Removal Company vs hiring own van : which is best

mad_gemma

hi all, sorry if this is in the wrong area, but I saw another thread on removal companies here so figured it would be ok..

we have to move flat in a week and we're looking at getting some removal men in, but initial quotes we're getting are £100 for one man and a van up to £195 for 2 men and a van..

we're moving from Southampton to.. Southampton! About a 5 minute walk down the road infact, but we have too much stuff to make it just walkable with bits and bobs sadly. We dont have *that* much stuff, probably between two an entire one-bed flat.. (the place we're moving to is part furnished, you see.. ) and we have one double bed, 2 chest of drawers, a small sofa and 2 bookcases and thats about the majority of our "larger, heavier" items.. I've had an offer from 2 guys to help us move, but I feel really guilty asking them..

however, we're both girls and neither of us are that good at lifting (I've got a bit of a back problem, my flatmate has knee issues occasionally) so we'd prefer as little labour as possible..

if you were us, would you say hire someone, pay a fair whack and get them to do it all, hire one man and help but only save about £50 or hire a van (I've seen quotes of about £50) and do it ourselves over the space of a day?

any suggestions (and recommendations of good hire/removal firms) greatfully received :cool:
I want to be as cheap as possbile, as I'm still saving for a deposit on my first house (I've already got about a 20% deposit on a nice onebed saved but I want a nice flat! )

southernscouser

If you haven't got that much and 2 blokes are offering to help then hire a van and treat them to a pub lunch and a pint.

Ldn_2

A van hire company sounds like the best option to me, especially if you are moving so close - you get much more flexibility. Local van hire companies often have the best prices but I would also try easyVan, UK Van Hire, Europcar, Sixt and 1van1.

*Louise*

2 blokes are offering to help???


Where's your dilemma?:D

Hire a van, grab the 2 blokes, move all your stuff then give the guys something for their trouble (pub meal mentioned previously is a good idea)

You're sorted.

lcparkinson

2 best options I've found are

(i) Get a load of mates/colleagues/neighbours round to help and then make them a meal/bbq/alcohol to compensate

(ii) Hire a "man with a van" to do the lifting for you - I've found gumtree.co.uk very useful for that in the past.


I'm about to move for the 13th time in 12 years, and will be rejoicing that the nomadic life of the student and later junior doctor is going to be replaced with a bit of career and personal stability at last! I've done 3 moves in the last year due to work and have done all of them by hiring a van and moving it all myself, including the mad dash from York to Dundee and back to York in 2 days! I'm fine with lifting though, and all but the last time had lots of friends on hand to help too. Used a man with a van 5 years ago to get mine and OH's stuff from Suffolk to Fife whilst we drove up essentials in our car, and I think it only ended up costing us about £400 for him, van and his fuel.

poppysarah

Unless you've got some very strong people to help you I'd go for the removal van every time. I know it costs more but the thought of not having to help carry washing machines and fridges (and boxes of books) is worth every penny.

You have people offering to help - let them perhaps but reward them with a great meal and some booze maybe?

before_hollywood

last time i moved my mate turned up with a van and i paid him £40 (i'm really generous like that) he didnt want to take money but i insisted. if i didnt have friends/relatives with large vans i would phone a man and van place out the paper, typically a luton or lwb transit or similar are absolutely huge inside and there isnt much that wont fit in them lol

Vampgirl

If it were me I'd hire movers purely because I hate all the hassles that go with moving and the thought of having to carry beds, sofas and units down the stairs myself just doesn't bear thinking about.

I'm all for moneysaving, but sometimes its worth paying extra if it makes things significantly easier. We might be moving next year (very short distance too) and whilst I'd be happy to move some of the smaller things myself if I had a quote of less than £200 for two men and a van to do it all for me then I'd be over the moon! Even if friends offer to help out to save money I'd still rather pay someone for it.... when I'm moving I just want things done as quickly as possible so I can get organised and back to normal and if friends need a break or work slowly it can be difficult to chivvy them along. Also professionals should be insured for any breakages or damage caused.

chewmylegoff

personally i prefer to get someone else to do it for me:

(i) you don't need to waste time going to get the van and driving it to your house
(ii) you don't need to waste time taking the van back and getting back to your house
(iii) someone else does all the work

jackpot.

hethmar

Get your own van for about £30 or £40 hire for the day, have a larf, have a takeaway with the mates that helped you move and enjoy your new flat

jimc_2

From bitter experience, this is a fine-judgement call!

Depends on what has to moved and the state of your (or your mates' ) back!

I speak from bitter experience, having been roped-into recent 'we'll just hire a van' moves between rental properties by the progeny.

Yes, a full Removal company at one end of the scale, and a hire van with mates (or even alone) at the other represent the financial limits BUT it's the practicalities which need to be considered as well. Size up the job first, but remember - a single fridge/freezer or washing machine may be easy to move around a kitchen as a single lift, but when it's the final lift of the day and you've already carried countless sofas, tellies (thank g*d for flatscreens!), boxes of ornaments, kids toys etc. etc. it can be the one that puts you in hospital!

Things always look lighter before the job than half way up the stairs! And when it comes to books - Well said PoppySarah! First move they were in tea chests; nowadays shoeboxes are the max! They are HEAVY. The other alternative is many, many trips with lighter loads.

How many stairs do you need to climb? Is it an easy trip from door-to-van and van-to-door? Are you sure? Have you measured it? I recall the last move included one phase of absolute despair with a washing machine jammed in a passageway in pouring rain. New flat now has a well dented washing machine and a fridge with a plastic bit missing!

There's no single answer to this question, but I know which way I'll be thinking if we ever move again!