How Much Does it Cost to Move House in the UK in 2019?
It’s easy to get lost in all the commotion of buying a new home. Hearing you’ve successfully purchased a property is incredibly exciting, but it’s important to remember that the process isn’t over entirely.
Planning to move your items from your old home to your new one can be a complex, time-consuming and costly operation; thoroughly planning the event so that it reflects your personal budget will be the best way to ensure a smooth transition.
This article is going to provide you with a comprehensive list of the costs involved in a house move.
So, how much will it cost?
Giving a single figure is much too simplistic for such a complex process. The truth is that the cost of your move will be dictated by a variety of different factors. Understanding these factors will not only let you plan and prepare for the move but can also help to save you money. The following are the factors to consider.
The volume of items being moved
The amount of items to be moved is one of the core factors that will determine the overall cost. Moving a lot of items may require multiple moving vans. This will add costs that go towards manpower, fuel and vehicle costs.
If looking to cut costs on moving, this could be the perfect time to sort through your possessions and throw out or give to charity all the items you no longer need. This will help to cut down on costs, make the moving process easier, but also provide you with a clutter-free fresh start in your new home.
Distance travelled
The distance between your old and new home will also be a major factor in moving costs. Further travel will use a greater amount of fuel, but other factors, such as needing to pay employees overtime, come into play for extremely long journeys. Therefore, the price increase of moving home isn’t necessarily static. Many moving companies will increase charges for long distance hauls over 200 miles.
Time duration
The duration of the process will also have an impact on the cost. The longer the movers are working, the longer they’ll need to be paid. Most people conflate project duration with the length of the journey, but actually much of the time involved can often come from the loading process. If your items aren’t ready for loading on arrival, a lot of time — and money — can be needlessly wasted.
To minimise costs, we recommend sorting through your possessions, disassembling your bulky items and having them all ready to be suitably loaded.
Packing services
Many moving companies will offer a professional packing service to accompany your move. This will include a team of experienced professionals suitably packing your items using a range of high-quality packing supplies, including boxes, bubble wrap and furniture bags. Some moving services will include this in the price, others won’t include it all so it’s important to consider how your items will be packed.
Alternatively, you may choose to pack items yourself using old boxes found around the home. While this is an option, we highly recommend purchasing brand new packaging supplies. Though this is the more costly option, it is the best way to guarantee the safety of your items throughout the moving process.
Moves Abroads
International moves are a slightly more taxing process. The distance to your new destination is significantly further and will require various modes of transport. You should therefore expect the price to increase considerably.
Up-front costs
Due to the complexity involved in an overseas move, many moving companies may ask you for money up front, in case of cancellation. These will often be around 50% of the overall price.
Specialist packaging service
Overseas moves may require a specialist packaging service to guarantee the safety of your items. Due to the length of the trip and the various modes of transport involved, this will be a more comprehensive procedure than packaging services offered for UK-based moves.
Country
Your overall costs will also be largely affected by the country you’re moving to. This is not only because of the varying distances, but also because of the amount of tax that may be placed on an item depending on the country’s regulations. The rates will vary from country to country, spanning all the way from 0% to 100%. However, the average amount of customs duty taxes is around 2%.
Storage
It may be necessary to store some items for a short or long period while you get your home set up. You should consider which items you’ll need to put in storage and for how long. Fewer items and shorter durations will cost considerably less.
Storage can be used for any items, including furniture, fine art and all valuable items. We offer top-of-the-range storage options across Croydon, London and Surrey, and can even arrange storage abroad if needed.
Estimated costs
As previously noted, moving costs will vary. However, the following list depicts the average moving costs for homes throughout Greater London excluding packing.
Short distance
1 bedroom property – £400 to £500
2 bedroom property – £450 to £600
3 bedroom property – £600 to £800
4 bedroom property – £850 to £1050
5 bedroom property – £1050 to £1250
Long distance
1 bedroom property – £1000 to £1200
2 bedroom property – £1200 to £1500
3 bedroom property – £1500 to £1800
4 bedroom property – £1800 to £2100
5 bedroom property – £2500 to £3000
What size removal vans do I need?
The type of removal van you use will also have an influence on cost. Larger vans typically use more fuel and will be pricier to rent but it may be beneficial if it means only a single trip or van is needed. You should ensure you get the right-sized van when planning your move. You can do this by roughly measuring the area and volume of all your possessions and matching them to the dimensions of the various removal vans.
A transit van should be more than suitable for most moves. They typically cater for 2-3 bedroom properties.
Medium Wheel Base Transit and Sprinter Van
The van dimensions of a Medium Wheel Base Standard Roof Transit and Sprinter Van are as follows:
Height: 2,530mm Width: 2,426mm Length: 5,910mm
The load area dimensions are:
Height: 1,650mm Width: 1,780mm Length: 3,265mm Volume: 9.0m3
These vans are ideal for smaller moves and will typically hold around 30-40 standard moving boxes or one large piece of furniture, such as a sofa or bed.
Long Wheel Base Transit and Sprinter Van
The van dimensions of a Long Wheel Base High Roof Transit and Sprinter Van are as follows:
Height: 2,815mm Width: 2,426mm Length: 6,945mm
The load area dimensions are:
Height: 1,940mm Width: 1,780mm Length: 4,300mm Volume: 14.0m3
These vans, similar to the previous van but large in height and length, are perfect for moving around 60-70 standard moving boxes or several items of bulky furniture.
3.5 Tonne Luton Van – with tail lift
The van dimensions of a 3.5 Tonne Luton Van – with tail lift are as follows:
Height: 3,100mm Width: 2,250mm Length: 6,500mm
The load area dimensions are:
Height: 2,150mm Width: 2,330mm Length: 4,000mm Volume: 20.0m3
The 3.5 tonne Luton van caters for a complete move from a small house or two-bedroom flat. It will typically carry around 40 moving boxes and a few pieces of bulky furniture, including three-seater sofas and two double beds.
7.5 Tonne Luton Van – with tail lift
The van dimensions of a 7.5 Tonne Luton Van – with tail lift are as follows:
Height: 3,450mm Width: 2,500mm Length: 8,050mm
The load area dimensions are:
Height: 3,450mm Width: 2,500mm Length: 8,050mm Volume: 69.0m3
The largest of the moving vans, the 7.5 tonne Luton van should be suitable for three bedroom house removals. It will carry around 40 to 50 standard moving boxes and around three sofas, three or four beds, various dining tables and chairs, as well as wardrobes and other pieces of bulky furniture.
This article can only offer a guideline to the costs involved in your moving operation. For the most accurate price, fill out our online enquiry form, entering as much detail as you can, and we’ll provide you with a completely free quotation. Sanderstead Removals offer extensive moving services for highly competitive prices. No matter whether you’re moving five minutes down the road or across the world to Australia, Sanderstead Removals will provide a comprehensive package that will ensure the smoothest transition into your new home.
Call us today to find out more information on 0800 998 1910.