FINANCE
On the move!
It’s finally time to move in to your new home – Kay Hill has hints and tips for keeping removal costs down
a standard car licence but is large enough to hold, according to Reallymoving.com, up to 45 packing boxes or “a table and set of stackable chairs, spacious sofas, two double beds, wardrobes, and white goods”. A long wheel base Ford Transit or Mercedes Sprinter van (380- 530 cubic feet) will hold furniture such as beds and sofas, plus around 30 boxes (the contents of a single garage), while a standard Transit or Sprinter (280-380 cubic feet) should take a bed or a smaller sofa plus boxes. Hire prices vary according to van size, driver age, location and day of the week. As an example, for a 30-year-old to hire a Luton with tail lift in Chelmsford was £178 a day, while a smaller van was £97. Some companies offer cut- price weekend hire, and larger firms will do one- way hires if you are moving across the country. Things to consider: Self-drive van hire does not include insurance for your goods, and may not be covered by your house insurance, so presents a greater risk than using a removals company Are you confident driving a large vehicle? You will be liable for repair costs if you scrape or damage it, unless you buy additional insurance.You have to pay for the fuel you use You will need to arrange parking permits, Congestion Charge payments etc yourself You will probably need help to load and unload the van if you have large items A more expensive, larger van may work out cheaper than multiple runs in a smaller van.
When you are buying your first home, don’t forget to factor in removal costs – whether you are living in your childhood bedroom or renting a property, you are bound to have quite a lot of gear to move come the big day. According to 2024 research by Zoopla, the average house removal cost for a short move ranges from £420 for a basic removal from a one bedroom apartment, to over £1,200 for a packing and removal service from a three bedroom house – but there are plenty of ways to keep costs down. REMOVAL COMPANIES Getting professionals to do your move is trouble- free and fully insured. Prices depend on how much you need moving, how far you are going, and the day of the week (Fridays, weekends and school holidays are more expensive). Specialist items such as pianos or tropical fish tanks incur additional charges and if you are moving appliances you will need to disconnect them yourself beforehand. A basic removals package means that you pack all your smaller items into boxes yourself, while a premium service means you can sit back and watch while everything is packed for you and unpacked at the other end (although you’ll pay hundreds of pounds for the privilege). It’s sensible to get three quotes, and make sure you know exactly what is included – for example VAT, packing materials, dismantling and reassembly of furniture, going up stairs, moving fragile items, permits, parking and mileage.You will get the most accurate quotes if the companies visit to do a removal survey. Do you have the van for the day, or is it charged by the hour? And what are the charges if there are delays – for example if you are in a chain and someone’s money doesn’t come through? You might consider taking out Late Keys Waiver, insurance costing from £70 that covers the costs of your removal company staying late. SELF-DRIVE VAN HIRE If you have a full UK driving licence and are over 21, self-drive van hire is a possibility (although drivers under 25, with less than two years’ driving experience, or with a poor driving record, will pay considerably more and may have to shop around or accept a smaller van). The best van for moving yourself is undoubtedly a 3.5 tonne Luton (550 cubic feet) with a tail lift – a box van that you can drive with
EXPERT COMMENT
When choosing a removal company, price should never be the only issue, as what matters the most and ultimately costs the least is to have a safe and successful outcome. The process when choosing a mover should, as a minimum, include carrying out proper due diligence on who you are inviting into your home. A professional BAR Member can be veri ed by clicking on the TSI logo on a member’s website. Always ask for references (and take them up) and look at online feedback. Always get a minimum of two quotations, ideally three, and make sure that the service provision described is exactly the same, don’t just look at the price at the bottom. Check the T&Cs carefully for potential additional charges and how and when they may be incurred (a bona de professional remover will always explain this to you as part of the quotation process). Unfortunately, the UK moving industry is largely unregulated and the barriers to entry pitifully low, meaning that the opportunity for unprofessional, cowboy companies to take advantage and thrive is extremely high. Membership of the BAR guarantees quality management and service delivery procedures, enhanced by our independent dispute resolution and payment protection plans.
VAN HIRE WITH A DRIVER Every area has “man with a van” services on offer, which can work out reasonably priced if you are doing a small, local
move, moving by yourself, or don’t
drive. For example, Quickmanandvan. co.uk offers hires in London starting from £36 for two hours, and drivers will help
Ian Studd , Director General, British Association of Removers
with lifting and disassembling/reassembling furniture. Weekday, daytime moves are cheapest.
118 First Time Buyer August/September 2024
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