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- House Removal Costs: Ultimate 2023 Money Saving Guide UK
House Removal Costs: Ultimate 2023 Money Saving Guide UK
With so many of these companies available in the UK, it can be hard to know where to start and which one to pick – especially since there’s no single price for all removal companies, so you might not know what you should expect in terms of pricing.
In this guide, we’re going to walk you through everything you need to know about the cost of hiring a removals company. We’ll also be covering:
- What affects the cost of hiring a removals company
- How to hire a removals company
- How to ensure the removals company is the right fit for you, and
- How to save money when hiring a removals company
However, if you’re in the process of selling your house, then one of the key elements you’ll need to arrange and be prepared for is hiring a removal company. Click the button below we’ll provide you with the best prices from reliable removal companies.
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Continue reading below to learn everything about the costs involved in hiring a removals company.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Removals Company?
As mentioned above, hiring a removals company can be daunting because there aren’t any set prices. However, to give you an idea of the average price for hiring a removals company for a regular house move, you’ll find that most companies will charge anywhere between £40 to £70 per hour for a local move.
This price includes two removal men, plus a Luton (or box) van. When you’re planning a move that’s considered long distance, then it’s always best to look for companies that charge a fixed fee for this rather than an hourly rate.
In the table below, we’ve broken down some of the quotes you can expect to receive when looking for a removals company, depending on what you need.
| Property Size | Estimated Cost (Local Move) | Estimated Cost (Long Distance Move) |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom Flat | £450 to £650 | £500 to £850 |
| 2-bedroom Flat or House | £550 to £800 | £650 to £900 |
| 3-bedroom House | £700 to £1,000 | £900 to £1,200 |
| 4-bedroom House | £950 to £1,400 | £1,200 to £1,500 |
| 5-bedroom House | £1,350 to £2,000 | £1,500 to £3,000 |
For example, on the lower end of the pricing range, you’d be looking at between £450 to £850, depending on if you’re moving within the local area, or your move is more long distance.
On the higher end (and when the house you’re moving from is bigger) you should expect quotes of between £1,350 to £3,000, which, again, also depends on whether the move is local or long distance.
If you’re moving from a one bedroom flat within your local area, then you’ll see quotes averaging between £450 to £650. The same size of flat will see prices between £500 to £850 if the move is a long distance one.
For a two bedroom house or flat, you’ll find quotes that average from £550 to £800 if the move is local. The same move long distance will see prices between £650 to £900.
A three bedroom house will usually cost between £700 to £1,000 for a more local move, and £900 to £1,200 for a longer distance one.
Once you get up to a 4 bedroom house, the prices increase quite a bit since there’s more work involved for the removal men, and it takes them longer. So, you’ll see costs between £950 to £1,400 for a local move, and £1,200 to £1,500 for a longer distance move.
At the highest end of the scale is a five bedroom house, which will cost between £1,350 to £2,000 for a local move, and anywhere between £1,500 to £3,000 for a long distance one.
However, if you’re moving houses, then you’ll need to find a reliable moving company. Click the button below and you can view the best prices from removal companies.
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What Affects the Cost of Hiring a Removals Company?
The table above shows that there are large differences in the prices you’ll pay for hiring a removals company based on how big your house is, as well as the distance the removals company will have to travel to the next property.
However, there are also other factors that can affect the cost of hiring a removals company, which we’ve covered in the following section to give you a better idea of budget for your project.
The Size of Your House
As mentioned in the table above, the size of your current house is one of the biggest factors that affect the cost of hiring a removals company.
Since most removals companies charge by the hour, the bigger your house is, the more you’ll pay.
How Much Furniture You Own
The amount of furniture that’s going to be moved from one house to the other will also play a big role in the cost of hiring a removals company.
Again, due to the pricing structure of most removals companies, the more furniture there is to move, the longer it will take, and the higher the cost will be.
If You Need a Packing Service
For the most part, removals companies charge only to remove your furniture from your old house and bring it to your new place, so handling the packing of your furniture and possessions will be up to you.
Whether the removals company you’re working with offers this for an additional fee, or you hire a separate packing company to do this for you, deciding if you want a packing service is something that will affect the end cost you pay for your removal.
