Moving to a new house in London will require some serious organisational skills and planning to be successful. The first thing you need to work out is how you’re packing and transporting your belongings from A to B. Then you need to factor in things like the best times to make your move to avoid traffic and the most suitable day to undertake the big move.
The question is—should you try it yourself or hire a professional company? To weigh up your options, you must understand all the ins and outs of moving home. The Aussie Man & Van team knows everyone has different needs when moving. This blog will delve into the details of professional moving services so you can decide which option suits you more.
Contents
- Is it Better to Move Myself or Hire a Removals Company?
- Packing for the Move: Do Movers Help You Pack?
- Booking a Removal Service: Choosing the Right Option
- Storage to Avoid Moving Delays and Added Control Measures
- Property Maintenance Services: Preparing Your New Home
- Aussie’s All-in-One Moving Service in London
Is it Better to Move Myself or Hire a Removals Company?
Here are some things to consider when weighing up the pros and cons of doing the relocation yourself or hiring a professional company:
- You should only undertake your own relocation if you have previous experience
- Consider things like taking time off work and getting people to help you
- Then get a quote from Aussie to see which fits your budget and needs
- Price out both options adequately, keeping in mind that van hire isn’t cheap
The first thing you should work out is whether you can perform the relocation yourself. That means some honesty about any previous experience in removals and if you have a suitable vehicle. Additionally, it will be necessary to get some assistance, possibly from a family member or friend. And they also need to be physically capable of moving heavy or awkward items. Don’t forget to factor in taking time off work for this as well.
You can do this yourself if you have a van, a willing helper, and enough moving knowledge. However, if you don’t have a vehicle, you’ll need to hire one, and the rates aren’t cheap, especially if you misjudge loading and it takes another day to complete the move. The likelihood of breakages and damage always increases when people do their own relocations.
The next step is to contact Aussie Man & Van for a quote. This lets you compare the costs to see which suits your budget and needs. By working with Aussie, you’ll have a team of removal experts who will complete everything on time. We have decades of experience in packing to ensure no breakages or damage. Furthermore, you won’t have to lift a finger—we’ll do everything for you.
Packing for the Move: Do Movers Help You Pack?
This isn’t a standard service for all removal providers, so remember to check before you book. It requires additional assessment and team members, which is why some smaller companies might not offer it. At Aussie, we have a dedicated packing service, and we will visit you before the move to assess this and include it in the quote.
High-Quality Packing Materials
We also sell our top-quality removals boxes and accessories for people who want to do their own packing. This includes a variety of specialist boxes for items that need extra protection. Our team uses the same boxes and packing materials for every relocation because they’re a step above what’s available at most DIY stores. Using the correct boxes and materials will help you protect your belongings.
Packing Strategy
In addition to providing packing services and packing supplies for purchase, we also pass on vital information. Everything can be won or lost depending on how much planning you do. That’s why a moving checklist is something you can’t do without. You can read an example of ours here, and we advise you to amend it to fit your specifications. This is your guide to a successful relocation and will help keep you on track.
Booking a Removal Service: Choosing the Right Option
In the following sections, we’ll cover some core removal services to help you better understand how removals work. We’ll also include an alternative DIY option if you plan on undertaking this task yourself.
Home Removals for Larger Moves
When dealing with houses with three, four, or more bedrooms, we suggest using our home removals service. These removal vans have more internal room for larger volumes of possessions.
The package includes a team of movers to match the items’ total load (volume). We’ll cover the packing, transport, and unloading duties, which is best for those who want a stress-free, hands-off move.
DIY Consideration for Larger Properties:
We recommend hiring a similarly sized vehicle, such as an Iveco van, and at least three or four people to help you. It’s unlikely you’ll find lorries available from domestic hire companies.
Man & Van for Smaller Moves
A man with a van package is perfect for one—to three-bedroom properties or partial relocations. Due to the smaller team numbers and van size, it’s more affordable and flexible than full-scale removals. It’s typically suitable for city moves with parking restrictions and access limitations, which describes removals in London.
DIY Consideration for Smaller Properties:
Rent a small, transit, or smaller Luton van to perform relocations of this size, with at least one person to assist.
Comparing Costs and Benefits
On paper, a home removal service looks costlier. However, there are a few considerations to be mindful of.
- Professional removal services save time and effort, with expert handling and packing part of the service.
- Van hire costs can add up, especially with multiple trips or if you don’t complete the move in one day.
- You may choose the wrong-sized moving van, resulting in delays and multiple trips.
- DIY means you’re in charge of everything, from planning, the heavy lifting, packing, unpacking, and monitoring traffic and road works on your moving day.
- A moving company will do the above for you, reducing your preparation tasks.
- Your insurance policy may stipulate using professional movers – you could risk coverage by relocating yourself.
