How Long Does a Moving Service Take?

If you're planning a house move, one of the most common questions is: how long will it take? While there's no one-size-fits-all answer, we can give you realistic estimates based on our experience—and help you understand what can speed things up or slow things down.

🕒 Typical Timeframes

Property Type	Loading Time	Unloading Time	Notes
Small flat (easy access)	1–2 hours	~1 hour	Minimal stairs, good parking
2–3 bedroom house	2–4 hours	1–2 hours	Driveway or close parking
Large house / complex move	4–8+ hours	2–4 hours	May need multiple vans or trips
Apartment (no lift)	4–6+ hours	2+ hours	Stairs significantly increase time

⏱ What Affects the Time?

1. Accessibility

• Driveway or street parking? The closer we can park the van, the quicker the loading/unloading.
• Lifts or stairs? Properties with stairs or no lift can dramatically increase the time it takes to move each item.
• Distance to van? A 10-second walk vs. a 2-minute walk multiplied by hundreds of items adds up fast.

🔍 Tip: Time yourself walking a packed box to where the van would park. Multiply that by your number of boxes for a quick estimate.

2. Packing Quality

Well-packed, sealed boxes are quicker to move and stack efficiently. Loose or awkward items slow things down and take up more van space.

🎯 Aim to have everything packed and ready before the team arrives.

3. Furniture Dismantling

Items like beds, wardrobes, and tables may need to be taken apart. If we dismantle for you, allow an extra 15–30 minutes per item. You can save time by doing this in advance.

4. Protecting Items

We carefully wrap furniture, TVs, and delicate items to avoid damage. This adds a few minutes per item—especially for sofas, mattresses, and fragile pieces.

5. Team Size

A 2-person team will naturally take longer than a 3- or 4-person crew. We always recommend the right number of movers for the job to balance time and cost.

6. Volume of Items

The more you have, the longer it takes! Moves involving multiple vans or trips between properties add significant time.

7. Unforeseen Delays

• Solicitor delays (especially on completion day)
• Waiting for keys from the estate agent
• Traffic or access issues

Always allow a buffer, especially if you're completing and moving on the same day.

🛠 Unusual Tasks That Add Extra Time

While most moves go smoothly, some unexpected jobs can add 30 minutes to several hours to your moving day:

• Removing and reinstalling windows to fit large furniture through
• Dismantling bulky or awkward items like corner sofas or American fridge freezers
• Navigating tight spaces, narrow doorways, or tricky staircases
• Helping with last-minute packing of loose or unboxed items
• Delays waiting for inspections or key handovers

🧰 If we need to remove a window to get a sofa or bed through, we’ll always do it safely—and we’ll reinstall it once the item is inside. But this kind of work can easily add 45–90 minutes, especially if specialist tools or extra care is required.

✅ How to Speed Things Up

• 📦 Pack everything before move day—label boxes with rooms
• 🛏 Dismantle furniture in advance if you can
• 🚪 Clear hallways and entrances
• 🚗 Reserve parking spaces if needed
• 🐶 Arrange childcare or pet care to avoid distractions
• 🔑 Collect keys early (if possible) to avoid waiting around

Final Thoughts

Every move is unique—but with good planning, clear access, and solid packing, your moving day can run smoothly and efficiently. If you're not sure how long your move might take, feel free to contact us with the details, and we’ll provide a personalised estimate.