THE MOVE BEFORE THE HANDOVER
Removals services
London
Know the load.
Plan the route.
Discuss your London move with Bob’s using a clear item list, collection and delivery details, and the access at both ends. A useful quote starts with what actually needs moving.
PLANNING YOUR REMOVAL
Bedrooms do not
describe the whole load.
Two flats with the same number of bedrooms can contain very different amounts of furniture and boxes. A useful removals enquiry records the items, their approximate size and anything unusually heavy or awkward. Include storage cupboards, garden items and the pieces that are easy to overlook when you first think about the main rooms.
Bob’s can discuss removals services alongside your London property plans. Tell us the collection and delivery postcodes, the preferred moving date and whether either address has a time restriction. A local move still needs a realistic route and working time. Traffic, stairs and access can take longer than the distance between the addresses suggests.
Do not assume that a vehicle described as a man-and-van service includes a carrying crew. Some arrangements provide a driver and vehicle; others include two or more movers. Explain the help you need with loading and unloading and confirm the crew in the quote. The right arrangement depends on the load and access, not simply the lowest hourly rate.
STAIRS, LIFTS & PARKING
Access at both ends.
Before moving day.
Describe the floor level, stairs, lift dimensions and route from the door to the vehicle at collection and delivery. A lift may exist but be too small for a sofa, or require a protective covering and a booked slot. Check building rules early so the move is not delayed by information that could have been provided beforehand.
Parking is part of the plan. Look at where a removal vehicle can legally stop, whether a permit or suspension is needed and how far items must be carried. A loading bay outside the front door and a distant public parking space produce different working conditions. Do not promise that a vehicle can wait somewhere unless the arrangement is actually permitted.
Narrow doors and tight turns need measuring for large furniture. Share dimensions and photographs if there is an awkward item, but do not treat a photograph as proof that it will fit. A wardrobe that went into a room in sections may not come out assembled. Any dismantling and reassembly should be discussed separately before the crew arrives.
A CLEAR ITEM LIST
What is moving,
and what is not.
A household removal is not an automatic waste collection. Identify anything that is being left behind or disposed of, and do not put it into the moving load by default. Hazardous materials, leaking containers, valuable personal items and unusual equipment need separate discussion. Keep important documents, medication and the essentials you will need that day under your own control.
If your plans include storage, packing or specialist handling, ask what can actually be arranged. Do not infer those services from a general removal photograph. Each additional task needs availability, scope and pricing to be confirmed. This is particularly important where a property purchase has an uncertain completion time or the destination is not yet accessible.
| Part of the move | Provide | Confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Boxes and loose items | Approximate count and sizes. | Packed, sealed and ready for collection. |
| Furniture | Dimensions and any fragile or heavy pieces. | Crew, handling limits and protection. |
| Access | Stairs, lift, walking distance and parking. | Arrangements at both properties. |
| Assembly | Items needing dismantling. | Availability and separate scope. |
| Appliances | Size and connection status. | Disconnection by an appropriate person before moving. |
GETTING READY
Packing is part
of keeping time realistic.
Use sound boxes suited to the contents, and avoid making a large box too heavy to handle. Pack smaller dense items separately from lighter bulky belongings. Close boxes securely and identify the destination room in a way that is useful to you. A brief room label is more helpful during unloading than a long inventory written on every side.
Protect fragile belongings appropriately and explain anything that needs special attention. Do not rely on an unsealed shopping bag for loose glass or assume that a blanket will make a badly packed box safe. If you want packing help, ask in advance rather than leaving an unpacked room for a crew booked only to transport prepared items.
Prepare an essentials bag with keys, documents, chargers and the items you need before boxes are opened. Empty accessible furniture drawers where necessary and confirm how larger pieces should be prepared. Keep the route through the property clear. Time spent finding belongings or repacking overflowing boxes is time that cannot be used for the planned loading sequence.
STANDARD STARTING RATES
Choose the crew.
Confirm the total.
