How much does it cost to move house in the UK?

/ Empire Removals South West Ltd/

What is the average cost for moving home?

How much do house removals cost in the UK? This is a common question and one that we hear a lot from potential customers. It is not a simple answer with one price that fits all as there are many determining factors when it comes to the cost of a home removal. Some of the main factors are below and we look into each of these in this blog:

  1. Size of the property

  2. Volume of goods to be moved

  3. Access and parking for removal vehicles

  4. Distance between the two properties

  5. Value of goods to be moved

  6. Time of the move

How much does it cost to move house

So the above list is not an extensive list of what determines how much your removal should cost, but these points will be some of the main actions that removal companies will consider when setting your move cost. Lets take a more detailed look at these now.

Size of property

The size of a property will affect the cost of a removal, but not necessarily the number of bedrooms. Whilst the general consensus would be that a 4 bedroom move will have more than a 2 bedroom move, this is not always true.

You will see certain articles online and elsewhere saying the average cost of a house removal for a 2 bed home should be £400, a 3 bed home should be £500, a 4 bed home should be £600 and so on. This is extremely vague and does not offer a true reflection of the move process. Any experienced mover will agree that you can go into a 2 bedroom apartment that is absolutely full to the brim of furniture and personal possessions to be moved, and then the next day you could move a 4 bedroom house that is minimal and has less in than the 2 bedroom home from the day before.

The size of the property is a determining factor, but more important than the number of bedrooms are things like does it have a garage full of belongings? Is there a large garden with numerous plant pots and garden furniture, are there outbuildings that need clearing etc.

So whilst size of the property is worth considering, your move cost can not be set based on this alone.

Volume of goods to be moved

This is an obvious one but also probably the most important factor when calculating your move cost. Professional removal companies will want to visit your home to carry out a quotation survey. The main purpose of this, other than building a rapport with customers, is to walk round and note everything to be moved. As mentioned above, this will include gardens, sheds, garages and all areas of your home. With this information the mover can calculate your volume in cubic feet (some movers may use a different method).

The reason this is so important is that at this stage the mover will use the volume to determine what type of removal vehicle to use, or how many are needed, as well as how many staff are required. There is nothing worse than underestimating the volume and come move day the removal firm run out of space for your belongings.

Access and parking restrictions

Moving costs in UK

Another key element in your removal cost is the access and parking. This is equally important for both your current and new homes. If the removal vehicle cannot park close to your home then this will increase the amount of time it will take to load your belongings. Given there are often deadlines to vacate your property, this may mean the removal firm need to allow extra staff to complete on time, which will obviously result in a a higher charge.

Other things to consider that could be classed as difficult access could be number of steps involved. If you are moving to a 4th floor apartment and there is no lift available this will take a lot longer than if you were moving to a bungalow for example.

Distance between the two properties

If you are relocating to the other end of the country then it is reasonable to expect a higher cost than if you were moving to the next street. A removal company will have to take into account the cost of fuel for the removal vehicles, staff wages, possible overnight costs if long distances are involved which all increase the base cost of your removal.

If you are moving a long distance, it may be necessary to load up the day before which can obviously result in a 2 or 3 day removal. Again this is something to consider when moving.

Value of goods to be moved

Something that is often overlooked is the value of your belongings. If you are asking a mover to transport valuable artwork, antique furniture and precious fragile items then this should be costed as such. There may be extra protection needed when it comes to packing these items. Would you expect a £10,000 piece of artwork to be transported the same way as a £10 picture from your local store? Extra care, packaging materials and time will be required which again will have an affect on the cost of your move.

There is also the insurance element to consider. Many insurers want to know about specific high value goods being moved. In certain cases, additional insurance cover may be required.

Moving valuable antiques

Time of the move

Is there a cheaper time to move? Sometimes the date and day of your move can affect the cost. For example if a removal company is in high demand during high season (often summer months) then they may charge more than if you are moving in January of February which can often be quieter months for movers.

Is it more expensive to move house on a Friday? This is a question we get asked a lot, it can be. Solicitors often set completions for Fridays so it is a very busy day in the world of removals. If you have any flexibility then it may be worthwhile speaking to your mover and setting a removal date for midweek and avoiding the busy Fridays. This is not guaranteed to be cheaper as some removal firms will have the same price for any day, but worth asking.

So when looking at all of the above, it is clear to see why there is no set price for moving house. There are too many variables when calculating the cost of a move. This is why it is always best to have a removal company visit your home and carry out a quotation survey. This way they have seen everything and can offer an accurate cost based on all the variables. Most firms will offer free no obligation surveys which is a great opportunity for both the removal company, and the customer to ask any questions they may have, and establish all the relevant information before working out your price for moving home.

Thank you for reading and please visit our website for further information as well as moving advice and tips.

https://www.empireremovalssouthwest.co.uk