How Far in Advance Should You Book a Removal Company in East Devon?

Planning ahead

As a general guide, aim to start arranging your move around four to six weeks before you expect to move. In busy periods, do your best to start earlier. That extra lead time gives you plenty of space to arrange a survey, get an accurate quote, decide on packing, and think through access and parking, which can be a real factor in East Devon towns and villages.

Life, of course, isn’t always so straightforward and plenty of moves are not confirmed so far ahead, particularly when solicitors are involved. In such situations, the goal is to get your quote sorted, keep us updated, and then lock the date once contracts are exchanged, or if you choose to reserve a date with a deposit.

Checking the East Devon calendar

Local moves often look simple on a map, but timings and busy calendars can add a layer of complexity. Summer holidays, half-term weeks and bank holidays create higher demand, and end-of-the-month completions regularly stack up as many people align moves with mortgage dates, rent cycles and work schedules.

Even if your move is only from Sidmouth to Honiton, you are still competing for the same popular days as longer-distance jobs.

If you already know you need a Friday, a weekend, or a school holiday slot, treat it as a high-demand booking. Reach out as early as you can, even if your date is not confirmed, so we can advise on availability and next steps.

The least stressful way to handle exchange and completion

If you are buying or selling, the best approach is to treat your removal booking as part of the exchange conversation.

When your solicitor suggests a completion date, stop and check our availability first. Call us, tell us the date being proposed, and we will confirm if we can take it. 

Once you have the answer, you can go back to your solicitor and agree on a completion date that works. That keeps you in control of the process, and it avoids the panic of trying to find a removal company after a completion date has already been locked in.

The alternative is agreeing the completion date with your solicitor first and then contacting your removal company. At that point, the date is fixed and changing it is difficult, so availability becomes pot luck. Checking first is a small step that can save a lot of stress!

What if your moving date changes?

Changes of moving dates can happen, particularly in chains. Surveys, mortgage offers, enquiries and paperwork can all shift the timeline. The key is communication.

If you have spoken to us early, we already understand the scale of your move and what you need, so it’s easier to react quickly when the date becomes clearer. Many customers call or email regularly in the lead up to exchange; sometimes several times a day, simply to check which dates are looking realistic.

We’re more than happy with that approach. Moving can be intense, and clear answers help you plan your next call to the solicitor.
Once you have exchanged contracts, the completion date is set. From there, the focus becomes practical planning, including confirming access, parking, packing support and timings on the day.

If you are renting or you already have a fixed date

Renters often have a much clearer moving window, so the usual four-to-six week planning window is a sensible target. If you are working around a tenancy end date, a job start date, or school arrangements, it is worth contacting us as soon as you have a likely week in mind.

If you are moving in a busy period, contacting us earlier helps, even if you cannot confirm the exact day. We can talk through which days tend to book up fastest and how to handle it if the landlord, agent, or new property timeline shifts.

A quick note about loft items

During the booking process, we also flag practical details that can affect the day. One common issue is loft space. For insurance reasons, our team are unable to go into lofts. If you have belongings stored up there, bring them down ahead of our arrival, or pass them down to us on the day so we can load them safely.

We will also ask you to familiarise yourself with our terms and conditions, particularly the sections that relate to scheduling and responsibility, so everything is clear before moving day.