Burgess Hill is our home patch, so when Bryony got in touch about moving her 3 bed house across town, we knew the roads, the estates and the parking before we'd seen a single item on her list. The move was only about a mile, but a short distance doesn't make a small job. A full house, a home office, a garden's worth of outdoor furniture and kit for the cats and dogs added up to two vans, three crew and a plan built around one day. Here's how we put it together, and why Bryony and Sue both left us five star reviews.
At A Glance
A two van plan for a one mile move: Bryony's 3 bed house in Burgess Hill came to about 30 m³ once the video survey added the garden, the kitchen and the pet kit. Our Luton with a tail lift took the dense, heavy furniture, our Sprinter took the bulky and garden items, and three crew ran two full loads each across town in a single day.
Smarter loads cut the price: Two vans doing two loads each, rather than four vans doing one, took a good £300 off the quote without cutting the crew or rushing the day, and everything was set out in writing before she booked.
At ESV your move is planned around your home: Peter is your direct contact from first message to the last rebuild, and every move is covered by £40,000 Goods in Transit per vehicle and £5 million Public Liability. Call 07552 555 820, visit www.eastsussexvan.com or follow real move days on Instagram.
The Brief
Bryony booked us for removals in Burgess Hill from a 3 bed house with the third bedroom working as an office, and her inventory showed just how much a lived-in family home holds. Alongside a king bed, a double bed, a triple wardrobe, four chests of drawers and two tallboys, there were two glass-fronted display cabinets, a small Welsh dresser, two large mirrors, a chest freezer and a big office desk. Add 40 to 50 boxes, three dog crates, two cat towers and a rotary dryer, and you can see why a move of about a mile still needed proper planning.
Local Pro Tip: Pets on Moving Day, Pack Their Kit Last and Unpack It First
Bryony's move included three dog crates, two cat towers and the pet food bins, and that kit is the first thing a nervous animal looks for in a new house. Keep pets with a friend or shut in one quiet room while the doors are open, load their beds, bowls and crates last so they come off the van first, and set up one familiar corner before the furniture goes in.
The Survey
We ran a video survey to check the web form against what was really in the house, and it changed the picture. The garden added a table and four chairs, two fold-up chairs, a sunbed, a parasol and two outside bins, while the kitchen brought bar stools, pantry and pet food bins and a full set of small appliances. A bike, a washing machine, a fridge freezer and a second desk came off the list. That left a working volume of about 30 m³, well over the 18 to 20 m³ capacity of a Luton van, so we booked our Luton with a tail lift for the dense, heavy furniture, our Sprinter for the bulky and garden items, and three crew to keep both vans moving. With the two houses so close together, and dense furniture and bulky garden items that never pack to a van's full volume, the plan was for both vans to run two full loads each across town.
Local Pro Tip: Walk the Garden and the Shed on the Video Survey, Not Just the House
The garden on this job added a table and chairs, a sunbed, a parasol and two outside bins that never made the web form. Sheds, patios and side returns are the most commonly missed parts of a Burgess Hill family home, so walk them on the video call too. It is far easier to plan an extra load in advance than to find one on the morning.
The Price
As a smaller, family run company, we can shape each job around the move in front of us rather than forcing it into a standard package. With only about a mile between the two houses, it made more sense for our two vans to do two loads each than to charge Bryony for four vans doing one load apiece. That one decision shaved a good £300 off her quote, without cutting the crew or rushing the day. Everything was set out in writing before she booked, so she knew exactly what she was getting. When Bryony compared quotes, one of our competitors told her she'd be mad to turn ours down.
Local Pro Tip: On a Short Move, Two Loads Can Beat More Vans
When both houses are within a mile or two of each other, a second run across town takes far less time than paying for extra vans and drivers to do it all at once. On longer moves the maths flips, and more vans doing one load each is usually the better plan. Tell us the distance between the two addresses and we will price whichever way saves you money.
Moving Day
The crew started at 8am on Saturday 5 September. At the old house, the sofa arm came off to clear the front doorway, the wardrobes and both beds were dismantled, and the display cabinets, glass and mirrors were padded before anything went near a van. The Luton took the dense, heavy furniture, the Sprinter took the bulky and garden items, and both vans ran two full loads each across Burgess Hill. At the new house, we rebuilt the beds and wardrobes first so the bedrooms were ready before the boxes went upstairs, then put every box in the right room. Bryony said we arrived on time and were often ahead of schedule, with enough time allowed that nobody ever felt rushed.
Local Pro Tip: Estate Roads and Shared Drives, Tell Us Before Two Vans Arrive
Plenty of Burgess Hill homes sit on estate roads with shared drives, parked cars and tight turning heads, and a two van move needs room for a Luton with its tail lift down and a Sprinter alongside. Send a photo of the road and the drive, and if it helps, ask your neighbours to leave a gap outside on the day. A clear kerb keeps both vans close and the carry short.
