How to Find House Removal Companies Near Me

How do you refine that search to what you actually need, the holy grail of home movers, an “affordable, reliable, and good quality house removal firm near me?”

Internet search engines will return long lists of ‘removal companies near me’ based on your IP address.

Which is all well and good, but it is just that, a list of local home removal companies.

At this stage, the good, the bad, and the ugly are on that list.

There is plenty of information out there, so let’s find out how to sort the wheat from the chaff.

Reviews of Removal Companies Near Me

Reviews are digital word-of-mouth recommendations, and often warnings, from friends you don’t know.

Some removal company review websites have great features that can allow you to read reviews of removal companies based on your geographic location.

Just enter the postcode you are moving from and a list of reputable removal firms, local to you, will appear.

You can also enter a town or city name to search by if you prefer.

Each removal company will have a review rating given by genuine movers.

Some reviews even give you the opportunity to contact the reviewer directly so that you can ask specific questions about the removal company if you need to.

This is especially useful if you have any particular concerns about the things you have to move.

Beware though, not all review websites are equal, so avoid sites that removal companies pay to be listed on.

The reviews may not be as unbiased as you would like or believe them to be.

You also need a removal company review website that proactively monitors the reviews being left.

Reviews are great if they are genuine, if they are left by the removal company themselves, disgruntled employees, or business rivals, they are of little use.

The best review websites will have measures in place to help filter out fake reviews.

Take the time to make the best use of removal company reviews to help you make an informed decision about hiring a removal company.

Ideally, you will be looking for a removal company with a minimum of 3 stars.

And if the removal firm takes the time to respond to good and bad reviews, you know they value their reputation and care about their customers.

You may also like to read: How to Compare Removal Company Review Websites. In this guide, we explain what to look at for when you are looking for a platform that shares removal company reviews.

Where to Get Recommendations for Good Local Removal Firms

You can also use social media, or actually talk to friends and family (terribly old fashioned I know, but some people still communicate this way), or somebody that recently moved into your area, to hear their home moving story.

A local move can be very different from a long-distance move, moving antiques is a totally different ball game to moving flat-pack furniture, so compare their move with your type of home move.

And then be sure to get second opinions, and still check out those reviews thoroughly.

It is better to be safe than sorry.

The more thoroughly you research the removal company, the less chance that you will come to regret who you eventually hired to move you.

You may also like to read: How to Make Reviews Work For You. In this guide, we show you how to navigate your way through the thousands of reviews so that you pick out the ones that relate to your home move.

Good, Local Removal Firms. Why ‘Buy Local’?

Are there benefits to hiring a local removal company rather than a national chain? Often, yes.

Usually, local removal companies have a reputation to uphold in the local community, they are often family-run and are more able to tailor their services to your exact needs.

Additionally, they will know the geography of the local area and any oddities, such as a market day on a Thursday, or a road with a width restriction, which could disrupt your moving day plans.

Often your local removal firms will be more willing to do the smaller home moves or even a packing-only service, whereas it may not be worth the time or effort for a national company to quote for such a job.

Certainly, you will want a removal company that is insured and is a legitimate business.

Use the Company House website to check that any company you intend to hire is legally registered.

Although not every good removal company belongs to a removal trade association, it is usually regarded as a sign of professionalism, and that the company has met, and adheres to, quality of service standards.

This will be especially important if you are moving overseas as having the continuity of a quality service between countries is important.

There is also the added benefit that should a dispute arise between yourself and the removal company, the association will act as an arbitrator.

You may also like to read: Home Removal Trade Associations. In this guide, we introduce you to each of the removal industry associations and what benefits they give to you as a consumer.

Home Removal Cost Estimates

So now maybe you have a list of 10 local removal firms that look like they will be reliable enough, with the right skills, to perform your home move.

But are they affordable, and can they carry out your home move on the date you want?

To narrow down your search for an affordable removal firm near you, you could spend hours on the phone ringing around, only to be told we can’t move you on that date or we don’t deliver to that part of the country.

The fastest and easiest option to get the removal company that fulfills all your requirements is to request a home moving quote online.

You know then that the removal firms who provide cost estimates to you will be available on the date you want to move, and you will have a ballpark figure of how much they may charge you.

You may also like to read: How to Pick a Good Removal Company. The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide. In this guide, we take you step-by-step through the process of picking the right removal company for your home moving needs.

How to Turn Removal Costs From Pricey to Affordable

So you have now found your perfect home removal partner, but they seem to be well out of your reach financially.

What can you do to make your home move cheaper?

# 1 Declutter

The number one tip for reducing home moving costs is to get rid of all the things you no longer want or need.

If it is cheaper and more convenient to replace it than pack, transport, and unpack it, get rid of it.

The more ruthless you are in weeding out the things you don’t need, the cheaper your home move will be.

Work on a room at a time, identifying things that you want to sell, can donate to charity, or will definitely want to keep.

You may also like to read: The Epic Guide to Decluttering for a Home Move. In this guide, we take you room by room through the process of decluttering for a home move.

# Create a Floor Plan

Consider especially your furniture, will it physically fit in your new home (be sure to make a floor plan to help you work that out), will it be in keeping with the style of the building, or is it past its best anyway?

Furniture can be heavy and awkward to move, takes up the most space in a removal van, and is therefore the biggest chunk of your removal costs.

The less furniture you move the cheaper your home move will be.

You may also like to read: How to Create A Floor Plan. In this guide, we show you how to measure furniture and rooms so that you can create a floor plan for your new home.

# Upcycle, Recycle, and Donate

Often sites such as freecycle.co.uk or preloved.co.uk will list furniture that is free to collector, it might be worth a look to see if this is an option, not only to save moving costs but to furnish your home for free.

You may also like to read: Where to Get Free Stuff When Moving Home. In this guide, we share places that offer discounts, incentives, and even free things to people moving home.

# Move Midweek

Consider moving home midweek when removal firms will be less busy and will be competing for your business.

Avoid moving on a Friday or weekend as these are the busiest moving days of the week, and the most expensive.

You may also like to read: 10 Sneaky Ways to Save Money When Moving Home. In this guide, we share 10 slightly unusual ways to save money on your home moving costs.

# Talk to the Removal Firm

Talk to your preferred removal firm. Ask about promotions or discounts that are available. Prepare to be flexible on when or how you move home, and you may be able to negotiate a better deal.

You may also like to read: How to Negotiate a Better Price for Your Home Move. In this guide, we suggest some ways in which you may be able to lower the price you have been quoted for your home move.

# Use Alternative Packing Materials

Packing materials can soon ramp up your moving costs, so look at alternatives such as plastic crates, which may work out cheaper, are quicker to pack and unpack, and are more eco-friendly.

You may also like to read: Alternative Packing Materials. In this guide, we show you how to use things commonly found around the home to lower your packing costs.

So, following the above advice, you will certainly have a much better chance of finding your perfect home-moving partner.

A local, affordable, reliable, quality home removal service is not impossible to find.

Although it will take effort on your part, that effort will be very well rewarded.

Ignore the advice above, and you will almost certainly have a stressful, and expensive, home move.

Be sure to visit our home moving blog which is packed with tips to make your home move easier, cheaper, and safer.