What a move costs
What changes the price of a move
No price list, because an honest one is impossible. Here is what actually moves the number, so you can judge any quote you are given — ours or anybody else's.
Why nobody can price your move from a web page
Every removals site you have looked at either hides the price or shows a number with an asterisk. That is not always evasiveness. A move is priced on how much there is, how hard it is to get out, how hard it is to get in, and how far apart those two doors are. Change any one of those and the number moves.
What a quote should do is commit. Ours does: we look at what you have, in person or over video, and give you a fixed written price before the day. If we have judged it wrong, that is our problem, not an extra line on your invoice.
What actually moves the number
Eight things that change the price
Mention these when you ask anybody for a quote. A mover who does not ask about them is not pricing your move, they are pricing a guess.
How much there is
The single biggest thing. Not the number of bedrooms — two people in a two-bed flat can own less than one person in a studio who has been there nine years. What matters is van loads and how long it takes to carry.
Stairs, and the turn at the top
A second-floor flat with no lift is not twice the work of a ground floor, it is more. And a tight turn on a Victorian staircase costs more time than the flights themselves. This changes crew size more than furniture does.
How far the van can get
Twenty metres from the door to the van is nothing. Eighty metres down a communal path, through two fire doors and round a bin store is a different job with identical furniture.
Parking at both ends
If the van cannot get near the door, everything takes longer. Parking is yours to arrange, at both ends. Legal, usable space next to the door is the single biggest cause of a move running late, so we raise it when we quote rather than on the morning.
Whether anything comes apart
Beds, wardrobes and tables that need dismantling and rebuilding add time at both ends. Worth saying up front so it is in the price rather than a conversation on the day.
The date
Fridays and month ends are the busiest days in removals, because that is when tenancies end and completions land. Midweek and mid-month is quieter, and quieter is cheaper for everyone.
Packing
Doing it yourself costs nothing but time, and it is always more time than people expect. Having us do it costs money and saves a weekend. Either is reasonable; deciding late is what causes trouble.
Anything genuinely heavy or awkward
Pianos, safes, American fridges, large garden pots. These need the right kit and often an extra pair of hands, and we would rather bring them than improvise.
What to ask any mover before you book
These seven questions separate a fixed price from an opening offer. Ask them of us too.
- Is the price fixed, or is it an estimate that can change on the day?
- What happens if the move takes longer than they thought?
- Is waiting time charged, and from when?
- Are blankets, straps and floor protection included or extra?
- Does the price include dismantling and rebuilding furniture?
- Are they insured, and for how much? Will they email the certificate?
- Who is responsible for parking, and what happens if there is nowhere to park?
How to get a real number from us
Tell us what is moving and where it is going and we will give you a fixed price in writing. For anything bigger than a room, we would rather come and look — it takes twenty minutes, it is free, and it is the reason we can commit to a price instead of an estimate.
Straight answers
Questions about cost
How much do removals cost in London?
Anybody who gives you a number without knowing what you own, what floor you are on and where the van can park is guessing — and a guess that comes in low is the one that grows on moving day. What we can tell you is that the price we quote is the price you pay.
Why is there no price list on this site?
Because a price list for removals is either so vague it is useless or so hedged it is meaningless. Two three-bedroom houses on the same street can be a day apart in work. We would rather look at yours and give you a real number.
Is a man and van cheaper than a removal company?
For a small job, yes — one van and one or two movers costs less than a full crew, and you should not pay house-removal money for a sofa and six boxes. For a whole house it is a false economy, because a second trip costs more than the right van would have.
Do you charge by the hour?
A fixed written price before we start. No hourly meter, no bill that grows while you watch. Almost every job we quote is a fixed price. Hourly only makes sense on the rare job where nobody can say what is coming — a clearance, or a load still being sorted. We will tell you if yours is one of them.
What is the cheapest way to move?
Move midweek and mid-month rather than a Friday or a month end, pack yourself if you have the time, and get rid of what you are not going to unpack. Every box you do not move is money you do not spend.
How far in advance should I book?
For a man and van or a small flat, one to two weeks is usually enough. For a house move, three to four weeks, and more than that if you are moving on a Friday or at the end of a month. We keep room in the diary for short notice, so ring us either way.