Choosing a Plymouth Removals Company: 7 Things to Check First
Hiring the right Plymouth removals company can save you hundreds of pounds and a huge amount of stress. Here are the 7 things every Plymouth resident should check before booking a removals firm.
Choosing a Plymouth removals company is one of the most important decisions you'll make when moving home. Get it right and the day flows smoothly. Get it wrong and you can lose hundreds of pounds, damage treasured belongings, and finish the day exhausted, frustrated and out of pocket.
After more than seven years running a Plymouth removals company ourselves, and seeing customers come to us after bad experiences elsewhere, we've put together this honest, no-nonsense guide. Use it as your checklist before you book any removal firm in the city.
1. Check Their Reviews — Properly
Anyone can put "5-star service" on their website. What matters is independent, verified reviews — and lots of them. A Plymouth removals company with three or four glowing reviews on its own site doesn't tell you much. Look for hundreds of reviews on platforms the company doesn't control: Google, Trustpilot, Facebook, and Three Best Rated.
Two Man Removals has over 600 five-star reviews across all platforms (220+ on Google alone). That volume matters because consistency is harder to fake than a few glowing testimonials. Read the recent ones, not just the highlights — and look for patterns. Are people praising the team's care? Their punctuality? Their honesty about pricing? Those are the signals that a Plymouth removals company is the real deal.
2. Confirm They're Fully Insured
This is non-negotiable. A reputable Plymouth removals company will carry both goods-in-transit insurance (covering your belongings while they're being moved) and public liability insurance (covering damage to property during the move). If a quote seems suspiciously cheap, the firm is often uninsured — and you'll only find out when something gets dropped.
Ask for proof. Any legitimate removals firm will happily share their cover certificates. We include full insurance on every single job, from a £49 man-and-van delivery to a five-bedroom house move.
3. Find Out Who Actually Does the Job
Some of the biggest names in the industry simply act as brokers. You ring one number, pay one company, and a completely unknown crew turns up at your door — often agency staff who have never met each other before, let alone worked as a team.
Ask the question directly: "Will the team that arrives on moving day work for you, or is the job being subcontracted?" At Two Man Removals we never subcontract. Sam or Chris (the co-founders since 2018) personally survey every house move and our own trained crews carry out every job.
4. Get a Free Survey for Anything Bigger Than a Man and Van
For house moves, no professional Plymouth removals company should quote based on a list of items in an email. Volume, access, parking, stairs and the route between properties all affect the price — and an inaccurate phone quote always ends one of two ways: a bigger bill on the day, or a crew who simply can't fit the job into the time booked.
Insist on a free in-person or video-call survey. We offer both, and the price we quote afterwards is the price you pay — even if the job runs longer than expected.
5. Compare Like for Like
The cheapest quote is rarely the cheapest move. When comparing Plymouth removals companies, check what is included:
- How many movers are in the price?
- Is the van size right for your volume?
- Are blankets, straps, and trolleys included?
- Is dismantling and reassembling furniture included?
- Is there a charge for stairs, weekends or bank holidays?
- Are fuel and mileage included?
Our standard quote includes two professional movers, a fully equipped Luton van, all protection materials and full insurance. No surprises on the day. See our full guide to how much removals cost in Plymouth for typical price ranges.
6. Local Knowledge Matters More Than You Think
Plymouth is a city of Victorian terraces, narrow lanes, hillside properties and tight harbour-side parking. A removals firm based 60 miles away will not know about loading restrictions in the Barbican, parking permits in Mutley, or the impossible turning circles in parts of Stoke and Devonport.
A genuine local Plymouth removals team like ours has done thousands of jobs across the city. We know which streets need a smaller van, where you'll need a parking suspension, and which time slots avoid school traffic in Plymstock, Plympton and Crownhill. That knowledge saves you both time and money.
7. Talk to a Person, Not a Call Centre
One of the simplest tests of a Plymouth removals company is the first phone call. Are you talking to someone who actually knows the team and the vans, or are you bounced around a national call centre? Do they answer your questions clearly, or do they avoid specifics?
When you ring 01752 936 046, you'll get straight through to Sam, Chris or one of our small admin team — people who can actually answer your questions about your move because they're the ones doing it.
8. Bonus Check: Look at the Vans and Kit
One of the most overlooked signals when picking a Plymouth removals company is the actual fleet. A serious removals firm will run modern, sign-written, fully equipped Luton vans with tail lifts, blanket racks, full sets of straps, sack trolleys, piano dollies and door protectors. A "man with a van" running a battered transit with a couple of old duvets is fine for a single sofa across town — but it's not a removals company.
Ask which van will turn up. At Two Man Removals our fleet is purpose-built for moving house: high-roof Lutons, full equipment in every van, dash cams, and our own livery. You can tell the team apart from anyone else on your street.
9. Don't Be Afraid to Ask Awkward Questions
A reputable Plymouth removals company will welcome any question you throw at them. Ask:
- "What happens if you damage something?"
- "What if the property chain falls through on the day?"
- "Do you have a written cancellation policy?"
- "What time will the team arrive — and what's the realistic finish time?"
- "Can I see your insurance certificate before I pay?"
If the answers are vague, defensive, or pushy, walk away. The right firm will give you straight answers, in writing if you want, and won't pressure you to book before you're ready. Trust your gut — moving day is too important to gamble on a company that won't talk straight.
10. Check Awards, Accreditations and Local Recognition
Awards aren't the be-all and end-all, but they are a useful signal that a Plymouth removals company is taking the business seriously. Look for things like Three Best Rated, Trustpilot Excellent rating, BAR (British Association of Removers) membership where applicable, and local recognition such as Prestige Awards. We were proud to win the Prestige Awards Plymouth Removals Company of the Year for both 2025 and 2026 — see our awards page for the full list.
Ready to Book a Trusted Plymouth Removals Company?
Two Man Removals has spent the past seven years building one of the most trusted reputations for Plymouth removals in the city. We're a cooperative of three experienced, fully insured teams; we never subcontract; and we're rated 5.0 out of 5 across Google, Facebook and Trustpilot.
From full house moves to man and van jobs, office relocations to house clearance, we'd love to help with your move. Get your free quote here or call us on 01752 936 046 — we're available seven days a week.