Choosing between a man and van or a removal company

Choosing between using a man and van, or a removal company to move house.

how much does it cost 

Moving house is one of those unavoidable costs which most of us encounter at some stage in our lives. I think the cost of moving has become more affordable these days. The reason for this is maybe because of the various options that are available for moving home.

Options for moving house

These options include hiring a van; this method usually includes a big deposit. Another option is to use a removal company and they will take care of all you’re packing and moving. Finally there is the man with a van option. 

There are some details below that may help you when choosing between a man and van or a removal company.

Option 1: Van Hire

The idea of hiring a van for the day sounds easy enough. This option will suit some people but it’s not for everyone. It would mean you may have to round up some friends and relatives and spend the whole day moving furniture. Then as an idea to keep cost down further, you could offer payment to your helpers with a takeaway and some beers, to say thank you. This option can be a good way of moving as it’s usually cost effective. The only down side is making sure friends and relatives actually turn up on moving day, and then hoping they are mindful of not damaging your furniture. All of this I am sure you would agree can be stressful, also the added worry of making sure you don’t accidentally dent or scratch the hire van, as this may result in you not receiving your deposit back. When I have hired a van in the past I always take out the extra insurance they offer me; I would encourage this, as it can help with the stress levels. I have used this van hire option myself to move house, and it can work out quite well long as you are careful.

Option 2: Removal Company

If you were to choose a removal company to move home then this is a great option. The removal team will take care of all the packing and the moving for you,  so you can sit back and relax,  while they do all the work. This might work out a bit more expensive, but sometimes it’s worth letting professionals take care of it.

Option 3: man with a van

In my opinion the man with a van option is the middle of the road option. Hiring a man and a van  does have its benefits, as you will get the van and also help with the loading and unloading. Some company’s provide you with two men.  The first thing to do is to make sure you do some research. It’s always a good idea to look at the company’s website, and read some of their reviews, even give them a call; this will give you a better insight to how they operate. Also you will gain a better understanding of their pricing options. Some will charge per mile but most often they will charge per hour. This method of moving home is usually more hands on for the customer, as you will be helping the driver to load the van, but it can be more cost effective as most of the man and van companies charge per hour usually with a minimum of two hours charge.

However a large majority of company’s now offer both man with a van and a removals team.