The things people ask before they book

All of Medway and out into Kent. A typical week takes in Chatham (ME4, ME5), Gillingham (ME7, ME8), Rochester and Strood (ME1, ME2) and Rainham — plus Maidstone, the Hoo Peninsula and further afield on request.

Yes, that describes half of Chatham. We check the parking at the survey, arrange a bay suspension or cone-off with Medway Council where the load-in needs it, and bring a smaller vehicle to shuttle when the lorry can’t get close to the door.

Regularly. Upper-floor flats with a narrow shared stair come down to the right crew size and proper protection on the walls and banisters. We’d rather send an extra pair of hands than rush a wardrobe round a tight landing.

We do — small offices around Chatham Maritime, shops changing premises, practices moving to bigger rooms. Those usually run out of hours so nobody loses a working day, and we sequence the load so the essentials come off first.

As soon as you have a likely date. Fridays and month-ends fill first because that’s when completions cluster, so the earlier you talk to us the more say you have over the day. Working to a tight turnaround? Tell us and we’ll be straight about what’s doable.

The four we run regularly are France, Italy, Spain and Portugal — we know the roads, the crossings and the customs steps for each. Asking about somewhere else in Europe? Ask anyway and we’ll tell you honestly whether we can plan it properly.

There’s paperwork on both sides now — an inventory, a transit declaration for the goods crossing the EU, and transfer-of-residence forms where they apply. We prepare it with you and lodge what needs lodging. It’s a process, and it’s the part we handle.

By the Dover–Calais ferry or the Eurotunnel shuttle from Folkestone, depending on the load and timing. Chatham’s spot on the M2 means a clean run to either without fighting London traffic first.

Often the sensible choice, especially on the longer runs to Italy and Portugal. A shared or part-load puts your things on a vehicle already heading that way. A full home usually travels as a dedicated load. Your quote sets out which suits what you’re sending.

It depends on the route, the crossing, whether it’s a dedicated or shared load, and customs clearance at the far end. Rather than quote a figure that turns out wrong, your written quote gives an estimated window and we keep you posted as the load moves.

On the customs side, yes — a permanent move can use the transfer-of-residence route, while furnishing a second home is treated differently. We ask which it is early, because it changes the forms.

Because an instant figure for a job nobody has looked at is a guess dressed up as a price — and guesses are what go wrong on the day. We’d rather survey properly and give you a written quote that holds.

Three things: volume (how much there is), distance (how far it goes) and access (how hard it is to get in and out at both ends). A European move adds the crossing and the customs work. There’s no secret fourth factor.

The survey is part of quoting, not an extra. It can be a quick video walk-round if you’re pressed for time, or a visit for a bigger or awkward job. We’ll suggest whichever fits.

Not for anything we could have seen at the survey. That’s the whole point of surveying properly and writing down what’s included. If something genuinely new appears — extra items, changed access — we’ll talk it through before it changes anything.

No. A quote is a quote — nothing is booked until you say so, and there’s no obligation in asking.

Either. Some people want the whole house boxed; others pack the everyday things themselves and leave us the china, mirrors and artwork. We price whichever line you draw, and we label by room with an inventory as we go.

Yes — we’ll drop materials ahead of time and tell you which items are worth leaving to us. Flat-pack and anything high-value usually falls into that second group.

We do. If completion slips or there’s a gap between places, we can hold your things and deliver when you’re ready — a normal part of a lot of Medway chains. Flag it early and we’ll build it into the plan.

Usually yes, with the right crew and kit — pianos, safes, big appliances, garden machinery. Tell us at the survey so we bring the straps and the numbers, rather than discovering it on the day.