When you’re moving house, it’s completely understandable to compare removal quotes and look at the price.
But when one removal company quotes £600 and another quotes £850, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re being offered the same service for £250 less.
Removal quotes are only comparable when they actually include the same things.
The number of removal staff, size and number of vehicles, insurance, furniture protection, dismantling and reassembly, packing services, access requirements and even how the move has been planned can all make a significant difference.
At Phoenix Clearance & Removals, we believe customers should know exactly what they’re paying for before moving day – not discover what’s missing when the removal van arrives.
Why can removal company quotes vary so much?
There isn’t a single standard price for a house removal. Every move is different, which is why a reputable removal company should consider the requirements of the individual property and move before providing an accurate quotation.
Some of the biggest factors affecting the cost of removals include:
- The volume of furniture and belongings being moved
- The number and size of removal vans required
- How many removal staff are needed
- The distance between properties
- Access and parking at both addresses
- Stairs, lifts and long carrying distances
- Heavy, fragile or specialist items
- Dismantling and reassembly requirements
- Packing services and packing materials
- Storage requirements
- The time realistically required to complete the move
This is why simply comparing the figure at the bottom of two removal quotes doesn’t always tell you which offers better value.
Check how many removal vans you’re actually getting
This is a big one.
If the contents of your property realistically require two or three removal vans, the quote should be planned accordingly.
A cheaper quotation based on insufficient vehicle capacity can create problems on moving day. It could mean additional journeys, delays or discovering that everything simply isn’t going to fit as expected.
At Phoenix, we assess the volume of belongings when preparing our removal quotations so we can allocate the appropriate vehicle capacity for the move.
If we’ve quoted your move on the basis of three vans, our plan is to arrive with three vans.
It sounds obvious. It should be.
How many removal staff are included?
The size of the removal team matters too.
Sending too few people can turn what should have been a properly planned house move into a very long day, particularly where there are stairs, difficult access, large quantities of furniture or a completion deadline to work around.
When we quote for a move, we consider the workforce needed alongside the vehicle capacity.
That means you’re not simply paying for somebody with a van. You’re paying for the removal team, vehicles, equipment and planning required to complete the job properly.
Is your furniture actually protected?
Ask what protective equipment the removal company carries.
Professional furniture protection shouldn’t be an unexpected extra.
Our Phoenix removal vans carry padded removal blankets, furniture protection and professional moving equipment as standard. Furniture is protected appropriately before transportation to reduce the risk of scratches, marks and damage while it’s in our care.
We also use specialist moving equipment where required for particularly heavy or awkward items.
When you’re comparing removal companies, don’t be afraid to ask:
“How will you protect my furniture?”
The answer matters.
Is insurance included in your removal quote?
Price isn’t much comfort if something goes wrong and you then discover the company wasn’t properly insured for the work it was carrying out.
Phoenix is a fully insured removal company, and our quotations include our standard liability insurance cover while your belongings are in our care, subject to the terms of our policy.
For confirmed moves, we also obtain the necessary information regarding the value of the goods being transported so the insurance requirements are clear before moving day.
When comparing removal quotes, check what insurance is actually provided rather than simply assuming you’re covered.
What about dismantling and reassembly?
Large beds, wardrobes, tables and other furniture often need to be dismantled to move them safely or simply to get them through the property.
But don’t assume dismantling and reassembly are included just because you’ve shown the furniture to the removal company. Ask.
At Phoenix, where dismantling and reassembly have been included within your quotation, they’re planned as part of the job from the outset.
That allows us to account for the additional work when deciding how many people, vehicles and how much time your move requires.
The same applies to other additional services.
Do you need a packing service?
Packing is one of the biggest jobs involved in moving home, and it’s another area where quotations can differ substantially.
Phoenix offers professional packing services in Cambridge, Newmarket, Ely, Huntingdon, St Neots, Royston and throughout Cambridgeshire and surrounding areas.
Depending on your requirements, we can provide packing materials and pack your belongings ahead of the move, allowing the removal itself to be planned around a properly prepared property.
If you’re comparing a quote that includes packing with one that doesn’t, you’re not comparing the same service.
What happens if you’re waiting for the keys?
Completion-day removals don’t always run perfectly to schedule.
Your old property may be loaded, but the keys to your new home haven’t been released yet.
This is another reason to read your removal quotation and terms carefully. Ask what happens if there is a delay, whether waiting charges apply and from what point they’re charged.
A professional removal company should be able to explain this before you book, rather than leaving you to find out on moving day.
A professional house removal starts before moving day
One of the biggest differences between removal quotations is something you can’t necessarily see on the invoice: planning.
A well-organised move starts before the van arrives outside your house.
When preparing a Phoenix removal quote, we consider the volume of goods, access, travelling distance, furniture requirements, vehicle capacity, staffing and any additional services you’ve requested.
That information allows us to plan the move and allocate the appropriate resources beforehand.
For larger or more complex removals, we can also arrange a home or video survey to get a clearer understanding of what’s required.
That preparation is part of the service you’re paying for.
The cheapest removal quote isn’t necessarily the cheapest move
We’re not going to tell you that you should automatically choose the most expensive removal company either.
You shouldn’t.
Instead, compare value and service, not simply price.
If another removal company has provided a cheaper quote, look at it carefully and ask:
How many vans are included? How many movers? Is my furniture protected? Is insurance included? Are dismantling and reassembly included? Is packing included? Have they accounted for access? What happens if there are delays? And is everything I need actually written into the quote?
If the answers are the same, then you can make a genuine price comparison.
If they’re not, you may be comparing two very different removal services.
Why choose Phoenix Clearance & Removals?
Phoenix Clearance & Removals is an award-winning, family-run removal company based near Cambridge, providing house removals throughout Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and across the UK.
We provide:
- House removals
- Local and long-distance removals
- Commercial and office removals
- Professional packing services
- Furniture dismantling and reassembly
- Storage
- House clearances
- Specialist and piano removals
- End-of-tenancy services
Our team regularly carries out removals in Cambridge, Newmarket, Bury St Edmunds, Ely, Huntingdon, St Neots, St Ives, Royston, Cambourne, Haverhill, Mildenhall and surrounding areas, as well as long-distance moves throughout the UK.
We’re proud to be a family-run business with consistent five-star customer feedback and multiple industry and business awards.
More importantly, when we provide a removal quotation, we want you to understand what you’re getting for your money.
Because a good removal quote isn’t just a price.
It’s a plan for how your move is actually going to be carried out.
Get a removal quote from Phoenix
If you’re planning a house move in Cambridge, Newmarket, Bury St Edmunds or elsewhere across Cambridgeshire and the surrounding counties, contact Phoenix Clearance & Removals for a free, no-obligation removal quotation.
Tell us what you’re moving, where you’re going and any additional services you require, and we’ll help you work out what’s actually needed for the move.
And if you already have another removal quote, you’re welcome to speak to us about it.
We’ll help you understand what’s included so you can make a proper like-for-like comparison.