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Cheap Removals

Moving house is often thought to be one of life’s most stressful events. Leaving the familiar, saying goodbye to your friends and family, unexpected delays or problems, and getting used to your new neighbourhood are just some of the things you have to handle with a move.

It is already stressful enough without having to worry about the large costs associated with a move. That is even more relevant if you are on a tight budget. That is why we have compiled a few ways to make cheap removals possible.

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Cheap removals: How much do removals cost?

Understanding the price factors is key to being able to reduce the total cost of your removal project. If you know how companies determine their quoted price, you will see which areas you can save money. The cost of removals depends on a few main factors:

  • The total volume of your belongings
  • The distance between your old and new home
  • Accessibility of your properties
  • Timing of your move
  • Extra services that you request

In the table below, there is potential to save money when it comes to services like packing, packing materials, disassembly and reassembly of furniture. The more you do it yourself, with the added help of family and friends, the less expensive your move will be. There are also other ways to lower the total price you pay for removals that we will introduce in a later section.

ServiceDetails
Price
Removal CompanyLoading, transport, and unloading
£400 – £1,000
PackingExpert packing of items and furniture
£100 – £400
Packing MaterialsBoxes, wrapping, tape, papers, and covers
£100 – £150
Disassembly and ReassemblyTaking down furniture to prepare for packing
£100 – £150
StorageUse of storage facility for 1 month
£100 – £150
CleaningFull house cleaning services
£15 – £30 per hour
Total1 to 4-bedroom house removals
£760 – £2,100

Please note that prices may vary depending on the moving company and the specific requirements of your move.

Lower your removal costs by comparing

With all the costs involved with moving house—estate agent fees, conveyance fees, deposits, and buying necessary items for your new home, to name a few—you are probably looking for ways to save as much money as possible. One of the biggest expenses is for hiring movers; this is something that you can easily lower if you find the right removal company. Cheap removals are made easier by comparing multiple quotes. The request takes less than 5 minutes and is non-binding, meaning you can decline the offers if you are not satisfied.

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Tips on how to have a cheap removal

With an understanding of how moving companies calculate their prices, you are able to identify specific areas where you have the potential to save. With this in mind, here are a few tips to help keep your removal costs down.

Declutter 

Because volume is one of the main factors in determining price, the fewer items you bring with you, the lower the removal company cost will be. Take a look at each one of your items and think about whether you have used it in the past year, it’s usefulness, or if it brings about happiness.

Give your unneeded items to friends, recycle, or donate them to someone to whom it will be more useful. Another option for the items you have deemed unnecessary is to sell them, either at a car boot sale or online. You can use the extra money you make from the sale of your old items towards the removal company costs, or for making your new house feel more like a home!

On packing: do it yourself

Or at least, try to pack as much as you can on your own. Ask willing friends and family to help with packing as this will surely speed up the process—but promise them you’ll return the favour with pizza and a pint of course!

Since movers charge for their packing services, packing your items by yourself is one of the best ways to save on removal costs.

Alternative sources for packing materials

Rather than buying packing supplies from the removal companies, there are other places to find these materials at cheaper prices or even at no cost at all! Ask your neighbours, friends, family, or workplace for boxes that they do not need, or go to your local shop or supermarket. For packing paper, use recyclable materials such as newspapers or even some linens and clothing. Check sites like Freecycle; someone could be looking to get rid of a few boxes.

Box rental services

A recent trend is box rental services, where you rent plastic boxes made from recyclable plastic from companies. You pack your items into these boxes, have them transported to your new home, and have them picked up after use. Their prices are competitive, and it is an environmentally friendly alternative to using cardboard and producing plastic waste.

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On removal companies: get your timing right

Start contacting companies and booking early, as removal specialists usually charge more for last-minute requests. You will have more time to plan and budget accordingly, lowering the chances of unexpected expenses.

Book during off-peak times

Also, try to book your moving day during off-peak times. Avoid weekends, bank holidays, the first and last days of the month. The moving season is in full swing between May and September so if possible, move outside of these months.

Take advantage of part load rates

If you are moving long-distance or abroad, consider part load transport offers. Although you will have to share shipment space with others and wait a little longer for your items, you will save a significant amount on transport costs.

Obtain multiple quotes for cheap removals solution

Comparing removal quotes from different companies will really let you see the best price and set of services that match your needs. Get at least 3 quotes, and by being able to see offers together in one place, you will easily find the remover with the greatest value for your money.

Give as much information as you can when talking with moving companies so that they will give the most detailed cost breakdown as possible, saving you the nasty surprise of added costs in the future.

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Save money before and after moving house

Aside from cheap removals, there are other aspects of moving house where you can save money. These either deal with tasks before or after your big moving day and range from dealing with utilities to negotiations.

Double-check your utility change dates

If your moving date does not perfectly match up with your bill cycle, you might consider cutting your service early. It might be tough to live a few days without what is important—yes, even wifi!—but you will save money by avoiding an extra month of utilities that you will not use.

Change suppliers

Use this opportunity to find new energy suppliers. Just because you’re moving to a new place, it does not mean you should stay with your current utility providers or even the companies that the previous owners were with. Shop around and research various providers to see if there are better deals available.

Ask your company for moving assistance

In situations where you are moving due to work, check with your employer to see if they offer relocation assistance. This could be anything from the extra time off to finish moving to your new house to paying up to a certain amount to offset your moving costs.

Keep a close watch over your spending after you move

While there are many things you can do before your moving day to save money, your frugal efforts should not stop once you complete your move. The period immediately following your move can be characterised by heavy spending.

Expenses after moving

Once you move into your new house, you will need to buy many items to get everything set up. Cleaning the house, filling your fridge and pantry, or buying new furniture and appliances, plus other innumerable purchases—all of these expenses can add up.

Find creative solutions for your home

Resist the temptation to splurge and instead, find creative ways to save and find inexpensive solutions. For example, you could find a cheap, vintage dining table which, with a quick coat of paint, would perfectly suit your new home! Or perhaps, you could try making homemade cleaning supplies; this is less expensive than buying products and is much more environmentally friendly.

Cheap removals tip: shop around and save!

Ready to find the right removal company for you? Your next step is to send a quote request to reliable movers operating in your area. Once you see multiple price offers presented in one place, you will easily work out which company is the best value for your money.

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