Removal companies?

[ImpossibleNovelty]

Stupid question but how do removals companies work? I’m really confused about practical things like when you would book them (before exchange? But what if something comes up and the date changes? But if you leave it late then what if they’re all booked up). Also what they actually do - do they literally pack everything up for you or do you have to empty bookshelves, drawers, cupboards into boxes then they take them?
When we moved last time we did it all ourselves but the thought of doing it again makes me want to cry!

You ask for a penciled in date. You then confirm once you've exchanged...one of the reasons why having two weeks between exchange and completion is helpful.

They can pack for you or you can do it yourself. Depends if you have time or want to sort and bin stuff as you go along.

Ah that makes a lot of sense thank you! Definitely some sorting and binning required

They're pretty flexible, hence the pencil in date - and are very used to dates moving and changing, and all the other challenges of the final stages!
Pay for the packing if you can - it will save your sanity. It also means all of your belongings are insured with them and they can do a house in a day or 2 (depending on size!!) which means you are not living in packing hell for weeks before hand!

That’s interesting about the packing insurance, thank you. And an excellent excuse to get someone else to do it!

Definitely get the packing service, I was surprised by how reasonable the price was for it. We used the service when DM moved as we lived too far away to help her pack. They did everything including the shed and the loft (not all companies will empty the loft, so you will need to check that). They are like a team of locusts, it’s amazing how quickly they can do it. All we had to do was tell them what rooms we wanted stuff to go in. They do pack everything so ensure you have marked anything that needs to stay.

I agree with the locusts comment!!
Yes, the only things I packed was a box of personal items that I wanted to take in my car - passports, insurances, certificates and some jewellery. Cleaning stuff and tea and coffee ready for the other end!
Our movers packed our loft but charged etc - which was fair enough as we had loads up there!
The also dismantle all beds and reassemble at the other end in the specific rooms.
Ours also knew a guy that can dismantle and reassemble Ikea furniture (that's his business!) and he came and did our huge wardrobes - game changer! All we needed to so was rehang our clothes!

Many of the big nationals do not 'pencil in' a date. They ask that you book and pay for the move and pay for an additional cancellation waiver. Which you do not get back if the move goes ahead on the planned date. Like an insurance policy.

If they empty our garage I’d be so amazingly happy. I was dreading that. Good idea of the box of tea making things etc - essential! And I’m now going to look into an Ikea deconstructing person.
Thanks all for your advice, this was a total knowledge blackspot for me. Just need to actually exchange now and then the fun can really begin

OP I remember another thread about packing service, someone posted that their mother had this service and when she went to leave the house she went to put her shoes on (had been wearing slippers) and found that they had been packed! Other PP also said how the contents of the rubbish bin had been packed, sometimes with disastrous consequences if their belongings had been put in to temporary storage!

Hope you manage to exchange soon

Get some quotes first before you exchange so that you're good to go when you do. And when you're discussing completion dates contact your remover to make sure they're still available. I had two removers on standby as they were both very busy and I was happy to have either. It was a good plan as I had to go with the backup option in the end.

I've never used a packing service, but I know a lot of people do. The guys are normally absolute superstars. I love a bit of flat pack furniture but my desk was a nightmare to build. Before I'd had a chance to tell them it was a bit awkward it was dismantled and in the truck and put back together at the other end with no issues whatsoever.

Sometimes they can be a bit quick though. I lived with my bed on one wall for 5 years because they built it before I had a chance to decide and the room was too small to turn it around in!

Choose a removal company that's registered with the BAR as it will provide you with some extra protection should anything go wrong. And take recommendations from people you know or a local facebook page. Word of mouth is key. If you're in the Thames Valley or Kent I know of a couple of companies.