What I’ve Learned After Thousands of Home Moves Across London

If there’s one thing I’ve learned after doing thousands of moves across London, it’s that no two moves are ever the same.

I’ve moved people from tiny studio flats tucked above cafés in Deptford, fifth-floor walk-ups on Baker Street with no lift, family homes in Lewisham, warehouse-style flats in Bermondsey and East London and even a 6-bedroom house where the cat tried to escape every five minutes. I've seen moves with a lift, without the lift, top-floors, ground floors and basements. I’ve seen it all — the easy, the difficult, the funny, and the “thank you so so much” moments.

And the truth is this: A good moving day isn’t about throw everything in and go — it’s about the attitude, the planning, and the care you put into the job.

So I thought I’d share a few things I’ve learned over the years, in case it helps anyone planning a home move soon.

1. The biggest moving stress comes from the unknown — not the heavy lifting

Most people aren’t stressed about the sofa or the boxes. They’re stressed because they don’t know:

• What time the van will arrive

• Whether the mover will treat their stuff with care

• How long it will take

• Or if the mover will even show up (yes, it happens — a lot)

That’s why I give every customer live van tracking on their phone. You can literally see where I am in real time. No guessing, no worrying, no “where is he?” moments. It's so simple, but people love it.

2. Good communication solves more problems than tools ever can

I’ve learned that talking to people — properly talking — is the secret to a smooth move.

A quick chat before the day usually clears up things like:

• Parking restrictions

• Whether the bed needs dismantling

• If something fragile needs extra padding

• Whether there are narrow stairs or tight corners

When everyone knows what to expect, the move becomes simple. No surprises, no drama.

3. Furniture always looks smaller until you try to get it through the door

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had customers say:

“It definitely fits — my mate's got it in!”

And yes, he did get it in … after damaging the walls on the hallway and scraping off the furniture edges. Not good enough for a professional removal man. So to make sure this won't happen again when moving out, I patiently start disassembling , the furniture, removing a door, tilting the furniture at the right angles and saying a small prayer.

Luckily, I dismantle and reassemble furniture all the time — wardrobes, bed frames, marble dining tables, you name it. There’s always a solution; it just helps when someone knows how the thing was built in the first place.

4. London traffic has its own personality

It doesn’t matter what time of day it is — London traffic will always surprise you.

A quick 15-minute drive in Greenwich can suddenly turn into 45 minutes because:

• A road is closed

• A bus has broken down

• Someone double-parked outside Tesco's

  
  

After years of doing this, I’ve learned the shortcuts, the good times to travel, and the routes to absolutely avoid. Experience saves time — and more often money for the customer.

5. People appreciate honesty more than anything else

This business is full of companies who:

• Hide fees (stairs, fuel, extra boxes charged at outrageous rates... you name it)

• Change prices at the end

• Don't show up because another job pays £20 more

• Break stuff, don't use protection during transit and generally don't care about your stuff

  
  

I’ve built Better Call Tom on simple principles:

• Turn up on time

• Be transparent

• Charge fairly

• Treat people’s belongings like my own

  
  

It works. That’s why I’m lucky to have over 300 five-star reviews and so many repeat customers.

6. A moving day should feel helpful, not stressful

My goal on every job is simple:

Make the customer feel looked after.

If they want to help, great. If they want to relax and let me take care of everything, that’s also fine. Moving day should feel organised and manageable — not like a workout session with cardboard boxes.

Final Thoughts

London is a busy city, and moving here can feel overwhelming. But with the right person helping you — someone who knows the shortcuts, the parking rules, the tricky staircases, and how to strap down a sofa properly — the whole process becomes surprisingly smooth.

If you’re planning a house or a flat move in London soon — whether it’s Greenwich, Blackheath, Lewisham, Deptford, Forest Hill, Catford, or anywhere else — I’m always happy to help.

Just Better Call Tom.