The history of our parent company goes back to 1837, and Bradbeers Removals and Storage aren't exactly newcomers, either! We are a successful, long-established and professionally-run family business.
We strive to provide our customers with the best possible service. Moving house is often said to be one of the most stressful of life's experiences, but Bradbeers aim to help you minimise that stress, and to make the actual move as smooth as we can. We will look after your goods as if they were our own.
Our crews are uniformed, courteous, and very experienced. All crew members are likely to be our permanent staff. We do not employ casuals as such (although we do sometimes call on one "occasional employee" because of his specialist experience). The same crew packs (if applicable), loads, and unloads and unpacks (if applicable) at the destination.
If you like our price, the next step is to actually book your move by signing and returning the form provided with our quotation. However, please note that until we receive payment the booking remains provisional - which means that at times of high demand your preferred day could be allocated to someone else. Also that cheques must be with us 10 working days before the move date to allow time for clearance; and card payments must be made no less than 3 days before. Our preferred method of payment is credit or debit card; just ring us up with your card number and we do the rest!
Storage
Sometimes there is a gap between the date for moving out of your current home and the date when your new home will be ready for occupation. When this is so - or when for some reason it is not possible to move all your effects into the new home immediately - we can help by offering low-cost storage. More information about storage can be found by clicking the Storage tab.
Aftercare/customer support
If, after the move, you feel that some aspect of it was not satisfactory, please don't hesitate to contact us. We will do whatever we can to investigate and put the matter right.
Fine Art and Antiques Carriers
We have many years' experience of carrying paintings, porcelain, fine antique furniture and sculpture. Your valuables and heirlooms are safe in our hands.
Modern Reliable Fleet
All our vehicles are modern, reliable, and purpose-built for the removals business. They have all necessary retaining equipment built in to ensure your goods travel to your new home as safely and securely as possible.
We have a variety of van sizes to suit jobs large and small.
Any Load, Any Distance We operate nationwide, and will be pleased to quote for any removals job. However, being based in Hampshire, Bradbeers' prices are likely to be most advantageous if you are moving within, to, or from the South.
Members of BAR The British Association of Removers (BAR) was established in 1900 and sets out standards for work practices that all member companies must meet. As members of BAR, Bradbeers are subject to regular BAR inspections to ensure that those standards are maintained. We are also able to offer the BAR Careline Guarantee, exclusive to customers of BAR member companies, which provides extra insurance and peace of mind against the (remote) possibility of things going wrong with the move, and an arbitration service.
Commercial & International Moves
We can help you with domestic, office and other commercial relocations, worldwide.
Commercial
This aspect of our work is aimed at offices, businesses, libraries, hospitals, stores, MoD contracts, schools, and university departments.
Among the services we offer are:
Commercial packing crates
Standard and library types, with or without security lids and seals. Every crate is steam-cleaned before delivery to you.
Computer crates for transporting standard workstation components
Computer roll cages for up to six workstations
Packing services
Full, part, or self-pack quotations upon request. We can supply crates for self-pack or for the balance of part-pack quotations; also such items as heavy-duty and anti-static bubble wrap. Specialised sequential, library, and catalogue packing services are available.
Bradbeers can help you with international moves too, whether to/from continental Europe or further afield. Phone us for more information.
European van service
Home, Office, Business, and Commercial relocations
Full and part loads to and from all European countries
Experienced crews and reliable vehicles backed up by established recovery services.
International removals
Air and sea freight to and from all destinations.
Exclusive deep-sea containers for full home export.
Baggage service and car transportation.
Storage facilities in the UK or at the destination location.
All effects are wrapped and packed to stringent export standards, using a wide range of protective materials.
The Moving Process
Once you've decided you're going to need a home move, give us a call. Of course we like as much notice as possible. But we welcome short-notice jobs, too. If moving day is already less than a month away, please get in touch with us straightaway. We may still be able to help.
Contact Bradbeers to arrange for an estimate. Within our local area and certain other areas, this will take the form of a free consultation at your home; alternatively, our consultant may be able to gather the necessary information from you by phone.
