What Are House Removals?
The stress of moving house is very real. What with changing all your utilities contracts, making sure you're paying the right council tax rate, and sorting out arrangements with buying your property or with your new landlord, the actual move itself can get forgotten!
House removals companies are a great way to get all your belongings transported safely and professionally from your old home to your new one. House removals might seem optional, but if you've got a lot to shift, it's a good idea to let professional movers handle it!
What Does a House Removal Company Do?
A house removal company will pack and load all your furniture, household items, fragile objects, and wardrobe contents securely and move it all to your new property. They'll even provide sturdy moving boxes with the right sizes and shapes to help get all your things organised!
The main services a removals company will provide are:
- Advice on moving
- Packing and unpacking
- Specialist packing for valuables and larger furniture
- Storage
Need Help Setting Up Your New Home?
Moving house? Our experts at Selectra can set up your energy, broadband, and utilities in one free call — saving you time and money.
Should I Hire a House Removals Company?
People often think that hiring a house removal company will make your entire move a lot more expensive, but in fact it can have the opposite effect. If you're living in a smaller place, it might be possible to move everything without too many issues, but if you're moving from a larger house with a lot of antiques, you don't want to risk damaging them!
It's generally recommended to hire a house removals company if you're moving:
- From a 2 or more bedroom property
- A lot of heavy furniture
- Valuable or fragile items
- Furniture that needs to be dismantled
What's a Man with a Van?
If you're only moving from a 1 bedroom house or flat, it might be cheaper to think about hiring a man with a van. A man with a van is colloquially an individual who owns a van and will move your belongings for you for a price.
Benefits of a Man with a Van:
- Cheaper
- More flexible schedule
- Word of mouth recommendations
- Better for last minute arrangements
If you don't need to transport a huge amount, this will probably be the best option for you. Just remember you'll need to pack and unpack everything yourself!
How Do I Pick a House Removal Company?
Picking a house removals company can be quite difficult since there's lots you'll need to consider. You should have a look around to see which house removal companies offer the best quotes and experience before you go ahead.
- Experience and Reviews — Customer reviews are a great place to start when looking for a removal company to manage your move. You'll be able to see what other people have said about the company and whether the company has a history of strong experience with moving.
- Reasonable Quote — Making sure your quote is reasonable is very important. A good removal company will let you know how to make your move better off for you by giving you different options. Be careful not to fall into any hidden fees so make sure you go through the quote thoroughly.
- Insurance — Removal companies should be covered by insurance. The standard insurances that removal companies should take out are the Removals and Storage Policy that will cover your move.
- Extra Services — Many removal companies will also have extra services available for storage and packing for more complex furniture.
Need Help Setting Up Your New Home?
Moving house? Our experts at Selectra can set up your energy, broadband, and utilities in one free call — saving you time and money.
What Questions To Ask a Removal Company
When choosing a house removals company, you should make sure to ask them important questions in order to make sure you're definitely getting what you're paying for.
10 Questions To Ask a Removal Company
- Are you covered by insurance?
- Are both packing and unpacking included in the price?
- Is transportation included in the price?
- What happens in bad weather?
- Are there any cancellation or postponement fees?
- What time will the movers be at the property?
- What's the estimated time of completing the move?
- Will the movers disassemble and reassemble furniture?
- Who pays for tolls and traffic taxes?
- Is there additional protective packaging available?
How Much Does a House Removal Cost in Ireland?
The costs of hiring a removal company will vary depending on how much you have to move and where you are moving to. According to Getamover, the Irish national average for moving costs is €1,885 for a 3 bedroom house. This figure comes down to €1,465 for 1 to 2 bedroom properties.
Breakdown of Removal Costs
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Transport & Loading | €900 |
| Packing | €280 |
| Materials | €110 |
| Disassembly & Reassembly | €140 |
| Storage | €135 |
| Cleaning | €320 |
| Total | €1,885 |
Breakdown of House Removal Costs
Source: Selectra Research
When Should I Get Removal Quotes?
According to the moving house checklist, you should begin looking at quotes for removal services at least a month before your move.
Need Help Setting Up Your New Home?
Moving house? Our experts at Selectra can set up your energy, broadband, and utilities in one free call — saving you time and money.
On Moving Day with the House Removal Company
At last, moving day arrives! You should be prepared for your house removals company for when they come. If you've either just hired a van, or are required to pack the van yourself, you should begin loading in this order:
- Heavy Items — Wardrobes, fridges, freezers, sofas and ovens should be loaded up first. Make sure they're well balanced so they don't fall down during transit.
- Delicate Objects — Mirrors, televisions, and picture frames should be safely stored away after the heavier items have gone in. You should wrap these up with bubble wrap to prevent them smashing.
- Longer Furniture — Any mattresses or disassembled furniture you have that are longer should be stored along the sides so you leave space on the floor of the van.
- Heavy Boxes — Your heavy boxes should go in next, taking up the rest of the floor. You should try and store them in any gaps so they don't rock about on the journey.
- Lighter Boxes — Your lighter boxes can then be packed into the van. Try to get them in as tightly as possible to avoid them shifting about. Use up all the available space!
If you've hired a house removals company, they will do all the packing and loading for you. Keep an eye on them just to make sure all your belongings are loaded up and nothing is forgotten!
Frequently Asked Questions About House Removals in Ireland
Related guides