Average Removal Costs – How Much do Removals Cost?
Often when moving to a new house, the sum of money you need to set aside for a removals company can come as a surprise to some people so it’s a good idea to consider average removal costs. Removal costs are frequently overlooked when budgeting for home ownership, so it is an important requirement to avoid any unpleasant surprises. So, how much do removals cost?
Average Removal Costs for a UK House Move in 2022
The overall cost of moving to a new house will vary greatly. The main factors which contribute to the cost of moving are the size of your home, number of items which need to be moved and the distance you’re moving. Although, other factors such as access to your home can contribute to the total cost. For example, if the removal van is not able to park outside your property you may have to pay more as it will take longer to load or unload the van(s). Lastly, flights of stairs can contribute too. If you live in a flat on the fourth floor you will have to pay more than if you were living on the ground floor because of loading and unloading time. Let’s delve into the average removal costs of moving different sized homes 10 miles.
Average Costs of Moving a One or Two-Bedroom Home
| Size of property | One or two-bedroom house |
| Average moving cost | £600 |
Average Costs of Moving a Three-Bedroom House
| Size of property | Three -bedroom house |
| Average moving cost | £900 |
Average Costs of Moving a Four-Bedroom House
| Size of property | Four -bedroom house |
| Average moving cost | £1200 |
Average Costs of Moving a Five-Bedroom House
Average Costs of Moving a Five-Bedroom House
| Size of property | Five-bedroom house |
| Average moving cost | £1450 |
How Do Removals Companies Charge?
Usually, if you are moving locally—within a town or to a neighbouring city—removal companies will most likely charge you per hour. If you want to move across the country, the cost will take into account the mileage as well.
When considering a removal company, the cost will depend on how many men you will need to assist with your move, whether the property is easily accessible for the van, the number of stairs, and how long your move will take overall.
Shop Around!
Getting multiple quotes from different removal companies is the best way to get an estimate of how much removals cost. Using a removals calculator is a great way to save time and calculate the cost of your removal with an instant quote and online booking.
Removal Costs Based on Distance Travelled
Removal companies will charge less for relocating within the same city or town than they would for relocating across the country. The greater the distance you wish to travel, the higher the cost. Long distance removals are also more difficult to estimate, so you can usually expect to pay a fixed cost based on the amount being moved, the distance it needs to travel, the size of your property, and the number of men needed to assist your move.
When comparing different removal companies in the UK, it was discovered that some charge an hourly rate, while others charge on a mile-by-mile basis. Moving a one-bedroom flat across the country would cost around £450, while moving a four-bedroom house would cost around £950-£1000.
You can save large amounts by opting for a fully insured, man and van service instead of a traditional removals firm for your long-distance move.
Average Removal Cost – The Extras
It’s important to understand that sometimes you may have to pay additional fees to move your home if you’re home move will take longer than normal.
East of Access
Many removal companies will charge you extra if they are unable to gain access to your property. Depending on the specifics of your move, this cost will vary between removal companies. If this is the case, you may notice that the company raises their hourly rate or even charges a fixed fee in addition to the moving costs.
The accessibility of your property is important for the removal company to know so that any issues with access do not come as a surprise. For example, if you live on the top floor of a building without a lift, the removal company may require extra help, or the process may take longer, increasing the overall cost. If you live on a narrow street with limited parking, the removal company will have to consider how they will get to your home.
Be Honest About Accessibility & Reduce Stress!
Providing these details to removal companies ahead of time, will allow them to assess the situation, making the moving process smoother and faster.
Additional service costs
The majority of removal services provide a wide range of additional services to help make your moving experience easier and less stressful for you; however, these services are not free. The additional service costs will vary depending on the removal company and the size of the property you are moving from.
Listed below are the average removal costs of additional services for a 3-bed property travelling 50 miles.
| SERVICE | AVERAGE COSTS |
| Packaging services (including materials) | £250 |
| Packing materials | £100 |
| Dismantling and reassembling furniture | £125 |
Examples of additional service costs:
Packing materials
Confirm with the company whether packing materials are included in the quoted price. If they aren’t, find out how much it would cost to buy them from the moving company. However, it is critical to shop around to see if you can find them at a lower price. For example, look for low-cost boxes on Amazon.
Packing/unpacking services
You may require assistance in packing your belongings in preparation for relocation. This is a good option for older people who have mobility issues, but it comes at a cost. The average cost of packaging services is around £250, depending on the amount that needs to be packed. This is also true for unpackage services.
Dismantling and reassembling
You must notify the removal company if you require assistance with dismantling or reassembling items. Unless otherwise instructed, most removal companies expect everything to be ready to move when they arrive.
- Extra equipment
- Extra-large items that may not fit down the stairs and will require an alternative method of removal from the house may necessitate an additional fee due to the need for special equipment.
Unexpected Removals Costs, Penalty Charges and Removal Insurance.
When moving to a new home, the process does not always go as planned and smoothly, which can result in additional charges from the removal company. This has become more common since the coronavirus pandemic, with the government urging “all parties involved to be as flexible as possible during this period”. In order to prepare for delays in the move, such as if someone becomes ill with coronavirus and must self-isolate. Always ask the removal company what would happen if this were the case, as well as what the costs would be.
According to research, one in every five people has experienced moving day delays as a result of funds arriving late and sellers vacating their homes late. Because funds did not arrive on time, 20,500 of these homeowners were unable to move in on their scheduled moving date, resulting in an average cost of £500.
You should also check the company’s cancellation policy to help reduce any charges that may occur should you need to cancel.
Typical costs of moving home delays include:
- Storage fees
- Removal company cancellation charges
- Late completion charges
- Hourly waiting charges from removal companies
Removal Insurance
Removal insurance may be included with the removal company, but make sure you understand the level of protection they provide. Many companies only provide ‘transit insurance,’ which means your belongings are only covered while you are in transit. This, however, is usually very limited. Good, reputable companies typically provide up to £10,000 in coverage for individual items and £50,000 in total coverage. It’s also a good idea to double-check whether your home insurance policy covers your belongings when they’re being moved by a moving company.
Our Top Tips to Keep Removal Costs Down
Here we have listed some tips in which we believe will help you to keep your moving costs low, and help you save money.
Plan Ahead
By planning your move ahead of time as much as possible you’re in the best position to negotiate and get in plenty of quotes.
Avoid Peak Days & Seasons
August, July & September tend to see the most moves while over a quarter of people move on a Friday.
Declutter
It seems obvious but don’t pay for moving items you don’t want or need anymore! Give items to charity or sell them and dispose of unwanted clutter that you’ve accumulated.
Use Free Packing Materials
Most big supermarkets have a surplus of packaging. They’ll usually leave boxes just after the checkouts but if you can’t see any, ask! Also save newspapers and paper to pack glasses and other fragile items.
Consider a Man & Van Over Traditional Removal Firms
Removal firms can be very expensive and you can get the same, professional and fully-insured service from a man and van, get a quote and see how much you would save!