Blog>Hiring Guides>How to choose a removal company
Last updated: 16 July 2024
How to choose a removal company
Moving home can be one of life’s most stressful experiences. But it doesn't have to be if you choose a removal company to do the legwork for you.
In this guide, we will look at how to find the best local removal company for you.
We'll also look at how to brief them, how much they cost, and what to look for when hiring them.
Hiring a removal company vs moving house yourself
The first decision to make is whether to hire a removal company in the first place.
One thing to remember is that it's easy to underestimate the difficulties of packing and moving your belongings.
Not only is it a pain to deal with valuable, breakable, or heavy and awkward items, but homeowners often underestimate how much 'stuff' they have accumulated in their homes.
An experienced removal company will have the skills and equipment to safely and efficiently pack and move your possessions from your old home into your new one (or even into/out of storage).
Unless you're moving a very small number of possessions, we would always recommend hiring a professional removal company to do the job.
Although hiring a company may cost money, they'll also do the job faster than you could, saving you time and hassle.
Why do removals yourself?
It saves you money compared to hiring professionals
You can pack and move at your own pace without any pressure
You have complete control over how your belongings are handled and packed
Why hire a removal company?
Using a removal company can significantly reduce your stress levels on moving day
They'll handle all the heavy lifting and are less likely to break or damage fragile or bulky items
Experienced removal companies are typically faster and more efficient
They have the tools and know-how to move your items safely and efficiently
Most removal companies offer insurance, giving peace of mind for any potential damages
See the tradespeople we've checked for your job
How to find the best local removal companies
To help you get started, here are some of our favourite ways to find the best removal companies in your area.
1. Use Checkatrade
You'll only find trades who meet our high standards and pass our checks on Checkatrade. On average, our trades score 9 out of 10 on everything from reliability to tidiness.
2. Check online customer reviews
Reviews and testimonials are a brilliant way to see how other people rated their experience with a removal company.
We check the reviews on Checkatrade are from real people, and that trades meet our high standards.
3. Ask for recommendations
There's no doubt that personal recommendations from family and friends are priceless. Speak to people you know locally and see if they can recommend removal companies they've used previously.
And don’t forget to look up those recommendations on Checkatrade!
10 tips for choosing the best removal company
Here are some of our top tips for choosing the best local removal company in your area:
Confirm what's included – Make sure you understand what is and isn't included with each removal company
Be clear on what you need – Let the removal companies know what you expect from them, e.g. packing items, deconstructing large furniture, handling fragile items, etc
Test their customer service – You want to pick a friendly, approachable removal company that listens to what you need without pushy salespeople
Verify their insurance coverage – Whoever you hire, make sure they have the relevant Goods in Transit and Public Liability insurance coverage (at an international level if you're moving abroad)
Pick an accredited company – Ideally, choose a removal company that has an active accreditation with a recognised national body, such as BAR or FIDI
Research their waiting fees – Many removal companies will charge a fee if your move is delayed on the day, so make sure you check the cost to avoid surprises
Confirm their cancellation policy – It's worth noting the company's cancellation fees, in case you have a change of plans and cancel your booking.
Read recent customer reviews – A good way of checking the quality of their service and attitude is to read reviews from recent customers
Get multiple quotes – We always recommend getting quotes from multiple local removal companies, so you can compare and check you're paying a fair and competitive price
Get a written agreement – When you've chosen a removal company, make sure they provide you with a written contract as proof of agreement
Find house removal companies near me
Are you moving house and need some help to safely transport your belongings? Here’s how to find house removal companies near you who can make quick work of the job while you sit back, relax, and look forward to your new home. Here's to a stress-free, smooth move! How to find house removal companies
Questions to ask removal companies
To help you choose the right removal company for you, here are some questions you might want to ask them:
How long have you been in business?
How much do you charge?
What type of removal vehicles do you have?
How long will the move take?
Is there anything you won’t move?
When will you carry out a survey?