If our consultant visits in person, they will visit at a mutually convenient time and will show you an ID card if requested. Our consultant will note all your moving requirements, answer all your questions, and will want to discuss and take into account the following:
The items that have to be moved (including those from easily forgotten areas like your loft, garage, and outbuildings). If visiting in person, the consultant will assume that everything is to move unless you say otherwise, so don't forget to mention things that will be staying or that will be removed before you move home.
The packing that will be required, and special handling considerations for any large, awkward, or valuable items. The consultant can discuss with you the pros and cons of doing your own packing. (See under next heading for more information.)
The handling of self-assembly furniture. Bradbeers offer a wardrobe-dismantling service.
Any potential problems with access to your current home, either to the property or to individual items.
The access situation at the property you are moving to.
The planned date for the move.
And any other special factors that may apply.
Within a few days, we will then send you a written quotation, complete with our terms and conditions.
Deciding about packing
We offer three main options for packing. However, if you want a different option tailored to your particular needs, discuss it with our consultant.
Full pack
Our removal crew do all the packing, and an agreed level of unpacking at your destination. (There can be many reasons why you might want to do some or all of the unpacking yourself.) Full pack is the option we recommend, and is the only one that provides insurance cover for all your goods in transit. Although we always endeavour to take great care with everything that we move, we can't - for obvious reasons - accept responsibility for transit damage to goods that we haven't packed.
Fragile items only
This service is for china and glassware. We can also discuss, and quote for, special wrapping requirements for larger items such as oil paintings or sculptures, etc. With fragile items that we have packed, we can do an agreed level of unpacking at your destination.
Self pack
You undertake all the packing and unpacking yourself. We can lend you stout purpose-made cartons and tape.
Booking the move
If you like our price, the next step is to actually book your move by signing and returning the form provided with our quotation. However, please note that until we receive payment the booking remains provisional - which means that at times of high demand your preferred day could be allocated to someone else. Also that cheques must be with us 10 working days before the move date to allow time for clearance; and card payments must be made no less than 3 days before. Our preferred method of payment is credit or debit card; just ring us up with your card number and we do the rest!
Ahead of the move--when things need to happen
When you are planning a household move, there are many "things to do", and many arrangements that have to be made,. The following are some broad suggestions about planning for the physical move itself. However, there are a host of other things associated with the move that you will need to arrange or allow for, and our Checklist page should be helpful for putting together your own list of "things to do".
Three weeks ahead of the move:
Sort out any rubbish or other items that you will not be taking to the new home, and dispose of them or arrange for their collection. (A move is a wonderful opportunity for getting rid of clutter!)
If you are doing your own packing, obtain all necessary packing materials. Bradbeers can supply some of these; call us to discuss your requirements.
Two weeks ahead of the move:
List all the preparations that you will have to make in the days immediately leading up to the move. What needs to be done will depend of course on whether you are doing your own packing, and may include:
Disassembling any large items of self-assembly furniture. (Our consultant will have discussed these with you, either on a home visit or by phone.) Dismantling and reassembling such items is the customer's responsibility, unless you are making use of our wardrobe-dismantling service.
Removing items such as curtains, light fittings, and bed-linen from spare beds.
Lifting and rolling any carpets and rugs that you may be taking with you to your new home.
Preparing any house-plants for the move.
What happens on the day?
Remove all bedlinen from remaining beds and either pack it to take it with you to the new home, or put it in a box clearly labelled with the contents, to ensure that it can be located easily at the other end.
Pack things that you will need on the journey. If these items are going to be still in the home while we are loading other effects into the van, clearly label the box "PERSONAL EFFECTS; DO NOT MOVE".
During the packing, loading, transit, unloading and agreed unpacking of your goods, Bradbeers will take great care to avoid damage either to the items being moved or to the accommodation that you are leaving or moving into. Home removals is a job for experts, and that's just what our crews are! Click here for more information about the special measures we take to protect your goods and accommodation.
At your destination, your Bradbeers crew will carry all goods into the designated rooms at your new address, and will unpack to the extent previously agreed. Unpacked goods will be placed on a flat surface (it is up to you to arrange items in cupboards etc to your own satisfaction).
After unloading at your destination, Bradbeers will take away any packaging materials that were used on goods that have been unpacked.
