HOW TO HIRE · REMOVALS & STORAGE · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a removal firm in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A home removals in Ireland costs €400–€2,500 per move, typically around €900. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a removal firm in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers removal firm work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — storage Solutions — some home removal services provide temporary storage solutions for items that cannot be moved immediately.
- How does volume of items change the price?Each one still has to be done properly, however many there are. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does any additional services like packing change the price?It decides whether a specialist is needed at all. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does weight of your belongings change the price?It changes what has to be brought to site. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Home removal services usually do not cover the disassembly or reassembly of complex furniture, hazardous materials, or items requiring special handling like artwork — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a removal firm job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO LICENCE APPLIES TO REMOVALS FIRMS. The protection is the insurance, and the word to listen for is GOODS IN TRANSIT — public liability does not pay for your own property being damaged in their van. Trade membership of the Irish Association of Movers is voluntary and brings a complaints route.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
GOODS IN TRANSIT cover and its limit per item and in total — a €10,000 total on a four-bedroom move is not cover, it is a gesture; Whether the limit falls for items you pack yourself, which it usually does; A written inventory before loading, signed by both of you; How a claim is made and within what deadline — often days, not weeks; Whether the crew on the day are employees or casual labour; For storage, who insures the goods while stored and against what.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect goods in transit and public liability, with the limits named. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 23%, the standard rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers removal firm work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — storage Solutions — some home removal services provide temporary storage solutions for items that cannot be moved immediately.
A good answer: Each one still has to be done properly, however many there are. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: It decides whether a specialist is needed at all. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: It changes what has to be brought to site. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Home removal services usually do not cover the disassembly or reassembly of complex furniture, hazardous materials, or items requiring special handling like artwork — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a removal firm job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect goods in transit and public liability, with the limits named — transport Logistics — transporting your belongings from your old home to the new location is a crucial service.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the removal firm starts, and an itemised invoice after — loading and Unloading — the loading and unloading of items into and out of the moving vehicle is a key part of home removals.
Getting the quote right
- Volume of items — each one still has to be done properly, however many there are.
- Any additional services like packing — it decides whether a specialist is needed at all.
- Weight of your belongings — it changes what has to be brought to site.
- Distance to the new location — the journey is paid for whether the job takes an hour or a day.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: volume of items — each one still has to be done properly, however many there are
- They will not talk about it: any additional services like packing — it decides whether a specialist is needed at all
- They will not talk about it: weight of your belongings — it changes what has to be brought to site
- A price for the removal firm before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the removal firm has begun
What a removal firm costs: €400–€2,500 per move
The figures are for the job, per move, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Full house move and Office relocation each carry their own band. Home Removals price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Removal firms near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstVolume of items — each one still has to be done properly, however many there are — that is what the removal firm is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneAny additional services like packing — it decides whether a specialist is needed at all — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfWeight of your belongings — it changes what has to be brought to site — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherDistance to the new location — the journey is paid for whether the job takes an hour or a day — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the removal firm is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, accessibility issues or the complexity of the move — intricate work needs a steadier hand and more time.
- Packing Services
- Home removals often include packing services where professionals carefully wrap and box items to prevent damage.
- Loading and Unloading
- The loading and unloading of items into and out of the moving vehicle is a key part of home removals.
- Transport Logistics
- Transporting your belongings from your old home to the new location is a crucial service.
- Storage Solutions
- Some home removal services provide temporary storage solutions for items that cannot be moved immediately.
- Full House Move
- This involves packing, transporting, and unpacking all household items from one location to another.
- Office Relocation
- Specialised moving service for relocating office equipment, furniture, and supplies with minimal disruption to business operations.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a removal firm: questions people ask
The cost of home removals can be influenced by several factors including the distance of the move, the volume of items, and any additional services like packing and storage. Larger moves or those requiring special handling will typically cost more.
The duration of a home removal can vary widely depending on the size of the home and the number of items being moved. A small apartment might take a few hours, while a larger house could take an entire day or more.
Many removal companies offer same-day services, but availability can be limited, especially during peak moving seasons. It's advisable to book in advance to secure your desired date.
Yes, it is often possible to book related services such as packing, storage, or cleaning alongside your home removal. Many companies offer package deals that can provide cost savings.
Home removal services usually do not cover the disassembly or reassembly of complex furniture, hazardous materials, or items requiring special handling like artwork. It's important to clarify these aspects with your removal company.
NO LICENCE APPLIES TO REMOVALS FIRMS. The protection is the insurance, and the word to listen for is GOODS IN TRANSIT — public liability does not pay for your own property being damaged in their van. Trade membership of the Irish Association of Movers is voluntary and brings a complaints route.
MORE GUIDES