Should I use a removals company?

You’ve found your home, had your offer accepted, the paperwork is complete and now you’ve got to tackle the move! Should you use a removals company when moving home?

Moving your belongings is the final part of the house buying process, the experience can be both exciting and stressful. It is therefore important that you set aside plenty of time to prepare and plan for the move.

Using a Removals Company or going alone 

When the time to move comes, you have two options. You employ the professionals to do it for you or you go it alone. After the completion of the paperwork, you will agree a completion date with the seller. This will be the date you can collect your keys. To reduce the potential stress when moving, your preparation should start as soon as you know the completion date, if not earlier if possible!

Employing a professional moving company can reduce the time and effort you spend during the move. The most important thing if you decide to employ a company is getting the booking time correct. Most moving companies are booked up weeks in advance, so you will have to get in early. This can be tricky, as sellers (and agents!) tend to request completion dates soon after the contracts have been exchanged. It therefore may be a good idea to provisionally book the movers in and confirm the date as soon as you agree it with the seller.

Benefit of using a Removals Company

At what is typically a stressful time, offloading some of the work to the professionals can be a very wise decision. Below we set out some of the benefits of using a removal company:

• Sharing the load – People typically overlook the amount of time and effort involved in packing and moving belongings. Most of us tend to underestimate how many belongings we actually have! Employing a removals company will help share the load and reduce the stress and your time commitment.
• Moving big furniture – If you have large items of furniture to move then bringing in the professionals is likely to be a good idea. Moving large items can be physically demanding and once you have them out of the house you need a large vehicle to transport them! A good removal company will take care of loading furniture straight into the van from its’s current location. This can save you effort, time and potential damage to the walls!
• Damage Cover – Moving furniture, electronic items and even soft items like cushions can result in damage particularly when on the move. A good removals company will have the experience to protect the important items and secure them when on the van. If the worst happens and damage occurs, the company should be insured so you will be able to recover the cost of a repair or replacement.
• Saving Time – Underestimating the amount of time it takes to move house is a common pitfall. Moving alone can result in lost weekends even weeks depending on the amount of items you have. A removals company will ask you to confirm the size of the house you are moving from, or estimate the amount of stuff you have. Once they have this information, they will decide how long they require with a typically move taking 1-3 days. This could save you a significant amount of time and stress.

Negatives of using a Removals Company

It is important to consider the drawbacks of using a removal company before you proceed. Below we set out some of the negatives:

• Cost – Inevitably, hiring a professional costs money. After paying out for conveyancers and surveys, the additional cost of a removals company may come as a surprise. To help ensure you are obtaining the best value, you should obtain at least two quotes before proceeding.
• Booking – As briefly touched upon above, booking the removal company ahead of time is crucial. Trying to book a removal company at the last minute is risky and may result in a significant delay to your move. Knowing the precise date of your move ahead of time is tricky and some guess work will be required.

So, should you use a Removals Company?

We have highlighted some of the benefits and drawbacks of using a removals company. If you’re moving without any furniture, a car and a couple of family members or friends should do the trick. Even if you have a lot of belongings, hiring a van for a few hours may work out cheaper than a removal company. The decision will depend on each person’s circumstances, and we recommend you consider the option carefully. The excitement of moving into your new home can certainly be knocked during the moving process and picking a company may be a very wise decision.