House moving, DIY vs removal company?

FUNKYDADDIO

Hi Folks, due to move in a few months. Had always planned to hire a van and do myself but some have advised me that a removal company may not cost much more and will do a lot of the donkey work (as such). Its from a 3 bed semi to a 4 bed detached. Anyone any advice generally or any removal firm recommendations?

Thanks.

RTNI

Parents have always used Nixon's removals in the past. Can't comment on them personally but we plan to move in the next 6 - 9 months or so too.

avenida

Oh funky thats great news! glad to hear you are moving as I remember when you were getting advice on selling. You are very lucky in the current climate, wish I was so lucky, any tips?

Bigcammy

Depends very much on the sort of furniture you have. We have some very heavy and bulky items and the removals companies are much more prepared for this. Used Nixon's in the past and they were ok, but not great. Last time we used B-Line removals and they were very good http://www.b-lineremovals.com/

steveymp

I did mine myself with a van, and also went from a 3 bed semi to a 4 bed detached although I was only moving less than 5 miles between houses. Great to finally hear you are moving now.

I would start the skip runs now thou, new house should be a clean slate, skip, recycle or charity shop anything you don't need the earlier you can start this the better.

Good luck in the new home.

gawa75

I'd opt for the removal men every time, only about £40 an hour and maybe 3-4 hours work tops. I'd rather pay that than have to lug beds/dressers/wardrobes up and down stairs. Let them do it. It's money well spent, trust me.

DohRayMi

Speaking as someone who used to do this a good few years ago, hire someone in.
Honestly, if you have never done it, and you are normal, you have no idea how much more stuff you actually have over and above what you think you have.
The number of times I had people say to me "Oh just put it on the back of the lorry son, I don't have that much so there's no point carrying it all the way to the front". They were always amazed when the lorry ended up looking like a used furniture shop by the time it was loaded!

Also, there's the issue of tying stuff up properly. Sounds petty, but you need to know what you are doing so you don't damage the edges of things, do you have any wide straps to spread the load? You need to tie everything down if you are moving any distance at all.

In this climate, you should be able to haggle, especially if you pay ca*h. OK, you could haggle on the van hire too, but maybe not as much.

Just my opinion of course.

A.L.D.A

I would use a removal firm, get it done and over with fast and properly with no breakages and enough people to lift and man handle. Running back and forward with a van may take a lot longer than you think.

You have a mountain of work ahead, boxing and unpacking anyway. Pots, pans, plates etc. There are the contents of all the cupboards and wardrobes to sort. The work is in the endless small things from garden tools to Christmas tree lights. They all have to be unboxed at the other end.

I emptied a house in England some time ago and left all the packing of china etc to the removal company, they did it very well. Obviously it costs more to do that, but in that case there was sentimental value in much of it and furniture that had been in the family for generations.

Hope it goes well.

FUNKYDADDIO

Thanks guys, removal men it may be then Just be realistic with price Avenida, price we got for ours was very similar to what we paid 7 years ago so not what we wanted but what we are moving to is bigger and has dropped by more in that time, if that makes sense......good luck

FUNKYDADDIO

Hi guys, torn between nixons and coast ways, anyone experience of either recently? Thanks..

FUNKYDADDIO

Bigcammy wrote: »

Depends very much on the sort of furniture you have. We have some very heavy and bulky items and the removals companies are much more prepared for this. Used Nixon's in the past and they were ok, but not great. Last time we used B-Line removals and they were very good http://www.b-lineremovals.com/

Used these guys, no complaints from me..:)