Long-distance removals.....

[RaphaellaTheSpanishWaterDog]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post so please be gentle with me!

We are SSTC and looking to move towards the end of next month from our 4 bed, 2500 sq ft, three storey period house in the SW to a similarly sized property in the Midlands. The journey is around 150 miles.

Now I'm the first to admit that we have one helluva load of stuff - heavy antique furniture, pictures, decorative objects etc as well as around 50-60 medium to v.large garden tubs - and previously we have been quoted between £1800 & £4500 for a similarly long-distance move......the £4500 was Bishop's Move, whom we used for our last-but-one move in 2007. We had more stuff then - were moving from a 3500 sq ft house and wouldn't use again as they were rather careless imho.

We have just started getting quotes and have received the first today, from Britannia which came in at just under £4k. Tbh I was expecting it to be less as last time we moved (again 150 mikes approx) the most we were quoted was £2500, although in the end we DIYed which I wouldn't recommend, lol!

Anyhoo, I was just wondering whether £4000 sounds fair? We have been quoted for 120 boxes.....as I say we do have shed-loads of stuff!!!

We are also obtaining quotes from a few local firms, but wondered whether we should be asking firms in the location we are moving to to quote as well - although I imagine they'd struggle without actually seeing what we have.

TIA for any thoughts......

[RaphaellaTheSpanishWaterDog]

update

We have now received three removals quotes -

Britannia £3900
Large local firm 1 (BAR registered) £3500
Small local firm 2 (non-BAR registered) £4100

We are awaiting one more quote from another larger local firm......

Didn't like the guy from Britannia and got the impression that the non-BAR reg local firm have quoted high as they don't want the job - he seemed a bit phased by the sheer quantity and quality of our stuff!

The least expensive quote was actually from a guy we had the best rapport with - he seemed to fully understand what was needed regarding moving antiques etc.....export-wrapping for example, whereas the smaller local firm (the boss) said "we'll probably bring along some export wrap, just in case" !!!

As we were expecting quotes to be approaching the £4k mark, we'd be perfectly happy to pay £3500 as that appears to be in the right ball park.....

[RaphaellaTheSpanishWaterDog]

Forgot to add, the small local firm only provide 25 boxes as standard - any extra required (and remember we've been quoted as needing 120 by Britannia!) you have to pay extra for.....gulp!

[magimedi]

I haven't moved for about 8 years but prior to that I had a great many moves, quite a few distance ones as well. I used Brittania & other local firms at various times & Brittania wer always great.

I wouldn't ever dream of using a non BAR firm.

If you liked the local guy - go for it.

Good Luck!

[Bohemond]

Where are you in SW?
I have used a company called Weston & Edwards twice - once four weeks ago to move a short distance but previously to move us down from London to Taunton. They were excellent both times.
I would imagine SW to the Midlands would need to be over 3 days - pack half van, pack full van on moving day; unpack following day?
If so, I would expect to pay in the region of 3.5k.
And most firms, while charging you for boxes, will return the money when you return the boxes.

[May09Bump]

We used Pickfords - Liverpool to Surrey, but a smaller house and they were great. Would definitely use them again. We used other firms to move overseas and they were awful compared to Pickfords.