How Much Does It Cost to Move House?

Estate agents describe homes in bedrooms, movers think in cubic metres. A couple in a three bedroom house who moved in two years ago may have half the volume of a family who have filled the same house for fifteen years, with a garage, shed and loft to prove it.

This is why a proper quote involves either a visit or a room by room conversation. A price given from the bedroom count alone is a guess, and guesses get revised upwards on the day.

Distance from the front door to where the van can legally stand is one of the most expensive details in a move. A driveway you can back onto is fast. A permit street with a hundred metre carry, or a third floor flat with no lift, can add hours of labour to exactly the same load.

Mileage costs less than you think, and time costs more. The important line is whether the whole move can be loaded, driven and unloaded within one working day. Once a move needs an overnight or two trips, the price steps up rather than creeping up.

Packing is the most common addition and the easiest to control. Doing your own clothes, books and toys while handing over the kitchen, glassware and pictures often gives you the best balance of cost and peace of mind.

Dismantling beds and flat pack wardrobes, taking a door off, or lifting something through a window all take time that should be identified before the day, not discovered at eight in the morning.

Put the quotes side by side and check they describe the same job: the same volume, the same crew size, the same number of vehicles, packing in or out, and a fixed price rather than an hourly estimate. A cheap hourly rate with two movers can easily cost more than a fixed price with three.

Ask what happens if your completion is delayed, and ask what is not included. Both answers tell you a lot about how the firm works.

The cost of moving house is set by how much you own, how far it is going, how easy both homes are to work at, how much help you want and when you move. A removal company cost is built from those pieces, which is why any honest answer starts with questions rather than a number.

The price of moving house is also shaped by demand. Fridays, month ends and school holidays are the most requested dates, so availability is tighter. A midweek move can give you more choice, and booking early gives you the best chance of the date you want.

A good removal quote lists both addresses, the date, the rooms and items included, any packing, dismantling and reassembly, and anything specifically excluded. Comparing quotes is only fair when they cover the same scope, so check that each removal company is pricing the same job.