How do I choose a removal company?
What to ask, what the quote should include, and the specific things that turn a cheap quote into an expensive day.
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Time
- 1 hr
- Read
- 2 min
Short answer
Get three quotes from surveys rather than over the phone, check the firm carries goods-in-transit and public liability insurance, and confirm in writing what happens if the completion date moves. Price differences usually reflect what is excluded.
Removal quotes are hard to compare because firms include different things. The cheap one often excludes packing materials, dismantling, waiting time and the risk that your completion slips — which are exactly the things that cost money on the day.
Step by step
- Get quotes from a survey, not a phone call.A video or in-person survey produces a quote that holds. A phone estimate based on bedroom count routinely changes on the day, upward.
- Get three, and compare what is included.Packing materials, dismantling and reassembly, appliance disconnection, waiting time, parking permits and stair access are all common exclusions.
- Check the insurance explicitly.Ask for goods-in-transit and public liability cover, and what the per-item limit is. Ask specifically whether items you pack yourself are covered — often they are not.
- Ask what happens if completion moves.Chains slip. Get the rescheduling terms in writing, including the cost, before you book.
- Check membership of a trade body.Membership brings a code of practice and a dispute process. It is not a guarantee, but it gives you somewhere to go.
- Read recent reviews for the problems, not the praise.Look for repeated themes about damage, lateness or a final bill exceeding the quote. One bad review means little; the same complaint three times means a lot.
- Confirm access at both ends.Narrow roads, parking restrictions, lifts and stairs all affect the job. Tell them in advance — surprises on the day are charged for.
- Get the final agreement in writing.Date, times, address, price, what is included and the cancellation terms. A verbal quote is worth very little in a dispute.
Tips
- Book earlier than feels necessary. Fridays and month-ends go first, and those are when most completions happen.
- Declutter before the survey rather than after. Quotes are based on volume, so you are paying to move things you intend to throw away.
- Pack a box of essentials you keep with you: kettle, mugs, chargers, medication, tools, bedding. It is the difference between a bad first night and a fine one.
Common mistakes
- Choosing on headline price alone — The cheapest quote is usually the one excluding the most. Compare the inclusions before the number.
- Accepting a phone estimate — It is not binding in any practical sense and is routinely revised upward when the van arrives.
Questions people ask
How far ahead should I book a removal firm?
Four to six weeks where you can, and earlier for a Friday or month-end. You can usually adjust the date later more easily than you can find a firm at short notice.
Should I pay for packing?
It costs more but it is usually insured, whereas self-packed boxes often are not. For fragile or valuable items it is frequently worth it for the cover alone.