Pricing a removal
What a removal price has to cover, so the job still pays when the day turns out harder than the quote.
A quote that's too low usually shows itself on the day: three flights of stairs nobody mentioned, or a sofa that won't go round the landing. A good price covers the real cost of the job and still leaves a margin when that happens. These are the costs to account for.
Time
Most of a removal's cost is people's time: loading, driving and unloading. Price for the crew's whole day on the job, including the drive from your yard to the first collection and back from the last drop. Set a minimum, so short jobs still pay for getting a van and crew out.
The van
Each van has its own running cost: fuel, wear, insurance and its share of the day. Fuel is the part that moves. GOV.UK publishes weekly road fuel prices (opens in a new tab) for petrol and diesel. A bigger van costs more to run, so price each job for the van it really needs.
The crew
Two people move most homes; large or heavy items need more. Set the crew by the size of the job and its heaviest items, and charge each extra person by the hour.
Access
The same furniture takes far longer up three floors with no lift, or from a flat where the van can't park close. Ask about floors, lifts, carry distance and parking when you quote, and add for each.
Heavy and fragile items
Pianos, safes, American fridge freezers and antiques need more people, equipment or care. Price them as items in their own right; averaged into the job, they disappear.
Extras
Packing, materials, dismantling, storage and cleaning are worth charging separately. Customers can choose them, and your price stays clear.
Road charges
Routes through clean air zones (opens in a new tab), congestion charges, tolls and crossings add a cost on the day. Check whether your vans are charged, and add the charge to the quotes whose routes cross a zone.
Dates and times
Your busiest days, early starts and late finishes are worth more. Add a percentage for them, and offer a discount on quiet days if you want to fill the diary.
Deposits and VAT
A deposit when the customer books cuts last-minute cancellations. If you are VAT registered, say whether your prices include VAT.
In DoRoutes
DoRoutes prices each quote from the actual route and your own rates: time and distance for each vehicle, crew rules, floors and heavy items, extras, peak dates and road charges on the route. Try a quote shows the price before you save new rates. See Quotes in the user guide.