When you book with us, you’re choosing a Brighton removals team with hundreds of five star reviews across Google and other platforms, plus two SME Southern Enterprise Awards in 2025.
Why Local Reviews Matter
Real reviews tell you how a move actually feels: punctual arrival, careful packing, tidy finishes and clear communication when plans change. Our customers highlight the same things again and again; calm crews, protected homes and a smooth finish so you can settle in the same day.
What The Data Says About Local Reviews
Moving home is a high trust job. You are not ordering a product, you are handing over access, fragile items, and the smooth running of a day that usually has tight timings. That is why reviews carry so much weight in removals, and why it is worth understanding how people actually use feedback when choosing a local business.
BrightLocal’s recent consumer research backs up what we see every week in Brighton. People rarely decide from one page alone, they cross check and they look for proof that feels real.
What Customers Actually Do when Choosing a Local Service
- They cross check more than one place
Around 74% of consumers use two or more sources when reading reviews before choosing a local business.
- They trust detail more than generic praise
Interest in photos or videos and long, detailed reviews is rising, because it shows what actually happened on the day, not just “great service."
They care if a business responds
88% of consumers say they would use a business that replies to all reviews, compared with 47% who would use one that does not respond at all.
Source: BrightLocal, Local Consumer Review Survey 2024/2025
That is why consistency across platforms matters. If the story stays the same across Google and at least one other place, calm planning, careful handling, clear communication, tidy finish, it is much easier to trust the reviews are representative.
How To Read Removals Reviews Properly In Brighton
If you are comparing removals companies in Brighton, use reviews as a practical tool, not just a popularity contest. Here is a simple way to get real value from what you are reading.
- Look For Brighton Specific Clues
Brighton moves often come down to access. Give extra weight to reviews that mention permit zones, tight streets, one way systems, difficult parking, narrow staircases, or careful carrying through shared entrances. - Prioritise Detail Over Generic Praise
A short “great service” is nice, but it does not help you judge how your day will go. The best reviews mention how the team protected walls and floors, whether they arrived on time, how they handled heavy items, and whether communication stayed clear throughout. - Check Recency
Businesses can change quickly. Recent reviews are the best reflection of the current team, current standards, and how the company runs jobs right now. - Look For Patterns Across Multiple Reviews
One odd comment can happen to any business. What matters is repetition. If many different customers mention calm planning, careful handling, and clear communication, that is the signal. - Notice How Problems Are Handled
If you see a negative review, read it carefully. Does it sound specific and fair, or vague and emotional. If the company replies, do they respond politely and practically, or defensively. How an issue is handled tells you a lot about what happens if your move has a hiccup. - Cross Check Platforms
If you are choosing between two companies, read reviews across two platforms, not just one. Consistency is reassuring, and it helps you spot whether the feedback is genuinely representative. - Match Reviews To Your Type Of Move
A one room flat move, a first floor flat with stairs, and a full house move are different jobs. Try to find reviews that sound like your situation, then judge the company on how they handled that type of challenge.
Local Pro Tip: Brighton, Compare Platforms For The Same Story Not Just The Same Stars
When you cross check platforms, you are looking for the same themes told in different words: calm planning, careful handling, clear communication, tidy finish. If the story stays consistent across Google and at least one other platform, it is harder for a company to hide behind a single good profile. For removals, that consistency is often more meaningful than a tiny difference in star rating.
Once you have a feel for how to judge reviews properly, the next step is simple. Look at what the company actually promises to do on moving day, how they price the job, how they protect items, and what insurance is in place. That is exactly what we cover in the next section, so you can compare expectations with the proof in the reviews.
Local Pro Tip: Brighton, Search Reviews Like A Local Not Like A Tourist
If you want reviews that match your move, use Google’s search within reviews for words that mirror your situation, like Hanover, Kemptown, Seven Dials, North Laine, mansion block, tail lift, Luton, Sprinter, packing, storage, or reassembly. You will quickly surface the reviews that describe the same access style and property type you are dealing with. This is the fastest way to separate generic praise from genuinely useful detail.
Ready to book with a team you can actually verify? Call Peter on 07552 555 820 or request a quote at eastsussexvan.com. If you want to see how we work before you book, follow us on Instagram for real Brighton moves and packing tips.
Proof You Can Check
Hundreds of five star reviews from Brighton and Sussex movers who’ve trusted us with flats, family homes and long distance routes.
Yell, Facebook, Gumtree, RemovalReviews, Getamover, Trustpilot
Consistently top tier ratings across the major platforms, including 98/100 on RemovalReviews and 10/10 on Getamover, so you’re not relying on a single site for reassurance.
Award Winning Service
In 2025 we were recognised at the SME Southern Enterprise Awards with Best Emerging Local Removals Company and Customer Satisfaction Excellence Award—independent confirmation that our approach works.
