Arranging Removals

Deciding on how to move the contents of your home is a personal preference however with so many options this can seem a daunting task, our guide summarises the key points to help you choose.

Get Quotes

There’s nothing better than personal recommendation, has anyone you know moved recently? Ask friends, family and also your estate agent. Before you contact the companies, you need to decide how much help you need to move, there are various options explained in more detail so read on!

Do It Yourself

The cheapest of all options without a doubt but the most labour intensive! Arm yourself with some boxes, packing tape, scissors, bubble wrap and something to list the contents (writing the room of destination on the box and having an inventory of its contents will really help later). If you don’t already own a vehicle big enough to move the contents of your home, research local vehicle hire, certain size vehicles can be driven on a standard UK driving licence. Many hands make light work, ask friends and family if they’d be willing to lend you a hand. I don’t just mean the physical moving of furniture and boxes, work out in advance if there is anything else you could need help with e.g. looking after children or pets on move day so you can concentrate on the job in hand!

Pack Yourself Using Removals

If you have plenty of time and are happy to pack your own boxes and dismantle furniture, but want someone else to move things from one home to another then this may be the option for you. Ensure you make it clear on the box which room you intend it to end up in and don't forget to list its contents to help you later. Which box is the bottle opener in?

Pack & Removal Service

This is the option for those who want to avoid the stresses of move day. The removal company will book some time prior to move day to pack your contents in readiness. They will ask you to mark which items are to remain (if any) - sticky notes are very handy for this!

If you are planning to declutter prior to moving it’s a good idea to do so before you get quotes from the removal companies, you don’t want to pay any more than necessary. The removals company can provide you with packing materials if you need them, which they will include in their quote.

Long Distance Move

There are extra things to factor in when moving long distance. The removals company need to organise the drivers schedule and take into consideration the time that they are legally permitted to be driving. Whether you are packing yourself or having the removal company do this, they typically arrange to remove your items the previous day and store the contents overnight. They can then get an early start on their journey to facilitate a timely move.

Overnight Storage

Some removals companies offer overnight storage, this provides more time if you are travelling long distance or simply alleviate any time constraints on the day. They will be able to provide a suitable, secure environment, as well as fire safety measures and insurance policies to protect your items.

Removals Survey

In order to provide you with an accurate quote, in most cases the removals companies should visit your property to carry out a removals survey. This is usually offered free of charge and will help them understand your specific needs and potential issues that could affect the move. They will assess vehicle access, can they park the relevant size vehicle immediately outside or will they need to use a smaller vehicle to shuttle the contents? If the property is on the tenth floor they may need a bigger team to move your belongings. Give them as much information as possible and this will help things to run smoothly on the day and prevent you incurring extra costs.

Removals Insurance

Although the staff are usually well trained unfortunately accidents do happen. It’s up to you to assess the risk of what is being moved however the removals company should offer you removals insurance or you can obtain your own.

Making A Decision

Once you’ve got three quotes together, compare prices but ensure they are all offering the service you want. A good removals company will be transparent with their quotes detailing exactly what it includes. Are they a member of the British Association of Removers? Can they provide you with reviews from their customers? Gut instinct can help, who do you trust to handle your belongings? 

Before committing it's worth remembering that the date isn’t set in stone until you have exchanged contracts!