Two to four weeks from moving day
Change of address notifications. Once you are certain about your moving day and the move is booked, you will need to notify your change of address to many people and organisations. It's useful to get some change-of-address cards printed, particularly for notifying friends and neighbours. But a lot of organisations include change-of-address forms in their literature or as part of their regular statements to you.
Here are some of the organisations who need to know about your change of address:
Banks, building societies, and any other organisations where you have investments.
Schools and colleges
Insurance companies and brokers you regularly deal with Credit cards (including store cards)
Stores with which you have ongoing HP agreements
Stockbroker
Solicitors (even the ones dealing with your sale/purchase)
Organisations with whom you have standing orders.
Telephone companies (landline and mobiles)
Government and local government agencies, such as the Inland Revenue, DVLC (for both driving licences and motor vehicle licences), the Bonds and Stocks office (for premium bonds), the DSS/Benefits Agency, TV Licensing, and the local authority to which you are currently paying rates, as well as the new local authority (if applicable)
Organisations you have subscriptions with (charities, clubs, periodicals, book clubs, etc).
Post Office
You will need to arrange for redirection of your mail by completing the appropriate form, obtainable at your local PO.
Landlord
Will probably need at least four weeks notice of your intention to leave. Check your rental agreement ASAP!
Medical
Notify doctors, dentists, opticians - and any other medical practitioners from whom you are receiving regular treatment - that you will be leaving their registers as from the moving date. Register with new ones in the area you will be moving to, so that case notes etc can be transferred.
Hotel
If you will need hotel accommodation during or immediately following the move, book it well in advance.
Pets
If you want to avoid extra complications on moving day, consider booking pets into kennels, catteries, etc; or arrange with friends to look after them during the move.
Food
Start to "run down" the contents of your freezer, aiming to have it empty at least a day before moving.
Lofts, cellars, outbuildings, etc.
If you have items stored in the loft etc, decide what you want to take with you to the new home, and what you want to do with the rest. Remember that the loft will probably have to be cleared by the time you leave the property; also that for insurance reasons the removal crew cannot clear items from lofts and attics; this is your responsibility.
Wine
Red wine, in particular, can cause a lot of damage by staining if bottles are accidentally spilled or broken during a house move. Consider running down your stocks during the weeks leading up to the move!
New furniture, carpets, curtains, etc for new home
If you are ordering any of these, be sure to do so in good time, so that the items can be delivered as soon as possible after your arrival date.
One week from moving day
Utility Companies
Notify your existing suppliers of electricity, gas, and water of your intention to move and arrange disconnection (if applicable) on the moving day. Contact the equivalent suppliers that you want to use at your new address to arrange for reconnection/commencement of supply on the moving day.
Things you've borrowed
Take back any library books you have out on loan. Remember to return anything you've borrowed from neighbours, too!
Things that are to stay
Clearly label or mark any movable items that will be staying in your old home, so they are not packed and moved by accident.
Local shops and businesses
Settle any outstanding bills for groceries, milk, papers, etc.
Clear the fridge
Clear the fridge of everything except essentials. Aim to completely empty it the day before moving day.
Two to three days from moving day
Make arrangements for handing over the keys of your current home on moving day. Check that keys will be available for your new home when you arrive.
Pack "survival bags" for moving day (and perhaps the following day) at your new address. These should include a change of clothes, toiletries, and towels. You will also need items to help you cope with unexpected situations. Such things as matches, torches, kitchen towels, toilet rolls, candles, light bulbs, and a tool kit could be very useful.
Note down important phone numbers relating to your old home and your new one, and ensure the list will be accessible on moving day.
Pack personal valuables and documents.
Do your final round of laundry at your old home. Get this done at least a day before moving day.
Clear the fridge and freezer. Clean them, and leave them with doors ajar until moving day. Note: This does not apply if we have agreed to move your freezer complete with contents, which is sometimes feasible for short moves.
The day before & moving day
Arrange food for the big day. If you won't be able to cook on moving day, sandwiches or pasties made the night before may be a good bet. Also biscuits, fruit, cheese, fruit juice or cordial, and whatever you will need for tea and coffee making. If the electricity or gas is going to be off, you may want to make up thermos flasks the night before. To save trouble, consider using paper plates and disposable cups, glasses, and cutlery on the day.