Local Pro Tip: Rebuild the Beds First, Then Bring the Boxes Up
At the new house we rebuilt the beds and wardrobes before a single box went upstairs. Boxes stacked in a bedroom first make it much harder to assemble a king bed or a triple wardrobe, and getting the bedrooms usable early means a proper night's sleep however much is still to unpack.
Fuel For The Crew
Moving a full house across town twice over is hungry work, and Bryony knew it. Come lunchtime she ordered in Papa John's for the whole crew, and we can confirm three removal men can clear a table of pizza boxes faster than they can clear a 3 bed house. A proper sit down in the sunshine, a slice or three and a cold drink later, the afternoon went on with full tanks.
We never expect it, but we never say no either. A fed crew is a careful crew, and on a hot September Saturday with two vans to keep moving, that lunch did almost as much for the day as the tail lift. Thank you, Bryony.
What They Said
Both Bryony and Sue left five star Google reviews after the move, and we'd rather let them tell you how the day went.
"Moving day itself was completely stress-free. The team handled everything, including dismantling and reassembling furniture, and made sure boxes were placed in the correct rooms at the new house... I would 100% recommend ESV Removals to anyone looking for a reliable, professional and genuinely friendly removals company."
Bryony, five star Google review
"Nothing was too much trouble, and they checked in with you to ensure you were not worrying... All things that needed to be disassembled were put back together with care and expertise. My wardrobe was more stable than before!"
Sue, five star Google review
Bigger Moves, More Vans
Bryony's move shows how we plan a job, and the same thinking scales up. Our own removal vans, a Luton and a Sprinter, cover most house moves, and when yours needs more, we draft in extra vans from local rental companies and add crew to match. Every extra van is fully insured, and everything inside it is covered by our £40,000 Goods in Transit per vehicle and £5 million Public Liability. Whether you're moving a larger family home, need completion day removals that clear the house in one go, or want the job done in fewer hours with a bigger team, we'll work out the right mix of vans, crew and loads for your move, anywhere in Sussex.
Moving In Or Around Burgess Hill?
We're a Burgess Hill removal company, so local moves like Bryony's are what we know best, and our guide to living in Burgess Hill covers the town itself. We also move people into town from further afield, as on our Brighton to Burgess Hill removals from a Circus Street flat. If you're planning a move across town or into the area, take a look at our house removals in Burgess Hill page, or call us on 07552 555 820 to get a quote. Send us a video or a few photos of what's moving on WhatsApp, and we'll plan the right number of vans and crew for your day. You can also see recent Sussex move days on Instagram.
Frequently Asked Questions About Burgess Hill House Moves
Which postcodes do you cover for house removals in Burgess Hill and Brighton?
We cover Burgess Hill and the RH15 postcode as our home patch, along with BN1 to BN3 across Brighton and Hove and the wider Sussex RH, TN and PO areas.
We're based in Burgess Hill, so local moves like Bryony's are the work we know best. We already knew the roads, the estates and the parking before we'd seen a single item on her list, which made the planning quicker and the day calmer.
From Burgess Hill we regularly run south into Brighton and Hove and out across the rest of Sussex. The same planning approach applies wherever you're moving: we work out the right mix of vans, crew and loads for your home, rather than fitting your move into a standard package.
How do you plan access and parking for a house move in Burgess Hill?
We plan access from a photo of your frontage and the closest legal stopping point at both addresses, so every van can load safely without long carries.
On a two van move, we need space for a Luton with a tail lift and a Sprinter, so tell us about narrow estate roads, shared drives, parked cars or tight turning areas before the day. A quick look at your front doorway also matters, because it tells us what needs to come apart before the day.
If either address is on a Brighton and Hove permit street, a bay suspension through Brighton & Hove City Council typically needs about 7 working days' notice, so we'll flag it early when you book.
When do you use a Luton and a Sprinter together on a 3 bed house move?
We pair our Luton and Sprinter when a house holds around 30 m³ of mixed heavy furniture and bulky items, as Bryony's 3 bed home in Burgess Hill did.
The Luton, with its tail lift, took the dense, heavy pieces: wardrobes, chests of drawers, tallboys, the Welsh dresser, the chest freezer and the display cabinets. The Sprinter took the bulky but lighter loads, such as the garden table and chairs, sunbed, parasol, dog crates, cat towers and rotary dryer.
Splitting the load this way keeps heavy furniture on the tail lift and lets three crew keep both vans moving. If your home needs more capacity, we add vans and crew to match.
How long does a 3 bed house move across Burgess Hill take?
A 3 bed house move of about a mile across Burgess Hill can be completed in a single day with an 8am start, two vans and three crew.
