When to look at removal companies

Squizzlew

Good morning I am looking for some advice we we fairly early on in the process of selling our home and buying another.

we have never used removal companies before and always just rented a van but this time with two small children it's just not possible.

When do we need to be thinking about pricing up removal companies we are hoping that things with progress relativity quickly.

Thanks

dawn27

I got quotes after we exchanged and i had a date to complete.
Our completion was only two weeks away as we had a quick completion. The first thing they asked was the moving date to see if they had a van free on that date.
I would recommend using a removal firm, most firms provide wardrobe boxes with a rail so you dont have to pack the wardrobe they will do it on the day. We also didnt have to empty chest of drawers as they just lifted it in the van with the contents. They also provide all the boxes and packaging you need.
I found the company i used online and read all the reviews, i think it was on trustatrader

TBagpuss

I got initial quotes fairly early on, which gave me time to compare quotes, look up reviews, ask questions etc.

Then, when we were ready to exchange I contacted my preferred company to check wither the quote had changed at all, and to check their availabilty for the proposed completion date I had in mind.

Once we had exchanged, I then booked them.
I decided to pay for the service which included them packing up everything. It meant it was very low stress for me, the only downside was that the boxes were labelled in less detail than I would have done had I packed everything myself.

Squizzlew

I am hoping to get the packing element as well husband will get the actual removal payed for by his employer as part of relocation pack but they won't pay for packing so I have said I will pay the extra to help with my stress. Because it's relocation we need to get at least three quotes I guess I had better start looking as we are hoping to push everything through in around 6-8 weeks.

spirit

I am moving out on Monday, and in to my new house on Tuesday next week.

I bought a load of moving boxes myself early on since I live alone and like to be organised.

I got 3 quotes about 6 weeks ago. I liked the first firm, but not their charges. I wasn't so keen on the third firm, but liked their quote. So I played one off against the other and am using the first firm.

Although I was mainly packed, the firm dropped off loads of packing boxes with tape, tissue paper, bubble wrap and marker pens. They are also dismantling 2 beds and putting them up at t'other end. (well I say that, but i've already done half the job for them ;-)

DebtFree2012

Are they awfully expensive?

spirit

DebtFree2012 wrote: »

Are they awfully expensive?

That largely depends I think on distance travelled (diesel used) size of lorry needed and whether it is a single day move or 2 day.

Mine is a 2 day since it is around 200 miles away. Day 1, pack up and leave my old house and Day 2 unload 1pm ish.

£1400. the dearest quote was £1800 - and that was a local firm. (not the likes of p1ckford5)

Hoploz

Get them round as early as possible, so you have plenty of time for multiple quotes.

I ended up using a company at the last minute who had not been round initially, as the company I wanted to use (and the reserve back up plan) both could not do the date the chain was dictating! Stressful!

You can get them to pencil you in, but normally you don't actually book them properly until you have a confirmed completion date, ie at exchange of contracts. Depending on how much gap you have between exchange and completion, you may or may not end up using your chosen company! The longer the better, to give you a chance to organise everything, but normally someone in the chain digs their heels in saying they must move on a certain day or else ... And the rest of the chain just have to slot in accordingly!

phoebe1989seb

DebtFree2012 wrote: »

Are they awfully expensive?

We moved around 150 miles in December. Our quotes from both local and national removers ranged between £3400 and £4200 (packing not included) for the contents of a 2500 sq ft, 4/5 bed house.

This was a five day move - three days to load, two to unload

Like Hoploz, we ended up using a different firm to those originally quoted/preferred as, being close to Christmas, those we had round to quote prior to exchange were now fully booked.....

We paid £3600 for a largish local firm.

pinkteapot

I'd get them round once the chain is fully formed (ie there's a FTB/cash buyer at the bottom and something with no onwards chain at the top). Don't bother while people are still looking at houses and nothing's happening.

Get quotes once everyone starts doing their mortgage and legals.

Don't book the company until you've exchanged contracts, as your completion date can still move any time prior to exchange and some companies will charge if you change the date you want after booking.

You could wait until exchange to get quotes but, depending on what everyone in the chain wants, you could end up with not much time between exchange and completion.

pinkteapot

p.s. DEFINITELY pay for the packing service. Ours added approx £300 to the bill and, of all the costs when buying/selling, that was the best £300 we spent by a country mile.

The guys came round the day before completion and two of them packed EVERYTHING in our 4-bed house in one day (we had emptied the loft for them - got stuff down into the house). No living among boxes for weeks beforehand. It was fab. With young kids, it'd be a huge help. They pack day in, day out and are so much faster at it than you would be.