Do you buy snacks/drink for the removal guys on moving day?

[LenJoseph]

We just exchanged contracts and will complete next Wednesday. Removal booked with a local company. We will pack everything ourselves as the house is small and we do not have lots of stuff. Will need the guys to dismantle our bed and reassemble it at the new place, all other things will go as they are.

So my question is as the subject: on the moving day do you prepare any snacks/drink for the guys? If you do, what do you suggest we get for them? Our tea set and baking trays will be in boxes so no home made stuff please. Thank you :)

You don't need to do anything. Most people wouldn't. Whatever you do would be a kind gesture.

Maybe just have some cans of pop and biscuits in?

No! Presumably you’re paying them a fee to do the job. People bring their own lunch to work or buy it themselves. I’m sure you’ll have enough to worry about on moving day.

We got a crate of beer for them to share, gifted at the end of the day. I don’t think they expected anything but a small gesture for everything they did.

You don't need to prepare anything but have some cans of cola and some packet snacks handy maybe. Would cost under a fiver. It's a nice gesture to offer. Especially in the hot weather. :)

I had tea and biscuits ready, but they didn't touch it. On day 3, when I realised that they weren't going to take a lunch break, I ordered in pizza, which they were all hugely grateful for. They scoffed it down and cracked on again. Those guys worked like honeybees.

Always. Tea and biscuits once they’ve packed up everything (kettle etc goes in the “moving day box” which comes in the car with me), tea and biscuits at the other end too, packet of ice lollies from nearest shop at the other end in weather like this, or bacon sarnies (bread, bacon, frying pan go in moving day box). It’s intense physical work! I want tea and a snack when moving and I’m not lifting anything!

DH used to work for removal company in student days. Snacks/ drinks etc not expected but appreciated. We’ve moved a lot in the last 20 years and he always gets the removal guys at least lunch (usually fast food) and usually snacks too depending on how long it’s taking.

No, I was too busy packing last minute stuff and cleaning to think about snacks for removal men. Plus was on a very tight budget and moved as a single adult with teenagers. Luckily teenagers went to school the day we moved but I had to drop them at family really early and organise for them to go to a friend after school as we were in limbo for several hours waiting for keys.

Removal men dismantled and reassembled beds for me.

Yes kettle is last to be packed and comes in the car with you so can be unpacked straight away lol plus couple of spare mugs, spoons, glasses, tea/coffee, sugar, milk and squash and biscuits/bag of donuts. We also bought ours Burger King via Uber eats. They had to dismantle 1 king sized bed, 2 doubles and a cabin bed, a large garden slide and a triple wardrobe and rebuild. Yes you are paying them but it's hard work and nice to offer some food/drink.

Last time we moved it was a really hot day. I gave them a couple of packs of cans and some crisps I think.

I always stock up on individual bottles of water, cans of drinks for them. Always seems to go down well and very much appreciated

Would you always provide snack and drinks for services/trades that you are PAYING to do a job already?

Genuine question? In extremely hot weather, and if I had an actual fridge still plugged in, I might offer cool drinks/squash etc but on moving day, surely you have so much else to think about?

Ours gratefully accepted coffee throughout the day. I offered food several times including fish and chips when we got a rahe away but they always refused. I gave a tip. I think it was £50 for the 3 of them to share. They worked solidly for 3 days.

Always. Tea, biscuits and cans of coke. Sandwiches and crisps for lunch and then a beer each and a tip (usually £20 each) at the end.

Yes - we moved last year when it was very hot. I got cold drinks and doughnuts/cookies from the shop and then paid them a tip at the end. They were very grateful.

Would you always provide snack and drinks for services/trades that you are PAYING to do a job already?

Usually. I think offering refreshments is a kindness, not done kind of a bonus paid in addition to their agreed rate. When you're working in people's houses it's hard to sort your own drinks etc out.

They’re grown men. They will probably have little wifies at home to make up packed lunches and flasks for them.

For any trade/service I have always made sure I’ve got some milk in so I can make tea/coffee and cordial in case they want a cold drink I’ll also get some biscuits in. Electrician, carpenter, gardener, window fitters, plasterer, plumber. Would you not offer people a drink just because you were paying them?

Always. If you're nice, people are nice back. They'll work harder and treat your stuff more kindly if you're polite and recognise the hard work they're doing by offering them a drink and a biscuit.

We had tea and biscuits, and did a Costa run when we got to the new house. I’d offer anyone in the house tea and biscuits though. We also have them each a bottle of wine at the end of the day.

Tea and biscuits for both days then a crate Of beer when they'd finished to share between them (they'd gone above and beyond as well as being just lovely helpful guys)

And yes @MarmiteCoriander always offer any tradesmen refreshments. We've just moved and had various people round lately - electrician, landscape gardeners, window fitters etc all accepted offers of tea/coffee/cold drinks and biscuits. I just think it's nice to offer.

It was the hottest day of the year once when I moved and I bought ice lollies all round which the removals were grateful for. Of course offered tea coffee and water as I would anyone working in my home.
I don’t think they expect it though.

Definitely! As well as the tea and coffee I went shopping the evening before move day for snacks - a load of cans kept in an ice box, multipack of crisps and chocolate mini rolls for tea break time. It was a two day move and we got them lunch too - gush and chips one day and McDonald's the next.

They were very very grateful. They all worked really hard and nothing was too much trouble

Ah thanks a lot everyone, didnt expect so many replies :) tomorrow is our usual groceries day and cold drinks, biscuits and crisps will be in the shopping list. Cheers!