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Original poster

Removals - DIY or professionals?

50 replies

kerrymucklowe2020 · 19/08/2020 15:01

Where do you look for recommended removal companies ( don't trust trustpilot ). Move could be weeks away so trying to get quotes for ( reputable) removal firms v hiring a van and DIY

In West Yorkshire

Thanks

Btw am not using FB for recommendations again due to the last two ( plasterer doing an appalling job then ditto a 'professional decorator')

OP posts:
Flatpackback · 19/08/2020 15:44

Don’t do it yourself unless you absolutely have too. It will definitely cost more to use professionals but is worth every penny. Check-a-trade do verify reviews with customers, I had a call from them last week checking out if my comments were genuine.

Redhair23 · 19/08/2020 16:02

I used Mcarthys who were very good, could you get a few quotes in and see who you like in person?
Definitely get a packing service if you can stretch to it.

Redhair23 · 19/08/2020 16:03

Ask on mumsnet local?

ShakeaHettyFeather · 19/08/2020 16:23

Definitely professionals! Best money you will ever spend.

WwMILd · 19/08/2020 16:29

6 house moves here over the years.

Last one was a removal firm, and next will be for sure!

Basillify · 19/08/2020 16:30

I'd also get a few different quotes. We got four and all wildly different ranging from £300 to £1200 for the same service.

CuteOrangeElephant · 19/08/2020 16:33

My most recent move was both.

We used professional movers to move everything from our first floor apartment to a container (abroad) and then moved our stuff together with my two sisters, husband and a rental van.

I would definitely DIY if you are moving in the same city. We were done in 2 hours. You just have to be mega organised, no packing on the day.

GreenTiles22 · 19/08/2020 16:37

Professionals every time! It's life changing. They can come a day or two before and pack EVERYTHING , like magic little fairies. (Or you can pack yourself, but it's not that much extra for them to pack). Then they load it up and unload it for you. Worth every single penny.

We used Simply Removals. Very good.

juneisbustingout · 19/08/2020 16:41

I got advise from a local FB group. I got three quotes and chose the company who made the least fuss about all the stuff in the outhouses.
Cost around £1000 a few weeks ago and was money well spent
Except for moves when I was young and in rented property with very little furniture of my own I'd choose professionals every time

SuperficialSuzie · 19/08/2020 16:44

Always always always pay someone to do it.

I paid some guys on AnyVan to do it - think it was about £300 and they were like locusts going through the house and stripping it bare. They did in hours what it would have taken us days

justpoppy · 19/08/2020 16:59

100% removal firms. It’s bloody hard work doing it yourself and in the grand scheme of things isn’t a lot of money. Definitely do what pp said and get a few quotes as they do differ quite wildly. One that we asked to quote wanted almost double what we are actually paying. We think they didn’t want to do it so priced themselves out.

FlamingoAndJohn · 19/08/2020 17:01

If I move again I will get a removals firm in all day long.

I would ask friends to recommend, or perhaps the estate agent.

Original poster
kerrymucklowe2020 · 19/08/2020 18:51

@16:44SuperficialSuzie- rang them and went straight to answermachine - will try again tomorrow

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RollercoasterRaver · 19/08/2020 21:22

Removals! 100%....ours were amazing, lovely bunch of guys and we paid extra for them to pack the kitchen. Nothing broke at all!

BluePaintSample · 19/08/2020 21:31

Check insurance details for anyone you hire, we paid for any damage to both the property we were leaving and the one we were moving into plus any damage to contents.

My sister moved a couple of years ago, national reputable company, one guy turned up stinking of weed, they packed their stuff appallingly and there were damaged items from furniture to broken picture frames. Luckily they were insured but the cost of the damage was about £1k.

Original poster
kerrymucklowe2020 · 20/08/2020 23:06

@BluePaintSample I went on Check a trade - not a great result tbh One company asked me to go on his website and put the SAME information in that I'd put on CAT. THEN, when I rang him back to say the form was coming up with an error basically said that's impossible.Then seemed rather put out when I asked about protection for items - sofa covers / carpet protection etc. Then seemed seriously put out when I asked if anyone was a smoker!!!- NEXT!!!

OP posts:
user1471538283 · 22/08/2020 12:01

I've done both and always use professionals now. We use a local well established company. I would have a couple of them over for a quote and see which one you like best

Srictlybakeoff · 22/08/2020 12:11

We did it ourselves last time . Never again

GOODCAT · 22/08/2020 12:18

We did it ourselves last time. Actually quite enjoyed it and meant we decluttered better, but we don't have kids. With kids would prefer professionals.

SparkyTheCat · 22/08/2020 13:38

If you have very little stuff and are moving locally, probably fine to do it yourself (but as pp have said, have it all ready to go on the day). Otherwise professionals all the way - think of it as buying time, energy and peace of mind.

MrsWooster · 22/08/2020 13:51

Professionals. It’s a hideous experience at the best of times and if there’s ANY way you can afford to pay for a full picking service, do so. I’m in Leeds and McCarthys were very good, although we couldn’t stretch to the packing service, to my deep, deep regret.

GolightlyMrsGolightly · 22/08/2020 17:19

We went with local well established company whose vans we saw everywhere. Also asked people. They packed for us. £1300. Worth every penny. And we fed them cakes and bacon rolls.

niki26 · 22/08/2020 18:04

My husband has a few commercial trucks so we decided to do our last move ourselves - we used his 7.5 tonne truck and he enlisted a couple of his employees to assist.....it wasn't a disaster but this time we will defo get professionals in!

Vintagevixen · 22/08/2020 18:13

I went for a local firm in Essex, just made sure they were a member of BAR (British association of removals) and checked out the insurance etc.

I also had a packing service and by god was it worth it, I had always moved with Ex before and he would never pay for this and it was always me packing and getting exhausted. They came with all the supplies - paper, bubble wrap, furniture covers, tape, blankets. Was amazing, saved me so much energy at such a stressful time - was right at the beginning of lockdown!

They moved me from London to the south coast and were brilliant, I had to put my stuff in storage with them too and it was perfect.

Then they managed to deliver to my empty house in the middle of lockdown - otherwise it would have been DD and I in sleeping bags on the floor for weeks!

I will never move myself again (if I ever move again!!) but always go for packing/removals professionally. It was worth every penny.

Original poster
kerrymucklowe2020 · 22/08/2020 21:30

Welllll, second try at getting quote - do you employ smokers- yes we have a staff of 16 and two are smokers. For an extra cost we can tailor your "package" so you don't have any smokers when you move ......FFS

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