Our Man and Van service is an affordable service which is perfect for smaller moves. Contact us today!
Mark Ratcliffe provide a man and van service as part of their comprehensive moving services to commercial and domestic clients throughout Horsham, Itchingham and Crawley. This service is perfect for when you do not need a fleet of removals vans, and you just require a single man and van. For instance, if you are moving student accommodation, moving flat, moving offices or single item deliveries.
When selecting a man and van or removals company to carry out your move, you need to choose one you know you can trust when handling your possessions. We always treat your belongings with care and consideration. We prioritise customer service and professionalism - which is what keeps our customers returning for our other services and giving us superb customer reviews. Read our testimonials to find out what makes us so reputable in the local area. If you select our man and van service, your van will arrive equipped with GPS, loading ramps, furniture covers, and ties to ensure your belongings are kept completely secure in transit. Our drivers are friendly, polite, and uniformed so you know exactly who to expect. They will always go above and beyond to help your move run smoothly. They are all familiar with the local area, knowledgeable of the quickest routes, so your move goes ahead without any delays due to traffic concerns. We are fully trained and insured so you know you are receiving genuine, trusted service.
Moving can be expensive - we are proud to offer affordable rates. If you are undertaking a smaller move, an entire removals team and multiple vans may not be necessary. We provide an affordable alternative to smaller moves:
Man van prices are inclusive of vat and fuel (within the local area). We understand that not everyone can move on a weekday due to other commitments, we work flexibly so we can even supply our services on weekends or bank holidays.
Mark Ratcliffe has years of experience in the removals industry, having begun in the industry in 2017. This has given us realms of experience so we can provide the best service possible. Our 'man and van' team are available for any type of move. We know that no two moves are the same, so we get to know your exact requirements and tailor our service to your moving day. We offer a complete service, from the moment you enquire to the completion of your move, we are here to make the whole process as simple as it can be. This is why we can offer packing and self-storage options should you require these. We even can help if you are moving overseas and need assistance with removals or small baggage shipments. If you would like to get in touch regarding any of our services or just need some advice about your move - request a free moving quote, call us on 01323 848 008, or for your free quote click the "Request a Quote" button at the top of the page.
Most of our Horsham work falls into one of three property categories. Tile-hung Victorian and Edwardian terraces on the older streets, where the move-out involves narrow staircases, sash windows that need protecting, and original mantelpieces that we wrap individually. Post-war semis and detached homes on the mid-century estates — wider doors, garages that often function as overflow loft space, and gardens that have accumulated sheds, greenhouses and outdoor furniture. And modern detached new-builds, where the move is faster but the inventory is usually bigger thanks to the bonus rooms and double garages.
Whichever of those three describes your Horsham home, the survey covers the same ground: room-by-room walk, photo of every awkward corner, and a written, itemised quote within 48 hours. We don’t quote off a phone call for anything bigger than a one-bedroom flat — phone quotes too often miss the loft, the under-stair cupboard or the shed, and the price moves on move day. A proper survey is free, takes 30 to 45 minutes, and means the price you see is the price you pay.
Our daily routes out of the Lower Dicker depot put Horsham within standard half-day or full-day reach, depending on inventory size and the destination address. A typical Horsham pickup with a Sussex or Surrey delivery completes in a single day, including pad-wrapping at the load and unwrapping at the unload. The lorry leaves Lower Dicker in time to be on your driveway ten minutes before the stated load time — we don’t make customers wait around at 6am for a 7am scheduled start.
For chain-day moves out of Horsham the timings matter and we plan the schedule from the keys-release time backwards. For longer-distance UK moves — to the Midlands, the West Country, the north — we generally split the day across two crews if the inventory exceeds a single lorry. Anything heading overseas from Horsham routes through our customs-controlled holding bay at the depot, where the container is loaded after a final inventory check.
The Horsham quote process runs in five practical steps. First, a phone or web enquiry — tell us the address and the rough move date and we’ll suggest a survey slot. Second, the survey itself: either in-home (30 to 45 minutes) or over a video call. Both produce the same paperwork. Third, the written quote, emailed within 48 hours, itemised by line — pad-wrap, transport, packing materials, insurance, any specialist handling — so you can see what every cost line covers.
Fourth, the deposit and date hold: typically 25% on confirmation, fully protected under the British Association of Removers’ Advance Payment Guarantee. Fifth, the move itself — uniformed crew, our own lorry, no agency labour, blankets washed between jobs, and a written inventory at handover. None of this is unusual but it’s worth saying because a meaningful minority of removal firms across West Sussex cut corners on at least one of those steps.
Most Horsham moves use one of three packing options. Full pack — our crews pack everything in the house the day before move day, using removal-grade cartons and tissue. Fragile-only pack — we handle the kitchen, the display cabinets, the framed art, the mirrors, the lamps, and the customer packs the easy stuff (books, clothing, linen, garage). Self-pack with materials supplied — we drop off cartons, tape, bubble and tissue, and you do it yourself with our written room-by-room guide.
Where the dates don’t line up (the sale completes a fortnight before the purchase, the chain slips, or the new property isn’t ready), we hold the load at our A22 depot in steel strong-rooms with 24-hour CCTV. Short-term storage between contracts is charged by the week; longer-term storage is invoiced monthly. For Horsham customers needing self-access self-storage, the ground floor of the depot is fitted for that — individual digital-entry doors and 24/7 access via a key fob.
After the move, we come back to collect empty cartons free of charge if you’re within standard delivery range. We also offer an unpack service for customers who prefer the new home set up by us — particularly common for older customers and white-glove relocations.
For end-of-month dates in the May–September peak, six to ten weeks ahead. Mid-week, mid-month dates can sometimes be booked two to three weeks ahead. The earlier you book, the more choice of slot and crew you’ll have.
Yes — typically 25% of the quoted price on booking, with the balance payable on the day of completion. All deposits are protected under the British Association of Removers’ Advance Payment Guarantee.
Crew time, our own lorry, fuel, pad-wrap (industry-grade blankets washed between jobs), basic transit insurance and labour. Packing materials, fragile-only or full packing service, and any specialist handling (piano, antiques, art, marble) are quoted separately so you see the price of each.
Yes — full British Association of Removers members and audited annually, including the BS 8564 international removal standard. Our membership number and current audit dates are on the BAR site.
Sometimes — depends on the date and the inventory size. Smaller jobs can often be slotted in within a week. Larger 3- and 4-bed moves usually need at least two weeks’ notice so we can crew correctly.
Yes — FIDI-network shipments to over 200 countries. International moves route through our customs-controlled holding bay at the A22 depot, where the container is loaded after a final inventory check. We don’t sub-contract international work to third-party brokers.