Just posting this here as I know it was something I googled before hiring movers. I was in two minds about it due to the cost but I’m so glad I went ahead- it made the move so much easier.
We used a local company and they were excellent. They packed everything away. Before they arrived, we went through everything and packed the items we didn’t want them to do, and had them boxed and labeled; I wanted to do my own clothes and toiletries.
We also spent some time ensuring everything was in the room we wanted to have it packed up with- the movers just literally packed everything that was in that room regardless of where it actually belonged.
In particular, I love how they packed delicate items like glassware- they did it much faster and better than I would have done. They were like a swarm of locusts. For bigger items like our massive sofa that has very delicate fabric, they removed the legs and split it (it in two pieces as it’s a corner sofa), wrapped it in plastic and them reassembled at our new house. Mattresses went into protective bags.
At the new house, they put all the boxes and items into the rooms we instructed.
In total, it cost us just over £1,500. Bit cheap, but we definitely felt it was worth it. We got moved in about 8 hours where it would have definitely taken us 2-3 days to do it ourselves, and we’d have had to rent a van.
The company we used charged in 15 minute blocks and we had three movers- they were also happy to do some other bits for us (needed some existing furniture in the new house moved to different rooms, and a bed assembled) as it was all on the clock anyway.
Just posting in case anyone else is weighing up whether to use movers or not. I’d 100% use a moving company again in future.