Once you've decided you're going to need a home move, give us a call. Of course we like as much notice as possible. But we welcome short-notice jobs, too. If moving day is already less than a month away, please get in touch with us anyway. We may still be able to help.

The rest of this page explains the stages that a move with us may involve.

Getting the estimate

Contact Bradbeers to arrange for an estimate. Within our local area and certain other areas, this will take the form of a free consultation at your home; alternatively, our consultant may be able to gather the necessary information from you by phone.

If our consultant visits in person, they will visit at a mutually convenient time and will show you an ID card if requested. Our consultant will note all your moving requirements, answer all your questions, and will want to discuss and take into account the following:

• The items that have to be moved (including those from easily forgotten areas like your loft, garage, and outbuildings). If visiting in person, the consultant will assume that everything is to move unless you say otherwise, so don't forget to mention things that will be staying or that will be removed before you move home.
• The packing that will be required, and special handling considerations for any large, awkward, or valuable items. The consultant can discuss with you the pros and cons of doing your own packing. (See under next heading for more information.)
• The handling of self-assembly furniture. Bradbeers offer a wardrobe-dismantling service.
• Any potential problems with access to your current home, either to the property or to individual items.
• The access situation at the property you are moving to.
• The planned date for the move.
• And any other special factors that may apply.

Within a few days, we will then send you a written quotation, complete with our terms and conditions.

Deciding about packing

We offer three main options for packing. However, if you want a different option tailored to your particular needs, discuss it with our consultant.

Full pack

Our removal crew do all the packing, and an agreed level of unpacking at your destination. (There can be many reasons why you might want to do some or all of the unpacking yourself.) Full pack is the option we recommend, and is the only one that provides insurance cover for all your goods in transit. Although we always endeavour to take great care with everything that we move, we can't—for obvious reasons—accept responsibility for transit damage to goods that we haven't packed.

Fragile items only

This service is for china and glassware. We can also discuss, and quote for, special wrapping requirements for larger items such as oil paintings or sculptures, etc. With fragile items that we have packed, we can do an agreed level of unpacking at your destination.

Self pack

You undertake all the packing and unpacking yourself. We can lend you stout purpose-made cartons and tape.

Booking the move

If you like our price, the next step is to actually book your move by signing and returning the form provided with our quotation. However, please note that until we receive payment the booking remains provisional—which means that at times of high demand your preferred day could be allocated to someone else. Also that cheques must be with us 10 working days before the move date to allow time for clearance; and card payments must be made no less than 3 days before. Our preferred method of payment is credit or debit card; just ring us up with your card number and we do the rest!

Ahead of the move--when things need to happen

When you are planning a household move, there are many "things to do", and many arrangements that have to be made,. The following are some broad suggestions about planning for the physical move itself. However, there are a host of other things associated with the move that you will need to arrange or allow for, and our Checklist page should be helpful for putting together your own list of "things to do".

Three weeks ahead of the move:

• Sort out any rubbish or other items that you will not be taking to the new home, and dispose of them or arrange for their collection. (A move is a wonderful opportunity for getting rid of clutter!)
• If you are doing your own packing, obtain all necessary packing materials. Bradbeers can supply some of these; call us to discuss your requirements.

Two weeks ahead of the move:

List all the preparations that you will have to make in the days immediately leading up to the move. What needs to be done will depend of course on whether you are doing your own packing, and may include:

• Disassembling any large items of self-assembly furniture. (Our consultant will have discussed these with you, either on a home visit or by phone.) Dismantling and reassembling such items is the customer's responsibility, unless you are making use of our wardrobe-dismantling service.
• Removing items such as curtains, light fittings, and bed-linen from spare beds.
• Lifting and rolling any carpets and rugs that you may be taking with you to your new home.
• Preparing any house-plants for the move.

For more tips about doing your own packing, click here.

What happens on the day?

Remove all bedlinen from remaining beds and either pack it to take it with you to the new home, or put it in a box clearly labelled with the contents, to ensure that it can be located easily at the other end.

Pack things that you will need on the journey. If these items are going to be still in the home while we are loading other effects into the van, clearly label the box "PERSONAL EFFECTS; DO NOT MOVE".

During the packing, loading, transit, unloading and agreed unpacking of your goods, Bradbeers will take great care to avoid damage either to the items being moved or to the accommodation that you are leaving or moving into. Home removals is a job for experts, and that's just what our crews are! Click here for more information about the special measures we take to protect your goods and accommodation.

At your destination, your Bradbeers crew will carry all goods into the designated rooms at your new address, and will unpack to the extent previously agreed. Unpacked goods will be placed on a flat surface (it is up to you to arrange items in cupboards etc to your own satisfaction).

After unloading at your destination, Bradbeers will take away any packaging materials that were used on goods that have been unpacked

Storage

Sometimes there is a gap between the date for moving out of your current home and the date when your new home will be ready for occupation. When this is so—or when for some reason it is not possible to move all your effects into the new home immediately—we can help by offering low-cost storage.

Aftercare/customer support

If, after the move, you feel that some aspect of it was not satisfactory, please don't hesitate to contact us. We will do whatever we can to investigate and put the matter right.