Bryony's crew started at 8am on Saturday 5 September, and both vans ran two full loads each across town. She told us we arrived on time and were often ahead of schedule, with enough time built in that nobody felt rushed.
If you're moving on completion day and need everything out in one go, we can add vans and crew so the whole house moves in a single load.
How did a two van plan save £300 on a Burgess Hill house move?
We saved Bryony a good £300 by running our two vans twice across a one mile route, rather than charging her for four vans doing one load each.
With the two houses so close together, a second run took little extra time, so it made more sense than paying for extra vehicles and drivers. We didn't cut the crew or rush the day to make the saving.
As a smaller, family run company, we can shape each quote around the move in front of us. Everything was set out in writing before Bryony booked, so she knew exactly what she was getting. When she compared quotes, one of our competitors told her she'd be mad to turn ours down. On longer routes, the maths changes, and more vans doing one load may be the better plan.
Do you dismantle and rebuild furniture on a local house move?
Yes, we dismantle and rebuild beds, wardrobes and other large furniture as part of the move, and we plan which pieces come apart before the day.
On Bryony's move, the wardrobes and both beds were dismantled at the old house, and the sofa arm came off to clear the front doorway. At the new house, we rebuilt the beds and wardrobes first, so the bedrooms were usable before the boxes arrived.
Sue said everything that needed taking apart was put back together with care, and her wardrobe ended up more stable than before. If you have flat pack furniture, a large desk or anything that has been moved before, let us know when you send photos, so we bring the right tools and allow the right time.
Is my furniture insured during a two van house move?
Yes, every van on your move is covered by £40,000 Goods in Transit per vehicle and £5 million Public Liability, backed by Admiral Platinum.
That cover applies to our own Luton and Sprinter, and to any extra vans we draft in from local rental companies for larger moves. Every extra van is fully insured, and everything inside it is covered by our Goods in Transit policy, so a two, three or four van plan gives you the same protection on every load.
Public Liability covers the properties and people around the move, which matters when we're carrying heavy furniture through doorways and down drives. If you'd like confirmation of our cover for your landlord, letting agent or building, ask and we'll provide it before your moving day.
How do you protect glass display cabinets, mirrors and valuable furniture?
We pad glass, mirrors and display cabinets before anything goes near a van, and we load the heaviest, most fragile pieces on the Luton's tail lift.
Bryony's inventory included two glass fronted display cabinets, two large mirrors and a small Welsh dresser. Each was wrapped and padded at the old house, then loaded with the dense furniture in the Luton, so nothing had to be lifted awkwardly into the back of a van.
If any single item is worth £500 or more, tell us upfront so we can plan the handling, allow extra time and confirm how it sits within our cover. That includes antiques, artwork, mirrors and quality furniture. The earlier we know, the calmer that piece is on the day.
What do you need from me to quote a house move in Burgess Hill quickly?
Send us both postcodes, your moving date and a video or photos of what's moving, and we can plan the right vans and crew quickly.
A video survey often changes the picture. On Bryony's move, the garden added a table and chairs, a sunbed, a parasol and two outside bins, while a bike, washing machine, fridge freezer and second desk came off the list. That gave us an accurate 30 m³ to plan around.
It also helps to tell us about stairs, parking at both addresses, a frontage photo, and anything that needs dismantling. Don't forget sheds, gardens, pet kit and outside bins, as they're the items most often missed on a web form.
Why book ESV for your next move in Burgess Hill or Brighton?
With ESV you deal directly with Peter, get a calm plan set out in writing, and a crew that handles your home with care from the first box to the last rebuild.
We're a family run company based in Burgess Hill, and we have hundreds of five star Google reviews, including Bryony and Sue after this move. Bryony described the day as completely stress free, and that's the standard we plan every job around, whether it's a mile across town or right across Sussex.
To get a quote, call Peter on 07552 555 820 and send us a video or a few photos of what's moving, or message Peter on WhatsApp. Follow us on Instagram to see more moves like this one.
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. Peter first worked in removals in 2019, started running his own van in 2022 and incorporated ESV Removals Ltd in 2025. He holds a 2:1 BA (Hons) in English Literature and Digital Media from the University of Brighton. Peter oversees every job 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 £40,000 Goods in Transit per vehicle and £5 million Public Liability, backed by hundreds of five star Google reviews, and was a double winner at the SME Southern Enterprise Awards 2025, with a further nomination for 2026. The company’s eco pledge covers a Euro 6, ULEZ compliant Luton, Esso Ethos+ renewable diesel where available, box reuse and paperless bookings. ESV is signed up to the Brighton & Hove Living Wage Campaign, led by Brighton Chamber, and pays every crew member at least the real Living Wage, because a valued team takes more care on every move. Learn more at www.eastsussexvan.com or follow real move days on Instagram.