On average, you can expect to receive quotes for a packing service to be around £250 for a three-bedroom house. If you also require the packing company to disassemble your furniture, this will cost around £125 for a three-bedroom house.
If You Need to Move Specialist Items
Items such as pianos, high-value items, antiques, or fragile items will usually have a higher cost to remove from your house, especially if they’re especially large or heavy. It’s important to ensure you budget for these ahead of time, and make sure you include them when asking for quotes.
For these types of items, you can usually find a specialist removals company who specialises in this area, and you may find your quote a bit more reasonable than using a regular removals company.
If You Need Moving Insurance
If your existing home contents insurance doesn’t cover your possessions during a house move, then it’s always advisable to take out insurance to cover this. Some removals companies will also offer their own insurance to those needing a removal.
However, this can often work out more expensive than taking out insurance through a third party, or increasing your existing plan to include removals.
As with any kind of insurance you take out, it’s always important to read the small print and understand exactly what’s covered, and what’s not covered in your removals insurance.
If You’re Moving Locally or Further Away
From the table above you’ll see that there’s quite a difference in the price of a removals company depending on whether you’re moving locally, or further away.
This is because, for local moves the mileage is usually included in your quote, whereas this is extra if you’re moving further afield, and will be charged at rates anywhere between £0.05 to £1 per mile.
Whether You Choose a Local or National Removals Company
Another thing that will affect the cost of your removal is whether you hire a local or national removals company.
Typically, if you’re moving within the local area, up to an hour away, then you’ll find that most removals companies that operate locally will charge by the hour.
When your move is a long distance one, then it’s more common to receive fixed price quotes, and typically these moves are done by a national removals company.
Long distance or short; regardless of which type of company you want, you’ll need reliable house movers. If you’re looking for one right now, we can help with that. Click the button below and you can view some of the best prices from companies in your area.
Packing Materials
Packing materials such as boxes, tape, protective wrap, and even labels are all things that are needed during a house move to ensure that your possessions aren’t damaged in transit. You’ll need to potentially purchase this kind of packing material, or if you’re hiring in a packing service make sure to find out whether or not the packing materials are included in the quote.
Mail Redirection
Another cost you’ll have to consider when moving house is how to have your mail re-directed from your current house to the new place.
This is typically something you’ll be able to book easily online, and prices start at around £3.99.
Self-Storage Costs
In some cases, when moving house, you may need to book a self-storage unit for a few weeks or months. This is often the case when you’ve sold your current place, but your new place isn’t ready to move into – or you’re still looking.
They can also be useful for when you have to downsize but don’t want to get rid of certain possessions or furniture Costs for self-storage costs vary depending on things like where you’re based in the country, and the size of unit needed.
Your Location
As with the majority of professional services, where you’re based in the country is something that will affect the end price you pay for a removals company.
For example, if you’re based somewhere like London or Edinburgh where the cost of living is higher than in smaller towns or more remote areas, then you’ll typically pay more for a removals company.
How Can I Save Money on Moving House?
If you’re in the process of selling your house, then one of the key elements you’ll need to arrange and be prepared for is hiring a removal company. Ideally, you should compare multiple quotes so you can field a wider range of offers. Click the button below to get started.
Comparing quotes is a great way to potentially reduce the cost of your move. HouseholdQuotes can help you get quotes from multiple removal companies near you so that you can find someone that suits your budget.
Comparing Quotes Could Save You Up To 40%:
Unfortunately, moving house is quite an expensive process, but there are some tips and tricks you can take to try and keep your costs lowered.
If you’re hiring a removals company, and you know when you’re due to move, then booking them as far in advance as possible will help save you money.
You can also try to save some money on the cost of hiring a removals company, then it’s typically cheaper to book this for a weekday, such as Monday to Thursday. Fridays, weekends, and bank holidays are busier days for removals since many people will be off work, but this also makes them more expensive.
Even removals companies have busy seasons, and these tend to be during spring and summer. So, if you want to save some money, then booking a removals company for during the autumn and winter is going to be less expensive, since the demand is often much lower during these months.
