Removals company vs doing it ourselves?

BSW89

Hi all, 

We are moving from a 2 bed flat to a house a 2 min drive away (therefore easy to do more than one trip). We have the typical furniture/items you'd expect in a 2 bed flat (except wardrobes - they're built in, and no kitchen appliances bar the microwave, as everything is integrated). My husband is comfortable driving a van and can do a lot of the heavy lifting but I am probably useless for anything other than boxes and small items.

We are weighing up whether to hire a removals company (initial quick quotes are £400-500 for a basic 2-man move service, no packing) or just hire a van (around £100) then ask my two brothers in law to help (offering them £100 each given they'll have to take a day's annual leave from work, and I know they could do with the extra cash).

So we think we could save £100-200 'doing it ourselves' and would have a bit more flexibility on timings etc. I have no idea what time we will complete and get the keys (does anyone have any insights on what's normal?). Removals companies also talk about insurance - but do we really need this for a move to another property around the corner on a safe housing estate?

Can anyone offer any general advice on this based on your experiences of moving? Last time we moved house we were just moving out of a furnished rental flat so it was very different. Obviously it comes down to whether we are willing to spend a bit more for the benefit of people who know what they are doing - the question is is it worth it? I can't help feeling £500 is a lot of money for 2 people loading and then un-loading a van half a mile down the road... but then I've never loaded a van and have no idea.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Thank you

jj_43

"I can't help feeling £500 is a lot of money for 2 people loading" - this should be telling you that the value of the £500 is more than the value your time/effort. As you say its a 2 min drive.

tightauldgit

Absolutely worthwhile doing it yourself if you can. Just be sure if someone else is moving in to your old place that you have planned to be fully out by the time they are picking up the keys.

SootySweep1

Hi
If you can do it yourself then thats what I'd do as you've more control & can be a bit methodical about loading & unloading rather someone who wants to load & unload as quickly as possible
However it does depend on how long you have to move or if you're going to have someone wanting you out ASAP so they can move in.
Jen

p00hsticks

BSW89 said:

So we think we could save £100-200 'doing it ourselves' and would have a bit more flexibility on timings etc. I have no idea what time we will complete and get the keys (does anyone have any insights on what's normal?). Removals companies also talk about insurance - but do we really need this for a move to another property around the corner on a safe housing estate?

If you are selling the flat at the same time, then regardless of when you complete on the place you are moving into, you really need to get the flat empty and the van packed up ASAP on the day - in my experience completion contracts usually specify that vacant possession needs to be given (which includes removing all furniture) by midday, although that doesn;t always happen.

You don't need insurance (in fact, I'm not sure how you;d go about getting some to cover it given that you're moving yourselves). You just need to accept that you'll be responsible for any damage you cause to your own belongings during the move process.

MovingForwards

Moving to the previous flat I had mates, one rented a van, and they did the 5 mile move, but it still took a few trips and several car runs (2 cars were used). All I could do was drive and unpack due to health issues. That was some furniture and stuff.

When I completed my flat purchase I hired local man and a van for £200 and a 20 mile trip, they did it all in a Luton van and one trip, loaded / unloaded, put things back together and positioned in the appropriate room all within about 90 minutes, if that.
- Like you I didn't have wardrobes and the only 'white goods' was a freezer, but beds, sofas, units etc were all mine to move. I contemplated hiring a van, but it was at the start of the pandemic / lockdown and my health has declined further so I was totally dependent on others.

If you're moving from a rental, there's more time to use and make the move using friends and family, if your going from a property you own to the next one you own, there's no real time as when completion is confirmed you have to give up the property; generally 2pm but could be as late as 5pm and beyond.

Phone round a few local man and a van type places and see how much they charge.

babyblade41

Removals totally. You'd be surprised how long it will take & on moving day you must have it completely empty & clean when completion happens or the new owners won't be very happy.

A stress you don't need

Wail

We moved from a small place to a 3 bed. The two man and a van we hired made it look easy but we were moving rented to purchased

No fridge, no washing machine, no wardrobes. That’s quite a few of the big things out of the way

The main issue will be sofa, large tables, chest of drawers and the bed/mattress. 

Is there a self storage unit nearby that will offer a short hire window (eg a couple of weeks) and have you got a car that you can use. It makes it easier to get tat out of the way before the day of the move, then you can blast through the house, then blast the storage unit. 

Main issue will be having everything boxed by the day of the move. 

youth_leader

If you are all young and strong, do it yourself but do check you can do it in one trip.  Make sure you know how to dismantle the bed beforehand, and find a box for all the screws.

You'll also have to clean the house when you finally leave, perhaps rope someone in to help as you'll feel exhausted.

anselld

If you are part of a chain you cannot plan to be able to do multiple trips as you generally need to be fully loaded and out of one place before you get the keys and unload at the next.  It only takes one set of DIY movers to completely mess up a whole chain regardless of the travel distance.

TripleH

We've self moved 3 times ourselves.

It does take longer than you think. You get most of it quite quickly but it's the last odds and ends that suddenly take so long to do.

Heavy items and large items first when you're freshest.

Key is working out how much carrying to the van at 1 end and from the van at the other end.