Moving services: choose the help you need

Do you need to move a whole home, one sofa or just some heavy boxes? Start with the task. A full home move covers the agreed transport and help at both homes. A smaller job needs a different brief. That helps you choose the right help without asking for a full move when you only need one part.

This page is a guide to the types of help. For a budget, see moving company costs. To plan a whole home move, go to full moving service.

Which moving service fits your job?

These tasks do not all use the same booking route or team. Lift hire or item transport is not a full move. Choose the service that matches your task. There is a dedicated request for full home moves.

A full move or help with one part?

Help to move your whole home

You want a team to take your goods from one home to the next. The basic scope may cover a crew, a van, loading, the drive and unloading. Ask for packing, taking furniture apart or a lift if you need them. The word ‘full’ does not mean that every extra task is included.

See what to agree for a full moving service. It sets out the facts a mover needs to assess your job.

Do part of the move yourself

You may pack your own boxes or drive your own van. State which part you want help with. Agree who drives, who secures the load and who helps at each end. Ask which damage terms apply when you take part in the work.

Think about access too. A heavy appliance on a tight stairway may need more than an extra pair of hands. Ask the mover to assess the route and tools before the day. Do not test a risky lift yourself.

What should your request include?

Make a short list of your goods. Name large pieces, appliances and the number of boxes. Include a loft or shed. Give the size of bulky items and say whether they can be taken apart.

For both homes, give the place, floor, stairs and lift details. State how close a van can park. Photos can show tight turns and large furniture. Keep keys, entry codes and other sensitive details out of a public job description.

Give a date and say whether it is flexible. Note when you get or return the keys. Ask the mover to confirm the schedule. A preferred date in a request does not reserve a team.

How to compare replies

SkilledContractors is a platform that connects job requests with providers. It does not carry out the move or set a fixed moving price. Replies and availability depend on the job and the providers who respond.

Check whether a reply covers your exact task. Ask how many people will come, which van they will use and what is left out. Read the terms for damage, extra work, waiting and date changes. If a mover states that it has insurance, ask what it covers and what limits apply. Do not assume that all goods and risks are covered.

Compare prices with VAT and required costs included. ACM ConsuWijzer explains the rules for required charges. For the separate cost items, use our moving costs guide.

Tasks to agree separately

A moving team does not take waste away or store goods by default. Say where each item should go. Waste can be subject to local rules and different duties for the provider. Do not choose waste removal for goods you want delivered to your new home.

Cleaning, changes to furniture and work on fixed services are separate tasks too. Ask who will do them and have that scope confirmed in writing. Pianos, safes and other special loads need a separate assessment. This page does not promise help for specialist or cross-border transport.

Frequently asked questions

What should I choose for one sofa?

Describe it as one item to transport. Give its size and access at both homes. Say whether you need help to carry it. A full household move is not the same task.

Can I help the movers?

You can ask. Agree which tasks you will do and whether that changes the crew, price or terms. Do not assume a discount. Do not take on lifting that is unsafe.

Could I need only a moving lift?

Yes, a lift can be one part of the work. First ask for a check of the site. Discuss the operator, space and permission needed. Having a window does not prove that a lift can be used.

Does a request book the move?

No. First describe the job. Check any replies and agree the price, tasks and date before you confirm the work.

Ready to describe a full home move?

If you need to move your whole household, describe your full moving job. State what you will do yourself. For more detail on the service, see planning a full move.