Best Day of the Week to Move
The day of the week has a significant impact on removal company costs and availability:
| Day | Cost vs. Average | Availability | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | –10 to –15% | Good | ✅ Excellent |
| Tuesday | –8 to –12% | Very good | ✅ Excellent |
| Wednesday | –5 to –10% | Good | ✅ Very good |
| Thursday | –2 to +3% | Moderate | ⚠️ Acceptable |
| Friday | +5 to +15% | Poor | ⚠️ Avoid if possible |
| Saturday | +10 to +25% | Very poor | ❌ Most expensive |
| Sunday | +15 to +30% | Poor | ❌ Avoid |
💡 Why is Friday so expensive? Friday is the most popular day for house move completions (buyers and sellers try to get into their new homes over the weekend). This creates massive demand pressure — removal companies are booked out, and prices reflect scarcity.
Best Month of the Year to Move
Seasonal patterns in the UK property market directly affect removal costs:
20–30% below peak
15–25% below peak
Standard pricing
+10–15%
+20–40% above average
+10–15%
10–20% below peak
Drops post-Christmas
Dates to Avoid
Beyond the general day-of-week and seasonal patterns, specific dates can cause major problems:
- Bank Holidays — most removal companies don't work on bank holidays, or charge premium rates (30–50%). Never plan completion for a bank holiday if avoidable.
- Last Friday of the month — very popular with solicitors for completions; extreme demand pressure on removers.
- School summer holidays (mid-July – early September) — families with children dominate the market; prices at annual peak.
- End of March / end of June / end of September — quarter-ends popular with tenants and buy-to-let investors; higher demand.
- Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve — most companies closed or charging holiday premiums.
What Time of Day Should You Move?
If your removal company quotes by the day (not hourly), the time you start matters for your own planning rather than cost. However, there are best practices:
- Start early (7–8am): Loading your old home in the morning gives maximum time for the day. Removal companies typically prefer early starts.
- Aim to have keys by noon: Work with your solicitor to target a 12–1pm key release. This gives the afternoon for unloading at your new home.
- Avoid 5pm completions: If your solicitor can't release keys until late afternoon, you may face an expensive overnight storage situation.
Property Market Timing — Is It Also a Good Time to Buy?
From a property market perspective, the "cheapest" time to move house (January–March) is also often the best time to buy:
- Fewer competing buyers in the market means less gazumping and more negotiating power
- Sellers listing in January are often motivated — they've had their property unsold through Christmas
- Surveyors and solicitors are less busy, meaning faster turnaround times
💡 Sweet spot: If you can arrange your timeline so you complete in January–March, on a Monday–Wednesday, you'll typically save 25–40% on removal costs and face a less competitive property market.