Cut down stress with our guide to house removal

Our step-by-step Guide to a stress-free House Removal 2025

You must plan your house move with realistic timelines to ensure you are on track with everything within your control. Organisation, planning, and execution are key to a stress-free house removal process.

1. Planning Your Move

1.1 Set a Timeline

• Estimate your house move to be in three months’ time from the start of the conveyancing process. (Please note that this could last six months or more and, in some unfortunate cases, years.)
• Create a countdown calendar with deadlines for various tasks (e.g., decluttering, packing, getting quotes, etc.).

2. Preparing for the Move

2.1 Decluttering

• Go through each room and identify items to keep, donate, or discard.
• Consider holding a garage sale or using online platforms to sell unwanted items.

This must be done before you start inviting movers into your home for estimates. That way, you are not charged to move things you do not want. It also helps the movers estimate accurately and confidently because there is no ambiguity. Suppose you tell them not to include an item because you will be getting rid of it before the move. In that case, they may still include it in the estimate to prevent a situation where items that were not in the original quote are now being presented for removal on the day.

2.2 getting quotes

• Please research three companies, checking their reputation, reviews, and recommendations.
• Book a free survey from each of the three companies. This could be in person or over video (if a small move, e.g. is from a 2-bedroom house, and you do not have the time, you can send a video or pictures of everything, including inside cupboards and other storage areas.
• Ensure you allow the person conducting the assessment to look in every area of your house, including the loft and shed, for a thorough evaluation.

• Avoid trying to influence the estimate by telling the surveyor that it is a small job, or the wardrobe only has a standard amount of clothes for two persons or one person, whatever the case may be. All the efforts to affect the quote do not work. Instead, they distract the surveyor, which can be unpleasant. Just be quiet if you have nothing to say while he or she does his or her job. Don’t forget that it is paramount that this part of your move is done right to avoid significant issues on the day of your move.
• Unless there is a need for a particular type of vehicle due to bad access, don’t bother talking about the kind of vehicle they will use. Assuming you have done your due diligence and chose professional companies with good reputations, they know the vehicle capacity they need to do the job in one trip. It doesn’t matter whether it is an 18-ton lorry or a few Luton vans. The key word is “capacity” They have done their assessment and know how much space you need.
• Pick your first and second choices and let them know you like their quotes and that it will depend on who is available on the day. In this case, we will save your quote until you are ready to move without additional charges unless the economy has changed drastically within that period. We will prioritise you over new customers.

2.3 Packing Supplies

• At this point, one of the companies you have chosen should be able to estimate the packaging you need. You can either order from them or elsewhere.
• The benefit of ordering your packaging from us is that you know you are getting the best quality instead of ordering it from an online shop without knowing what to look for.

We also allow you to return any unused packaging for a refund.

2.4 Packing Techniques

• Start with non-essential items.
• Pack room by room, keeping similar items together.
• Protect fragile items with bubble wrap or packing paper.

2.5 Labelling Boxes

• Clearly label each box with its contents and the room in which it belongs.

3. Dos and Don’ts

• Ensure you chase your solicitor regularly to avoid oversight that may prolong the process.
• Avoid booking any overseas holidays within that period
• Keep your first-choice mover up to date

4. The move

• On the eve of the move, reserve spaces outside your house for the removal guys to park their vehicle(s). You can achieve this by notifying your neighbours, asking them to park elsewhere, and using notices, wheelie bins, and your cars.
• Keep the kettle and hot drinks out for yourself and the movers. Although you do not owe them a drink, supplying them with hot drinks and water is essential.
• Clean your current home as the rooms are emptied.
• Ensure the movers have removed everything that was included in the quote.
• Ensure the movers know the names of the rooms in your new home. The best way to do this is to label the door frames.
• Stick around the entrance to tell the movers where you want some of the big items and unlabelled items.