What Affects the Cost of a House Move?

ltdwesty
Apr 28
3 min read

So, you’re preparing to move house, and you’re now wondering, ‘’how much is this actually going to cost me?’’

The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The cost of a house move can vary significantly depending on several key factors.

In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what affects the cost of your move, so you can budget properly, avoid surprises, and make smarter decisions.

Distance

A general rule of thumb is, the further you’re moving, the higher the removals cost will be.

Local moves may be charged at an hourly rate.
Long distance moves could include mileage and time.

Therefore, a move within the same town or county will typically cost less than a move across country.

Volume

Moving home is a great time to sort through your belongings and consider if you’ve been hoarding items that you no longer use or want.

The more contents and belongings you move, the more:

Time it will take to pack, load, unload and dismantle/rebuild
Staff required
Vehicle space needed

For example, a minimalist 1-bed flat will likely have a different volume of contents than a 4-bed fully furnished detached house.

Access & Property Type

This is one of the most overlooked factors that can impact cost: access.

Does your property pose access difficulties for a removals team?

Elements that can increase cost:

Stairs (no lift access)
Long walking distances to the vans and specialist equipment or shuttle vehicle required
Difficulties with parking
Narrow hallways or doorways

The above challenges can increase both time and labour cost as the entire removals process is slowed down. Ensure the team have been notified in advance of any potential obstacles so the necessary arrangements can be made to accommodate your move.

💡Easy access means a faster move, which means a lower cost.

Packing

Do you need a professional team to help with packing? Many removals companies can provide a packing service, various size boxes along with packing equipment to secure your belongings safely and efficiently for transport.

Self-packing: Packing all of your belongings yourself will be the cheapest option.

Partial packing: Packing some or the majority of items yourself, and only having certain items packed for you, such as fragile items.
Full packing service: This is the most convenient option comes at a higher cost. A team will cover the complete packing process from start to finish.

Be sure to check what options are available to you, as well

Number of Removals Staff Required

More complex moves with more requirements will require more removal staff.

1-2 staff for smaller or simpler jobs.
3-4+ movers for larger homes and volume of items.

More working staff means the move will be faster, but ultimately, the higher the upfront cost will be.

Timing of the Move

When you move, matters more than most people realise. A move scheduled for a weekday compared with one taking place on a weekend, can have differing price points. Similarly, peak seasons coupled with end-of-month moves can increase cost as demand is higher.

Weekends: Often have higher demand, and therefore, higher prices.
End of month: A peak moving period for removals companies as many tenancy agreements and property completions take place around this time, increasing demand.
Peak demand: Summer months, Fridays and end-of-month moves create the highest demand for removals companies.

Planning your move for mid-week or mid-month will be generally preferable to guarantee availability and a lower rate.