Introduction: More Than Just a Van and Some Muscles
When you hear “house removals,” it might conjure images of burly chaps lugging sofas out of a narrow Victorian terrace, puffing and grunting while a van idles out front. And yes, you’re not entirely wrong. But the truth is, house moving services — especially in London — are a bit more like a well-rehearsed orchestra than a furniture-flinging free-for-all.
A good house moving company offers a fully tailored experience, including packing, wrapping, loading, transporting, unloading, and even disassembling that IKEA puzzle you swore you’d never take apart again. It’s about experience, logistics, and a bit of emotional support too tbh. London isn’t an easy place to move around, and anyone who’s tried to parallel park in Chelsea during school run hours knows what we mean.
Let’s unpack (pun very much intended) what you’re actually paying for when you book a professional house moving service in the capital.
What Does a House Moving Service Cover?
If you’re imagining just a couple of people showing up on moving day with a van and good intentions, you’re missing out, at least when you book with someone like us.
A full house moving service (especially in London) should cover:
- Packing: Not just flinging your belongings into boxes, but carefully wrapping your stemware in paper, your books in double-walled boxes, and your wardrobe into breathable covers.
- Furniture disassembly: Beds, wardrobes, dining tables — if it’s too large to fit through the door or down the stairs, we’ll take it apart safely and reassemble it at the other end.
- Loading and unloading: Efficient and safe van packing isn’t guesswork. It’s part Tetris, part physics, and all about preventing disasters en route.
- Transportation: Yes, that bit in between — usually across narrow lanes, ULEZ zones, red routes, and roads that Google Maps claims exist but don’t.
- Placement and Unpacking Service (optional): Some services, like RAD’s, also offer light unpacking and setup — placing boxes in the correct rooms, rebuilding furniture, and getting your new home sorted faster.
In short, you’re not just hiring muscles. You’re hiring problem-solvers, logistics experts, and frankly, people who’ve carried more sofas up more flights of stairs than they can count.
What Do Professional Movers Pack First? (Hint: Not Your Kettle)
If you’ve ever moved house without help, you’ve probably made the classic mistake of packing your charger, toothbrush, or kettle first… and then regretted it by 10am. But professional movers? We work differently.
At RAD, we start with what we call the “Non-Essential Zones” — bookshelves, guest bedrooms, attics full of Christmas decorations, that cupboard where you keep 17 mismatched vases. These get packed first, and they’re usually done room by room, in clearly labelled boxes.
We leave essentials — like kitchen items, the bed you slept on last night, and the all-important tea bags — till the very end. That way, your life stays just about functional until the last possible minute.
Additionally, professional teams often pack items all at once, rather than in a linear sequence. So instead of one person taking three days to box everything up, a team of four might pack a whole 3-bedroom house in a single day. It’s a coordinated blitz, not a slow creep.
Do Movers Take Apart and Reassemble Furniture?
Short answer: Yes. Absolutely. And we’re quite proud of it.
That IKEA wardrobe you wrestled with during lockdown? We’ve taken apart hundreds just like it — and usually without swearing. Beds, dining tables, corner sofas, giant bookshelves — if it doesn’t fit through the door or round the corner, it comes apart, carefully labelled and padded for the trip.
And when it gets to the new house? We put it back together, just as solid as before (sometimes better). At RAD, we include basic disassembly and reassembly in our house removals service at no extra cost. No fiddly Allen keys, no lost bolts, no crying into your flat-packed dreams.
This isn’t just a convenience — it’s often essential in London homes, where staircases are tight, front doors are narrow, and ceiling heights seem to change from room to room.
So yes, we don’t just lift things. We engineer your exit.
Do I Have to Empty My Drawers Before the Move? (Yes, and Here’s Why)
Look, we get it — the idea of moving your dresser full of perfectly folded socks and that one drawer of mystery cables sounds dreamy. But unfortunately, it’s not a great idea.
When RAD handles your house move, we’ll almost always remove drawers before lifting larger furniture pieces. It’s safer for your belongings and our backs. Leaving stuff inside can cause drawers to jam, warp or fall out mid-move — and nobody wants to see their pants on the pavement.
