When you think of removals companies, you probably think of filling a big van with a houseful of possessions to move them from one place to another. While the majority of removals companies offer that service, how do you deal with small load removals in the UK?
What is a small load removals service?
For a full removals service, you’re paying for the full van space, as well as outward and return journeys. When you book a part load, not only do you not require as much space on the van, but the van will be shared by other customers who also only need a small number of items moved, reducing the cost for you.
Why might you need a small load removals service?
There are quite a few different reasons you might only need to move a small number of possessions including:
- Student moves
- Antique removals
- Moving out of parents’ house for the first time
- Moving somewhere temporarily (for example, when completing major property renovations)
What’s the difference between hiring a removal company, rather than ‘a man with a van’?
The big difference is that when you’re paying for a removal company, you’re paying for expertise. Your items will be moved by trained staff, and packed into the lorry carefully – there won’t be loose boxes of valuables being flung round the back of the van while travelling the motorway!
Is hiring a removal company for small load removals cost effective?
Remember what we said about experts? Your removal company will be well-versed in the meticulous planning of journeys with multiple loads. This planning often even makes part load removals a cheaper option than ‘a man with a van’, as you’re only paying for a portion of a one-way trip, to pick up your items and drop them off at their destination.
Your shipment will basically be combined with the shipment of others, so transportation is shared among multiple other customers. Removal companies can even often do ‘back loads’, so for example if you require to ship a small load from London to Dorset, we could pick up your shipment on the way back to the depot.
How much does moving small loads across the UK cost?
It’s difficult to say exactly, because costs are affected by many different factors, but any reputable removal firm will be happy to visit you and take a look at the items you have for moving so that they can give you a quote. This quote will be based on several different factors:
Whether you require packing services, or are doing it yourself
Packing will come at an extra cost, but it does mean that any valuables or breakables will be well-packaged by experts.
If you’re transporting extra valuable and/ or larger items, then your moving company may need to build wooden crates around your items or arrange for them to be built for protection. This is something they would raise during their initial quote visit.
Is disassembly and/or reassembly of bigger furniture items required?
Your small-scale move might involve taking apart larger or heavier pieces for their safe transportation. They’ll be able to reassemble them for you at the final destination, and again this is something that will be brought up at your initial visit.
Are you moving straight away, or do you require storage facilities?
If you need your items moved out of one place, but are not yet ready to receive them at another location, then your long distance mover should be able to arrange storage for you until you’re ready to arrange delivery. If this is something you think you might need, then it’s worth mentioning so that your removal company can add the requirement of storage to your quote to give you a better idea of costs.
How urgent is your long distance move?
If you aren’t in a hurry, then you may be able to wait and get a better price the next time your removal company has a full lorry, going to or near the place where you require the delivery of your items. If you need a small load moving urgently, then you will likely find yourself paying a bit more.
What do you need to do to prepare for a small-scale move across the UK?
Label everything properly
To help your removals firm and to save your own time and sanity, label your boxes properly. Write down the complete contents, which room it will be going to when it arrives at its destination, and any specialist instructions such as ‘keep this way up’. This will help everything go smoothly when moving, and for you when unpacking.
Take an inventory
While you’re packing, take stock of exactly which items you’re moving. Make a big list of all of your items, and note down the condition they’re in (is there already any damage, etc?’ For really important items, you may also wish to take photos. This is for your peace of mind, and will help speed up the process of insurance claims on the rare occasion that there could be an accident.
Insure your items
For items which have a high monetary or sentimental value, it’s worth discussing with your removal company whether or not you need insurance for any accidents which could occur on the road.
Need help moving small loads cross country?
We have years of experience in transporting part loads, organising multiple deliveries en route, and arranging back loads, to get your items transported to Dorset. Get in touch for a chat about how we can help – let’s get you moving! Get in touch.
