Advertorial: How Much Does a Removal Company Cost in London?

If you’re planning to move home in London, one of the first questions you’re likely to ask is: how much will the removals cost?

For a straightforward local London move with good access, not above first floor level, you might typically expect to pay around £600–£900 + VAT for a 1–2 bedroom property or £1,000–£1,500 + VAT for a 3–4 bedroom property. You may require packing materials, packing services or other services that could also impact on cost. 

However, the cost of a removal depends on considerably more than the number of bedrooms. Access, the volume of belongings, travelling distance, packing requirements, parking and the amount of furniture that needs dismantling can all affect the final price.

At Redpath Moving & Storage, we have more than 30 years of experience in the removals industry. One thing experience has taught us is that no two moves are quite the same.

That’s why a professional removal company should take the time to understand your move properly before giving you a firm quotation.

Typical removal costs in London

While every move is different, the following provides a useful indication of what you might expect to pay for a straightforward local London move, not above first floor level.

These figures are intended as a general guide of moving services rather than a quotation. They assume a local move with reasonable access and a property no higher than first-floor level, together with a fairly typical volume of household contents.

They do not include additional services such as professional packing, packing materials or storage.

The cost may be higher where there are additional factors such as upper-floor properties, difficult or restricted access, long carrying distances, parking restrictions, unusually large volumes of belongings, specialist items, packing requirements or significant furniture dismantling and reassembly.

For example, moving a two-bedroom ground-floor flat with good parking immediately outside could be considerably quicker than moving the same volume of belongings from a third-floor London flat with no lift and a long walk to the removal vehicle.

This is why we recommend a removal survey before providing a firm quotation. It allows us to assess the volume, access and individual requirements of your move and provide a price based on what is actually involved rather than simply the number of bedrooms.

What affects the cost of a house removal?

There are several important factors.

1. The volume you’re moving

This is one of the biggest factors affecting price.

More furniture and possessions generally mean a larger vehicle, more loading and unloading time and potentially additional members of the removal team.

This is why simply telling a removal company that you have a “three-bedroom house” doesn’t always provide enough information for an accurate quotation.

2. Access at both properties

Access can make an enormous difference to a London removal.

A property with a driveway where the removal vehicle can park directly outside is considerably easier to service than a flat where the crew needs to carry furniture a significant distance to the vehicle.

London presents some particular challenges, including narrow streets, controlled parking zones, mansion blocks, restricted loading areas, stairs and properties where larger removal vehicles simply cannot get close to the entrance.

A good removal survey should identify these issues in advance.

3. The distance between the properties

Moving from Hampstead to Highgate is obviously different from moving from London to Edinburgh.

Long-distance moves involve additional travelling time, fuel and potentially overnight accommodation or different scheduling arrangements.

However, distance isn’t always the biggest factor. For many London moves, the amount being moved and the access at each property have a greater impact on the cost than the mileage between them.

4. Packing

You can pack your belongings yourself or ask your removal company to do some or all of it for you.

A full packing service can take a considerable amount of stress out of moving home.

Professional packers will normally supply the appropriate packing materials and carefully pack items including kitchenware, books, ornaments, pictures, clothing and other household possessions.

Alternatively, you may prefer a part packing service, where the removal company packs only particular rooms or more fragile items.

Naturally, professional packing adds to the cost of the move, but for many clients the time and stress it saves makes it worthwhile.

5. Dismantling and reassembly

Large beds, wardrobes, tables and other furniture sometimes need to be dismantled before they can safely be removed from the property.

If your removal company is carrying out this work, the additional labour required needs to be taken into account when preparing the quotation.

An experienced surveyor should identify these items before moving day rather than discovering them when the removal team arrives.

6. Parking

Parking is particularly important when moving in London.

Depending on the borough and location, parking bays may need to be suspended or permission obtained for removal vehicles.

Good parking arrangements can make a surprisingly large difference to the efficiency of a move. If the removal vehicle has to park a significant distance from the property, every item has to be carried that extra distance.

