Book your removal company 6 to 8 weeks before your date of entry, and crucially, before missives are concluded between the buyer and seller. This is the Scottish conveyancing moment that every other advisor skips because they are not moving you. A removal company is the only professional who needs to know your actual moving day before the legal process locks.
Why 6 to 8 weeks? Because your date of entry is not fixed until missives are concluded. We explain how Scottish settlement works in practice, and once concluded, removal firms book up fast. Our house removals in Edinburgh diary fills earliest for Fridays and month ends. If you wait until after missives are signed, you are negotiating slot availability against a fixed deadline, not against time.
How Scottish Date of Entry Differs From English Completion
In England, “completion” is the day you own the house and collect keys. In Scotland, “date of entry” is that day, but the legal process works backwards from it. Missives are the single contract that binds both sides to a specific date of entry.
What this means for booking a removal company:
- Your solicitor does not know your moving day until missives are concluded.
- Missives often conclude on the same day you move (or the day before).
- A removal company cannot be booked around a date that is not yet final.
- The only way to lock a removal company before the last week is to book while missives are being negotiated.
When Your Solicitor Will Tell You It Is Too Late
Your solicitor will contact you roughly two weeks before missives conclude to confirm your preferred date of entry. At that point, you will have two weeks to find a removal company, but removal firms book in 4 to 6 week clusters, not 2-week emergency slots.
If your moving day is 3 weeks away and you start calling removal companies: weekend slots are gone, mid-week morning slots are gone, and you may end up with early evening or a slot two days after your date of entry. The removal company cannot control this. They need time to schedule a van, crew, and packing staff.
Why 6 Weeks Is the Target
6 weeks = optimal window. You are calling while the firm still has your week in the planning phase. They can pencil your house move and work around your actual date of entry without premium pricing.
8 weeks = safe. If you book at 8 weeks, you are in the same planning cycle but earlier in the queue.
12+ weeks = uncertain. Many removal firms do not take bookings beyond 10 to 12 weeks because date of entry often shifts, or an emergency slot may be bumped by a closer, confirmed booking.
The Three Moments to Book
Moment 1: You Have Agreed on a Rough Date (6 to 8 Weeks Before)
Your offer is accepted. Your solicitor says it will take 4 to 6 weeks to conclude missives. Book your removal company now. Tell them the exact date is provisional. A good removal firm will pencil you in and ask for confirmation at week 4.
Moment 2: Your Solicitor Confirms the Likely Date (2 to 3 Weeks Before)
Your solicitor calls: “Missives will likely conclude on 10 September. Date of entry will be 13 September.” Call your removal company to confirm. At this stage, you have options; at one week, you do not.
Moment 3: Missives Are Concluded (1 Week Before or Less)
Your date of entry is now locked. If you have not booked by now, start calling every firm in Edinburgh. Expect premium pricing or undesirable time slots.
What Information to Have Ready
If you are still working out when your date of entry will land, our guide to how long it takes to move house in Scotland sets out each stage.
Having these to hand also means the quote you get back is a real figure rather than a placeholder. What actually drives that figure is covered in our guide to removal company prices in Edinburgh.
Property size and type, access details, postcodes, preferred week, distance, services needed, and any bulky items. A removal company can quote accurately on these items without you measuring every room.
How Much Notice by Move Type
Local Edinburgh: 3 weeks minimum, 6 to 8 weeks ideal. Edinburgh to central Scotland: 4 weeks minimum, 8 weeks ideal. Edinburgh to south of England: 4 weeks minimum, 8 to 10 weeks ideal. Packing included: 6 weeks minimum, 8+ weeks ideal. With storage: 4 weeks minimum, 6 to 8 weeks ideal. Emergency: 1 to 2 weeks possible, higher cost. Winter moves often book with 4 weeks notice due to lower demand.
Common Mistakes
Booking Too Early (12+ Weeks)
Missives drag on, date of entry shifts, and you have to rebook. Many firms charge rebooking fees. Book at 8 weeks instead, confirm in writing at 4 weeks, and do not panic if the date slips by a few days. Good firms budget 2 to 3 day flexibility.
Waiting Until After Missives Conclude
Every other buyer thinks the same, which is why good slots vanish in week 1. Tell your removal company the date is provisional. Pencil bookings are industry standard for Scottish moves.
Not Mentioning the Tenement Stair
Always tell the removal company the full address or describe the property. Edinburgh properties are highly variable; crews need to know.
Booking the Nearest Firm Instead of the Right Firm
Call three to five removal firms. Compare on notice period, services, price, and customer reviews, not just availability.
How Your Solicitor Affects the Timeline
Your solicitor negotiates missives, not coordinates with the removal company. Do not wait for them to tell you when to book. Start at week 8 and pencil a removal company while missives are still being negotiated.
What If Your Date of Entry Changes?
If your date of entry shifts by 3 to 5 days, most firms will adjust for free or a small fee. Shifts of a week or more may incur rebooking charges. When you book, ask in writing: “If date of entry shifts by a week, what happens?” A professional removal company will build in 2 to 3 days flexibility.
FAQ
Can I book less than 2 weeks before moving day? Small local firms or those with emergency cancellations may have a slot. Expect 20 to 30% premium pricing and no choice of time slots. Book at week 6 to avoid this.
Should I get a written quote? Yes. A phone quote is non-binding; a written quote (email or letter) is a commitment. When you confirm booking, the written quote becomes your contract.
Can I book if I have not had an offer accepted? Not really. You do not know the rough date of entry, and removal companies will not hold a slot beyond 8 to 10 weeks.
What if my removal company goes out of business? Always pay a deposit, not full payment. Keep your invoice and written quote. Check reviews on Google and Trustpilot a week before moving day. If you have concerns, call to confirm the booking.
Is there a best time of year to move? Summer (June to August) is busiest with peak prices. Spring and autumn are moderate. Winter is quietest with better availability and lower prices, but expect less daylight and higher heating costs. The best time is when your date of entry falls.
Do Edinburgh firms charge more for tenement stairs? Most include a reasonable number of stairs in the base quote. Beyond 4 to 5 flights or unusual access, some charge extra. Always mention the property type and number of flights when you call.
