Man & van vs full removals: what’s best for a 1–2 bed home in Sussex?

9 Dec

If you’re moving a 1–2 bed home in Sussex, you’ve probably hit the same question as everyone else:

Do I book a man & van, or do I need a full removals company?

One usually looks cheaper. The other sounds easier. And if you get it wrong, you either overspend or overload yourself.

This guide breaks down the difference in plain English – specifically for 1–2 bed homes in places like Brighton, Hove, Worthing, Lancing, Shoreham, Eastbourne and Chichester – so you can decide what actually makes sense for your move.

The short answer (so you don’t have to scroll)

For most 1–2 bed flats and small houses in Sussex:

A good man & van is usually the best value and plenty of help – especially if:
- You can do your own packing, and
- You’re able to be involved on moving day.

A full removals company is more suitable when:

You have lots of heavy or fragile, high-value items (e.g. antiques, a baby grand piano)
You want packing and unpacking done for you
You can’t be present or involved on the day at all

If you’re somewhere in between, the details below will help you decide.

What a man & van service actually does

A decent man & van isn’t “some bloke in a rusty transit”. At least, it shouldn’t be.

For a 1–2 bed home, a good man & van service will typically include:

1 or 2 professional movers plus a van
Loading, transport and unloading of your furniture and boxes
Use of moving equipment like blankets and straps to protect your items
Help with dismantling and reassembling simple furniture (beds, tables, wardrobes)
Flexible evening and weekend slots, often including short-notice bookings
Insurance (goods in transit & public liability) so you’re covered if something goes wrong

You usually do your own packing, and you can pick between:

1 man & van – cheaper, and you help with some lifting
2 men & van – more help, less lifting for you, still more flexible than a big removals crew

Not all man & van operators are the same. Here’s what a good man & van service should include – and the red flags to avoid.

What a full removals company usually offers

A full removals company is built more for larger moves, but can work for smaller ones too.

Typical features:

A larger team (often 3+ movers)
One or more large vans or lorries
Optional packing and unpacking services
Wardrobe boxes, more packing materials and sometimes crating for very fragile items
A more structured timetable and process

You’re paying for more bodies, more vehicle space and more “done-for-you” help. That’s great when you truly need that level of support – but it’s not always necessary for a 1–2 bed property.

Man & van vs full removals: side-by-side for a 1–2 bed home

1. Cost

Man & van

Generally lower starting cost, especially for local moves
You can often keep it cheaper by:
- Packing yourself
- Choosing 1 man & van if you’re able to help a bit
Ideal when you want a proper service without paying for a whole crew you don’t need

Full removals

Higher minimum charges, even for small places
Packing services, extra staff and larger vehicles all add to the price
Better value once you get into 3+ bedroom houses or very large moves

👉 For most 1–2 bed flats and houses in Sussex, man & van usually wins on cost.

If you’re moving around Brighton or Worthing and want to plan properly, our moving checklist for Brighton & Worthing walks through everything you’ll need to think about before move day.

2. How much effort you want to put in

Man & van

You pack your own boxes (with advice if you want it)
On a 1 man & van job, you’ll probably lend a hand with some lifting
On 2 men & van, you can mostly stand back while they do the heavy work, but you’re still involved in directing the move

Full removals

You can add packing and unpacking, so they do the lot
You don’t have to lift a thing – you’re mostly just telling them where things go
Best if you physically can’t help at all or really want hands-off

👉 If you’re happy to be even a little bit involved, a man & van will cover more than you think.

3. Flexibility and timing

Man & van

Typically more flexible with:
- Evenings
- Weekends
- Short-notice moves
Easier to work around key handovers, cleaners, kids and work schedules
Great for Brighton/Worthing life where timings don’t always go to plan

Full removals

Often booked in fixed slots
Big jobs mean they’re less flexible about start times and last-minute changes
May not be as accommodating for out-of-hours work

👉 If you need flexibility – especially in places with tricky parking and moving chains – man & van usually adapts better.

4. Speed for a 1–2 bed property

You might assume full removals is always faster. For small homes, that’s not always true.

Man & van

A well-organised 2 men & van team can clear most 1–2 bed homes surprisingly quickly
Less time spent coordinating big crews – just a small, efficient team who get on with it

Full removals

More people can be faster… if there’s enough to keep everyone busy
For small moves, you sometimes end up paying for a bigger team than the job really needs

👉 If you’re prepared – boxes packed, access clear – a good man & van is more than enough for speed.

Three real-world scenarios to help you decide

Scenario 1: 1-bed flat in Brighton → 1-bed flat in Worthing

Stuff: Bed, sofa, a couple of wardrobes, TV unit, table, 15–20 boxes
Access: Some stairs, normal doorways
You: Able-bodied, happy to pack and be present

Best fit:
✅ Man & van – likely 1 man & van if you can help with lifting, or 2 men if you’d rather not. Full removals is probably overkill.

Scenario 2: 2-bed flat in Worthing with young kids → house in Lancing

Stuff: Normal family furniture, kids’ beds, wardrobes, toys, kitchen bits
Access: Stairs, some tight corners
You: Busy juggling childcare and work, can’t do much lifting

Best fit:
✅ 2 men & van – you pack, and they handle all the lifting, loading and unloading. A full removals crew could also work, but a good 2-men team is often more cost-effective for this size move.

Scenario 3: Seafront flat with a piano and antiques

Stuff: Normal furniture plus piano and several fragile antiques
Access: Narrow stairwell, tricky angles, no lift
You: Concerned about damage and willing to pay more for specialist help

Best fit:
✅ Full removals or specialist movers – especially for the piano and antiques. An honest man & van company should tell you this and not try to wing it.

A simple way to choose in 3 questions

Ask yourself:

Is my home 1–2 bedrooms with mostly normal furniture?
Can I do my own packing (or get a bit of help from friends/family)?
Do I want to keep costs as sensible as possible without doing everything myself?

If you answered “yes” to most of those:

A man & van is probably the best fit.
1 man & van if you can help a bit; 2 men & van if you’d rather not lift.

If you answered “no” to most:

Consider full removals or at least a bigger, more specialised crew – especially if:
- You have very heavy or unusual items
- You have zero time or ability to help
- You want full packing/unpacking done for you

When a man & van isn’t the right answer (and that’s okay)

A good man & van company shouldn’t try to squeeze every job into their model. Sometimes it’s not right, and that’s fine.

Man & van is not ideal when:

There’s a piano, giant antique cabinet or very valuable artwork involved
You’re moving a large house (3+ bedrooms) with years of accumulated stuff
Nobody can be present and you need a fully managed, pack-to-unpack service
Access is so extreme you need specialist equipment or a big crew

In those cases, a reputable mover should tell you honestly if you’d be better off with a different setup.

How Your Move Mate can help with 1–2 bed moves in Sussex

If you’re still on the fence, sometimes it’s easier to talk it through with someone who does this every day.

Your Move Mate is a friendly, fully insured man & van removals service based in Sussex. We specialise in local 1–2 bed moves around:

Brighton & Hove
Worthing
Lancing
Shoreham
Eastbourne
Chichester
…plus moves to and from nearby areas like London, Kent and Surrey.

You can choose:

1 man & van – ideal if you’re happy to help a bit and want to keep costs down
2 men & van – perfect if you’d rather we handle all the lifting and logistics

We can help you decide in minutes once we know: