A Guide to Booking a House Move in the UK and Ireland.
Across the UK and Ireland, professional moving companies vary widely in size and in the services they offer. From the small mover that focuses on local house moves, to the large international mover that provides global shipping, they have some procedures in common when it comes to domestic removals.
As soon as you know you are moving and have an approximate date, it is wise to ask your chosen moving company for a quote. House moves are usually (not always) booked weeks in advance, so early booking will secure your place in the removals diary.
The procedures shown below have been developed over many decades and have become standard industry practice for UK and Ireland domestic house moves.
Survey
When you contact your moving company, they will ask to book date and time for a surveyor visit. The survey is to establish what is to be moved, any special requirements and any additional services. No two house moves are the same and a survey provides the moving company with the information they need to compile an accurate quote.
Written Quote
Once the information from the survey is processed in the office, they will send you a written quotation which details the work to be done and the price to be paid. This is basically a contract or agreement offer that you will need to accept for it to become binding.
Acceptance Form
If the quote is acceptable, you will need to sign it or notify the mover by email that you accept their quote.
Often, additional services will be described on the acceptance form and you will need to tick the appropriate boxes or add further information.
If the mover has availability and the quote is accepted, they will then contact you to confirm your booking.
Waiting Time Waiver
Even the best planned moves can have unforeseen problems that are beyond the control of the customer and the removals company. The most common of these is the unexpected delay in unloading due to waiting for keys or transfer of funds. In such cases, there may be extra costs incurred for “waiting time”.
The extra charges are usually calculated by the hour, according the size of the removals crew, so a three or four hour wait can be expensive.
Many movers now offer a waiting time waiver, which is a fee paid at the time of booking that waives any extra charges for waiting time.
Postponement Waiver
A postponement waiver is often offered when the customer is not 100% sure of their move date. For a small fee, the mover will allow the date to be moved (usually once only) so the customer doesn’t have to cancel and lose their deposit.
Cancellation Fee
Cancellation fees vary depending on when the move is cancelled. In most cases, if the mover is given more than a week’s notice, the fee is small. However, if the move is cancelled less than 24 hours before it was supposed to take place, the cancellation will cost you the full price of the move.
You should check with your mover at the time of booking or see the Terms and Conditions that accompanied your quote.
