How Far in Advance Should You Book a Removal Company?

Most house sales complete on a weekday, and many buyers and sellers ask for a Friday so they have the weekend to unpack. The end of the month is popular too, because tenancies and mortgage arrangements often line up with it. Those dates are the first to book out, for every removal firm, not just us.

If your date is flexible, a midweek move is often easier to secure at short notice. If it is not flexible, the earlier you speak to a mover the better.

In England, the completion date is usually only legally fixed at exchange of contracts, which can be a week or two before moving day, sometimes less. That leaves a gap: you want a firm in place, but you do not yet have a guaranteed date.

The practical answer is to get your quote and survey done early, tell the removal company your provisional date, and ask how they handle a date that moves. Then confirm the booking as soon as exchange happens. Keep your conveyancer and your mover talking to each other through you, so neither is surprised.

Friday moves are popular for good reasons, but they carry one risk worth knowing. If funds are slow to transfer and keys are released late in the afternoon, there is less of the working day left, and banks and offices close for the weekend. Ask your conveyancer how early on the day funds will be sent.

Our guide to completion day delays covers what to do if keys are late, and it is worth reading if you are set on a Friday.

Not every move gives weeks of warning. Tenancy changes, chains that suddenly move and personal circumstances can all mean a move within days. It is still worth calling. Being based near Aylesbury, a local job does not need a long approach, which can make short notice bookings more workable when the diary has space.

For short notice moves, have a clear list of the larger items and both addresses ready, so the quote can be agreed quickly.

The more complete the picture, the more accurate the fixed quote. Both addresses, the property sizes, any stairs or lifts, parking at each end, large or awkward items, and whether you want packing help are the main details. Photos of the rooms and the frontage save a lot of back and forth.