How long will my move take?

Foundations Removals is the careful, no‑drama moving team that treats your belongings like our own. We work at the perfect pace - efficient, never rushed; so your sofa stays scuff‑free and everything lands right where you want it. No sneaky add‑ons, no moaning about stairs, just polite professionals who genuinely care and get it done properly. Read this guide to know how long it will take to move you.

Tupilwe Sinyangwe

10/16/20253 min read

Short answer first, and realistic estimate:

Studio/1-bed flat, local (within 15 miles): 3–5 hours with a 2–3 person crew, same-day finish.
2-bed home, local: 5–7 hours with a 3–4 person crew, same-day finish.
3-bed home, local: 7–9 hours with a 4-person crew, usually same-day, occasionally nudging early evening.
4-bed home, local: 8–10+ hours with a 4–5 person crew, sometimes better as a two-part move (pack day + move day).
Long-distance (150–300 miles): normally 1–2 days depending on keys, traffic and unload access.
Full packing service: add a dedicated pack day beforehand for 2–4 bed homes; for 1-bed we often pack and move in one day.

What actually dictates the timing

Volume of belongings: number of rooms is a guide, but books, garage kit and loft contents add hours.
Access at both ends: stairs vs lifts, long carries from door to van, tight hallways, low arches, parking distance and any permit windows.
Dismantling/reassembly: wardrobes, beds, dining tables, trampoline bases. We can handle it; it just needs minutes planned in.
Keys release (UK completion day): if you’re buying/selling, keys often land between 12:30–14:30. If funds are delayed, unloading starts later.
Distance and traffic: school runs, roadworks, London zones and the odd tractor on A-roads all count.
Special care items: pianos, antiques, oversized sofas needing banister-off manoeuvres.
Packing approach: self-packed is quicker on move day if boxes are closed, labelled and stacked; our full-pack adds a day but makes move day smoother and faster.

A realistic move-day timeline (example: 3-bed house, local)

08:00–08:30: Team arrives, quick walk-through, protect banisters, doors and floors.
08:30–11:30: Systematic load by room; large items wrapped, beds down, white goods secured.
11:30–12:00: Final sweep, meters/photos, van departs.
12:30–14:30: Keys window (for completions). If you already have keys, we go straight in.
13:30–16:30: Unload by room, beds up first, essentials placed so your evening’s easy.
16:30–17:30: Reassembly finished, packaging gathered, last checks, we hand over.

How packing changes the clock

Self-pack done well: saves 1–2 hours on load. Close every box, label top/sides, keep pathways clear, and don’t overfill—books love smaller boxes.
Part-pack (fragiles only): we arrive the afternoon before for glass, china, pictures and TVs; move day is leaner.
Full-pack: we come the day before with materials, pack everything, dismantle what’s needed, and you wake on move day with only your kettle out.

City specifics we plan around

London/major cities: We always try to ensure that parking suspensions and building management slots are timed; we arrange permits if needed and sequence lifts to avoid peak usage.
Flats: lift sharing rules and goods-lift bookings can add 30–60 minutes; stair-only access adds time per floor.
Rural lanes: van size might be limited; we sometimes always use a luton van if your lane is narrow—adds some minutes, protects hedges and paintwork.

Want it quicker? Do these three things

Confirm parking: a space within 10 metres of your door is the single biggest time saver.
Stage the home: finished boxes in one accessible room or along walls, beds clear and linen bagged, loft items down.
Ring-fence essentials: “first night” boxes for bedding, toiletries, remotes, cables, kettle and pet bits—clearly labelled.

How we work (and why our timings hold)

Quality first: we handle your kit like it’s our own—no chucking boxes, no dragging furniture. Steady, careful, right on time.
The right pace: we don’t rush your sofa into a wall to win ten minutes, and we don’t dawdle either. It’s a professional rhythm that keeps your move on schedule and your belongings unmarked.
No drama on the day: no moaning about stairs, no surprise extras at the door, no games—just an honest, smooth move with a crew that actually cares.

Typical durations by property size (with our crew sizes)

1-bed: 3–5 hours, 2–3 movers, 1 van.
2-bed: 5–7 hours, 3–4 movers, 1 large or 2 medium vans.
3-bed: 7–9 hours, 4 movers, 1–2 vans depending on volume.
4-bed: 8–10+ hours or split over pack + move, 4–5 movers, 2 vans.
Long-distance: load day + travel/unload day where practical, or a single long day if keys/access align and distance allows.

Red flags that can add time (we’ll plan around them)

No lift for a 4th-floor flat.
Narrow doors/turns needing door-off or bannister-off.
Underestimated loft/garage contents.
Parking/permit issues or long carry to van.

If you’d like this nailed down for your address, we’ve got you covered today. We’ll produce a fixed-time, fixed-crew plan and a clear, no-nonsense price that reflects the timings above. Book here —no drama, no hidden extras, just a smooth, carefully run move.