Do you offer storage?
Do you supply packing materials?
What removal insurance do you have?
Do I need to help on the day?
For more information and tips, check out our guide on how to find local removal companies near you.
How much does a removal company cost?
On average, the cost of hiring a removal companyto help you move home is £50–£80per hour. That cost is based on two removal professionals and a removal van.
If you're moving to a new home in the local area, the average total removal cost of moving will be around £500–£700.
Factors affecting the cost of a local removal company
Several factors will affect the price you pay for removal company services. They include:
Distance to travel between properties
Number of items being transported
How many crew are needed to help
Access to the properties
Where you live
Any additional services needed, such as packing or storage
To find out more about prices, check out our guide to the cost of moving house.
Long-distance removal company costs
Moving long distances does increase costs, but that doesn’t mean the costs are prohibitive.
For example, the removal costs of moving the contents of a 3-bedroom home up to 200 miles have an average cost of £1,125+.
The removal costs for shipping to a foreign country, such as Spain, come in at around £4,300+.
For more detailed information on long-distance removal costs take a look at our guide to long-distance removal costs.
Removal insurance: What is it and do I need it?
It's important to check that your removal company has the right level of removal insurance. It will cover them for damages and breakages that may occur during the move.
Reputable removal companies will have insurance that covers them for damage. But always double-check before hiring them.
If you have any valuable items, get them valued and covered with additional insurance before you move. Your removal company may offer extra insurance for a premium.
How to brief a removal company
One of the best ways to ensure a successful move is to give your removal company a proper brief about what you need.
That way, you and the removal company will know what to expect on the day.
A brief for the removal company should include:
Addresses for the new property you are moving to and from
Any specific time restrictions you have, for example, if there is a parking restriction or you need to be moved by a specific time
A floor plan of the property you are moving to
Clear instructions regarding any packing that the removal company will need to do. And make sure they know if they are moving anything fragile or easily breakable, such as glassware and ceramics
Instructions and a heads-up about any large furniture that they will need to deconstruct before loading. For example, wardrobes and bed frames
Awareness of any heavy and awkward furniture to move that may take more than two people
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How to prepare and pack for your removal company
Packing up your possessions is a big task. If you decide to do it yourself, here are some handy tips to help make sure it goes smoothly:
Start at the top and pack your way down through the property
Make sure you have strong and durable boxes to pack items into
Pack heavy items in small boxes so that they can still be lifted safely
Label all the boxes clearly and show which way up the box is meant to go, and include the name of the room they need to be unpacked in
Don't pack any hazardous materials, such as bleach and aerosols with other household items – pack them separately and label them clearly
Check what your household contents insurance covers in case of any breakages and damage
"As before, punctual, professional, honest, reliable, and hard working. So good I gave a £50 tip! Also a reasonable price. Would recommend." Verified review from a happy customer, South England
Hiring a removal company checklist
Here is a helpful checklist to make sure you choose a removal company that’s right for you.
Get high-quality and trusted recommendations from Checkatrade and read reviews
Check that your chosen removal company are listed on the British Association of Removers website
Make sure the removal company carry out a pre-removal survey before you sign the contract with them
Check the removal company’s experience by reading customer reviews and testimonials online
Make sure the removal company has adequate insurance
Insist on a contract that states exactly who is responsible for what and the costs, including any additional fees
Ask questions to clarify anything you’re unsure of before you sign the contract – not after!
FAQs
How far in advance should you book a removal company?
The best removal companies will be busy so it's best to book as far in advance as possible – ideally at least 4-8 weeks in advance.
It's worth noting that many removal companies require your completion date before you can confirm a booking. But you can still get quotes and pick your favourite before that.
How much do removal services cost?
In the UK, the average cost of moving to a new home in your local area is somewhere in the region of £500–£700.
You can find out more in our guide on the cost of moving house.
See the tradespeople we've checked for your job
See the tradespeople we've checked for your job