How Far in Advance Should I Book a Removal Company for Moving House?

You should book a removal company 4 to 6 weeks before your moving date. Once you have decided to move home and you have finalised your exact moving date, it is now time to get organised. However much you think you have to do you should expect that amount to be doubled or even tripled by the time you get to the big day itself!

From decluttering your home to creating a full inventory list, to sourcing enough cardboard boxes to build your very own Great Wall of China, there is a lot to do before you can close the doors on your old home for the last time.

Not to mention, the task of finding and booking a reliable and reputable removal company who you can trust to transport all your treasured possessions to your new home.

With this all important task, it is a case of the earlier the better with many aspects of your removal process being affected if you book too late.

If you are worried about any aspect of booking a removal company, keep reading as we have all your concerns covered and your questions answered.

Choose your moving date carefully

When you are deciding which day to move, consider not only picking a day that is most convenient for you and all other home movers in the chain, but also a day that will actually make the process of finding a high quality removable company at a competitive price more straightforward.

As a rule, the school summer holidays and bank holidays throughout the year are extremely busy times for most removal companies and therefore, if possible these times should be avoided. Other school holidays such as half terms and Easter are also likely to see higher volumes of home movers requiring removal services. Of course, if your completion date happens to fall during any of these periods there are ways you can ensure you manage to secure removal services without paying a premium!

Moving on a weekday will always be cheaper than a weekend! Yes, you may need to take a day off work in order to move midweek, but you will find that you have a larger choice of removal companies, plus their daily rate is likely to be far more competitive.

According to comparemymove.com the second cheapest day to move home is a Wednesday. Sunday is the cheapest, but not all removal firms will be able to accommodate this.

Ensure you can get your preferred time

The further in advance you book your removal company, the more likely it is that they will be able to provide you with their services on your preferred moving date and time, and with many home movers needing to be out of a property at a specific time, this can be vital to ensuring a smooth moving out process.

If you leave booking your removal company until the last minute, you risk not being able to secure your preferred time slot with your removal company of choice.

Do not wait for a moving date confirmation

If you are struggling to pinpoint an exact moving date but want to ensure you are able to enlist the services of the best removal companies in your area, you may be able to book a provisional date with them, which you can later adjust if needed.

The best course of action is to contact your chosen removal company and provide them with an estimated moving day, while explaining that this may change. Often companies will be able to accommodate this, and you will still be able to move at the time you need to.

Allow time for a valuation

If you commission removal company quotes at least 4 to 6 weeks before your moving date, you will ensure that there is time for a full survey to be carried out and you’ll be provided with an accurate quote for your moving needs.

This can prove invaluable when you start to pack up your belongings, as you will have an idea of exactly how many boxes you will need to move efficiently.

At this time, your removal company will ask you for any information they may need with regard to access to your property, parking, and your specific removal requirements.

You will also have the opportunity to ask any questions yourself regarding additional insurance, packing services and timeframes.

Do not leave packing until the last minute

Once you have secured the services of a removal company on your preferred date and time slot, you will need to ensure that your packing is 100% complete before they arrive, unless you have booked an additional packing service with them.

Removal companies work to strict timeframes and therefore, you do not want to keep them waiting while you hurriedly throw your belongings into whatever box you can find!

It is also important to remember to disassemble any furniture and prepare white goods such as fridges, freezers and washing machines so that they are ready to go when your removal company arrives.

A trustworthy and reliable removal company will do their very best to accommodate your moving needs; from the date you need to vacate your property, to the specific services you choose to make the process less stressful.

Moving house is challenging enough, you need all the support you can get!

For expert buying, selling and moving home advice, contact Amar Mustafa - The REAL Estate Agent on 0203 1505 007 or email at amar@therealagent.co.uk.