Storage to Avoid Moving Delays and Added Control Measures
Moving to a new home can be a complicated experience. There are various moving parts involving third parties, and mortgage chains often cause a delay. The reality many people face is shifting moving dates, threatening to upend the process. If you have access to a building for storage, you can utilise that. Otherwise, self storage is the most suitable option.
Secure Storage for a Smooth Move
Moving dates can shift midway through the timeline, and if you’re already vacating your current property, this can cause chaos. Luckily, storage keeps belongings safe if move-in dates don’t align. Likewise, using storage prevents last-minute stress and rushed decisions. Aussie has flexible short- and long-term storage options; you can compare the packages here.
Storage as a Backup Plan
Storage is ideal for legal, financial, or renovation delays, making it your safety net when moving. You can avoid penalties for overstaying a tenancy and store seasonal or excess items to free up space. Many of Aussie’s customers retain their units after their relocation because of the added convenience and additional space they create.
Combining Storage with Removals
No one wants to add steps to their relocation. That’s why Aussie’s removal and storage services work seamlessly together. Self storage gives you easy access to stored items when needed during our business hours. Similarly, professional packing ensures belongings stay in top condition and is available for all removals and storage in London.
Property Maintenance Services: Preparing Your New Home
Another conundrum is whether you can do any repairs or maintenance work yourself. Ideally, your new home (or current one) is ready to go with only a few touch-ups to complete. However, some work may be needed, so we’ll guide you through our property maintenance offerings with some DIY considerations.
Handyman Services for Move-In Readiness
A handyman service typically involves furniture assembly, minor repairs, and fixture installations. You can request custom shelving and in-house storage provisions to help you organise. Blinds, curtains and TV mounting can be tricky so you can delegate them to the Aussie team.
DIY Tip:
Get at least one person to help you when making repairs or installing shelving or brackets. Before drilling, use a spirit level and check for hidden electrical cables.
Cleaning Services for a Fresh Start
Deep cleaning before moving in or after vacating a property is vital, especially if you’re trying to return a rental deposit. While your landlord usually initiates an end-of-tenancy clean, you can take control of the situation and have more say in any deductions. Carpet and upholstery cleaning can revamp older fabrics, and you can avoid replacing them. Our professional cleaners have state-of-the-art equipment and cleaning products for the best results.
DIY Cleaning Reflection:
Before you clean, ensure you have the correct equipment and cleaning products. Also, enlist the assistance of at least one person when moving heavy appliances.
Using Tradespeople for Home Improvements
There are three trades we never advise anyone to try themselves: electrical, plumbing and gas-related installations. These professions require certification to undertake due to the related health and safety issues they present.
While doing any painting and decorating yourself is feasible, you’ll get better results with a time-served tradesperson. Reliable and vetted professionals are the best approach when you need high-quality work. Similarly, convenient scheduling alongside removals and storage can save you time and effort.
Aussie’s All-in-One Moving Service in London
One off-putting reality of going the tradesmen route is dealing with multiple contractors. You find yourself getting quotes from several different companies who all make demands of your schedule. Working with Aussie eliminates this headache because we do everything under one roof, including property maintenance services.
Everything Under One Roof
What does an all-under-one-roof service mean? Simply put, you won’t have to work with several traders to get the job done. Aussie has a dedicated roster of time-served professionals in various specialities. We organise and oversee everything, making arranging your removals, storage, and property maintenance possible as part of one service.
This saves time by avoiding multiple bookings with different companies. Expert coordination ensures a seamless experience. You receive a high standard of service delivery while we take some of the burdens off your shoulders.
Customisable Packages for Every Move
We offer tailored solutions based on home size and your specific needs, incorporating packing, transport, storage, and maintenance in one plan. Our flexible options for budget-conscious customers make this option available for everyone.
Why Choose Aussie for a Hassle-Free Move?
The Aussie Man & Van team are trusted, experienced professionals with a “can-do” attitude. We offer competitive pricing for a premium service that most other movers and storage companies can’t compete with. Don’t take our word for it – read our positive reviews on Google to see what past and present customers think of us. Also, please review our quality policy and accreditation information.
Aussie Man & Van London – The Professional Removals Company
Aussie is the “can-do” removals and storage provider. We have five branches in London and new ones in Bath and Oxford. It’s crucial for us to understand the moving process from our customers’ perspectives. After all, we’ve been in the same situation and would want to know that we’re working with a group of professionals.
The Aussie team believes that removals and storage should be affordable and attain a high standard of customer service. By booking with us, you won’t choose one or the other. Aussie’s customers enjoy the best of both and frequently return to use us for future moves or other services. That’s why you should weigh up your options and think twice before hiring a van to undertake your own relocation.
If you’re planning your next relocation to London, contact us today. We guarantee you’ll be glad you booked with us instead of doing the relocation yourself.