When you reach the removals part of your house move, ensuring that the price you pay for your removal does not come as a surprise at the end of your moving day will help reduce the stress of what can be a long and demanding process.
reallymoving provides up to 5 indicative quotes for removals based on the customer’s estimation of their goods. Quotes do not include additional services. It is important to discuss your needs with your chosen removal company to ensure you receive a quote which includes all of your requirements and will not differ once your move has been completed. Here are our top tips to ensure your removals quote is as accurate as possible.
1. Get a removals survey
A pre-move removals survey will allow your potential removal companies to assess the volume of items that will need to be moved. This will ensure they can provide an accurate quote and supply the necessary equipment and team members for your moving day. It is recommended that you choose three of the companies you think fit best in terms of price and service levels to complete a pre-move survey of your house.
Most removal companies provide a binding quote after the survey has been performed, which will be based on the items shown to the estimator visiting your home and any additional services that the estimator is informed about (for example, packing or disassembling furniture).
The cost of your move will be mainly based on the volume of items you have to move, so ensure that the estimator views all areas of the property and is aware of every item needing to be moved to receive an accurate quote. If you do not mention everything, your removal company may arrive without sufficient resources and the cost of your move could be significantly increased should the company need to provide you with extra labour or vans on the day.
Once the estimator has visited you should expect to receive your written quote by email within 3 days. This will usually include an acceptance form to book the move if you are happy with the quote and the company’s terms and conditions.
2. Ask about insurance
All the companies you will receive quotes from through reallymoving are insured. It is, however, worth checking what you are covered for in the removal companies’ terms and conditions.
Most companies will cover you up to £40 per item under their standard removals insurance, but you may wish to have more cover than this for your goods. If you wish to purchase additional insurance most removal companies will state in their quotes if they provide this option and what percentage of the value of your goods you can expect to pay. Be sure take this into consideration when comparing your quotes, as this will vary from company to company.
You should also check what your home insurance covers for you.
3. Think about whether you'll need storage
Will you require storage as part of your move? If this is something you will need, find out if the storage rate is stated on the quote.
Most removals firms charge by cubic foot per week for storage in transit, but be sure to check each quote to see if you will be charged any extra for handling the goods in the warehouse.
You can read more about storage in our complete guide to storage.
4. Don't forget specialist items
Moving specialist items can incur an increased charge, as it is likely to take longer and involve specific equipment or crating to move the items safely, as well as the removal team’s specialist skill.
Specialist items include fine art, antiques, and chandeliers. If you are moving home with a piano, this will also be considered a specialist item. If you have any of these items, make sure your removal estimator is shown them during the pre-move survey and that they will be incorporated into your removal quote.
5. Compare quotes
When you have discussed the requirements of your move with the removal companies and received your written quotes, the next step is to compare them and make your decision on which firm to go with.
It is important to check carefully what each quote includes. A quote that looks higher in cost initially may be a saving in the long run if it includes extra services. Some quotes may exclude services such as parking, packing and long carries, and the cost of these will be added later in the process and may make the price more expensive.
It is advisable that you mention any additional services, such as packing or dismantling furniture, and ask how much these will cost during the pre-move removals survey. This will allow you to compare ‘like for like’ prices that include the services you need for your move and help you to select the company you are happiest with.
Updated August 2020