Instead, we recommend emptying drawers into boxes, clearly labelled by room or function. We’ll supply wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes, which keeps your outfits upright, clean and ready to go — no re-ironing required.
So yes, even if you’ve got neat drawers worthy of a home organisation influencer, it’s still best to pack them properly. Think of it as giving your socks a mini holiday.
What’s the Best Way to Pack a House — In Order?
Ah, the holy grail of packing: The Order of Chaos. Here’s how we at RAD like to break it down — and yes, it works for DIY packers too.
Start with the least-used stuff — books, off-season clothes, guest room decor, that box of old remotes you swear you’ll sort out one day. These can go early with zero disruption to your daily life.
Next, tackle spare bedding, ornaments, and non-essential kitchen kit. Basically, if you haven’t used it in a week, it’s safe to box it up.
Save your essentials for last: kettle, toiletries, a few mugs, the toaster, your WiFi router, and whatever else keeps your household from descending into chaos. We like to call this your Open First Box — the holy box you’ll open the moment you arrive at your new place.
At RAD, we pack in this order too — always aiming to strike the right balance between efficiency and keeping you sane till the final hour.
Is It Okay to Leave Clothes in the Wardrobe?
Tempting, isn’t it? Just leave all your clothes hanging up and let the movers deal with it. Unfortunately, wardrobes weren’t built with bumpy van rides in mind — and neither were your clothes.
At RAD, we don’t move wardrobes full of clothes. It’s a recipe for damage: doors can swing open, rails snap, and your beloved blazer ends up crumpled in a heap. But don’t panic — we’ve got a better plan.
We provide wardrobe boxes with built-in rails so you can keep your clothes hanging and crease-free. We simply lift the lot, rails and all, into the box. It’s quick, it’s clean, and your clothes stay in showroom condition.
So no, don’t leave them in the wardrobe — let them travel in style.
How Long Does a House Move Take, Start to Finish?
Now here’s the real question. In a country where your buyer wants the keys by noon and you’re legally expected to be out by 1pm, timing is everything.
In the UK, most house moves — especially if you’re in a chain — happen in a single, frantic day. You’ll typically need to vacate your old place by midday-ish, hand over the keys, and be ready to move into your new home right after.
A standard 3-bedroom move can take anywhere from 4 to 8 hours, depending on volume, access, and whether you’ve packed ahead. If RAD is doing the packing, we’ll usually come the day before and blitz it with our team of pros so you can sleep soundly the night before the big day.
So, how long does it take? Long enough to need professionals, and just short enough to survive with strong tea and biscuits.
Do Movers Pack the Kitchen Last or First?
Ah, the kitchen — last to pack, first to cause chaos. Between your mountain of mugs, your grandma’s crystal, and that suspicious drawer of sauce packets, the kitchen is the most time-consuming room in the house.
Professional movers, like the RAD team, will usually pack the kitchen last — and with good reason. You need it right up until moving day: coffee in the morning, toast in a hurry, and maybe a panic-fuelled snack as boxes tower around you.
We provide specialised packing materials for delicate items, including glass dividers, foam pouches, and reinforced boxes. Our packers know how to wrap a wine glass as if it were the Holy Grail. So when we say leave the kitchen to us, we mean it.
Pro tip: Set aside a “first-night” kitchen box — including a kettle, tea bags, mugs, and a spoon. You’ll thank yourself later.
Do I Need to Disassemble Furniture or Will They Do It for Me?
The flat-pack fear is real. No one wants to wrestle with an Allen key at midnight while Googling “how to disassemble IKEA Hemnes.” Luckily, with RAD, you don’t have to.
We disassemble your furniture for you — beds, wardrobes, tables — and we reassemble it at the other end. It’s part of our house removals service. We carry all the tools, the patience, and the know-how. In fact, we often rebuild your bed before we leave so that you can crash straight into it.
So, no, you don’t need to break down your furniture unless you want to. We’ve got your back (and your bolts).
How Do I Prepare for Movers the Night Before the Move?
