Hire Moving Co near current or new home?

oliveoil54

We are moving from Dumfries and Galloway to North West Yorkshire.
Debating whether to hire Moving Company locally in Scotland or from near our new address in Yorkshire?

Previously have always moved ourselves, so any advice would be very welcome. We intend to do as much of the packing ourselves?
Advice and tips would be appreciated.

eddddy

You'd normally use a firm based near where you currently live.

They'll probably want to visit your home before giving you a quote, to see how much stuff you have to move.


(But I guess there's no harm in phoning a few firms around your new house as well, to see if they're interested in doing the job.)

trailingspouse

Go with a local firm. It's worth getting quotes from a local independent, but also from one of the bigger companies (I'm thinking the likes of Pickfords) as they could actually turn out to be cheaper as more likely to be able to get a return load.

No point in using a company from your destination - too far for them to travel to do the quote and if you want them to do the packing for you (which normally happens the day before you move) you'll be paying overnight accommodation for the guys.
Good luck with the move - what brings you to God's own country?

agrinnall

I only contacted local firms when moving from Perth to Birmingham, so that they could easily visit to assess my belongings accurately. The only time I've seen contacting a firm at the other end recommended was where the poster lived in London and the movers there were considerably more expensive than where they were moving to. I wouldn't expect that to be the case for you.

oliveoil54

trailingspouse wrote: »

Go with a local firm. It's worth getting quotes from a local independent, but also from one of the bigger companies (I'm thinking the likes of Pickfords) as they could actually turn out to be cheaper as more likely to be able to get a return load.

No point in using a company from your destination - too far for them to travel to do the quote and if you want them to do the packing for you (which normally happens the day before you move) you'll be paying overnight accommodation for the guys.
Good luck with the move - what brings you to God's own country?

Moving nearer family as w get olde!

oliveoil54

Many thanks for your advice.

Love this forum, always get a a great combination of replies that steer you in the right direction! So local firm it is. Intend to do a mix of packing my own precious stuff, so I can label it properly etc.

Thanks once again!

eilidhcatriona

Doesn’t hurt to try a large company near the new house.

When we moved home to Aberdeen from London, I got quotes from several small and large companies in London for transport only not packing, most of which were eye watering (£5k for one!). I also contacted Shore Porters, an Aberdeen based company who are up and down the country all the time. They were the best price - we would have had a part load on one of their long distance artics for £850. Pickfords were 2nd, somewhere around £1400. In the end we hired a van and did it ourselves, as we would have had to hire a car to drive up anyway with the cats.

PasturesNew

Go with a local firm. The most important thing is to turn up and load.... after that it's not so important. By choosing locally they're travelling a lesser distance, so few problems for traffic/accidents/breakdowns en-route - and, as you're local, less chance of being "fobbed off" with the story of why they can't actually attend today ... "but we could come a week Tuesday if that's any good".

Once loaded you don't really care too much if it breaks down, or gets held up in traffic, or can't find the address....

oliveoil54

PasturesNew wrote: »

Go with a local firm. The most important thing is to turn up and load.... after that it's not so important. By choosing locally they're travelling a lesser distance, so few problems for traffic/accidents/breakdowns en-route - and, as you're local, less chance of being "fobbed off" with the story of why they can't actually attend today ... "but we could come a week Tuesday if that's any good".

Once loaded you don't really care too much if it breaks down, or gets held up in traffic, or can't find the address....

Think wil def go local but am not too sure re not care if they don’t turn up with all my worldly goods on!

trailingspouse

Just a note of caution re packing yourselves or getting them to do it.


They know what they're doing. It's their job. If they do the packing, and something gets broken, they will pay up. If you do the packing and something gets broken you have to prove that they were negligent - not easy to do. If you can afford it, get them to do all the packing. They can pack a 4-bed house in half a day (including loft and garage) - it has to be seen to be believed. They have all the right packaging for all the right items.

What do you mean by 'label it properly'? Seriously, they've done it before.


All I do is pack a suitcase with my more *ahem* personal items, and leave them to it.

oliveoil54

trailingspouse wrote: »

Just a note of caution re packing yourselves or getting them to do it.


They know what they're doing. It's their job. If they do the packing, and something gets broken, they will pay up. If you do the packing and something gets broken you have to prove that they were negligent - not easy to do. If you can afford it, get them to do all the packing. They can pack a 4-bed house in half a day (including loft and garage) - it has to be seen to be believed. They have all the right packaging for all the right items.

What do you mean by 'label it properly'? Seriously, they've done it before.


All I do is pack a suitcase with my more *ahem* personal items, and leave them to it.

Agree and will prob go that way, I’m not that bothered about insurance if things get Brocken it’s the precious possessions that can’t be replaced if they are broken that cocern me!