Man and a Van

Man and a Van Kingston Upon Thames

At Kingston Upon Thames Movers, our Man and a Van service is designed for those moves where you need more than a taxi but less than a full-scale removal crew. You get an experienced local driver, a well-equipped van, and a careful, professional mover who treats your belongings as if they were their own.

What Our Man and a Van Service Includes

This service is ideal for smaller moves and flexible transport jobs around Kingston and across the UK. You still benefit from a structured removals approach, but with the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of a compact service.

Typical uses for Man and a Van

• Small flat and studio moves
• Student term-time moves to and from Kingston University
• Single-item or few-item collections (sofas, beds, wardrobes)
• Part-load house moves and downsizing
• Small office relocations and internal office moves
• Furniture store or marketplace collections and deliveries

Every booking includes a spacious, well-maintained van, basic protective covers and straps, and a punctual, trained mover who knows how to handle furniture, appliances, and fragile items safely.

Local Expertise in Kingston upon Thames

We work in and around Kingston every day. That means we understand:

• Traffic patterns on routes such as the A3, A308 and local river crossings
• Parking constraints in town centre flats and riverside developments
• Access issues in period properties, basements, and top-floor conversions
• Estate and campus layouts around Kingston University and local colleges

This local knowledge allows us to plan arrival times, loading points and vehicle size sensibly, reducing delays and protecting your belongings from rushed handling.

Who Our Man and a Van Service Is For

Homeowners

Perfect for moving selected rooms, clearing lofts, garages or garden furniture, or transporting items during renovations. We regularly help homeowners move belongings into storage while work is carried out, then bring everything back once it is complete.

Renters

Ideal for tenants moving between rented properties in Kingston or across London. We understand tenancy deadlines, inventory checks and deposit concerns, and we move your belongings carefully to avoid damage to walls, doors and communal areas.

Landlords

Landlords often use our service to clear or part-clear properties between tenancies, remove old furniture, or deliver new furnishings. We can work with your managing agents and attend key collections where needed.

Businesses

From small office moves to ad hoc deliveries, we support local businesses with flexible, short-notice transport. Our team can move desks, chairs, filing cabinets, boxed stock and light equipment, keeping disruption to a minimum.

Students

Students at Kingston University and nearby colleges benefit from a budget-friendly, reliable service that understands the realities of moving between halls, house shares and home. We can combine pickups from multiple rooms or addresses where required.

What We Can and Cannot Move

Items Typically Included

• Household furniture – sofas, beds, wardrobes, tables, chairs, chests of drawers
• Domestic appliances – washing machines, fridges, freezers, cookers (disconnected)
• Personal effects – boxes, suitcases, bags, books, clothing
• Office items – desks, chairs, filing cabinets, IT equipment (properly packed)
• Outdoor items – garden furniture, barbecues (clean and empty), tools
• Light workshop tools and hobby equipment

Items Excluded or Requiring Special Arrangement

• Hazardous materials – gas bottles, fuel, paint thinners, chemicals
• Live animals and pets
• Illegal or stolen goods
• Unboxed fragile items such as loose glassware, unless pre-agreed
• Very heavy machinery or commercial plant beyond safe manual handling limits
• Pianos, safes and similar specialist items (these may require a dedicated team)

If you are unsure whether we can move a particular item, please mention it at enquiry stage. We will confirm whether it is covered by our service and insurance or if a specialist option is needed.

Our Step-by-Step Man and a Van Process

1. Enquiry & Quote

Contact us by phone, email, or our online form with details of what you need to move, both addresses, and your preferred date and time. We will ask a few practical questions about access, floors, lifts, and parking. Based on this, we provide a clear, no-obligation quote, usually on an hourly or fixed-price basis depending on the job.

2. Survey (Virtual or Onsite)

For most Man and a Van jobs, a short virtual survey using photos or video call is sufficient. For more complex access or larger loads, we may visit in person. This helps us choose the right van size, equipment, and number of movers so that everything can be completed safely and on time.

3. Packing & Preparation

You can handle your own packing, or add our packing service if you prefer. We advise that all loose items are packed into strong boxes, clearly labelled. On the day, we protect key items with blankets and covers, and plan the loading order so that fragile and essential belongings are managed carefully.

4. Loading & Transport

Our trained team loads the van using trolleys, straps and blankets as needed. We work systematically to avoid damage to property and belongings, protecting doorways, bannisters and floors where required. Once loaded, we transport your goods directly to the destination, using sensible routes based on current traffic conditions.

5. Unloading & Placement

On arrival, we unload into the rooms you indicate rather than leaving everything in one place. We place furniture according to your instructions and ensure items are accounted for before we leave. You have the chance to walk through and check that everything is present and undamaged.

Transparent Pricing and How We Charge

We believe in clear, predictable pricing. Our Man and a Van service is typically charged:

• By the hour for local Kingston moves and short jobs, with a minimum booking period
• At an agreed fixed price for longer-distance or clearly defined jobs

Your quote will set out:

• The hourly rate or fixed total
• How many movers are included
• Any travel time or congestion/parking considerations
• Optional extras such as packing or materials

We do not add surprise extras on the day. If circumstances change significantly (for example, extra items or a different address), we discuss any cost implications with you before proceeding.

