London, National and International Removals and Storage
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Whether you need to relocate to a different part of the city or you’ve bought a wardrobe and wish it delivered to your doorstep – there are many reasons why you might require the assistance of a man and van. However, all cases are not alike, and sometimes you may not actually need this but a full-scale removal service instead. And, believe it or not, we often get calls from people who haven’t evaluated their situation properly and request the wrong service. So let’s examine the man and van services under the microscope to help you make the right choice when the time comes.
Both are services one uses when they wish to relocate their place of living or working. However, man and van services are designed to cater to smaller-scale relocations, usually within the city limit. They require the use of a van instead of a lorry, and fewer movers are needed to do the job. Regular moving services are used for more elaborate removals, where expensive items are being transported, as they offer better insurance coverage.
We must make an important distinction – man and van providers offer only this specific service. Depending on how big they are, moving companies, like Top Removals, can perform both regular and man and van relocations.
To better illustrate the distinguishing traits of each service, we have prepared an easy to understand comparison table. For the purpose of this side by side observation, let’s assume the man and van services are provided by a specialised company and the regular removals – by a larger moving agency.
Factors | Man and Van | Regular Removals |
---|---|---|
Type of property | ➤ For smaller properties like a 1-2 bedroom home or a tiny office space. | ➤ Suitable for all sizes of properties, however, this service is ideal for larger office buildings, houses and 2-3 bedroom apartments. |
Distance | ➤ For short-distance moves, usually within the city limits. | ➤ Both for short and long distances. If you plan to relocate to another city, you need to request a standard moving service. |
Number of movers | ➤Typically, the man and van service is run by 2 people – one who drives the vehicle and one that helps with the loading. | ➤Removal companies can dispatch large moving parties if needed – 5+ people. (for packing, unloading, etc.) |
Type of vehicle | ➤ Small or medium-sized van; ➤ Not all companies can provide more than one vehicle. | ➤ The capacity of the vehicle depends on how many boxes and furniture you need to relocate. ➤ Most companies have at least one or two larger vehicles like Luton vans or lorries. ➤ The auto park is newer and the vehicles are better equipped. |
Duration | ➤ One-day removals. ➤ Especially suitable if you have to relocate fast or on the same day. | ➤ The time depends on the distance and the load. ➤ From one day to a couple of weeks ( if you are moving cross country in the US or Australia, for example) |
Insurance | ➤ Not all service providers offer insurance coverage. | ➤ Generally, all moving companies have some sort of insurance policy. The coverage usually depends on the type of services you’ve booked. |
Specialised lifting equipment | ➤Depends on the type of company. Specialised man and van companies usually offer only the basic harnesses or lifting belts. | ➤ Larger companies are better equipped especially when it comes to lifting expensive items like vintage furniture or musical instruments. |
Included services | ➤ Initially, the man and van service included only the actual transportation of your belongings. Therefore, some companies may charge you for loading and unloading. | ➤ For large-scale moves usually, there is an on-site survey included in the initial price. You can expect your movers to load, transport and unload your belongings. |
Additional services | ➤ Man and van service providers do not offer packing and unpacking, or wrapping materials. Site surveys are also not a common practice. | ➤ You can rent crates, schedule packing and unpacking services and require the needed boxes and materials. Depending on how big the removal company is, there are various additional services you can benefit from. |
It is important to note there is an exception to every rule, and the moving capacity varies from company to company. It all depends on how diligent the employees are and what the owner’s quality standards are set.
We have specifically left the price out, as the cost is based on many different factors. More about how much it will be to book a removal company you can find in our detailed price table.
You pick the right company by doing research. It is as simple as that. The basic things you need to look for are:
Regardless of the city, the man and van services are a preferred niche by many scammers. So you need to be vigilant and ask a lot of questions. Require information about:
Usually, people that provide man and van services in London have in their possession only a single small or medium wheelbase van. In such a vehicle, you can fit either around 40 boxes or 15 boxes, a washing machine, a fridge, and a double bed. If your move is bigger than that, you might want to look around for a vehicle with more cubic feet of space. For example, Luton vans can fit the belongings of an average 2-bedroom property. But if your move is bigger than that, you will either need to hire multiple vans or benefit from a larger vehicle like the 7.5-tonne box van. If you want to know more about the specific vehicles used in the man and van service, check out this detailed table.
There are many things you need to do to be certain the relocation will go as smoothly as possible after the van arrives. The main ones are:
The man and van services can be beneficial in many instances. Here we have listed the most frequent situations in which such service will help you:
As you can see, these types of removals are not for everybody. You need to avoid hiring a man and van if:
And there you have it. Now that you’re familiar with these tips, it’ll be easier to evaluate your needs and communicate them with your relocation or delivery experts.
What is your experience? Have you used a man and van service before? Tell us in the comment section below, and feel free to ask any related questions. Our Top Removals experts will gladly answer them.
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