The race for space has lit a fire under the UK housing market, which means a lot of people are moving house and removal companies are busier than ever.
People who have lived in the same house for years and are considering switching to a smaller home, or first-time buyers looking to put a foot on the property ladder may not be aware of what removals companies offer and how quickly the cost of moving or storing your possessions can add up.
In this blog, we’ll take a look at the basic removal company cost, as well as all the extras removal companies provide that can swell those moving costs, from selling suitable packing materials, offering packing services and hiring specialist equipment, to additional expenses such as insurance and storage.
We’ll also look at how our services could help you save money when it comes to secure, long or short-term storage of your possessions. So, without further ado, let’s unpack home move storage costs in the UK.
Find a reputable removal company
Once you’ve secured your new home, whether it’s a high-rise flat with a view to die for, or a 3 bedroom house close to all the amenities, the very first thing you need to do is find a reputable furniture removal company.
House removal costs can vary depending on the size of your home and the distance between the one being vacated and the destination property.
It’s worth shopping around to find out as much as you can about average removal costs to ensure you get the best value for money from your removal firm. Professional removal companies these days do more than pile your possessions in the back of a van!
Sort the pre-move to keep average removal costs down
When you’ve narrowed down your search for a removal firm you like, create an inventory of your home to get a better idea of the final price quoted by removals firms so you’ve got a ballpark idea of moving costs.
Don’t forget to make a note of valuable (both in terms of cost or sentimentality) or fragile items and any large furniture. You might be able to cut your removal costs by having a big clear-out, or deciding whether you will need storage to take care of some of your possessions.
As part of the average house removal, most removal firms offer a pre-move survey and it’s an important part of the house moving process.
It’s a chance to confirm the quote for removal costs iron out any special requirements you or your removal company may have, determine if packing material is needed, and ensure all parking arrangements have been sorted out so that you have your total removal costs calculated.
Is a packing service included in removal company costs?
Not everyone relishes the thought of sorting through and boxing up their possessions, but a lot of removal firms can provide whole or partial packing services and unpacking at the other end as part of their additional services.
Most removal companies provide packing materials too as part of their average house removal services, but it’s worth remembering these extra services can add to your overall moving costs rather than helping you save money if you’re moving house on a budget.
That said, handing over the job to professional removal men can make moving to a new property stress free!
How much does it cost to move a four-bedroom house UK?
There are several things to consider when it comes to working out house removals costs. The first, naturally, is what size bedroom house you’re leaving: the bigger the property, the more items that need transporting in a removal van.
How much space do you need?
It’s worth nailing down how much room you’ll actually need during the pre-move survey so you get an idea of average prices and you’re not paying over the odds with your removal company costs, especially if you’re downsizing to a one bedroom house from a three-bed, for example.
Travelling and average removal costs
The second consideration is how far your removal company will be expected to travel. Some removal companies charge by the hour, while others calculate costs on a per-mile basis, based on an average speed of travel.
If you’re moving abroad, you may need to factor in specialist packing materials and long-term storage as part of your house removal costs too.
Additional costs when moving house
Third, and if you’re looking to save money, this is where average removal costs can climb.
Factor in any additional services, such as using specialist equipment to access a high-rise flat, packing services for fragile or heavy items (such as pianos), as well as furniture disassembly, or cleaning a vacated property.
After a quick comparison between firms, the average price of moving a four bedroom house 50 miles is around £1,050 and £1,160 for 150 miles. Again, these will vary depending on the moving company you hire.
Other additional removal costs to bear in mind include removals insurance for valuables or white goods, such as washing machines and fridges (which may also require ordering more packing material).
It’s important these additional costs are factored into your house removal costs so you have a much better idea of what your removals company is likely to charge.
Do removal companies provide storage?
The short answer is yes, some removals companies do offer a storage service and can provide quotes for both removal and storage costs that will add to the initial removal company costs we’ve already talked about.
When choosing a storage unit, average costs will vary between companies and – as always when moving house – there are always a few extra things to keep in mind.
In the same way as removal services, you should work out how much space you’re going to need to store your property, how long you will require the storage for, and what kind of access you will need.
As specialists in the storage field, we have made our service as streamlined and user-friendly as possible, whether you’re a residential customer looking to pack up a lifetime of memories and downsize, or a commercial client in need of extra space.
Secure, straightforward storage services
It couldn’t be easier to use Blue Bear self storage facilities. Our weatherproof, steel shipping containers have been specially modified to offer additional storage space needed by residential and commercial clients.
Each storage container is completely waterproof with vents providing continuous air flow. It makes them perfect for domestic goods, machine parts, electrical goods and furniture storage, and that’s just for starters.
Depending on which of our sites is most convenient for you, our storage containers range from 40 square feet up to 160 square feet, enough space to accommodate complete house removals without having to pack your possessions in like sardines (something we don’t recommend!).
How much does storage cost per month in the UK?
Unsurprisingly, not all storage services offered by furniture removals companies are the same. They will vary greatly depending on the storage companies they work with, and could add significantly to your removal costs without offering much value for money.
For example, a removal company could offer storage at a set weekly cost per 100 square feet, while others quote an average furniture storage cost of more than £900 per month for a 3 bedroom house.
Many removal companies offer storage as a secondary service, but a specialist storage company, we like to be more flexible. As well as offering long-term discounts, we have a range of payment options.
Blue Bear storage costs
The typical cost of an 80 square foot unit at our St. Ives site is £130 per month + VAT or you can take 6 or 12-month payment options.
There are no up-front payments to access our storage facility, you don’t need to sign a lease, and you can have as many storage units as you need for your house storage.
You can also drive straight up to your container and all our sites are security fenced with monitored CCTV and recorded gate opening systems.
How much would it cost to store my house contents?
That depends on the size of your house. Some firms quoting removal and storage costs charge around £70 per week to store the contents of a one-bedroom house, rising to around £230 for a three-bedroom property.
While moving companies include many things in all the services they offer, so you are 100% certain what your removal costs are paying for, they can’t always give customers more information on the storage firms they use beyond storage costs.
When it comes to furniture storage costs – and anything else you put in our containers – we can.
Secure, weatherproof and cost-effective storage
Our storage containers are robust, weatherproof and secure. They’re ideal for big furniture and fragile items, and will make downsizing stress free.
Our 160 ft container will easily accommodate the contents of a four-bedroom house or flat. They are available at all five of our storage sites, and cost £175 per week + VAT.
You can find more information here, and browse our other flat-pack storage solutions too. Drop us an email at info@bluebearstorage.co.uk or call our head office on 02039 812900 to find out more.