Moving to a new home is a significant life event that requires careful planning and preparation. You have done the initial preparation, got some removals quotes and decided who you want to work with. Now the question comes, when should I get firmly booked in the diary with a removals company?
Here’s a guide to help you determine the best time in your moving process to book a removals company. This guide will be especially helpful for people who are selling their property and purchasing a new property and are in a sales chain and trying to book a removals company.
Be sure to get quotes from removals companies before dates are discussed with your chain. This way, as soon as you start looking at dates, you have your quote in hand and can reach out to your preferred company and ask about availability on those dates.
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This is of course a no-brainer. However, when selling a property, this can be one of the most challenging things… agreeing on a date with your chain. Also, a secondary challenge is having enough time between when contracts are exchanged (when the move date is 100% decided) and completion (this is the sale day and when your move will take place).
If you are moving from or to rented accommodation, from storage, or are not moving on sale day, then you will probably be able to fix a move date well in advance and have much more flexibility.
If you are part of a sales chain, you will often not know an exact move date until the exchange of contracts happens and the completion date (sale day) is then set. This is when you can say with 100% certainty, what date you will need to move and can then get booked in with your removals company. This is when we recommend you get firmly booked in the diary (and make any payments) with your preferred removal company, because before the exchange happens, the date can change, and is not 100% set in stone.
The key issue then becomes the number of days between exchange and completion and therefore how far in advance of your sale day you can get booked in. We always recommend where possible that you have two weeks between exchange and completion, but we have noticed a trend that this is decreasing to one week or less. This does mean that sometimes you may need to book your move to secure a date before the exchange has happened. If this is likely to happen in your case, it is important to stay in close contact with your removals company and to clearly understand their cancellation and change of date policies, should you need to change the move date with short notice.
A reputable removal company will understand the home-buying process and plan accordingly and will also be flexible and understanding where possible as they know this is a key stressor in the moving process.
All reputable companies want the best for their customers and want your move to be as stress-free as possible. They understand that the date is one of the key stressors and sticking points for sale day moves. With this in mind, once you know you have a company that cares, be sure to communicate with them regularly even during the process of agreeing on a move date. They can advise you of what days they have availability, they can pencil your move in until you exchange contracts, and they can also offer to call you if someone is looking to book your date to give you first refusal on booking. Be sure to get in touch when deciding dates so you can look at the calendar together, rather than once the date has been decided.
Many people in a sales chain feel pressured into agreeing to a date that is too soon or being pressured into booking a Friday or a day that their chosen company cannot do. You often have more say than you think in deciding the removal date. If it is helpful, be sure to send this document to your estate agent, solicitor or your sellers/buyers around booking your removal company. Ensuring everyone gets a removals company and the move can go ahead is in everyone’s best interest.
If you know that you will not have much time between exchange and completion, it can be a good idea to plan your completion date (sale day) to be Monday or Tuesday. These are consistently the least busy dates of the week for removals and removals companies may be able to hold these days without taking payment until your move date is confirmed. However, Fridays are always the busiest days and the first to get fully booked, so if you do want to secure a date without too much pressure, avoid Fridays as they will always be the most sought-after.
The timing of your move can significantly affect removal company availability and costs. Due to high demand. summer months and end-of-month days are typically the busiest times for moving companies. During these peak times, availability can be limited and prices may be higher. If possible, consider scheduling your move during off-peak periods of the year such as winter and off-peak times, such as early/midweek or mid-month when there is less demand.
Sometimes, due to unforeseen circumstances, you might find you need to organise a move quickly. While many companies accommodate last-minute bookings, options may be more limited and costs can be higher. If you find yourself in this situation, start calling companies immediately to check their availability and get quotes. Some companies may have had cancellations so it is worth calling around as even larger and high-quality services have cancellations.
When booking a removals company, always enquire about their cancellation and rescheduling policies. Understanding these terms is crucial in case your moving plans change unexpectedly. Some companies offer flexible cancellation policies, which can be beneficial if you encounter delays in property transactions or other logistical changes.
Booking a removals company is an essential part of your moving process. To minimise stress and ensure a smooth move, get quotes before dates are agreed, get in touch when dates are being agreed, not after they have been agreed, and go for off-peak days where possible, to secure dates and try to ensure as long as possible between exchange of contracts and completion. Consider the specific requirements of your move, such as the distance and amount of belongings, and always keep in communication with your chosen company to ensure everything goes as planned. By planning ahead, you can secure the best possible service tailored to your moving needs.
Our team is always happy to answer any questions you may have, even if you are not planning to move just yet. Be sure to give us a ring at 0117 259 1010.
