Why are removal companies so expensove and varied in their prices.

aliby21

From observing my neighbours moving last year:

Neighbour moving out, used a big name firm.  They arrived with two big lorries at 8am.  Everything loaded by 11am and on their way.   Didn't hear them at all.

Neighbour moving in, used men with vans, one transit type one box type van.  Arrived about 2pm, flustered, saying 'we've had a few problems packing'.  Moving from the other side of town, multiple trips, in laws helping with car loads, vans went off about 8.30pm.  Lots of shouts, curses (when items were difficult to get through the door), guffaws (when item was eventually manoeuvred through the door).  One of the men (or maybe several in rotation) spent most of the time standing in the road with a cigarette.  In laws still ferrying stuff in the next day. 

I reckon of all the costs associated with moving house, (estate agents, solicitors etc), proper removal firms are a bargain.  

Lavendyr

This baffles me too. In the last three years I've moved twice. At the top end, even without the removals firm doing the packing, I was quoted around £1500 to move contents of a 3 bed house and 2 bed flat into a 3 bed house, and then around £2000 to move all those contents again, albeit a bit further. 

In the first instance we found a local firm who were perfectly happy to pick up from my house in one county, then the OH's flat in another, and move it all for £450. They turned up on time, put boxes where we asked, appliances the same. They were friendly and helpful and took great care of our possessions. Arrived at 9am, on the way less than 2 hours later.

In the second, again we found a removals company who moved all our stuff for around £800. And again they were polite, prompt, helpful and careful, and removals were quick. I should say that for this move we also had a piano and we paid a specialist piano mover to transport that for around £250..

So unless you pay extra for packing, I really don't understand the price difference. 

deejaybee

I'm using a local removals firm for a 250 mile move from a 2 bed flat - £1020 inc VAT.

We are doing our own packing.

Because of the distance, we asked if they could move all our stuff into van on one day, then transport it up to new place the next day, which they are happy to do.

Statex2_2

Lavendyr said:

This baffles me too. In the last three years I've moved twice. At the top end, even without the removals firm doing the packing, I was quoted around £1500 to move contents of a 3 bed house and 2 bed flat into a 3 bed house, and then around £2000 to move all those contents again, albeit a bit further. 

In the first instance we found a local firm who were perfectly happy to pick up from my house in one county, then the OH's flat in another, and move it all for £450. They turned up on time, put boxes where we asked, appliances the same. They were friendly and helpful and took great care of our possessions. Arrived at 9am, on the way less than 2 hours later.

In the second, again we found a removals company who moved all our stuff for around £800. And again they were polite, prompt, helpful and careful, and removals were quick. I should say that for this move we also had a piano and we paid a specialist piano mover to transport that for around £250..

So unless you pay extra for packing, I really don't understand the price difference. 

My only conclusion is that they do not want to travel 130 miles and prefer local moves, I am totally baffled by the price difference. I have contacted other local firms and the all seem to be around the 12 to 1500 mark.