Why we don't publish a price list
Two three-bedroom homes on the same street can be very different moves. One might have a full loft, a garage, a piano and a tight staircase; the other might be half the volume with a driveway at both ends.
A price list would either be too high for the simple move or too low for the bigger one, and the difference turns up on the day. We would rather see your home first and give you a fixed price you can rely on.
What decides the cost of your move
These are the things that make the biggest difference, roughly in order:
- How much you are moving. The volume of furniture and boxes sets the size of the crew and the vehicle. It is usually the biggest single factor, and lofts, garages and sheds are often bigger than people expect.
- Access at both properties. Stairs, lifts, narrow hallways, long walks from the lorry and parking restrictions all add time. Flats in Sandbanks, Lilliput and Bournemouth town centre, or terraces in Parkstone and Boscombe, often need extra planning.
- Distance. A move across Poole or Bournemouth is usually done in a day. A move to the other end of the UK may need an overnight stay or a second day.
- Packing. Packing it all yourself, having us pack only the kitchen and fragile items, or a full packing service each change the labour needed.
- Specialist items. Pianos, antiques, artwork, gym equipment and large American fridges need extra care and sometimes extra people.
- Storage. If your completion slips or your new home isn't ready, containerised storage between homes is priced separately.
- Your date. Fridays, the end of the month and the summer holidays are the busiest days, because that is when most completions fall.
Why online prices often turn out wrong
Instant online prices and price ranges are usually worked out from the number of bedrooms. But bedrooms tell you very little about how much is actually in a home.
- A two-bed flat with a storage unit can hold more than a sparse four-bed house
- Lofts, garages, sheds and garden furniture are often left out of online forms
- Access problems, like a third-floor flat with no lift, never show up in a bedroom count
When the real volume turns up on the day, a cheap estimate can quickly become an expensive one. A proper survey avoids that.
How to get a fixed, accurate quote
If you live in our area, one of our moving consultants will come to your home. That applies even if you are moving a long way, to another part of the UK or abroad. The visit usually takes 20 to 30 minutes, it is free and there is absolutely no obligation. Get a quote.
If you are moving to Dorset from further away, where we can't visit, we survey your home over a video call or from short room videos and photos you send from your phone. Get a quote.
Either way, you receive a written quote by email that sets out exactly what is included, which you can accept online.
What a 1st Choice quote includes
- Our full-time staff and trained crews
- Heavy-duty floor sheeting and padding for banisters, doors and frames
- Fragile items properly wrapped
- Full goods-in-transit insurance
- The BAR Advance Payment Guarantee on inland domestic moves, as British Association of Removers members since 2011
Optional extras, such as packing, dismantling and reassembling furniture, or storage, are listed separately so you can see what each one adds.
Ways to keep the cost of your move down
- Declutter before the survey. Anything you sell, give away or take to the tip before we visit is left out of the quote. Our decluttering and downsizing guide can help.
- Pack some of it yourself. Many people have us pack the kitchen and fragile items and do the rest themselves. Strong boxes and tape are available from our packing materials range.
- Be flexible on your date. A midweek move outside the summer holidays is usually easier to book.
- Sort parking early. If your street has restrictions, arranging space for the lorry in advance saves time on the day.
For the wider costs of moving, such as legal fees, Stamp Duty and overlapping bills, see our moving costs and budgeting guide.
