Choosing a removals firm is one of the bigger decisions in any house move. The question of local vs national comes up constantly, and the honest answer is: it depends on your move. This page lays out what each type of firm typically offers so you can make a clear call.
From flats and terraced houses to larger family homes, Stranks handles packing, loading, transport, and unloading across Kent and the South East. Their fleet of four removal trucks and five vans allows them to complete moves efficiently without relying on subcontractors. Learn more about the House Removals service.
Office moves require careful planning to minimise disruption and downtime. The Stranks team manages commercial relocations using the same experienced in-house crew and company-owned vehicles trusted for residential moves. Find out more about Office Relocation.
Whether you need a full packing service, help with fragile items, or assistance packing selected rooms, Stranks offers flexible solutions to suit your move. Their experienced team can also dismantle and reassemble furniture to make moving day as straightforward as possible. Explore the available Packing Services.
For smaller home moves, single-item collections, student moves, or local transport around Ashford and the surrounding areas, Stranks also offers a convenient Man and Van service.
Local removals firms have built their reputation in a specific area. For Stranks Removals and Storage, that area is Kent and the South East, operating from Ashford since the business was founded in 1941. That 84-year history of Kent moves means real knowledge of local roads, parking restrictions, property types, and the quirks that matter on moving day.
Here is what a well-established local firm typically brings to the table:
National firms have scale. If your move involves multiple collection points across different regions, or you need a firm with depots in both your origin city and destination city, a national operator may have a logistical advantage. They often have standardised systems, online booking tools, and can sometimes absorb a last-minute long-haul job more easily if they already run regular trunking routes between major cities.
The trade-off is usually personal service. Larger firms often sub-contract moves to regional partners, which means the crew on the day may have no direct relationship with the person who took your booking.
| Factor | Local Removals Company | National Removals Company |
|---|---|---|
| Local road and access knowledge | Strong understanding of local routes, parking restrictions, and property access. | Varies depending on the regional branch or subcontractor. |
| Direct contact with the moving team | You typically deal directly with the team managing your move. | Often handled through a central booking office or call centre. |
| Flexibility on moving day | High – easier to accommodate last-minute changes or unexpected requirements. | Can be limited by central scheduling and dispatch processes. |
| On-site storage | Many local firms, including Stranks, operate their own facilities. See Storage Services. | Storage is often outsourced to third-party providers. |
| Long-distance UK moves | Available – many established local companies regularly complete nationwide removals. | One of their core services. |
| European and international moves | Available through specialist local firms. Learn more about European Relocation. | Commonly available through larger national operators. |
| Pricing transparency | Quotes are often clearer and more personalised. | Pricing may vary, with additional charges depending on the provider. |
| Accreditation you can verify | Independent firms may hold recognised accreditations such as BAR membership, BS EN 12522 certification, and Checkatrade approval. | Accreditation standards can vary between regional branches. |
| Accountability | Business owners or directors are often directly involved and easy to contact. | Multiple departments and management layers can make communication less direct. |
One common assumption is that long-distance moves require a national operator. In practice, many established local firms regularly carry out long-distance removals across the UK. Stranks covers the entire UK from its Ashford base, including regular routes to destinations such as Penrith, Bude, and Norwich. European relocations and international shipping are also managed directly, with the Ashford depot ideally located for quick access to the Channel ports.
For anyone planning an overseas move, Stranks’ dedicated European Relocation service provides expert support for moves across Europe. The company’s location in Kent, close to the Channel ports, often makes it a more practical and efficient choice than routing your belongings through a national firm’s logistics network.
Storage is one area where local firms vary significantly. Some use self-storage units at a third-party site. Stranks operates its own 13,000 sq ft warehouse at the Ashford depot, with 250 containers available. That means your goods stay under one roof, with a team you have already spoken to, rather than being passed to a separate storage provider.
If storage continuity matters to you, ask any firm you consider whether they own their storage facility or use an external site.
Stranks operates across Kent and East Sussex from its Ashford depot, providing professional removals and storage services to homeowners and businesses throughout the region. Some of the areas we regularly serve include:
Removals storage means the removals company collects your belongings, transports them, and stores them in a managed facility on your behalf. Self storage means you hire a unit, arrange your own transport, and load and unload the unit yourself. For people in the middle of a house move, removals storage removes a significant amount of additional work.
Stranks uses individual containers in a 13,000 sq ft warehouse at the Ashford depot, with capacity for up to 250 containers. Your belongings are kept in your own container, not mixed with another customer's items, and the warehouse is secured and managed by the Stranks team.
Stranks' storage service is primarily designed for situations where your belongings need to be kept securely and returned in full at the end of the period, such as between a house sale completing and a purchase completing. If you need to retrieve specific items during the storage period, raise this at the point of booking so the team can advise on what is practical.
The unit price for self storage can look lower, but the full cost includes van hire, fuel, your time, and physical effort. Stranks' removals storage covers collection, loading, transport, storage, and return delivery in a single arrangement. For a full house load, the all-in cost is often comparable, and the convenience saving is substantial.
Stranks offers both short-term and longer-term storage. Short-term storage is common for people with a gap between their sale completing and their purchase completing. Longer-term arrangements are also available from the Ashford warehouse. Contact the team to discuss your specific dates and volume.
Stranks offers full packing services, partial packing, and fragile-only packing as part of the removals and storage service. If you would rather not pack yourself, the team can handle it. See the packing services page for details.