A house move goes wrong in the booking, not on the day. By the time the van arrives, every decision that matters has already been made, and the things people argue about at the kerbside are almost always things nobody asked about in advance.
Get the quote in writing, itemised
A verbal estimate is worthless the moment there is a disagreement. Ask for a written quotation that lists what is included: packing materials, dismantling and reassembly, the number of movers, the hours covered, and what happens if the job overruns.
The overrun clause is the one to read carefully. Hourly overruns on a fixed quote are where the final bill diverges from the estimate, and a company that will not state the hourly rate in advance is not one to book.
Ask whether they are surveying the property
A firm quoting for a full house move without seeing it, in person or on a video call, is guessing. Guesses are corrected on the day, in their favour. A survey also flags the things that cause delays: a piano, a loft full of boxes, restricted parking, a narrow staircase.
Tell them about the awkward items rather than hoping they will cope. Movers who arrive prepared for a wardrobe that does not fit down the stairs will deal with it. Movers who discover it at eight in the morning will not.
Establish what the insurance actually covers
This is the question fewest people ask and most regret.
- Is goods-in-transit cover included, and to what value per item?
- Are items you packed yourself covered, or only those the firm packed?
- What is the excess, and what is the claims process?
- Is there a time limit for reporting damage after delivery?
Self-packed boxes are frequently excluded. If you are packing to save money, know that you are also accepting the risk on those boxes.
Confirm who is actually doing the job
Some firms subcontract. That is not automatically a problem, but you should know, because the company you vetted may not be the company that arrives. Ask directly whether the work is subcontracted and, if so, to whom.
Check parking and access at both ends
Whoever is responsible for arranging parking suspensions should be named in the booking. If it falls to you, apply early, because councils have lead times. A van that cannot park close to the door adds hours to the job and cost to the bill.
Ask about the timeline in detail
What time do they arrive, how long do they expect the load to take, and what happens if the completion on your purchase is delayed? Storage arrangements at short notice are expensive and hard to arrange on the day. Knowing the firm’s contingency before you need it is worth more than a small saving on the headline price.