Moving terms, explained in plain English.

Access

Everything between the van and your door: parking, steps, stairs, lifts, corridors and doorways. Access decides how long a move takes more than distance does.

With Alpha: Tell us the floor at each end and whether there is a lift. Photos of the stairs help.

Booking reference

The code that identifies your booking, so you and the office are always talking about the same job.

With Alpha: Ours are in the form AM-######. You see it on the confirmation screen and in every email.

Bulky item

Anything too big or heavy for two people to carry easily: corner sofas, wardrobes, American fridge freezers, pianos.

Cancellation window

The period before a booking when you can cancel or change the date without paying.

With Alpha: Free to cancel or change up to 24 hours before the start time. Inside 24 hours it is up to 50% of the quoted price.

Completion day

The day a property sale or purchase completes and the keys are released. Keys often come in the early afternoon, so the van has to wait or the move has to be planned around it.

Congestion Charge

A daily charge for driving inside the central London zone during its charging hours. It applies to removal vans as well as cars.

Crate hire

Hiring strong plastic crates with lids instead of buying cardboard boxes. They stack well and are delivered and collected.

With Alpha: From £42 for one week, delivered and collected.

Dismantling and reassembly

Taking furniture apart so it fits through doors and stairwells, then putting it back together in the new home. Common for beds, wardrobes and some sofas.

With Alpha: From £60.

Double yellow lines

No waiting at any time. Loading and unloading is often allowed on them unless short marks on the kerb show a loading ban, so check the kerb and any signs.

Driver only

A van and driver without extra movers. Suits small loads where you can help carry.

With Alpha: With us the driver helps with loading. £90 for the first 2 hours, then £45 an hour.

Exchange of contracts

The point when a property sale becomes legally binding and the completion date is fixed. Most people book their removal date once contracts are exchanged.

Fixed price

One price agreed before the move, whatever the time taken. The alternative is an hourly rate.

Furniture hoisting

Lifting large furniture in or out through a window or balcony, when it will not go up the stairs or into the lift.

Goods in transit insurance

Cover for your belongings while they are being carried and driven, from loading to unloading.

With Alpha: Every move with us includes £10,000 goods in transit cover.

Helper

A mover who comes with the van and driver to carry. More helpers make a big move faster.

Hourly rate

Paying for the time the van and crew work, usually with a minimum number of hours. It suits moves where the amount of time is easy to predict.

With Alpha: Every job has a two-hour minimum, then the hourly rate.

Inventory

A list of what is being moved, room by room. It is what makes a quote accurate.

Loading bay

A marked space where vehicles may stop to load and unload, often with time limits shown on a sign.

Long carry

The walk between where the van can park and your front door. A long carry adds time to every trip.

Luton van

A large van with a box body that extends over the cab, usually with a tail lift. The standard size for a full flat or house move.

With Alpha: With us it comes with two helpers: £150 for the first 2 hours, then £75 an hour. Suits two and three-bedroom homes.

Man and van

A van with one or two movers, booked by the hour. Good for smaller moves, single items and collections.

Minimum booking

The shortest time a van and crew can be booked for, whatever the size of the job.

With Alpha: Two hours for every job.

Packing service

Movers pack your belongings into boxes before the move, often the day before, with the right materials for fragile items.

Parking suspension

Booking parking bays from the council so they are kept free for the removal van on the day. Each London council sets its own fee and notice period.

Pay after the job

Paying once the move is finished, rather than a deposit up front.

With Alpha: No deposit. You pay by bank transfer after the job is done.

Piano move

Moving a piano with the right equipment and enough people, because of its weight and how easily it is damaged.

Red route

Main London roads marked with red lines where stopping is banned, except in marked boxes at the times shown on signs.

Removal company

A firm that plans and carries out a whole move, usually with larger vans, more crew and packing options.

Single item move

Moving one large item, such as a sofa, bed or fridge, rather than a whole home.

Stair fee

An extra charge some movers add for carrying up or down stairs.

With Alpha: We do not charge stair fees.

Storage

Keeping belongings somewhere safe between moving out and moving in, or during building work.

Tail lift

A powered platform at the back of a van that lifts heavy items up to the van floor.

With Alpha: Our Luton vans have one.

ULEZ

The Ultra Low Emission Zone covers all London boroughs. Vehicles that do not meet its emission standards pay a daily charge.

With Alpha: We do not add a ULEZ charge to your price.

Weekend premium

An extra charge some movers add for Saturday and Sunday moves.

With Alpha: We do not charge a weekend premium.

Wrapping

Protecting furniture with blankets, stretch film or covers so it is not scratched or marked on the way.