The short version: ask for a written quote based on an actual look at your belongings (not a guess over the phone), ask who is doing the lifting (the company’s own crew or a subcontractor on the day), and ask what happens if something is damaged. If a company won’t give you a straight answer to any of those three, keep looking. Everything else in this post builds on that.
The mistake we see most often in Wicklow
People book on price alone, based on a two-minute phone call, and find out on the day that the quote didn’t account for the three flights of stairs in their Bray apartment, or the fact that the lorry can’t actually get down their lane outside Rathdrum. The quote then changes on the morning of the move, which is the worst possible time to be negotiating with someone who already has your sofa on their shoulder.
A proper quote comes from someone who has either seen the house (in person or over video) or asked enough questions to know what they’re dealing with. That includes room count, stairs, whether it’s a house or an apartment with a lift, parking restrictions, and anything awkward like a piano, a shed full of tools, or a wardrobe that will need to be taken apart. If a company quotes you a price without asking any of that, that quote isn’t worth much.
What’s different about moving in Wicklow
Wicklow throws up a few things you won’t read about on a generic removals checklist. Parts of Bray and Greystones have tight terraced streets with no residents’ parking available for a van on moving day, which means someone needs to carry boxes further than usual, or you need to sort a permit in advance. Villages like Enniskerry and Rathdrum have narrow access roads and low bridges or tight junctions that catch out crews who don’t know the area. And a lot of the older housing stock around the county, especially in Wicklow town and Arklow, has narrow staircases and low doorways that make certain furniture (big wardrobes, American-style fridges) a genuine two-person job rather than a quick carry.
None of this is a reason to panic. It’s a reason to use someone who actually knows the county, rather than a van hired for the day by someone unfamiliar with the roads. Local knowledge saves time on the day, and time is the thing that drives removals costs up.
Nine questions to ask before you book
Go through these with any company you’re considering, including us. A reliable mover will have straight answers to all nine without hesitating.
- Will you see the house or at least ask detailed questions before quoting? A quote given blind is a guess, and guesses change on moving day.
- Is the quote in writing? A verbal “ah, it’ll be around that” is not something you can hold anyone to.
- Who is actually doing the move? Some companies use their own regular crew, others book in casual labour or a subcontracted van for busy periods. Ask directly.
- Are you insured for goods in transit? This covers damage to your belongings while they’re on the van. Ask what it actually covers and ask them to confirm it in writing if you’re moving anything of real value.
- What happens if something is damaged or broken? There should be a clear process, not a shrug.
- Do you charge by the hour, by the job, or by the van load? Each method suits a different type of move, and you should know which one you’re agreeing to.
- What’s included and what isn’t? Packing materials, disassembly of beds and wardrobes, and disposal of unwanted items are often charged separately.
- Can you manage awkward access? Narrow lanes, no parking, apartment lifts out of order, stairs. If they haven’t dealt with it before, it will show on the day.
- What’s your availability like around the date I need? End of month and the final weeks of August are the busiest removals periods in Ireland, Wicklow included, because of lease end dates and school term starts. Book early for those windows.
Red flags worth knowing about
A quote that’s dramatically cheaper than every other one you’ve gathered usually means something is missing, whether that’s insurance, a second pair of hands, or proper equipment for heavy items. Be wary of anyone who asks for a large deposit before they’ve given you any written confirmation of the job, or who can’t tell you who will physically be in your home on the day. And if a company won’t put the quote in writing by email or text, that’s a sign to move on, not a sign to push harder for a verbal promise.
On the flip side, a company that asks you lots of questions before quoting, that mentions access or parking without being prompted, or that tells you honestly that a job will take longer than you think, is usually one that has done the work enough times to know what actually happens on a Wicklow moving day.
What pushes the cost of a Wicklow removal up or down
We won’t quote a figure here because every job is different and a fair quote depends on seeing the details, but these are the things that genuinely move the price:
- Volume of belongings and number of rooms being moved
- Stairs, lifts, or long carries from the van to the front door
- Access for the van, including parking restrictions or narrow rural lanes
- Whether furniture needs to be dismantled and reassembled
- Distance between the old and new address
- Whether you need packing done for you, or you’re boxing everything yourself
- Timing, since weekends and the last few days of the month tend to book out first
If you want an honest, specific figure for your own move, the fastest way is to get in touch through our contact page with a few details about the property and the date you’re hoping for.
Where this ties in with clearances and odd jobs
Most moves aren’t just “load the van and drive.” If you’re leaving a rental, landlords are increasingly strict about the state the property is left in, and our end of tenancy clearance service is built around exactly that. If you’re clearing out a family home before a sale, or downsizing and leaving a lot behind, that’s a house clearance job rather than a straightforward move, and it’s worth saying so when you get your quote. We also get called a lot for a single awkward item, a piano, a wardrobe, a treadmill, which is what our bulk item removals service covers, and for the attic nobody has opened in years, which usually needs sorting before the rest of the house gets packed, covered under attic clearance. And if your moving date has suddenly moved forward, our same day removals service exists for exactly that kind of panic.
We’ve been doing removals across Wicklow, Bray, Greystones, Arklow, Rathdrum, Blessington, Enniskerry and Kilcoole for years, and the jobs that go smoothly are nearly always the ones where someone asked the right questions before anything was booked. If you’d like a straight answer about your own move, get in touch with Man With Avan Wicklow through our contact page and we’ll talk you through what it actually involves.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I book a removals company in Wicklow?
For a standard house move, two to four weeks’ notice is sensible. If your move falls at the end of the month, in summer, or close to a lease end date, book as early as you can, since those are the busiest windows and availability tightens up fast.
Do removals companies in Wicklow provide packing materials?
Many do, but it’s often a separate item on the quote rather than automatically included. Ask directly whether boxes, tape and wrapping are part of the price or charged on top, and factor that into any comparison between quotes.
What should I check regarding insurance before booking?
Ask specifically what the company’s goods-in-transit cover includes, and get confirmation in writing if you’re moving anything of significant value, such as electronics, antiques or a piano. If you’re unsure what level of cover is standard, it’s worth asking a few companies the same question so you can compare like for like.
Can a removals company help if I also need to clear out unwanted items?
Yes, this is a very common combination. Most Wicwicklow moves involve some items going to the new house, some going to charity or recycling, and some going to a skip. A good removals company will sort this out alongside the move itself rather than leaving you to arrange it separately.
What happens if the van can’t access my street on moving day?
This comes up a lot in older parts of Bray, Greystones and Wicklow town where parking is tight. Flag it when you’re getting your quote so the company can plan for it, whether that means a longer carry, a smaller shuttle vehicle, or arranging a parking suspension with the local authority in advance.
Is it worth getting more than one quote before I book?
Yes. Two or three quotes, each based on an actual look at your belongings rather than a guess, will show you quickly whether a price is fair and whether the company has thought through the access and timing issues specific to your move.
