At A Glance
Check the company before the price: Search the name on Companies House, read the newest reviews on two or three platforms and ask to see Goods in Transit and Public Liability cover in writing, with the end date. A cheap quote from a company you cannot check is the most expensive mistake you can make before moving day.
Compare quotes like for like: Get three quotes 4 to 6 weeks ahead, each based on a survey in person or by video, then line them up on crew, van, hourly rate or set price, overtime, deposit and what happens if your date moves.
Know who turns up: Ask who runs the move on the day. With ESV, Peter is involved at every step, and if he is not on site you will know in advance and meet your team leader. Call 07552 555 820 or request a quote at www.eastsussexvan.com.
What Should You Check Before You Book A Removal Company?
Run eight checks on every removal company you are considering. Is it a registered business? Do its reviews hold up across platforms? Can it show you insurance in writing? Does the quote spell out its assumptions? How is it priced? Did it survey your home before quoting? Is the crew and van right for the job? And who will you deal with on the day? Each check takes minutes and none needs inside knowledge. Brighton adds tests of its own, from permit zones to top floor flats with no lift, and a company that knows the city will raise them before you do.
Get removal quotes 4-6 weeks before you move.
This guide comes from a removals director who quotes against other Brighton firms every week and knows where a weak quote hides its gaps. It names no competitors. It gives you the checks, then shows how ESV measures up against each one, so you can hold us to the same standard.
How Do You Know A Removal Company Is Legitimate?
Start with the Companies House register, which is free to search. Check the company is active, that its registered office is a real address and that its nature of business is removal services. A limited company also lists its directors, so you can see who is behind it and how long it has been trading. A sole trader will not be on the register, so ask for a full name and trading address instead and check them against the website and Google profile.
Then check the name matches everywhere you see it: the quote, the website, the Google profile and the side of the van. An unmarked van gives you nothing to check if something goes wrong. We explain how to check the company behind the van, and why we put our name on ours, in a separate post.
Local Pro Tip: Check Us on Companies House
ESV Removals Ltd, also known as East Sussex Van, is registered on Companies House under company number 16168225. We were incorporated on 7 January 2025, our registered business is removal services and our registered office is 22 Old School Place, Burgess Hill, RH15 9JU. The same name, phone number and website are on our van, our Google profile and this site.
How Do You Tell If Removal Reviews Are Genuine?
Look for a steady run of recent reviews across two or three platforms, not a burst from years ago. Read the newest in full and look for the same details coming up again and again: on time, careful with furniture, calm on awkward access and clear on price. BrightLocal's 2026 Local Consumer Review Survey found the average US consumer uses six different review sites before choosing a business, because a high score on one platform is easy to game and the same story across several is not. Our page on ESV Removals reviews shows how to read them in more detail.
Local Pro Tip: Check the Same Story on Every Platform
At the time of writing we hold hundreds of five star Google reviews, 10 out of 10 on Checkatrade from 23 reviews in the last 12 months, 5.0 from 16 reviews on Yell and a Rated Removals score of 98 out of 100. Different platforms and different customers, telling the same story: on time, careful and clear on price.
What Insurance Should A Removal Company Have?
Ask for two covers in writing. Goods in Transit insurance protects your belongings while they are loaded, carried and unloaded, and Public Liability covers accidental damage to your home or communal areas during the move. Ask to see the certificates, not just a figure on a website, and check the end date runs past your moving day. Then ask two more questions: what is the limit per item, and does the cover include boxes you packed yourself? Which? warns that a removal firm’s insurance won’t cover items you have packed yourself.
Local Pro Tip: Ask to See Your Movers' Insurance
We carry £40,000 Goods in Transit per vehicle and £5 million Public Liability, and we are happy to send you the certificates before you book. Our Goods in Transit does not cover boxes you pack yourself, so if you want those covered, ask about our packing service. Any single item worth £500 or more goes on our insurance form, signed and dated before we start, so it is recorded properly from the outset.
How Do You Compare Removal Quotes Without Getting Caught By Hidden Fees?
A good quote is written down and spells out its assumptions: the crew, the van, the start time, the hourly rate or set price, and what would change it, such as extra stairs, a long carry, dismantling furniture or waiting for keys. Hidden fees live in whatever a quote leaves unsaid. When two quotes are far apart, it is usually because one has assumed a smaller crew, a shorter day or easier access than the other.
A quote that spells out its assumptions is one of the clearest ways to tell good removal companies in Brighton apart. Line yours up side by side on the same six points: crew, van, rate or price, overtime, deposit and what happens if your date moves. If you want packing help, ask for it on the same quote so you are comparing the whole job. Our removals packing service covers full, part or fragile only packing.