What You Can Expect On Move Day
Protected homes with runners, corner guards and clean, labelled packing.
Right sized vehicles: Luton for one trip capacity or Sprinter for tight streets.
Clear timing planned around permits, lifts, school runs and events.
Straightforward paperwork with fixed or capped plans agreed in advance.
Aftercare that includes reassembly, packaging gathered and rooms set to plan.
Fully Insured, Clearly Priced
We carry £20,000 Goods in Transit and £5 million Public Liability, backed by Admiral Platinum. Quotes are fixed or capped with any bay suspensions billed at cost; no surprises on the invoice.
Brighton and Sussex Specialists
From permit zones near the seafront to mansion block lifts in Hove and narrow stair turns in Hanover and Lewes, we plan access that keeps the day safe, legal and on time. One careful team, working locally, most days of the week.
Recent Move Snapshot
One trip from a Brighton station flat to a Hove mansion block using a Luton with tail lift; bay suspensions booked at both ends; beds rebuilt first; packaging taken away; client settled the same day.
Ready To Book
Call 07552 555 820 for a quick quote and booking, or visit eastsussexvan.com. We will confirm access, recommend the right van and crew, and give you a clear plan.
Frequently Asked Questions on Removals Reviews
Which review details matter most for Brighton and Hove moves?
Look for practical specifics: punctual arrival, protective measures for floors and bannisters, careful carrying through shared entrances, clear communication about timing, and tidy finishes. These details tell you how the day will actually feel, not just whether someone was happy.
Why is consistency across more than one platform a trust signal?
Because it’s harder to maintain the same story everywhere unless the service is genuinely consistent. When feedback repeats across Google and other platforms, it usually reflects a steady standard rather than a one off good job.
What should I do if I spot a negative review?
Read it for specifics and context. Then check how the company responded, calm, practical replies show accountability. One negative review can happen to any business; repeated patterns are what matter.
Do replies to reviews actually matter?
Yes. Replies show the business is present after the job, not just before it, and it’s a good indicator of aftercare and accountability if anything needs clarifying post-move.
Are photos and videos in reviews useful for removals decisions?
They can be. Visuals often show how a team protects homes, stacks loads, and handles tight access. It’s also why many customers cross-check social content to see what a real moving day looks like.
Do reviews help a removals company show up on Google locally?
Reviews can support “popularity” and trust signals, which matters alongside relevance and distance. Practically, stronger local feedback helps reassure customers and can improve how confident people feel clicking and booking.
What do local awards tell me that reviews don’t?
Awards act as an external credibility layer, especially when they recognise customer satisfaction and service quality. They don’t replace reviews, but they can reinforce that the approach is consistent.
What proof should I ask for beyond reviews?
Ask for insurance details (Goods in Transit and Public Liability), confirm cover limits, and check the policy dates so they remain valid through your move. If you have any single items over £500, get them listed in advance so everything is recorded properly.
How do I match reviews to my specific type of Brighton move?
Search reviews for situations similar to yours, such as mansion block lifts in Hove, narrow stair turns in Hanover or Lewes, or permit streets near the seafront. The most useful feedback is from customers who faced the same constraints you will.
What can I do to help the removals plan match what the best reviews describe?
Send your postcodes, floor levels, lift rules, parking situation, and photos of the largest items and tight corners. Clear inputs create a calm plan, the same thing people praise in detailed Brighton reviews.
What should I expect on move day from a well reviewed local Brighton team?
Protected floors and corners, the right vehicle choice for access, timing planned around permits and building rules, clear paperwork agreed in advance, and a tidy finish with key furniture placed where you want it so you can settle the same day.
How do I book and get a quote that reflects the real job?
Call 07552 555 820 or use eastsussexvan.com and share your dates, addresses, access notes, and a short list of larger items. We’ll confirm parking and any lift rules, recommend the right van and crew, and send a clear plan, fully insured with £20,000 Goods in Transit and £5 million Public Liability, backed by Admiral Platinum, and guided by our eco pledge to prioritise Esso Ethos fuel where available, reuse boxes with a take back option, and run paperless bookings.
About the author...
Peter Hawes is the director of ESV Removals Ltd, a family run Brighton and Sussex removals team known for calm planning, careful handling and clear prices. He holds a 2:1 BA (Hons) in English Literature and Digital Media from the University of Brighton. Peter oversees every move from first message to the last box and brings local know how for permit zones, tight stairwells and seafront buildings. ESV is fully insured with £20,000 Goods in Transit and £5 million Public Liability, backed by hundreds of five star Google reviews. The company follows an eco pledge that prioritises Esso Ethos fuel where available, reuses boxes and runs paperless bookings. Learn more at www.eastsussexvan.com
