Moving house with storage
Moving house with storage in between
Need storage between homes? You book the unit. We move your things there and back for a fixed price, anywhere in the UK.
- You book the unit, we do the moving
- A fixed price for each trip
- Including VAT
- Movesmith accepts liability
The short answer
We move your things to and from storage you book. We don't provide storage. You choose and pay for the unit with any self-storage facility. We move your things in, and when you're ready, we move them out to your new home.
Each trip is its own booking with its own fixed price. A trip starts from the price for the home it's coming from or going to: a studio flat from £270, a 1-bed flat from £305, a 2-bed flat from £590 and a 3-bed house from £1,010, on a short local move. Every price includes VAT.
For an instant price, have your facility's name, the unit number and its access details ready.
See your price in minutes. The earliest you can book is the next day.
When you need storage in a move
Most people use storage for a few weeks or months, between leaving one home and getting the keys to the next. Common reasons:
A gap in the chain
You've sold or your tenancy ends before your new home is ready. Your things wait in storage until you can move in.
Building work
You're renovating, and the rooms need to be empty while the work is done.
Downsizing
Your new home is smaller. You keep the things you're not ready to part with in storage while you decide.
Time away
You're working or living abroad for a while and keep what you own in a unit in the UK.
Looking for house removals and storage from one firm? We do the moving part. You book the storage with a facility you choose, and we take your things there and back.
Self storage, container storage or collection storage
There are three main kinds of storage. They work differently, and we fit in with the first two.
| Kind | What it is | How we help |
|---|---|---|
| Self storage | What it is: You rent a room-like unit in a building. You have your own lock and come and go in opening hours. | How we help: We move your things into the unit and back out later. |
| Container storage | What it is: Your things go in a large wooden or metal container, kept in a warehouse or a secure yard. | How we help: Where the facility lets you load the container yourself, we can move your things to it. |
| Collection storage | What it is: The storage firm collects your boxes from your door and brings them back when you ask. | How we help: The storage firm does the moving, so you won't need us for this. |
Choosing a storage unit size
Storage units are measured in square feet. This is a rough guide only. The facility can help you choose, and it's worth measuring your biggest pieces first.
| Unit size | Roughly holds |
|---|---|
| 25 sq ft | Roughly holds: About the size of a large garden shed. Boxes and a few small pieces. |
| 35 to 50 sq ft | Roughly holds: The contents of a studio or a small 1-bed flat. |
| 75 sq ft | Roughly holds: The contents of a 1-bed or 2-bed flat. |
| 100 sq ft | Roughly holds: The contents of a 2-bed or 3-bed house. |
| 150 sq ft | Roughly holds: The contents of a 3-bed or 4-bed house. |
| 200 sq ft and up | Roughly holds: The contents of a larger house. |
Your move is priced from what you're moving, not from the unit size. Two units of the same size can hold very different amounts.
What to check with the storage facility
A storage move goes smoothly when the facility is ready for it. Ask these before you book the move:
Opening hours
When the gates, the loading area and the lifts are open on your moving day, and when they close. Leave enough time to finish.
The loading bay
Whether you need to book a loading bay or a time slot, and whether a large van can get in.
Lifts and trolleys
Which floor the unit is on, whether there's a goods lift big enough for your furniture, and whether the facility lends trolleys.
ID and signing in
Some facilities ask for photo ID or ask the movers to sign in. Check what they need from you and from us.
Who opens the unit
You, or someone you trust, opens the gate and the unit. Keep your PIN, app and key to yourself.
What you can store
Facilities don't allow some things, such as gas bottles, paint or food. Check their list before you pack.
How a Movesmith storage move works
Book your unit
Choose a self-storage facility and book the unit. You pay the facility directly.
Price the trip in
Start a quote and choose "Storage unit" for where your things are going. Add the facility, the unit and its access.
Moving day
Meet the movers at your home or the facility. They load, drive and place everything in your unit.
The trip out
When your new home is ready, book the move out of storage. It is a new booking with its own fixed price.
Normal access at the facility is included in your fixed price. A long walk from the van to the unit adds a little, and your quote shows it before you book.
You see an instant fixed price when the van can reach the loading area, the unit is on the ground floor or has a goods lift, the walk from the van isn't too long, and the facility is open for your arrival time or you've booked a slot that covers it. Stairs between the van and the unit, a move from one storage unit to another, or anything else unusual gets a fixed quote from our team before you book.
If the facility is closed or the movers can't get in
Sometimes a gate won't open, a slot is missing or the facility closes early. Here is what happens.
A short wait is free
The movers wait a short while at no cost while you or the facility sort it out.
Nothing extra without your yes
If more time or a second visit is needed, the movers stop and send you a report with photos. You see the cost first, and nothing is added unless you approve it.
You can say no
If you don't approve, our team works out the next step with you, such as a new date.
What a storage move costs
Each trip is priced like a home move: from what you're moving, the access at both ends, the distance and the date. Your price depends on your items, access and date. These are typical prices for one trip, on a short local move, with easy access at both ends, including VAT.
| The contents of a studio flat | from £270 |
|---|---|
| The contents of a 1-bed flat | from £305 |
| The contents of a 2-bed flat | from £590 |
| The contents of a 3-bed house | from £1,010 |
| The contents of a 4-bed house | from £1,410 |
| The contents of a 5+ bed house | from £2,195 |
| A single item | from £95 |
Moving in and moving out are two trips, so each has its own price. Your second trip is priced when you book it, for the date you choose.
Your quote shows the exact fixed price before you book, with nothing added on the day.
Questions and answers
Do you provide the storage unit?
No. You choose and book the unit with a self-storage facility, and pay them directly. We move your things to it and from it.
Can you move my things into storage and out again later?
Yes. They are two separate bookings. Book the move into storage now, and book the move out when your new home is ready. Each has its own fixed price for its own date.
Do I need to be there?
Yes, or someone you trust and have told us about, to open the gate and the unit. The only exception is when the facility's own team has agreed to let the movers in.
Should I give you my PIN or access code?
No. Never send us a PIN, a password or an app login. You, or the person you've named, opens the gate and the unit on the day.
What if the lift is small or there are stairs?
A unit on the ground floor, or upstairs with a goods lift, is priced instantly. If there are stairs between the van and the unit, or no goods lift, our team sends you a fixed quote before you book. Measure your biggest pieces against the lift door if you're not sure.
What if the facility closes before you finish?
Check the closing time on your moving day and choose an arrival time that leaves plenty of room. If the movers still run out of time, they stop and tell you. Anything extra, such as a second visit, needs your approval first.
How do I know what size van I need for my unit?
You don't need to choose. Tell us what you're moving, and the quote picks the van and the number of movers for you. The unit size is only a rough guide to how much there is.
Can I get a price before I've chosen a unit?
Yes. Ask us for a tailored quote: call us, or start a quote and choose "Storage unit", and our team sends you a fixed price before you book. For an instant price, have the facility's name, the unit number and its access details ready.
Are my things covered while they are moved?
Yes, while we move them. Movesmith accepts liability for your goods from the moment they're loaded until they're placed in the unit or your new home, under the terms shown before you book. Every move includes Movesmith Cover up to £10,000 — with increased cover up to £50,000 available when you declare a higher value. Once your things are in the unit, looking after them is between you and the storage facility.
Ready to see your price?
Add what you're moving and both addresses. See your price in minutes.
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