As mentioned earlier in this guide, the more possessions you have, the higher the quote from a removals company will be, so this is the perfect time to have a good clear out and get rid of items you don’t really need, or no longer want.
Decluttering not only makes the move a bit less stressful for you, and gives you less to pack and unpack, but it’s also one of the best ways to save money on your removals cost.
Although getting a company to do the packing for you during a house move can certainly seem like an appealing option, it’s also quite a pricey service. So, if you’re looking to save some money, and don’t mind doing the packing yourself, then this is a lot cheaper than paying a company to do it for you.
However, if you’re considering doing the packing yourself, then you should always check your insurance small print first to make sure that you’ll still be covered if anything gets damaged.
You should also make sure you have enough packing materials ordered in advance so that you’re not running out to buy more in the middle of packing.
Moving house can be quite a stressful event, so if you have a good network of friends and family nearby, they’ll likely be more than happy to help you with this.
Offering to provide some drinks for them is a nice way to compensate them and show appreciation for their time, and of course, returning the favour if they ever need your help with moving house.
What’s Involved in Moving House?
Although the actual moving day is usually the most stressful, and definitely requires quite a bit of patience and energy, there are quite a few smaller details that are involved in moving house, and if these are taken care of ahead of time and organised properly, they can definitely save some stress on the day of the big move.
In this following section, we’re going to be sharing with you some of the things you can expect to be involved in moving house.
Before you even start moving anything from your old house to the new one, it’s always a good idea to be as prepared and organised as possible concerning the little details, such as making sure you’ve moved all your post to the new house.
It’s also a good idea to contact companies like your broadband and energy providers ahead of time to, not only get you set up before you move, but also to see if you can negotiate a better deal than what you currently have.
Once you’ve finalised your contracts with the sellers of your new property, you can save yourself a lot of stress and confusion on moving day by asking them to provide you some instructions for how things work in the house, since these might be different to what you’re used to.
Things like what the day the bins are collected, where the electricity and gas meters are located, and if the flooring is tile or wood, does it require any special cleaning agents.
Of course, it’s also a nice gesture to provide the same information for your new buyers to help make their move as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Before you move, taking some time to go through and give your place a final clean is a good thing to do, and if you can bring in a professional cleaning company to do it, then the results will be even better, and your buyers will definitely appreciate it.
Making sure you have compared quotes and chosen your removals company before you move, as well as having all of your packing materials such as boxes and labels ready for moving day is definitely something to take care of well before you’re due to move, as this will make things go quicker on the day itself.
The removals company should be booked in advance, and it’s recommended to leave plenty of time before them arriving to ensure that everything is packed and ready to go if you’re going the packing yourself.
How Do I Find a Removals Company?
If you’re moving houses, finding the right removals specialist can be challenging. At HouseholdQuotes, we can connect you to removal companies in your area.
Luckily, we can provide you with some of the best prices in your area almost instantly. You can click the button below to tell us more about your move and we’ll help you find someone quickly and easily:
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If you know someone, such as a friend, or family member whose advice you trust, then a good way of finding a reliable and reputable removals company is to ask them to recommend a company they’ve used in the past.
Another great place to start your search for a good removals company is by visiting the British Association of Removers (BAR).
Not only will you find a lot of excellent tips and advice when it comes to hiring a removals company for your specific situation, but since they only list removals companies that have been extensively vetted, you can feel assured that the company you’re working with are professional and reliable.
Ensuring the Professional Is the Right Fit
With so many removals companies out there to choose from, it can be hard to know which one will be the best fit for your needs.
Even if a company has a great reputation, and has given you a reasonable quote, they may not be what you need in terms of the services offered, so here are a few of our top recommendations to help you ensure the professional removals company you hire is the right fit for your needs.
Get a Written Quote
When you’re shopping around for different quotes, it’s always a good idea to get these in writing. Having everything written down ensures that there won’t be any misunderstandings around pricing, or what’s included in your quote.
It’s also a good practice since you can easily review all the quotes you get in your own time, so that you can decide which one is the best for your needs.
Does the Company Have a Minimum Charge for Removals?
