, simply by doing most of the work for you! They can efficiently pack and/or move your belongings, usually getting the job done much quicker than you could on your own (or even with a few friends helping out). In addition to the actual moving of furniture and other items, they often will provide other services such as dismantling and reassembling large furniture items, packing of fragile items, temporary storage and the provision of all necessary packing materials.

You can use this website to easily access hundreds of local and national movers in minutes, then request house removals quotes from trusted removals companies to find the best deal and save money moving house. You can then let professional movers handle your removals from start to finish, keeping both stress levels and removals costs low!

DIY Removals?

Leaving the packing to the last minute and getting friends and family round to help you move with a hired van might seem like the easier and cheaper option. However, professional movers are trained in heavy lifting and are experienced in moving items safely. There are many things that could go wrong when moving house with the help of friends and family. Many insurance companies won’t cover any damage sustained to your belongings in transit unless they were packaged professionally, removal companies offer such packaging services, as well as insurance policies to cover any damage during the move.

Professional removal companies can cater to many different needs and usually have a range of different vehicles to choose from. They are also very experienced in estimating the correct size of vehicle required, whereas when hiring a van, often people underestimate the size of the vehicle required, and end up having to make multiple trips which wastes more time and money.

Comparing Removals Quotes

When comparing quotes from removal companies, remember that price isn’t the only consideration. You should always ensure as a minimum, that the company you choose has comprehensive insurance in place, a checkable trading history, professional and experienced staff, in addition, proof of membership to professional associations such as the British Association of Movers or the National Guild or Removers and Storers offer extra peace of mind.

Any decent removal firm will always agree to conduct a home survey before providing a quote, be wary if a company doesn't want to come out and complete a free home survey to provide a detailed quote for your move, they may turn up on the day with a van that’s too small and try to charge you extra on the day of your move when they know it's too late to get another company. Avoid being scammed by researching the removal company beforehand, checking references and ensuring they carry out a home survey and accurately detail all items to be moved, along with any other agreed services.

Typical Removals Costs

The prices quoted by professional removals companies vary greatly depending on a number of factors, the main considerations being exactly how much stuff you need moving, and of course how far you need to move it! Assuming you do not have any unique large/heavy items, most removals firms will base their quotes on the number of rooms in your existing home and the distance to your new home. Obviously, the costs will increase if you get the movers to supply all the boxes and packaging, then increase again if you want them to do the packing for you.

If you cannot move into your new home the same day you are moving out, you will also have to pay storage costs at a daily rate. Expect to pay in the region of £1000 - £1500 to pack and move the contents of a typical 3-bed semi-detached home up to 30 miles away. You can save around £300 by doing all the packing and supplying all the boxes and tape yourself. These typical prices assume reasonable access, if the removals van cannot park directly outside of your home, or if they need to take furniture up 10 flights of stairs, this will obviously take more time so will increase the costs.

Man with a Van removals - Pros and Cons

For those without access to a suitable vehicle (or a suitable driver), and where a professional removal service is too expensive, a "man with a van" moving house service could provide a cost effective solution. However, this is a very competitive market, seemingly there are lots of these men with vans and their services can vary a great deal! So, before you hire one of them, it’s a good idea to be aware of the pros and cons.

Pros

If you find a reliable and honest man with a van service, you can move home for a price which is usually substantially cheaper than the cost of a professional moving company. In addition, many of these "man with a van" services will allow you to travel with your possessions in the same van. This offers greater peace of mind plus of course a useful free lift which will save on travel costs if you don't own a car.

Note that many “man with a van” services can rope in extra labour if required so you can sit back and relax without having to do any of the heavy lifting, much like a professional removals company, though if you take advantage of this option the savings over using professional movers will obviously be much less.

Cons

While many "man with a van" services are reputable, a substantial minority are not and can leave you high and dry come moving day. The last thing you need after you’ve packed all of your possessions is for the man not to turn up with his van! Additionally, if anything goes wrong with the move, lack of insurance can be a real problem and dodgy movers will be highly unlikely to accept any liability for loss or damage of your possessions.