House removals in Southampton
Flats and small houses moved by the hour, with a local driver and a van of the right size. This page explains when a man with a van is the right choice for a house move, how to plan it, and what it will cost in principle.
Nothing is taken until your driver confirms. Pay them the rest when the job is done.
When a man with a van suits a house move
A man with a van is the right tool for most flat moves and for small houses, where everything fits in one or two loads and you are happy to help or to add a helper. It is cheaper and more flexible than a removals firm because you pay for the time you use and you can book at short notice.
It is not the right tool for a large family house with a loft, a garage and a garden shed full of tools, or for a move where you want somebody else to pack every cupboard. For those, two vans or a traditional removals company will serve you better. If you are somewhere in between, book a Luton and a helper and see how the loading time comes out on the form.
How the price works for a house move
The price covers the driver's drive and the loading and unloading time you choose. A Large van or a Luton costs more than a Medium, and each driver sets their own prices, so compare a few in the form. Choose a driver who can bring a helper if you need one. The prices page explains each part of the price.
For a house move, loading time is where the money goes, and you control it. A two-bed flat that is boxed, labelled and stacked by the door loads in a fraction of the time of one that is still being packed when the van arrives.
Choosing the van
A one-bed flat with ordinary furniture is a Large van. A two-bed flat or a small house is a Luton. If your house has a lot of large furniture, or you are not sure, go up a size, because one trip in a bigger van costs less than two trips in a smaller one. The van sizes page describes what fits in each.
Planning the day
- Pack before the van comes. Everything in boxes, boxes taped shut, labelled by room. Loose items take longer to carry than boxes.
- Dismantle the big pieces. Beds, wardrobes and large tables come apart the night before. Keep the screws in a bag taped to the frame.
- Sort the parking at both ends. The van needs to stop close to the door. If your street has pay and display bays, the council will suspend one for a day for £14. The parking guide explains how, and what to do on streets with resident bays or yellow lines.
- Check the lift. In a block of flats, book the lift with the building manager if that is a thing in your building, and tell the driver which floor you are on.
- Decide on help. You, a friend, or a paid helper. Two people on each end of a sofa is twice as fast as one.
- Book the right time. Be honest about the stairs and the number of boxes when you set the loading time.
Southampton specifics
Most moves within the city are short drives, so the route time is small and the hours of loading dominate the bill. Student areas near the universities have their own calendar, with the busiest weeks around the start and end of term, and vans are harder to get then. The student move dates guide lists the dates. Much of the city centre and the streets near the universities are controlled parking zones, which is why the parking guide exists.
Moving out of Southampton is fine too. The longer drive is built into the price you see.
Booking a house move
Enter both postcodes and the loading and unloading time, and the form lists local drivers with their prices. Pick a driver and van, and a deposit is held on your card until they confirm. Your driver gets in touch to agree the timing, or the job is offered to another local driver. If no driver can take it, the hold is released and you pay nothing. The rest goes to the driver on the day.
Other kinds of job have their own pages: single items and furniture, business moves and student moves. Or go back to the home page.
Nothing is taken until your driver confirms. Pay them the rest when the job is done.