The stated rates apply to appointments between 7 am and 7 pm. Confirm availability, the minimum booking, vehicle size, billing increments and the complete scope before agreeing the move. After-hours fees apply outside that window. Mileage, access requirements and applicable congestion charges need to be reflected in the final quotation rather than inferred from the hourly figure.
A lower crew rate is not automatically a cheaper total if the load needs more handling time. Explain heavy pieces and stairs so the right labour can be discussed. For a defined job, ask whether a fixed quotation is available and what assumptions it relies on. If the item list or destination changes, tell Bob’s promptly so the arrangement can be checked.
Do not plan a precise finish time from the hourly rate alone. Traffic, lift availability, keys and the condition of the load can affect the day. The quote should make clear what time is chargeable and which elements are included. That is a more reliable basis for planning than a general estimate attached only to the number of bedrooms.
| Arrangement | Labour included | Starting rate |
|---|---|---|
| Transit van and driver | Driver; no carrying movers included | From £43 per hour |
| Removal crew and van | Two movers | From £86 per hour |
| Larger removal crew and van | Three movers | From £129 per hour |
MOVING DAY
The handover
between two addresses.
Have a contact available at collection and a clear plan for entry at the destination. If keys depend on another person, confirm how they will be obtained and what happens if access is delayed. Keep phone numbers handy and tell the crew which rooms larger items are intended for before everything is unloaded into the nearest clear space.
Check the agreed load before the vehicle leaves. Walk through cupboards and less-used rooms so that prepared boxes are not forgotten. At delivery, identify any concern promptly and use the agreed process for reporting it. Keep the booking details and a record of the scope; do not wait until furniture has been moved repeatedly to mention an issue noticed on arrival.
A removal visit does not disconnect gas or electrical appliances as an assumed part of carrying them. Arrange suitable preparation by an appropriate person and confirm the item is ready to move. Similarly, wall-mounted fixtures may need separate removal. Inform the booking contact early if an item cannot safely be made ready by the planned date.
CONNECTING THE MOVE & THE CLEAN
Move first.
Clean with the space clear.
For a rental handover, arrange end of tenancy cleaning after belongings are removed where possible. An empty property gives better access to surfaces and avoids cleaners working around boxes that will immediately be carried through the room. Leave time for any carpet or upholstery treatment to dry before inspection or heavy use.
If the old home has carpeted rooms that need separate attention, discuss carpet cleaning in the schedule. A sofa being moved may benefit from upholstery cleaning, but treatment and drying should not be squeezed into the gap before wrapping and collection. Plan which address the item will be cleaned at and when it can remain undisturbed.
Call Bob’s with both postcodes, the moving date and a practical load description. Mention the tenancy cleaning deadline as well, if relevant. Keeping the moving scope and cleaning scope distinct makes it easier to coordinate the day without assuming one team will take on tasks that belong to the other.
| Information | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Both contacts | Entry questions can be resolved at each address. |
| Parking plan | Avoids uncertainty about legal loading access. |
| Final item list | Checks what is included in the load. |
| Key arrangements | Identifies any dependency before delivery. |
| Cleaning schedule | Leaves time after belongings are removed. |
BEFORE YOU BOOK
The questions
worth asking.
Does the driver-only rate include loading help?
No carrying movers are included in the driver-only arrangement shown. Confirm the labour you need and the appropriate crew before booking.
Can I book using only the number of bedrooms?
Provide an item list as well. Homes of the same size can have very different loads, access restrictions and handling requirements.
Are packing and assembly included?
Only if specifically agreed. Ask about availability and price before leaving items unpacked or expecting furniture to be dismantled.
What if the lift needs booking?
Arrange this with the building manager and tell Bob’s the permitted time and any conditions. Check dimensions for larger pieces.
Is cleaning included in the removal price?
No. A property clean has a separate scope and quote. The two visits can be discussed together to plan the sequence.
What should I confirm about the hourly price?
Ask about crew, van, minimum booking, chargeable time, mileage, after-hours work and any applicable access or congestion charges.
GOOD TO TALK
Tell us what
needs attention.
Have the postcode, the main tasks and your preferred date ready.