Moving day
There shouldn't be much left to do! The moving crew should be with you soon. If you can still heat up water, they will appreciate having, or being able to make, the occasional cup of tea or coffee, and some biscuits. Loading a removals van is thirsty work!
As soon as possible after getting up, strip the beds and pack the bed-linen in boxes or bags that will travel with you, so that they are quickly available at your new home.
The moving crew will be uniformed and will arrive in a Bradbeers van. Show the crew leader round the property.
The crew will then start packing or, if you have done your own packing, they will start loading the van.
Once the van is loaded, walk round the property with the leader again to ensure that everything that is to go has been cleared. Don't forget to check garages and any outbuildings.
At the other end, the crew will unload your goods from the van into specified rooms and do any unpacking that has been previously agreed. Then the crew leader will ask you to sign his work sheet . If you have any comments you can make them at this stage, or on a follow-up form that we will be mailing to you within a few days.
Now it's time to start exploring and enjoying your new home!
Why Bradbeers Storage?
We have comprehensive storage facilities for homes and businesses.
Our warehouse is modern and large (a full-size furniture van looks lost in it!). Our services include short or long-term container storage, personal storage, and archival storage. For further information, click the link on the left.
Why Bradbeers?
Bradbeers provides storage services for both private and commercial clients.
Our customers include:
Leading insurance companies
Local authority bodies
Schools
Charities
Other storage companies!
As well as many, many, private individuals and families who have found our storage facilities a godsend.
Modern premises
We occupy (and own) a large, modern, airy, clean, secure warehouse in Romsey, Hampshire.
All containerised storage is off the floor.
For the key features, see our Facilities and Security page.
Visit us and see for yourself
If you need storage, you are welcome to visit at any time during business hours to see it for yourself - we even have a sign outside to that effect. Parking is easy and free. Try some of our competitors and see if they'll let you in!
Facilities & Security
We have 15,000 sq ft of modern warehouse space, and stack our standard containers (see next item) 3-high, (which means we can store up to 450 of them). The photo shows part of one side of the warehouse.
Containers
We have standardised on modern timber-construction palletised containers, with internal dimensions of 7x7x5 ft, which can take up to ton.
Why timber? Because this is much more suitable for safe storage in modern premises. Timber containers are strong, light, and durable, lasting up to 15 years. Also, unlike the old metal containers, they don't give rise to any problems with condensed moisture - because timber containers don't "sweat".
Handling equipment
We use modern lift trucks and stackers, with very skilled operators.
Double-skinned roof
The extra insulation protects against extreme changes of temperature.
Security
Our storage facilities provide excellent physical security, being housed in strongly built modern premises. Other features:
Fully alarmed
Regularly checked and regularly inspected
Up-to-the-minute electronic detectors
Top rodent control (only one [dead] mouse seen since 2001!)
Insurance for fire, flood, and forced entry
Rigorously enforced "No Smoking" policy
Access
You can access your storage whenever you wish but we require a working day's notice of your visit. This is to ensure that when you come, the container concerned is in a position where you can safely gain access to it.
Domestic Storage
Storing domestic effects, whether short-term or long-term, is becoming more and more popular in the UK. Here are just some of the situations where it can be useful.
Thinking of putting your home on the market? Add thousands to its value by storing your clutter with us for as little as 50 a month!
Your old home is sold, and you're waiting to move into the new one. Short-term storage is the answer, and is a popular way to avoid breaking a moving chain.
If your chain falls apart, short-term storage with us means you can still move when you'd planned to move.
Temporarily running out of space? Store some of your household effects until there's room again.
Going on an overseas assignment? And perhaps you'd like to let your UK home, but you don't want to risk tenants damaging your furniture? Answer: let your home unfurnished, and put your furniture etc into store while you are away.
Redecorating, renovating, or having the builders in, and nowhere to put the contents of the rooms being worked on? Put the contents into short-term storage.
Assigned to work in the UK, and you find that not all of your shipped furniture will fit into your assignment accommodation? (UK houses being typically smaller than, say, US ones.) Answer: store it with us.
You need storage for a student's effects during a gap year.
You need to store an elderly relative's effects because they are moving into smaller or sheltered accommodation.
You need to store some large and/or awkwardly shaped items such as pianos and tall cabinets. Let us look after it for you as "Loose Storage".