First things first: breathe. You’ve made it this far. Tomorrow is moving day, and while the RAD team will handle the heavy lifting, there are a few things you can do the night before to make everything run like a well-oiled dolly.
- Pack an essentials box – think chargers, meds, kettle, mugs, toilet roll, and snacks. This should travel with you, not in the van.
- Defrost your fridge/freezer, if it’s going. Nobody likes a slushy surprise.
- Label your boxes, if you’ve packed yourself – we’re quick readers, but “Box 7” tells us nothing.
- Secure pets and kids – whether it’s a neighbour, a friend, or a bribe-worthy cartoon, keep them safe and out of the hustle.
- Have parking sorted – if you need a permit, make sure it’s sorted, especially in zones like Westminster or South Ken.
Mostly though? Get some sleep. Movers love coffee-fuelled clients, but zombies are harder to help.
What Happens First on Moving Day?
The morning of your move is when the RAD team rolls up — sharp, smiley, and usually earlier than the builders next door. Here’s what typically happens:
- Walkthrough – We’ll do a quick tour with you, making note of any fragile items, priority boxes, or bits that need special care.
- Protective materials go down – We use floor runners, door protectors, quilted covers, and padded wraps before a single item leaves the house.
- We load in zones – Boxes first, furniture next, beds and large items last. There’s a method to the moving madness, and it’s all about safe stacking and smooth unloading.
By mid-morning, your old place starts echoing. By lunch, the van’s loaded. And by the time you’re wondering where your toaster is, we’re already unpacking it in your new kitchen.
How Do Movers Load a Van Properly?
Contrary to popular belief, loading a van isn’t just about brute strength and high-stakes Tetris — it’s a craft. At RAD, it’s practically an art form.
- Boxes go in first, neatly stacked against the headboard. Heaviest on the bottom, lightest up top, everything tight so nothing shifts.
- Furniture comes next, wrapped in quilted covers and secured with straps. Sofas? Upright or upside-down, depending on their vibe. Mattresses? Slotted down the sides like giant spongy bookmarks.
- Flat items and fragile goods — mirrors, TVs, artwork — are slotted between pads or custom-built walls.
- Beds and wardrobes often get taken apart, packed flat, and loaded last so they’re the first things out at your new place.
And yes, we always leave space for the kettle.
Do I Need to Empty My Drawers Before the Move?
Short answer? Yes. Long answer? Definitely yes.
While keeping clothes in drawers seems like a time-saver, here’s why we ask you to clear them:
- Weight – A full chest of drawers becomes awkward, heavy, and prone to spontaneous collapse.
- Stability – We often remove drawers for safe carrying and stacking. Loose contents = chaos.
- Damage prevention – Items inside can rattle around and cause damage to both the furniture and the belongings themselves.
- Storage efficiency – If your move involves storage, drawers must be empty to allow secure stacking and wrapping.
We’ll supply wardrobe boxes with rails for hanging clothes, and everything else can go into regular boxes — labelled, of course, with all the flair of a Hollywood prop master.
Do Removal Companies Put Beds Back Together Again?
The good ones do — and RAD does it without even flinching.
If we’ve taken your bed apart (which we usually do for safety and space reasons), then we’ll absolutely rebuild it in your new home. It’s not just a courtesy — it’s part of the job. You’ll end the day with your bed upright, mattress unrolled, and dreams of a new chapter already queued up.
We bring the tools, we remember the screws, and we’ve reassembled more IKEA masterpieces than most people build in a lifetime. So yes — your bed, your wardrobes, even that wobbly bookcase you love — we’ll put them all back together, ready for round two.
16. Do I Need to Help the Movers or Just Watch?
Honestly? Grab a cup of tea, keep your phone handy, and relax. You’ve hired professionals for a reason.
At RAD, we like customers who trust us to crack on. You don’t need to lift a finger unless you want to — we’ve got the wrapping, the stacking, the hauling, and the occasional tight-corner sofa spin all under control.
Want to supervise? Lovely. Want to disappear to the nearest café while we work our magic? Also fine. Just don’t strain your back trying to help — that’s what we’re here for.
