How Far in Advance Should You Book a Removal Company?
Moving house is always a bit of a whirlwind and there is so much to think about before you even get to the packing stage. One question we get asked all the time at The Transporter Removals is when is the best time to actually book your movers. It is a bit of a balancing act because if you go too early you might not have a date yet but if you leave it too late you could be stuck with no one to help you on moving day.
Most people find that booking about four to six weeks before the big day is the sweet spot. This gives you enough time to get a proper quote and make sure the company you want is actually free. It also means you aren’t rushing around at the last minute trying to find anyone with a van who is still available.
Why you need to plan ahead with removal companies
If you are looking at a local move around Birmingham or Solihull then four weeks notice is usually plenty but things get a bit more complicated if you are moving during busy times. Summer is the absolute peak for removal companies because families want to get settled before the new school year starts. If you are planning a move in July or August you really want to be looking at six to eight weeks notice or even more.
Fridays and the end of the month are also incredibly popular for completions. Most people want to move on a Friday so they have the whole weekend to unpack but this means those dates fill up really fast. If you can be flexible and move on a Tuesday or Wednesday you might find it much easier to secure your preferred team.
At The Transporter Removals we see our diary fill up months in advance for certain dates. If you have a specific day in mind and it happens to be a bank holiday weekend or the last Friday of the month you need to get in touch as soon as you can.
The exchange of contracts problem
The trickiest part of the whole process is that in the UK you often don’t have a 100% confirmed date until you exchange contracts. This usually happens only a week or two before the move which is way past the ideal booking window.
You don’t want to wait until exchange to start talking to removal companies. What we suggest is getting a quote as soon as you have a rough idea of when you might be moving. We can come out and do a home visit to see how much stuff you have and give you a proper price. Then once you have a provisional date we can pencil you in.
Just keep in mind that until you have exchanged nothing is set in stone. If the chain falls through or the date shifts you might have to pay a cancellation fee if you have already officially booked. But it is always better to have a relationship with your mover early on so they can try and accommodate any shifts in the schedule.
Different types of moves need different timelines
Not every move is the same and the amount of notice we need often depends on how much work is involved.
Small removals and man with a van
If you are just moving a few items or a small flat we might be able to fit you in with just a week or two of notice. Our man with a van service is great for these smaller jobs. It is much more flexible than a full house move so if you are in a rush it is always worth asking if we have a gap.
Full house moves
For a three or four bedroom house move we need to plan the logistics much more carefully. We might need multiple vans and a bigger crew to get everything done in one day. For these bigger jobs you really want to be reaching out at least a month in advance. We also offer a full packing service which takes two or three days so we need to make sure we have the staff available for that entire block of time.
Office removals
Moving a business is a different beast altogether. You have desks and IT equipment and maybe even warehouse stock to think about. We recommend booking office removals as early as possible so we can help with the planning. You don’t want your business to be down for any longer than necessary so getting the dates sorted early is key.
What happens if you leave it too late?
If you find yourself needing to move next week and you haven’t booked anyone yet don’t panic. Sometimes sales go through much faster than expected or a landlord gives you short notice to move out. We do try our best to help with last minute moves whenever we have a cancellation or a spare van.
The downside of booking late is that you might not get the company you wanted. You might have to settle for someone who doesn’t have the same level of insurance or experience. You also might end up paying a bit more because the company has to move things around at the last minute to accommodate you.
How to get started with a removal company
The best thing to do is just get a quote early from removal company. You can fill out the form on our website or give us a call on 0777 432 7671. Even if you don’t have a confirmed date we can still give you a price based on what you are moving.
When you get in touch it helps if you know:
- Your current postcode and where you are moving to
- A rough idea of the date
- Whether you need us to do the packing or if you are doing it yourself
- If there are any large items
Getting these details sorted early means one less thing to worry about when the solicitors start calling. Moving is always going to be a bit stressful but booking your removals early is the best way to make sure the actual moving day goes as smoothly as possible.
We have been helping people move across Birmingham and the rest of the country for years and we know all the pitfalls. Whether you are moving a single sofa or a whole office building we are here to help you get from A to B without the headache. Just give us a shout and we can talk through what you need and when you need it. It is never too early to start the conversation and it will definitely make your life easier in the long run.
