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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:

Original poster

surreygirl1987 · 11/12/2021 07:23

Haha okay I'm convinced. We are definitely getting a removal company to move us! I think we will do the packing ourselves but you have made it really clear why removals are the best choice. Thanks very much - I did think so but my husband was making me waver. I'm going to ring up removal companies immediately now. Thanks so much!

OP posts:

flowery · 11/12/2021 07:26

@FallonCarringtonWannabe

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.

This is exactly the point! We moved 500 yards a few years ago. Got movers, who packed for us as well.

CasperGutman · 11/12/2021 22:35

Use proper movers. The hard part is getting everything into the truck and out at the other end. It doesn't really matter how far you're moving - moving the stuff once it's all in a van is the easy bit!

Oh, and really do think about using a packing service. It only cost a few hundred quid when we moved, and was SO worth it.

Original poster

surreygirl1987 · 14/12/2021 19:54

Sorry, but one more question- how much is a reasonable removal cost?? As advised on here, I decided to use a removal company and have been ringing around to get quotes. One quoted me just under £2k (!!), another said it would be anything from 1k-1.5k (and would have to see out house first), and another said £1.2k. When we moved in the summer into our rental place (to break the chain), it cost us £850, and we don't have any more stuff than then, so I'm perturbed about the costs that local companies are quoting! Ironically we've moved from a more expensive part of the South of England to a cheaper area! What is reasonable? Am I being unrealistic? We're moving from a 4 bed house but don't have huge amounts of stuff (we did it in 1200 cubic feet; 2 Luton vans last time). Thanks!

OP posts:

Gribbie · 14/12/2021 20:25

We did it with a hired transit van. We were very organsied - got rid of loads of stuff in the months leading up to the move, packed everything we could early and if not needed urgently were stored at a relatives house so we could retrieve then in our own time. We packed both our cars, a trailer and the van the night before, had to do a few runs in the van. Hubby and his Dad did the heavy lifting - they're both quite strong. We were also moving from a bungalow so no stairs in one house anyway. If you can afford it then get someone, if not then it's achievable, but knackering!

HaaaaaveyoumetTed · 14/12/2021 21:08

@surreygirl1987

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

Yes! Massively.

You've no rush so use the cheapest option.

Original poster

surreygirl1987 · 14/12/2021 22:18

Thanks. Yes - I was very up for using a removal company when I didn't realise it would cost upto £2,000!! My husband is keen to hire a 'man with a van' sort of set-up, and he and I and maybe my brother can all help. And maybe hire a van for a couple of days afterwards for leftovers. Argh! Just want this done!

OP posts:

LargeProsecco · 14/12/2021 22:28

I've just done a move like this - one mile up the road.

I used professional movers for the big items - wardrobes, beds (paid extra for movers to take down & reassemble in the new place) and sofas etc. Also for bikes & garden furniture, garage shelves etc.

I have a SUV so moved boxes myself & clothes in black bags in 4-5 trips.

Original poster

surreygirl1987 · 14/12/2021 22:51

Thanks! How much did the professional movers charge you for that if you don't mind me asking?

OP posts:

TaleOfTheContinents · 14/12/2021 23:05

We moved about 2 minutes' drive away and the removals van was annoyingly expensive (we didn't get them to pack for us) but it was definitely worth it to get them to lug all the heavy items around. We had some sofas, chests of drawers, bed frames and tables that weight a ton and I wouldn't have wanted to (and possibly wouldn't have been able to) carry those up and down stairs.

LargeProsecco · 14/12/2021 23:20

@surreygirl1987 - I was about £350 for that . 1 king bed & mattress, 2 single beds, 2 wardrobes, 3 sets of drawers, 2 bedside cabinets, 2 sofa's, 3 bikes, 1 set garage shelves & garden chairs. Dining table & 6 chairs.

No white goods. I did the boxes (about 20, in 3-4 runs)

But you do need 2 cars & at least 2 people.

GutsInMay · 15/12/2021 09:35

Is your current house rented?

In which case multiple trips is fine.

If anyone is completing simultaneously on a sale and purchase it all has to be done in one trip because there is no point where you own both houses / have keys to both.

This is the bane of moving day, people in chains who think multiple trips will work!

Original poster

surreygirl1987 · 15/12/2021 11:35

Yes - our current house is rented and we have a 10 day overlap between completion and the end of our tenancy (although this does include Christmas!). Think I might book up a man with a van after all and just try to do as much of it as possible ourselves... really don't fancy forking out upto £2k!! Thanks!

OP posts:

Happy1982ish · 15/12/2021 11:36

Distance irrelevant

Proper removal

Happy1982ish · 15/12/2021 11:36

Have you actually got any quotes yet?

Original poster

surreygirl1987 · 15/12/2021 12:27

Have you actually got any quotes yet?
Yes, as stated upthread...

OP posts:

Happy1982ish · 15/12/2021 12:51

£1.2k

I’d like take it!

Good luck op. Will never ever move without removal men. Ever!

vickyc90 · 15/12/2021 12:56

We've rented the van for 3 days as was cheaper (well in advance but flexible dates) by 2/3 than a removal company. The idea is we will load it up from about 6am (normal awake time for us), drive to the new house and have 24hour to unload before we return it. If we miss completion it's very cheap to extend the reservation vs paying the company again.

randomsabreuse · 15/12/2021 12:58

We're moving from a cramped 3 bed to a 5 plus bed and will have 3+ week long overlap (rental, giving notice on completion...). We'll do most ourselves but getting pros/man with van for 1 load with the heaviest and biggest bits. We've already got all the boxes from the original move and the worst job will be getting stuff out of the loft which movers don't do! There's good access to hired vans with tail lifts and we're moving less than a mile so no issue ferrying boxes of books in our estate cars.

Shed contents is also best done by us as we won't have a shed on arrival (recent storms) so will need serious sorting...

Ozanj · 15/12/2021 13:02

Get the professionals in. At that distance it might be much cheaper and you might even be able to get them to unpack too

NotDavidTennant · 15/12/2021 13:06

It depends ho much time and energy you want to devote to it.

With a removal company you just need to ensure everything is packed before they arrive and then it is all dealt with. With the man and van option you will have to do all your loading and unloading which will likely take a few hours per trip. Even with a large-ish Luton van I imagine you are going to need two trips minimum, so you're talking at least one long day of heavy physical labour and maybe two days if you have to take more than two trips.

Voldermortsballsack · 15/12/2021 13:07

We hired a man and van to move 4 mins away. Do it! Everything was so quick!

DS and I walked to our new house with backpacks of snacks and flasks of tea. Was so surreal!!

WhatdramathisChristmas · 15/12/2021 13:12

Proper removal company. I moved in the same road from 1 to 10 and used one. My DD had a friend with a van move her and it took all day. Professional removers are quick and tidy.

aoeu · 15/12/2021 13:20

We've just done it ourselves for a 4+ bed house. But we had overlap of both properties, and our kids were old enough to help with boxes. You need at least a couple of capable adults for the big stuff too.

You've got 10 days; if the removal cost is enough to mean a lot to you then I'd DIY. Family help with either the moving or childcare?

itwasntaparty · 15/12/2021 13:24

I moved from a one bed flat with a van and will never ever move myself again.

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