Types of storage available
We offer three types of storage for private clients:
Palletised containers for regular storage
Palletised containers for "personal storage".
Loose storage
Containers
Loose Storage
For items that cannot easily be fitted into our containers, we also offer the option of loose storage within the warehouse. This is suitable for items such as pianos, tall cupboards, and other large and/or awkwardly shaped items.
The Process
Contact us to discuss your requirements. Either phone us or email us your phone number.
We arrange to visit your home (or other premises) to view the items that need to be stored, to confirm the storage period, and to check on the amount of container or loose storage space that will be required. As part of this consultation we will discuss who should provide the transport. You can make your own arrangements for loading and delivering the goods to our warehouse if you wish. However, we strongly recommend having Bradbeers provide the transport. This avoids double-handling, and it also means that you avoid the possibility of injuring yourself - or damaging items - by trying to load the goods yourself. Loading goods is a far more skilled job than most people realise!
Within a few days, we provide a quotation for the cost. The quotation will show the price, the storage period, and the projected date for picking up the goods from your premises.
If you agree the quotation, then on the appointed day (if we are providing the transport) a Bradbeers van arrives to collect the goods. In most cases the van will bring an empty container; the exception is when the goods are to be "loose stored". The crew load the goods into the container and seal it; or load the loose goods onto the van. As they load, they record an inventory of all the items concerned. When loading is complete, they ask you to sign the inventory, and give you a copy.
The goods are transferred to our warehouse to be stored for the stipulated period.
At the end of the stipulated period, after confirming the transport date with you, we transport the container or loose goods back to your premises.
If you want to visit your storage container, this is fine; just give us at least a working day's notice of your visit, so we can ensure that the container is an a safely accessible position.
Costs
Due to the low-cost nature of container storage, we are cheaper than specialist self-storage operators in the normal course of events.
Commercial Storage
Our facilities and pricing for commercial storage contracts are quite flexible. The following will give some idea of what's on offer, but the most important thing is to contact us. Outline your requirements, and we will be delighted to advise you as to the best solution, and to quote you a competitive price.
Containers
For more information about the containers we offer, see the description on our Storage page.
Exhibition storage
Are you desperate for space, but having to find room for exhibition stands or other material that you only need a few times a year? We can solve the problem for you, at a very modest monthly charge.
Loose storage We can offer loose storage on the floor for large or awkwardly shaped pieces of furniture or any other clean equipment that you need to store away from your premises for a set period. Call us to discuss your needs.
Trade storage
Several well-known local removals companies use Bradbeers' warehouse because it is the best in the area. (And if you think this sounds like boasting, we can only say that (1) "It ain't boasting if it's true!", and (2) you're very welcome to come and check it out for yourself.) We are pleased to help out other local firms in the storage sector who have a temporary shortage of space. Just give us a call!
Archive/records management We offer purpose-built walk-in containers and purpose-made cartons (supplied in flat-pack form) for archival storage of business and institutional records. Among our clients for this kind of storage are local businesses and schools, insurance companies, charities, and local authority units.
We also offer a records management service, whereby records are held for a specified period of time and then destroyed by specialists, who guarantee secure disposal. Certificates of destruction can be supplied by request.
Collection/delivery You can use your own vehicles to deliver and collect goods/containers for storage (which is obviously the cheaper option) or we will be happy to provide the transport ourselves. Give us a call to discuss it.
Bradbeers Removals & Storage Contact Details
Contact us in any of the following ways.
We'll be delighted to hear from you!
The history of our parent company goes back to 1837, and Bradbeers Removals and Storage aren't exactly newcomers, either! We are a successful, long-established and professionally-run family business.
We can help you with domestic, office and other commercial relocations, worldwide. 
Once you've decided you're going to need a home move, give us a call. Of course we like as much notice as possible. But we welcome short-notice jobs, too. If moving day is already less than a month away, please get in touch with us straightaway. We may still be able to help.
Change of address notifications. Once you are certain about your moving day and the move is booked, you will need to notify your change of address to many people and organisations. It's useful to get some change-of-address cards printed, particularly for notifying friends and neighbours. But a lot of organisations include change-of-address forms in their literature or as part of their regular statements to you.
We have comprehensive storage facilities for homes and businesses.