Some removals companies will have a minimum charge in place for removals, which isn’t always the most cost-effective option if you’re moving from somewhere like a one or two bedroom flat, and only moving a short distance.
So, when comparing quotes, it’s a good idea to check if this is the case, so that you’re not paying more than you have to just so that you meet the minimum price requirements.
Is Mileage Included in the Price?
As mentioned earlier in this guide, mileage is usually a cost that’s factored into the cost of hiring a removals company. However, depending on whether you’re moving locally or long distance, this may not always be included in the final quote you get.
If you’re moving locally, you’ll typically find that most companies charge by the hour, and the mileage cost is included in the quote, but as always, it’s better to check this to be sure.
Does the Quote Include Insurance?
Insurance is something you should definitely have when moving house to help prevent any damage to your possessions during the move. However, it’s always worth checking if the removals company include this as part of their price.
Although not all removals companies will offer insurance, and you’ll be expected to take out your own, you can sometimes get find companies who offer this as part of their removals package.
Check Their Experience
If you’ve never worked with a removals company before, and especially if you’re moving a longer distance and may not have the option to meet with anyone from the company in person before you move, then making sure they have the practical experience to back up what they’re offering is a good idea.
You can typically find this out online by reading their website, and looking for things like testimonials, and reviews. Another great place to find genuine reviews is social media.
Ask for References
References and testimonials from past customers are always a good way to check the credibility of any professional company you work for, and this is especially true when it’s a removals company who will be dealing with high-value and delicate possessions of yours like a piano.
Don’t be afraid to ask for these, since any genuine company will be more than happy to share references with you, and if they do seem a bit evasive around the topic, then it’s not a great sign, and you should move on.
Final Checklist
The process of moving house can certainly seem daunting if you’ve never done it before, and regardless of whether you’re moving locally, to another part of the country, or to a new country altogether, it’s something that requires a great deal of patience, organisation skills, and the ability to work under pressure quickly.
In this guide, we’ve covered what affects the cost of hiring a removals company, how to hire a removals company, how to ensure the removals company is the right fit for you, and how to save money when hiring a removals company.
However, the best way to assess the costs of moving is to ask professionals. You should field offers from multiple companies and then you’ll need to arrange and be prepared for hiring a removal company. If this seems too time-intensive and laborious to do on your own, our service can help. Click the button below to receive quotes from multiple reliable moving companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Should You Start Preparing for Moving House?
How Long Does It Take to Pack a House?
What’s the Best Way to Pack Boxes for Moving?
If you’re going to be packing things like dishes, electronics, or other fragile and valuable items, then these should always be wrapped in a protective bubble wrap that is taped together, and then placed in boxes that are either hard, or if you prefer to use cardboard boxes, they should be labeled clearly to let the removals company know that they contain fragile items.
In What Order Should I Start Packing for a Move?
For example, if you’re arriving at your new house at night, you probably won’t have the energy to start unpacking everything right away, so you should have things like bedding, some toilet roll, and some basic supplies like tea, coffee, bread, milk, and baby or pet food available right away.
The best way to do this is to set this aside in a separate box for the first night and either take that with you in the car, or make sure it goes in the removals van last, so that it comes out first, and is marked clearly so you can find it easily.
Is There Anything You Shouldn’t Pack in a Box When Moving?
I’m Moving from the UK to Another Country. How Do I Find an International Removals Company?
To find a reputable international removals company, MoverDB is one of the best places to find UK removals companies that focus in oversees removals.
When working with a company for an international move, you should make sure that they’re accredited by either the British Association of Movers (BAR), the International Association of Movers (IMA), or the Fédération Internationale des Déménageurs Internationaux (Federation of International Movers or FIDI).
I’m Moving Overseas. How Much Does a Shipping Container Cost?
This site explains more about the costs of hiring a shipping container.
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For years, the Household Quotes Team has been the trusted partner for homeowners and tenants throughout the UK, ensuring they never overpay for essential home improvements. Whether it’s a malfunctioning boiler or the need for new windows, we believe that everyone should have access to affordable home maintenance. Our goal is to make it easier for you to keep your home nice without breaking the bank.