Why Choose Professional Movers Over DIY or Casual Man-and-Van

Hiring a casual van or doing it yourself can appear cheaper, but it often brings hidden risks and costs. With Kingston Upon Thames Movers you benefit from:

• Fully insured transport for your belongings
• Experienced, trained movers who know proper lifting and loading techniques
• Suitable equipment such as trolleys, blankets and straps
• Reliable timing and clear communication
• Compliance with road safety and goods-in-transit regulations

This reduces the chances of damage to your belongings, injury to you or your helpers, and disputes about responsibility if something goes wrong.

Insurance and Professional Standards

As a professional removals company, we operate to clear standards and carry robust insurance cover:

• Goods in transit insurance – protecting your belongings while they are on the vehicle, subject to policy terms and declared value
• Public liability cover – protection in the unlikely event of damage to third-party property or injury caused by our work
• Trained moving teams – staff are briefed on safe handling, loading methods and customer care

We are happy to confirm policy details and answer questions about cover boundaries so you know exactly where you stand.

Care, Protection and Sustainability

We take care seriously. Furniture is wrapped where needed, and loads are secured with straps to prevent movement in transit. We plan lifting techniques to reduce strain and avoid scraping walls or flooring. For fragile items, we recommend and can supply suitable packing materials.

From a sustainability perspective, we aim to minimise unnecessary journeys by planning routes efficiently, combining compatible loads where appropriate, and using reusable protective materials rather than disposable plastics wherever possible. Where packing materials are required, we favour recyclable options and encourage clients to reuse or recycle boxes after their move.

Real-World Use Cases

Moving House

For smaller properties or partial moves, our Man and a Van service is a sensible alternative to a large removals lorry. Many clients use it for moving from a studio or one-bedroom flat in Kingston to another local address, or for transporting selected items ahead of a larger move.

Office Relocation

Smaller businesses or single departments often do not require a full removals crew. Our service works well for moving a modest number of desks, chairs, computers and files between local offices or co-working spaces, scheduled to minimise downtime.

Urgent and Same-Day Moves

Sometimes circumstances change quickly – a tenancy start date moves, a sale completes suddenly, or a last-minute purchase needs collecting. Subject to availability, we can provide short-notice or same-day Man and a Van support in Kingston and the surrounding areas. The sooner you contact us, the more likely we can accommodate your timing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Man and a Van service cost?

Pricing depends on the size of the vehicle, number of movers, and time required. For local Kingston jobs, we often charge an hourly rate with a minimum booking period to cover travel and setup. Longer-distance or clearly defined jobs may be quoted at a fixed price. Your quote will explain exactly what is included, such as loading, unloading, and basic protection. There are no hidden extras; any potential additional costs, like parking charges or extended waiting time, are discussed with you in advance.

Can you offer same-day or urgent Man and a Van bookings?

Yes, we can often help with same-day or urgent moves in Kingston and nearby areas, depending on availability. Our vans and teams are scheduled in advance, but we keep some flexibility for short-notice requirements, especially during quieter periods. If you need urgent assistance, call us as early as possible with full details of what needs moving, the addresses, and your ideal time. We will advise what we can realistically provide and agree clear pricing before confirming the booking.

Are my belongings insured during the move?

Yes. Our Man and a Van service includes goods in transit insurance for your belongings while they are on our vehicle, subject to policy terms and any declared value limits. We also carry public liability cover for damage or injury arising from our work. Insurance is not a substitute for proper packing, so we strongly recommend that fragile items are boxed and protected correctly. We are happy to outline the key conditions of cover and suggest additional protection if you have unusually high-value items.

What is included in your Man and a Van service?

You receive an experienced driver-mover, a suitable van, and all the standard equipment needed for safe loading and transport, such as blankets and securing straps. Loading and unloading at both ends are included, and we place items into the rooms you indicate rather than leaving everything at the door. We also provide basic protection for furniture and careful handling as standard. Optional extras, such as packing services and packing materials, can be added on request and will be detailed separately in your quotation.

How is a professional Man and a Van different from a casual service?

A professional service like Kingston Upon Thames Movers offers structured processes, insurance, and trained staff. Vehicles are properly equipped, maintained, and loaded according to safe working practices. We provide written quotes, clear terms, and reliable timings, reducing the risk of cancellations or delays. Casual operators may not have suitable cover, may overload vehicles, or lack experience dealing with staircases, tight doorways and fragile items. Choosing a professional team greatly reduces the chance of damage, injury and disputes if something goes wrong.

How far in advance should I book?

For the best choice of dates and times, we recommend booking at least one to two weeks in advance, particularly for weekends and month-end, which are usually busier. However, we understand that smaller moves often arise at short notice, so we always try to accommodate last-minute requests where our schedule allows. Even if your date is not confirmed, it is worth contacting us early to discuss provisional options and understand availability, then finalise details once your plans are fixed.