You have three or four removal quotes in front of you and they all look different. One is half the price of another. One is vague about what is included. One arrived without a survey. Cheshire Removals & Storage has been carrying out free home surveys and providing fixed-price quotes across Cheshire since 1994 – BAR member, Which? Trusted Trader, and rated 4.8 on Trustpilot from hundreds of verified customers. The Fahey family has been in the removals business for four generations, which means we have seen every way a quote can mislead a customer. Here is what each quote should contain and what to check before you commit.
What a proper removal quote should include
A quote from a professional removals company is not just a price. It should set out exactly what the crew will do, what is covered if something goes wrong, and what the final number includes.
At minimum, a written quote should confirm:
- Survey type – whether the price was calculated from a home survey, a video call, or an online form (this affects accuracy significantly)
- Volume or load size – cubic footage or number of rooms, so you can check the price is based on your actual move
- Crew size and vehicle count – a four-bedroom house with a single transit van is a red flag
- Packing – whether the crew packs, you pack, or it is a partial arrangement
- Materials – whether boxes, tape, bubble wrap and wardrobe cartons are included or charged separately
- Dismantling and reassembly – whether beds, wardrobes and flat-pack furniture are taken apart and rebuilt as part of the job
- Goods-in-transit insurance – the value of cover and whether it is included or an add-on
- Access assessment – whether the surveyor has considered parking, stairs, lifts or narrow streets at both addresses
- Move date flexibility – what happens to the price if your completion date changes
If a quote does not confirm these points, ask before you sign anything.
How to compare removal quotes: a side-by-side check
Price alone is not the comparison to make. A lower headline figure can hide costs that only appear on the day.
The table below sets out the questions to ask for each line of a quote:
| What to check | What a clear quote says | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Survey method | In-home or video survey completed | Online form only, no surveyor visit |
| Packing included | Full pack, fragile only, or materials-only | No mention of packing at all |
| Insurance cover | Goods-in-transit included, value stated | Cover listed as an optional extra |
| Dismantling | Beds, wardrobes, flat-pack included | Charged per item on the day |
| Fuel and mileage | Included in fixed price | Mileage rate added at the end |
| Access allowance | Surveyor has assessed both addresses | No mention of access or parking |
| Date change policy | Written policy on rescheduling | Verbal assurance only |
Once you have filled in the table for each quote, the comparison becomes straightforward. A quote that covers every row is a fixed price. A quote with gaps is an estimate.
What affects the price of a removal
Two quotes for the same move can differ by hundreds of pounds for legitimate reasons. Understanding those reasons helps you judge whether a lower price reflects genuine efficiency or missing cover.
Volume and access are the two biggest variables. A large family home with a narrow driveway and a fourth-floor flat at the other end takes longer and needs more crew than a ground-floor flat with a parking bay outside. A surveyor who has visited both addresses can quote accurately. One who has not is guessing.
Move distance affects the crew’s day. A local Cheshire move – Stockport to Macclesfield, say – is a different job to a long-distance run to London or a full Scottish relocation. Fuel, driving time and overnight costs all feed into the price.
Packing is the most variable add-on. A full pack of a four-bedroom house, materials included, can add several hundred pounds to a quote. Make sure you are comparing like for like: if one company includes packing and another does not, the lower headline price may not be lower overall.
Accreditations affect your recourse if something goes wrong. BAR members (British Association of Removers) carry higher levels of goods-in-transit cover and operate under a consumer code that includes a free dispute resolution service. Which? Trusted Trader status adds a second layer of independent vetting. A company without these accreditations is not necessarily worse, but you have less formal recourse if a dispute arises. As a family run firm with 30 years of surveying homes across Cheshire, we know the difference between a quote built on a proper survey and one that is priced to win and padded on the day.
Common mistakes when comparing removal quotes
- Booking without a survey – a phone estimate is a guess. Prices change when the crew arrives and finds more than expected.
- Ignoring the insurance detail – goods-in-transit cover varies widely. Check the maximum claim value and the excess before you assume you are covered.
- Choosing by price alone on a long-distance move – a low price from a company with no depot near your destination means the crew drives back empty. That cost goes somewhere.
- Not asking about moving-day parking – council-controlled parking zones, residents-permit areas, and narrow streets can add delay costs. A good survey flags this in advance.
- Missing the rescheduling clause – if your solicitor pushes your completion date back, what does it cost? Some companies charge a rebooking fee; others do not.
FAQs
Three is the standard recommendation. It gives you enough to spot an outlier in either direction – one unusually low quote or one that is priced for a larger job than yours. More than four tends to create confusion rather than clarity, particularly when quotes are structured differently.
For moves of two bedrooms or more, a home survey – in person or by video call – produces a more accurate quote than an online form. The surveyor can account for volume, access, awkward items and parking at both addresses. For a studio flat or a small one-bedroom move, an accurate online form can be sufficient. If a company quotes a large job by form alone, ask why.
It covers your belongings while they are in the removal vehicle between addresses. Most policies cover the replacement or repair cost of items damaged during the move, up to a stated maximum. The excess and the per-item limit vary by company – ask for both figures in writing before you book. BAR member companies carry a minimum standard of cover as a condition of membership.
Not necessarily, but the reason for the lower price matters. A company with lower overheads and a local depot may quote less than a national operator and deliver the same standard. A company that reduces costs by skipping the survey, undercoating the insurance, or planning to send a smaller crew than the job needs is a different risk. Ask what the quote includes before you assume the price reflects the service.
Ready to compare a Cheshire Removals quote?
Cheshire Removals & Storage is a BAR member and Which? Trusted Trader, rated 4.8 on Trustpilot from hundreds of verified customers. Every quote follows a free home survey and includes goods-in-transit insurance, a fixed price, and a named crew from survey to delivery.
Get a free removal quote or call our Stockport depot on 0161 476 2873. We cover Stockport, Wilmslow, Macclesfield, Knutsford and across the North West.