Removals Quote Shock

uralmaid

We have just got our quote for £2800. To move 3 miles down the road.  We are moving from a 3 bed bungalow to a 4 bed bungalow.  Mind you - we have got a lot of stuff. We knew it would be high as we have 2 double garages, a store, stables and a barn - all full of stuff and some big heavy items such as workbenches, 3 car engines, beekeeping equipment and wood turning lathes!  It is worth for them to lift and move it all. Last time we moved we moved all the stuff ourselves except house contents and it was £800 but we are now 9 years older.

HummingBird76

I just moved house yesterday. I got 3 quotes for removals (and storage). They were (roughly) £500, £800 and £1,400. All local firms in Edinburgh. I went with the firm who quoted £500 after reading their excellent reviews and really liking the guy who came to do the quote. I honestly could not fault them, they were absolutely brilliant and I'll be recommending them to everyone who's moving 😀  

I was only moving 7 miles, but heard so many horror stories about DIY moves that I'm glad I didn't do it that way. My sellers were, and they ended up having to do 3 trips, long after I got my keys and the house was technically mine. Luckily I was staying with my parents as I'd already moved out, and my removals weren't coming until the next day. If not, that would have caused a real issue.

So my advice is, don't do it yourself, read some reviews of the cheapest firm, and then if the reviews are good, get them booked!

swingaloo2

moneysavinghero said:

oniongirl said:

P.S. I don't think that our stuff would fit in a van that we could drive ourselves. We've definitely got way too much stuff to try and do this ourselves!

You are only moving 2 miles up the road. Hire a van for the day and you can make as many trips as you need, you don't need to fit everything in the van at the same time. Not sure what you would have that would not fit in the back of a transit van.

I'm moving soon and that's my plan as its what I did last time. Last time we moved about 3 miles but this time we are moving less than a mile so doing the same again.  We have some large items of furniture, 3 seater + 2 seater leather couch, large dresser unit etc but it  fit in a transit last time. Im moving from a 3 bed to another 3 bed and do seem to have a lot of stuff but  I cheat with packing as well, I leave everything in the drawers  and take them as they are so they can just be slotted back in at the other end.
Of course it depends how the time line is on the day and if you are being pushed out by your buyer or waiting for your seller to vacate. We are lucky in that we are going into an empty property.  

martindow

swingaloo2 said:

moneysavinghero said:

oniongirl said:

P.S. I don't think that our stuff would fit in a van that we could drive ourselves. We've definitely got way too much stuff to try and do this ourselves!

You are only moving 2 miles up the road. Hire a van for the day and you can make as many trips as you need, you don't need to fit everything in the van at the same time. Not sure what you would have that would not fit in the back of a transit van.

I'm moving soon and that's my plan as its what I did last time. Last time we moved about 3 miles but this time we are moving less than a mile so doing the same again.  We have some large items of furniture, 3 seater + 2 seater leather couch, large dresser unit etc but it  fit in a transit last time. Im moving from a 3 bed to another 3 bed and do seem to have a lot of stuff but  I cheat with packing as well, I leave everything in the drawers  and take them as they are so they can just be slotted back in at the other end.
Of course it depends how the time line is on the day and if you are being pushed out by your buyer or waiting for your seller to vacate. We are lucky in that we are going into an empty property.  

Even for two miles it's not feasible to think that you can go backwards and forwards using your van.  There will be a removal van for the people moving into your house.  They will not be amused waiting around for hours as you take several trips loading and unloading.  It can work if you are moving from rented accommodation and have an overlap of a few days before the end of the tenancy.

greatcrested

oniongirl said:

P.S. I don't think that our stuff would fit in a van that we could drive ourselves. We've definitely got way too much stuff to try and do this ourselves!

Did you look at anyvan.com?

The vans come in many sizes, and come with driver (and often mate - so chose one with a mate!)

Tell them where from/to and what and you'll get multiple quotes.

Choose one with lots of (obviously positive) reviews. Check for insurance.

oniongirl

moneysavinghero said:

oniongirl said:

P.S. I don't think that our stuff would fit in a van that we could drive ourselves. We've definitely got way too much stuff to try and do this ourselves!

You are only moving 2 miles up the road. Hire a van for the day and you can make as many trips as you need, you don't need to fit everything in the van at the same time. Not sure what you would have that would not fit in the back of a transit van.

We're in a chain - everyone out at the same time. We won't have access to the new property until the same minute we give up access to the old one. So multiple trips isn't practical as we'd have to leave our stuff on the pavement whilst we did the multiple trips. And cross our fingers it's not raining!

pinkteapot

You often don't need the insurance - check with your home insurer whether they cover your belongings in transit when moving house - a lot do. 

davidmcn

pinkteapot said:

You often don't need the insurance - check with your home insurer whether they cover your belongings in transit when moving house - a lot do. 

And you'd have to be incredibly unlucky for something to happen during a 2 mile move which the movers wouldn't be liable for.

bucksbloke

We moved five streets and did not take everything from the old house. We were charged £450 it was a sole trader rather than a removal company. All insurances in place etc.