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Original poster

Removal company- moving 10 mins away?

69 replies

surreygirl1987 · 10/12/2021 19:47

Hello! I'm due to complete on a property in a little over a week! We are moving nearby (10 mins drive away). We're moving from a 4 bed detached house (and we have quite a lot of stuff). Would we be mad to try and just hire a 'man/woman with a van' and do multiple trips? Or should we pay for a proper removal company even though we're only moving down the road?? Thanks!

OP posts:
LtGreggs · 10/12/2021 19:50

Proper removal company - they are so quick & expert because they do it all the time. And will pack if you want them to.

gukvguk · 10/12/2021 19:55

We moved a year ago and only 5 mins away but we would still be moving it all now if we had done it ourselves. Removals are totally worth it!

Original poster
surreygirl1987 · 10/12/2021 20:08

Fair enough! That's what I'm leaning towards, but my husband is more hesitant.

OP posts:
LittleBearPad · 10/12/2021 20:10

You’d be mad to do it yourself. You need to be packed and completely out by about noon. This isn’t going to happen with a van.

InTheLabyrinth · 10/12/2021 20:10

Will you have keys to both houses at the same time? At which point you can go with your plan.
However if you are simultaneously selling and buying you will need to be completely out of your house before getting the new keys. Imagine all your stuff sitting outside in the rain (snow?) while you go and reload.

RustyBear · 10/12/2021 20:14

DD & SIL had to do this when they were let down by their removal company. Luckily they had a couple of days notice, but they couldn't get another company, so they hired a van and rented storage space and shuttled stuff into it and then out again. It took them about 4 days and they were totally exhausted by the end of it, so I really wouldn't advise it.

PeacefulInTheDeep · 10/12/2021 20:15

We moved 2 adults from a 2 bed house less than 1.5 miles and we hired a removal company. They were great; they provided boxes and hanging rails, and they took apart beds and wardrobes that couldn't come out in one piece, and put them back together again in the new house. That left us free to do a good clean before we left, and to start unpacking essentials at the other end. I wouldn't do it any other way.

ISeeTheLight · 10/12/2021 20:20

How much overlap between the two have you got?
We've moved on our own several times including furniture. With some help from family. We just rented a large Luton van. Pack in advance and it's fine it's you don't mind heavy lifting.

witsendeverytime · 10/12/2021 20:24

Don't see what distance has to do with it - moving is a pan. Get professionals and get them to pack too,

BHX3000 · 10/12/2021 20:26

If you have where to store it all for 1-2 nights, do it yourselves. Otherwise it would be too tight trying to move it all in just a few hours, plus you might not have access to both properties simultaneously?

PuntasticUsername · 10/12/2021 20:33

Get the removal firm. Besides all the other good reasons given, they will be able to lift and shift all your furniture without breaking either the furniture, themselves or either of the houses. The same may not be true of you.

(I had to move two heavy sofas when we last moved. I'm still getting over it).

Original poster
surreygirl1987 · 10/12/2021 20:40

Sorry, should have said - we are currently renting and there is a week's overlap. Don't know if that changes anybody opinion?

OP posts:
startled · 10/12/2021 20:42

We moved this summer , full 3 bed to 5 bed about 10 mins drive ( 3 miles ) even though I had everything packed it's still exhausting , get a decant company to help you , I paid £895 ( rounded it up to 1K ) money well spent for peace of mind , not only did they take furniture to pieces they rebuilt it all and stayed until they were sure we were set up
I can't see how a van with multi trips would work unless you have access to both houses simultaneously for some hours
I don't think it's the distance that really makes huge differences it's the work loading and unloading , the actual drive is a break
Best of luck with your move

Original poster
surreygirl1987 · 10/12/2021 20:42

I'm going to persuade my husband to go with removals actually. Surely worth it!

OP posts:
AmandaHugenkiss · 10/12/2021 20:45

We moved the contents of a small one bedroom place ourselves, and we didn’t have much stuff at all. It was really hard work, time consuming and took much longer than expected. And that included packing the van ourselves the night before; it only took one trip in a small Luton.

Would highly recommend a professional company, we only did it ourselves as on very tight budget. Couldn’t have managed it with any more trips or furniture.

BHX3000 · 10/12/2021 20:50

@surreygirl1987

Sorry, should have said - we are currently renting and there is a week's overlap. Don't know if that changes anybody opinion?
In this situation I'd be doing it myself, but I've done several moves now and don't mind a bit of packing and lifting. But if you're already busy that week or simply don't feel like taking wardrobes apart and moving sofas yourselves, then get the removal company, if you can afford it.
hanahsaunt · 10/12/2021 21:01

We moved about 200m and had the full packing/moving works not least because then it's insured. It should be said though that I had a 2yo and a 2 week old baby, recovering from SPD and dh was in a cast with crutches. We weren't much use to man nor beast 😂

Original poster
surreygirl1987 · 10/12/2021 21:02

Yeh I think we will do the removal company. We also have a 1 year old and a 3 year old, and although we will get children that day, I like the idea of it all being wrapped up fast!!

OP posts:
Justcannotbearsed · 10/12/2021 22:29

We did this, got packers. As well as removal van. It was ace.

Oneforthemoneytwo · 10/12/2021 22:32

Wouldn’t even consider doing it myself. Movers are worth every penny. We also had them back and they rebuild all the furniture at the other end.

Toddlerteaplease · 10/12/2021 22:41

Definitely get the professionals in. I moved round the corner and still did!

Karatema · 10/12/2021 22:56

I've done 3 moves; 2 we used a removal company. The first was a diy move less than 5 minutes and a nightmare. The 2nd we used a removal company and less than 100 yards down the road. I would never diy again. The removal men were fabulous and were so helpful.

Charliesgotachocolatefactory · 10/12/2021 23:03

We moved a mile and a half, 4 bed to 4 bed, and got a removal company to do it. Much easier!

FallonCarringtonWannabe · 10/12/2021 23:05

When youre moving house, the drive between the houses isnt the issue. The packing the whole house up, into a van, and into a new place at certain times is.

DelphiniumBlue · 10/12/2021 23:05

Are you both young and fit with lots of reliable hefty mates willing to help? If not, then don't even consider it.
Moving is always very stressful, and if you can possibly afford to employ insured professionals who know what they are doing and will remain calm throughout, then consider it money well spent.

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