Moving house can be stressful, so you want to make sure that you’ve got a good removal company to help you move your possessions safely and securely. And if you need to keep your things in storage while you move homes, there are businesses and premises that can help you with that too. But how much will it all cost? Read our cost guides to find out how much you need to budget.
How cheap your removal service costs will depend on what you need. If you only need a ‘man and van’ service for a few pieces of furniture, you may pay as little as £15 per hour. However, the average cost for a removal service in the UK is £39 per hour, but you might pay up to £171 per hour if you choose a full service that includes supplying the boxes and packing up your belongings for you.
Make sure you choose your removal service wisely. While it can be tempting to go for the cheapest removal service you can find, they might not necessarily be the best – and you could risk your belongings. If the removal service specialists you choose don’t have the experience, they may not pack your possessions properly and they could get damaged in transit. Make sure you check each company’s reviews and references before you choose one to help you move home.
It’s debated, but most people say that the cheapest day for removals is either Sunday or Wednesday. Sunday tends to be cheaper as it’s the least favourite day for movers to move house, while Wednesday is cheaper because it’s the middle of the week and most movers want to move closer to the weekend when they have more time off work to do all the admin that comes with moving. Whatever day you choose, you should compare a few quotes from removal companies to ensure you get the best price.
The best way to save money on removals is to do most of the packing yourself. Removal companies charge more for packing your belongings, so you can save money by having everything packed away in boxes before the movers arrive. And like we said, Sundays or Wednesdays tend to be the cheapest days to move, so you could arrange your move for those days to save more money. You could also use a ‘man and van’ service to only move your largest pieces of furniture, then pack the rest in your car or hire a van to move the rest of your belongings yourself.
You should expect to pay at least a deposit up front for removals. Most removal companies will want you to pay a small amount to secure your booking, and some may ask for full payment around a week before your move. There aren’t any set rules, so you should check the removal firm’s payment terms before you book them so you don’t have any nasty surprises.