House removals
Houses, planned before they are moved
A house move goes wrong in the gaps between decisions. Take the decisions two weeks early and the day itself becomes ordinary work carried out by people who already know the plan.
What the plan contains
- Crew size, and what each person is there to do
- The vehicle, and whether a shuttle is needed at either end
- The start time, chosen from your road rather than from a default
- The loading order — what goes on first so that unloading works
- Protection laid at both ends before anything is carried
- What would change the price, and what happens if the dates move
The survey is a measuring exercise
Volume first: the rooms, then the loft, the garage, the garden room and the shed. In a Pinner house those four hold a surprising share of what actually has to travel.
Then the constraints. Doorway widths, the turn at the top of the stairs, the drive surface, where a vehicle may legally stand and how far the carry is from there. Anything that will not pass a landing is identified now, while dismantling, a window route or leaving it are all still open options.
On the day
Protection down first at both ends. Furniture wrapped where it stands — blankets on upholstery, corners protected, mirrors and glass crated, clothes into wardrobe cartons. The load built in the order agreed rather than the order things happen to be standing in.
At the far end, into the rooms you point at; beds we dismantled rebuilt first; the inventory checked with you before the crew leaves.
If the chain moves
It is in the plan before it happens. Tell us the moment you know and the household goes into storage, inventoried as it loads, out again when you have keys.
Larger houses have their own page — detached and semi moves — and apartments are a different problem entirely, covered on the apartment page.
Worth knowing
House moves, the practical questions
What does a written plan actually contain?
Crew size and names of roles, the vehicle, the start time, the order the load goes on, the protection being laid, any permit or shuttle, the cover limits, and what would change the price. It is the document worth comparing between firms.
Will you dismantle and rebuild?
Beds, wardrobes, tables and anything that will not pass a doorway assembled — included rather than extra, and rebuilt at the far end in the room you point at.
How do you protect the house?
Floor runners and door-frame protection at both ends, laid before anything is carried. Blanket wrap on upholstery and case furniture, corner protection, crates for mirrors and glass.
Our house has a loft conversion and a garage.
Then the volume is bigger than the bedroom count suggests, which is exactly what the survey is for. Crew and hours follow from the real number, not the optimistic one.
When should we book?
As soon as a date is realistic, and earlier for end-of-month and Friday completions. School-term moves cluster into the same fortnight here, so those go first.
Do you work Saturdays?
Regularly. Sundays are possible with more notice, and some buildings restrict weekend moves in the lease — worth checking before you commit to one.
Book the survey and get the plan in writing.
Volume, access and hours decided before you commit. It costs nothing and it is the difference between a plan and a hope.