Ask about the deposit before you agree to anything. Most removal companies take one to hold your date and it is usually non refundable, so pay it once your moving date is firm and ask in writing what happens if your completion date moves. Be wary of a company that wants the full amount up front, or cash only.
Find out whether overtime rates apply and, if so, what time they start.
Local Pro Tip: How ESV Prices a Move
We price local moves by the hour, so you pay for the time the job actually takes. Long distance moves are a set price, agreed before the day. Any set price carries an overtime clause for time well beyond the agreed plan, written into your estimate so it is never a surprise.
Overtime goes straight to the team's wages. We pay every crew member at least the real Living Wage, and we believe they should be paid properly for staying on to finish the job safely. Our deposit is 20 to 30% of the job, depending on its value and the costs we commit to in advance, and it comes off your final invoice. It is non refundable, and if your date moves, what happens to it is at our discretion, so tell us as soon as your date changes. Your written estimate sets out every term before you are asked to pay it.
Why Should A Removal Company Ask About Your Access Before Quoting?
We need 7 full working days' notice for standard applications.
A removal company that quotes without asking about your access is guessing. In Brighton, access often matters more than the number of rooms: permit zones, one way streets, top floor flats with no lift and long carries along seafront terraces all change the crew and the hours. A good company will survey your home first and ask where the van can legally stop at both ends, and if parking is tight it will tell you a bay suspension needs seven full working days’ notice. Our Brighton areas guide covers the access in each neighbourhood, from Hanover and Seven Dials to Brunswick and Palmeira.
Local Pro Tip: Every ESV Quote Starts with a Survey
We survey every move before we quote, in person or by video call. We look at the stairs, the lift, the carry from the van and where we can stop at both ends, so the crew and hours on your estimate match the real job.
If you are on a permit street, send a photo of the front of the property or a Google Maps pin too, and we will tell you whether a bay suspension is worth it. The full parking plan is in our guide to moving house in Brighton without the stress.
Do You Need A Man and Van Or A Full Removal Team?
Ask every company what crew and van its price is based on. A man and van in Brighton suits a small, casual job billed by the hour. A house move with a key handover, valuable furniture or a tight completion window needs a full removal team, the right van and an overtime clause in writing. If you are not sure which you need, our guide to man and van or full removals sets out the test. A good company will tell you honestly, even when the answer is the cheaper option.
Local Pro Tip: Access Sets the Crew, Not the Bedrooms
A top floor two bed flat with no lift can take longer than a three bed house with a driveway, so we size the crew to the effort, not the property. Our Sprinter suits smaller loads and tighter streets, our Luton with tail lift takes larger family moves, and for the biggest jobs we add a second van, as on a two van house move across Burgess Hill. Your estimate always says which vehicle and crew your price is based on.
What Questions Should You Ask Before You Book?
Ask every company these nine questions before you pay a deposit. Clear answers in writing are usually the sign of a well organised move.
Start with the company itself: are you a registered company, and what is your company number? Will you survey my home, in person or by video, before you quote? Then the price: what crew and van is it based on, is it an hourly rate or a set price, and when does overtime start? How much is the deposit, does it come off the final bill and what happens if my date moves?
Then the cover and the day itself. Can I see your Goods in Transit and Public Liability certificates, what is the limit per item, and does the cover include boxes I pack myself? Who will run the move on the day, and what happens if my keys are released late?
If you are buying, our guide to what happens on completion day explains key release times and what to do if they slip.
What Are The Warning Signs Of A Bad Removal Company?
Think twice about any removal company that will not put its quote in writing, or quotes a house move without a survey or a single question about access. The same goes for a company that wants cash only or the full amount before moving day, has no registered company name or trading address you can check, or turns up in an unmarked van. Be wary, too, if it cannot show you insurance certificates, or has a perfect score from a handful of reviews posted in the same week and nowhere else.
One of these on its own may have an innocent explanation. Two or three together is a reason to book someone else.
How ESV Measures Up Against Every Check
We would rather you checked us than took our word for it. Our company number is on Companies House, our reviews sit on four platforms, our insurance certificates are yours to see before you book, every move starts with a survey and every estimate sets out the crew, van, rate, overtime and deposit in writing.
A local team also brings street and parking knowledge a national call centre cannot, more flexibility if plans shift and direct contact with the person running your move. Our guide on why to choose a local Brighton company over a nationwide mover covers this in more detail.
