The floor, and whether the lift works
A fourth floor without a lift is not "a bit harder" — it needs more people to do safely in the same time. This is the single biggest factor in a labour-only quote.
Loading & unloading
Labour only, for when you have your own vehicle or have already packed. The lifting is the part most people underestimate.
Loading is a skill, not just strength
A badly loaded vehicle damages goods even on a smooth road, because everything inside is free to move. A well-loaded one holds itself still.
Heavy and flat items go in first and low, against the walls. Fragile cartons ride on top, never underneath. Gaps are filled so nothing can slide, and the load is strapped in sections rather than as one mass — so if one strap loosens, the whole load does not shift.
We sign off a loading sheet with you before the vehicle moves, so both sides know exactly what went on.
What the crew brings
- Trolleys and sack barrows for cartons and appliances
- Lifting straps for wardrobes, sofas and double-door fridges
- Floor and door-frame protection on the carry route
- Ratchet straps and blankets for securing the load
- Basic tools for beds and table legs that must come off to fit
Planning
Tell us these three things and the quote will be right
How far the vehicle can park
Carry distance is invisible on a phone call and obvious at 8am. Fifty metres each way, repeated for every item, is an hour of work nobody priced.
The awkward items
A double-door fridge, a three-seater that will not turn on the landing, a glass table top, a treadmill. Each may need extra hands or a different route out.
Questions we get asked
Can I hire just the crew, with my own vehicle?
Yes. That is exactly what this service is. We will still advise on whether your vehicle is the right size, because a second trip costs more than the right truck would have.
Will you move things I packed myself?
Yes. Note that owner-packed cartons are normally outside transit cover, since nobody can verify the contents or the packing — so pack sturdy items yourself and consider having the fragile ones professionally packed.
How many people will come?
It depends on the volume, the floor and the lift. We state the crew size in the quote rather than sending "a team" and deciding on the day.
Need hands, not a whole move?
Tell us the floor, the lift and the awkward items, and we will quote the labour.