Looking for a low-cost, efficient moving service for smaller moves? Look no further! Mark Ratcliffe offers man with a van and more...
We are a moving company in Lewes who offer more than just large, comprehensive moves. We offer a man with a van hire service which is perfect for domestic customers needing assistance with smaller moves like student accommodation or flat moves. Also we work with commercial clients - our man and van service is suitable for office moves. We understand that every move is different so we work flexibly and around your schedule. We are available 7 days a week and there's NO extra charge for weekends.
At Mark Ratcliffe, we are committed to providing reliable and professional service at an affordable price. Unlike other removal companies, we can offer qualified staff members but still keeping prices affordable. We are renowned within the East Sussex area for providing a man with a van service which is sophisticated and thorough, providing suitable safety equipment to keep your belongings secure during transit for example van tie rails, furniture covers, loading ramps and sack trucks. Your designated removals man will be familiar with the Lewes area and therefore your belongs are sure to reach your destination quickly and not get held up by any disruptions.
To make things simple we offer two different pricing options:
All of the prices above are inclusive of vat and fuel (within a local area) and there is no additional charges for weekend moving.
As part of our fully comprehensive service, Mark Ratcliffe offer additional, useful services. We offer a packing and unpacking service - our staff are fully trained to handle delicate materials and pack efficiently. If you are packing yourself, we offer flat pack moving boxes and other high quality packing supplies at great prices which can be collected from our shop. We offer self-storage units, perfect for when you need to store items in between moves. The large, secure, clean self storage rooms are available to rent at just £30 (plus VAT) per week and are fantastic value for money. They are available with easy access for loading and unloading.
For a free, no obligation quote please contact our friendly team today on 01323 848 008 or fill out the online form by clicking the button at the top of this page.
Most of our Lewes 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 Lewes 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 Lewes within standard half-day or full-day reach, depending on inventory size and the destination address. A typical Lewes 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 Lewes 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 Lewes routes through our customs-controlled holding bay at the depot, where the container is loaded after a final inventory check.
The Lewes 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 East Sussex cut corners on at least one of those steps.
Most Lewes 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 Lewes 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.