Local Pro Tip: Who Runs Your Move
Peter is involved at every step, from your first message to the final box. If he is not on site on moving day, you will know beforehand, and a team leader runs the move with our porters and handymen, working from the plan Peter agreed with you. Nothing gets lost between a sales team and the crew, because there is no sales team.
If we pass your checks, request a quote for house removals in Brighton and Hove and we will book your survey, then send a written estimate with every term on it. Call 07552 555 820, message us on WhatsApp with both postcodes or get a quick quote online. Moving elsewhere in the county? See our house removals across Sussex. For real move days, see our recent Brighton move days on Instagram.
Key Terms For Choosing A Removal Company
Companies House Number
The number a limited company is registered under. Search it on the free Companies House register to check the company is active and see its directors and registered address. Ours is 16168225.
Registered Office
The official address a limited company gives Companies House, where legal post must reach it. Check it matches the address on the quote, the website and the Google profile. Ours is 22 Old School Place, Burgess Hill, RH15 9JU.
Sole Trader
A business run by one person in their own name rather than as a limited company. A sole trader will not appear on Companies House, so check their full name, trading address and insurance instead. Plenty of good local movers trade this way.
Multi Platform Review Consistency
The same themes repeated across several review sites, such as punctuality and careful handling. Recent, detailed feedback on more than one platform is much harder to fake than a high score on one.
Goods in Transit Insurance
Insurance that covers your belongings while they are loaded, carried and unloaded by a removal company. Check the limit per vehicle and per item, the policy end date and whether it covers boxes you pack yourself. Ours is £40,000 per vehicle and does not cover boxes you pack yourself.
£500 High Value Item Listing
If a single item is worth £500 or more, get it recorded on the Goods in Transit form before the move, so it is clearly noted for handling and cover.
Written Estimate
A written breakdown of your move, sent before the deposit invoice: the crew, van, hourly rate or set price, overtime clause, deposit and the assumptions behind the price.
Overtime Clause
A term that sets what happens if the move runs well beyond the agreed plan. Ask when it starts and what it costs. Ours goes straight to the crew, who are all paid at least the real Living Wage.
Booking Deposit
A part payment that holds your date. Ask how much it is, whether it is refundable and whether it comes off the final bill. Ours is 20 to 30% of the job and comes off your final invoice.
Pre Move Survey
A look at your home before a quote, in person or by video, covering stairs, lifts, the carry from the van and where it can stop. A quote without one is a guess.
Frequently Asked Questions About Choosing A Removal Company
How many removal quotes should I get?
Get three quotes where you can, as Which? suggests, and make sure each one is based on a survey of your home, in person or by video.
A quote given without seeing your stairs, parking and furniture is a guess, so it is hard to compare. Line the quotes up on the same points: crew, van, hourly rate or set price, overtime, deposit and what happens if your date moves.
How far in advance should I book a removal company in Brighton?
Get quotes 4 to 6 weeks before your move, and earlier for month end, summer weekends or student changeover weeks, when Brighton dates fill first.
Because most removal deposits are non refundable, pay the deposit once your moving date is firm, and ask in writing what happens if your completion date moves. An early survey still helps, because it gives time to plan access and any bay suspension properly.
Is the cheapest removal quote a risk?
Not always, but find out why it is cheaper before you book.
A low quote often assumes a smaller crew, a shorter day, easier access or no packing, and the difference comes back as overtime or a rushed move. Ask each company what crew, van and hours its price is based on and what would change it. If the cheapest quote still matches the others on those points and comes from a registered, insured company with consistent reviews, it may simply be good value.
What deposit should a removal company ask for?
Most removal companies take a deposit to hold your date, and it is usually non refundable, so check the amount, whether it comes off the final bill and what happens if your date moves before you pay.
Be wary of any company that asks for the full amount up front or for cash only. At ESV the deposit is 20 to 30% of the job, depending on its value and the costs we commit to in advance, and it comes off your final invoice. If your date moves, what happens to the deposit is at our discretion, so tell us as soon as you know. It is all set out on your written estimate before you are asked to pay anything.
Can I ask to see a removal company's insurance?
Yes, and you should. Ask for the Goods in Transit and Public Liability certificates, not just a figure on a website, and check the end date runs past your moving day.
Ask what the limit is per item and whether the cover includes boxes you packed yourself. We carry £40,000 Goods in Transit per vehicle and £5 million Public Liability. Our cover does not include boxes you pack yourself, and any single item worth £500 or more is listed on our insurance form before we start.
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.