When obtaining quotations, ask how parking will be handled and whether you or the removal company will be responsible for arranging any necessary suspensions or permissions.

7. Storage

Sometimes the dates simply don’t line up.

You may need to leave your existing property before your new home is ready, or you may decide to put some belongings into storage while decorating or renovating.

In these circumstances, your quotation may include collection, storage and subsequent delivery to your new property. Redpath Moving & Storage cater for all storage requirements.

Why can removal quotations vary so much?

It’s not unusual to receive significantly different prices from different removal companies.

However, it’s important to establish that you’re actually comparing the same service.

Check whether each quotation includes the same number of staff, appropriate vehicles, insurance, packing materials, dismantling and reassembly, waiting time and any other services you require. 

Is the mover you are considering a registered member of the British Association of Removers? There is real added value in choosing a BAR member as they will have been annually inspected to ensure they adhere to the industries highest standards. 

Most importantly, consider whether the company has allocated sufficient resources to complete your move properly.

A very low quotation isn’t much of a saving if the vehicle turns out to be too small, the company hasn’t allocated enough staff or the move runs substantially longer than expected.

Price matters, but reliability on moving day matters much more.

Completion day is not a particularly good time to discover that your removal company underestimated the job.

Should a removal company survey my property?

For anything other than a relatively small and straightforward move, we strongly recommend it.

A survey allows the removal company to understand what needs moving, assess access, identify furniture requiring dismantling, discuss packing requirements and calculate the appropriate vehicle and crew requirements.

The survey doesn’t necessarily have to involve somebody visiting your home.

At Redpath, surveys can be carried out in person or by video, depending on the circumstances and your preference. You can book your removals survey here and your quote will follow on swiftly. 

The objective is the same: to understand the move properly before providing your quotation.

Is professional packing worth the extra cost?

For many people, yes.

Packing an entire home is often one of the most time-consuming parts of moving.

A professional packing team can take much of that workload away from you and ensure fragile possessions are packed using appropriate materials and techniques.

It can be particularly worthwhile for larger properties, busy families, clients moving at relatively short notice or anyone who simply doesn’t want to spend the weeks before their move surrounded by boxes.

At Redpath, we offer both full and part packing services, as well as unpacking and settling-in services for clients who would like us to take care of even more of the process.

Should I simply choose the cheapest removal quotation?

We wouldn’t recommend choosing a removal company on price alone.

Your removal company is being entrusted with virtually everything you own, while working to a deadline dictated by one of the most important financial transactions you’re likely to make.

Look at the company’s experience, reputation, insurance, professional accreditations, quality of its vehicles and equipment and, critically, the people who will actually be carrying out your move.

Check independent customer reviews and ask questions if anything in the quotation isn’t clear.

A professional removal company should be happy to explain exactly what is and isn’t included.

How can I reduce the cost of my move?

One of the simplest ways is to declutter before the survey.

There’s little benefit in paying to move belongings that you’ll dispose of shortly afterwards.

You can also pack yourself rather than using a professional packing service, although it’s worth considering the amount of time involved before making that decision.

Being flexible with your moving date can sometimes help too. Fridays and the end of the month are traditionally popular moving periods, so discussing alternative dates with your removal company may provide more options.

Most importantly, give the removal company accurate information from the outset. Good planning helps prevent surprises and allows the move to be resourced efficiently.

Getting an accurate removal quotation

Every move is different, which is why we believe the best quotation starts with understanding exactly what’s involved.

Redpath Moving & Storage provides professional home removals, packing and storage services throughout North London and the surrounding areas.

We’re members of the British Association of Removers and our team brings more a genuine wealth of removals experience to the planning and execution of our clients’ moves.

Whether you’re moving a flat across North London or a large family home across the country or further afield, we’ll take the time to understand your requirements and plan the move properly.

Planning a move? Arrange a free, no-obligation removal survey with Redpath Moving & Storage and we’ll provide a quotation based on your individual requirements.

We’ll get you there, with care.

Article Supplied by Redpath Moving & Storage

Call Redpath on 020 3432 2340, email [email protected] or visit https://redpath.co.uk/ 

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