Volume being moved
This carries the most weight. Volume determines the size of the van, the number of trips and how many people are needed. A one-bedroom flat with little furniture and a fully furnished four-bedroom house are very different jobs, even over the same distance.
When requesting a quote, describing the contents room by room is far more useful than a global estimate. Saying how many large items there are — wardrobes, beds, sofas, appliances — gives a much more reliable picture than "the contents of a house".
Distance and route
A move within the same municipality is not comparable to one between districts. Beyond the kilometres, the actual route counts: in Porto and Gaia, for instance, crossing the bridges at peak time can add considerable time.
For national or international moves, the route also determines whether the job is done in one day or more.
Floor level, lifts and stairs
Carrying furniture up or down on foot is what adds most time to a move. Two flats with the same volume can require very different effort if one has a lift and the other does not.
Where there is a lift, its dimensions matter: a wardrobe or sofa that will not fit has to be dismantled or carried down the stairs. That is why a serious quote always asks about the lift.
Access and parking
The distance between where the van can stop and the front door feeds directly into the time the job takes. In areas with narrow or steep streets, or contested parking, that walk may be repeated dozens of times.
In many municipalities you can ask the parish council or the town hall to reserve parking spaces temporarily for the day of the move. Rules and notice periods vary between municipalities, so it is worth checking with the local authority in advance.
Dismantling, assembly and packing
A move can be transport only, or it can include taking furniture apart at the origin and reassembling it at the destination. Modular furniture and fitted wardrobes take the most time.
Packing is another variable: some people prefer to pack everything themselves, others want the company to handle it. These are different levels of service and they show in the quote.
Date, time and special items
Weekends, month ends and the summer months concentrate demand. Booking ahead gives you more choice.
Items needing particular care or equipment — a piano, a safe, an aquarium, artwork, office IT equipment — should be mentioned at first contact, because they change the planning.
How to get a reliable quote
The more concrete the information you give, the less room for error in the quote. Before contacting a company, it is worth gathering:
- Origin and destination addresses, with floor level and whether there is a lift
- A list of the large items, room by room
- The approximate number of boxes
- Whether the street allows a van to stop near the door
- Whether furniture needs dismantling and reassembling
- Whether you want help with packing
- Your preferred date and whether timing is flexible
- Any special or high-value items
Be wary of fixed prices given without assessment
A final figure given without a single question about volume, floor level or access is, at best, a guess. The risk is that the quote is revised on the day itself, when you have no alternative.
Always ask the quote to state what it includes: number of people, vehicle, dismantling and assembly, packing materials and any travel costs.
