Sometimes you only need one thing moved
Not every job is a house. A great deal of what removal firms actually do is smaller than that:
- A sofa or a bed bought secondhand on Marketplace or Gumtree
- A store collection where delivery was not offered, or was offered at an unreasonable date
- Furniture passed between family members across London
- A single item going into or coming out of storage
- An auction or house clearance pickup
- A student move at the start or end of term
- One piece of furniture that needs carrying upstairs when a delivery driver will only leave it at the door
These are hourly jobs, usually a man and van, and they are far cheaper than people assume. The problems are not about the vehicle. They are about the two ends.
How a single item job is priced
Charged by the hour with a minimum, normally one or two hours, and the clock covers collection, transit and delivery.
Three things move the price:
The distance between the two addresses, since a cross London collection and delivery can easily fill two hours before anything is carried.
Whether there is help at the collection end. A seller who will not lift, on a first floor flat, with a two person sofa, turns a one person booking into a problem. Say what is involved when you book.
Stairs and access at both ends. Same rule as any move. Our guide to how a man and van booking works covers the pricing mechanics in more detail.
Measure before you buy, not after
The most common and most avoidable failure on single item jobs.
A sofa fits through a doorway if its height or depth clears the frame, but the route matters as much as the destination. Check:
- The doorway width and height, at both properties
- The turn at the top of the stairs, which defeats more sofas than doorways do
- The lift dimensions, including the diagonal, if there is one
- Any awkward corner in a hallway or on a landing
If a sofa has removable feet or a detachable back, say so when booking. It frequently makes the difference. If it does not come apart and it will not fit, the options are a hoist through a window, which is a different job and price, or not buying it.
Marketplace photographs are unreliable for size. Ask the seller for the actual dimensions before you commit.
Buying secondhand: what to check before booking transport
You are paying for the collection whether or not the item is what you expected, so front load the questions.
- Confirm the exact address and the floor, and whether there is parking outside
- Ask what condition it is genuinely in, with photographs of any damage
- Ask whether it is already dismantled if it needs to be
- Agree a collection window the seller will actually be present for
- Pay attention to smells and stains in photographs, since neither improves in transit
- Check for a fire safety label on upholstered furniture, since anything sold in the UK should carry one and its absence is a warning sign
Then book the transport once the item is confirmed, not before. Sellers change their minds more often than removal firms do.
The things that go wrong, and how to prevent them
Nobody is in at the collection address. Confirm the day before, and get a phone number for the person who will actually be there.
The item is not ready. Still assembled when it needed dismantling, still full of clothes, still bolted to a wall. Ask.
No parking at either end. Check restrictions, and if a bay suspension is needed, arrange it in advance.
The buyer or seller expects the driver to be the second pair of hands. Some bookings are one person, some are two. Be explicit about which you have and what the item weighs.
Payment confusion. Settle with the seller separately. The transport is a separate transaction from the purchase.
Dismantling, assembly and awkward extras
Flat pack furniture rarely survives a second dismantling well, but plenty of items do need taking apart and rebuilding: bed frames, wardrobes, large tables, garden furniture.
That can be part of the booking rather than something you attempt at ten at night with an Allen key. Our handyman service covers dismantling, reassembly, shelves, blinds and TV mounting, either alongside a delivery or on its own.
Two related points. White goods should be disconnected from water before collection, and gas appliances must be handled by a Gas Safe registered engineer. And a washing machine needs its transit bolts fitted if you still have them, since moving a drum unsecured can damage the bearings.
Insurance on a single item
Worth asking before booking rather than after an accident.
Goods in Transit cover applies to items in the vehicle, but check the limits and the exclusions, particularly for anything valuable or antique. If a piece is worth real money, declare it. Our guide to moving and storing antiques covers the higher value end.
For ordinary secondhand furniture, the practical protection is a photograph at collection, which takes ten seconds and settles any question about whether a mark was already there.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to move one item of furniture? It is charged hourly with a minimum, usually one or two hours, covering collection, transit and delivery. Distance between addresses, stairs and whether help is available at collection all affect the total.
Can a man and van collect something I bought online? Yes, and it is one of the most common bookings. Confirm the seller's address, floor, parking and a collection window first, and book the transport once the purchase is agreed.
Will the driver help me carry it? Usually, but confirm whether your booking is one person or two, and say what the item is. A heavy sofa from a first floor flat with no help at the other end is a two person job.
How do I know if a sofa will fit? Measure the doorways, the turn at the top of the stairs and the lift, including the diagonal. The route matters more than the room. Ask the seller for real dimensions rather than judging from photographs.
Does furniture need dismantling before collection? Beds, wardrobes and large tables often do. Ask the seller whether it is already apart, and arrange dismantling as part of the booking if not.
Can you take away my old sofa at the same time? Only if the firm is a registered waste carrier, since disposal is regulated. Ask before assuming, because liability for fly tipped waste can trace back to the household it came from.
Talk to us
RMV Storage & Removals handles single item collections and small deliveries across London alongside full house and office removals, with packing materials, container storage and handyman work, across every area we cover including Wembley.
Tell us what the item is, both addresses, the floor at each end and whether anyone can help at collection, and we will tell you what it takes. Get in touch.
Written by Riki Migliori, Director at RMV Storage & Removals. Originally published March 2018. Fully reviewed and updated summer 2026.