Van Hire for Long Distance House Move - Any tips or things to bear in mind?

shinytop

If you use a removals company or a good man/men with a van, you'll pay for their time but they will probably be younger, fitter, stronger, faster and much better at it than you. They'll pack the van tighter and be less likely to break stuff than you.


I did it myself last time and vowed I would never do it again.

quantumlobster

OP, I would recommend getting a proper removals company to do this for you. Reasons:

1. They will be able to supply a vehicle that can take all of your stuff in one trip
2. They will provide a qualified driver for the vehicle in question
3. They will load the vehicle safely and within its limits, and if they don't, that's their problem
4. They will provide people who are experienced at moving stuff - whilst it's easy at first, when you're three-quarters of the way into shifting a full garage, you will be very tired and you will be prone to making the kind of mistakes that lead to back injury or worse
5. They will be able to insure your stuff

AlexMac

I agree the last two posts; at least take quotes for a pro job; by the time you factor on two return trips (and the fifth- getting you back to wherever) will the saving be worth several days of your own stress?

phoebe1989seb

We moved ourselves in a hired self drive 7.5 tonne Luton with tail lift when we moved from North Essex to Wiltshire in 2011.

Our previous long distance move (Hampshire to Essex) had cost almost £4.5k with Bishop's Move and we were looking to save money.

Admittedly we had a *load* of stuff - including a several sofas and a seven-seater hot tub, lol - and we did do it for considerably less £££, but it took seven journeys and still cost around £2.5k including fuel. The hot tub was moved separately by a specialist company for £300.

Next time we moved (Wiltshire to West Midlands - we're gluttons for punishment!) we again got a removal company in, but despite serious decluttering and using a smaller, local firm, it took them five days and cost about £3600, iirc. Hot tub stayed behind that time, btw

Most recently we moved long distance again. This time we completed on the sale of our house in the West Midlands before we'd purchased anywhere new. Our worldly possessions (now including only five sofas, lol!) was shoe-horned into three large storage units, we stayed with family/in travelodges and when we eventually completed on our purchase a month later we moved piecemeal.

That has probably been the most expensive move of all. We did a mix of man and van, self drive van and van provided free of charge (just fuel cost to pay) from storage place. Very fortunately our lovely buyers had allowed us to keep all our garden furniture and planters (huge in size and number!) at our old house and this was the first stuff we moved as soon as we had the keys.

Our stuff was moved out of storage over a period of six months and I've lost count of how many trips back and forth we did. The house we bought - a repossession - wasn't in a fit state to house our furniture etc immediately plus we had to get building work done so required (virtually) empty rooms.

The worst day/night was three back to back trips from Wales to the West Midlands (so six journeys!) in a transit type van after the van hire co let us down on a 7.5 tonne Luton in which we could have done it in one

Never again! I'd definitely recommend getting professional removers to do it.....

ProDave

We moved from Oxfordshire to the Highlands in 2 goes.

First trip a large Transit Luton to move the essential stuff (a lot went into storage in a relatives garage)

About a year later when the self build house was ready we hired a 7.5 ton truck and moved the rest in one go.

Make sure you find, or negotiate a rental with no mileage charge, we put 1500 miles on the 7.5 tonner. The fuel cost more than the hire.

And you need to be old enough to have the 7.5 ton entitlement on your licence (or take the test for it)

Tunstallstoven

Hi all

Just a quick one to say thanks for all the info and replies. Sorry if the OP wasn't clear and caused any confusion. We've already sold and all our belongings are currently in a garage. Since posting, we have exchanged contracts and so will be spending the rest of the evening and tomorrow morning deciding what's the best option. Your replies will be helpful in that - so thanks again

phoebe1989seb

Congrats on exchanging contracts :j

walwyn1978

EachPenny wrote: »

If you have a category C1 licence you ought to be able to hire a 7.5tonne box lorry - this will cost more to hire, but you might be able to complete the move in one trip saving on fuel and the number of days.

Whether or not you have C1 will depend on when you passed your test. I believe if you passed your manual car test before 1997 you should have C1 included, but you must check to make sure.

.

Correct. 1st Jan 1997 onwards that changes and you’re restricted to 3.5kg (eg a Transit type van)

Murphybear

shinytop wrote: »

If you use a removals company or a good man/men with a van, you'll pay for their time but they will probably be younger, fitter, stronger, faster and much better at it than you. They'll pack the van tighter and be less likely to break stuff than you.


I did it myself last time and vowed I would never do it again.

We always use a professional moving company, a good one is worth its weight in gold. When we moved in March we had 2 medium sized vans. How they packed the vans was a work of art. There were large padded covers for the tv and and some of the furniture. They packed all the kitchen stuff and china/glassware. The speed which they completed the loading was amazing as was the unloading at the other end. They were a local family company with 5 star reviews and were worth every penny.