1st Movers

1st Movers: Edinburgh removals with nationwide reach

First Movers Ltd, trading as 1st Movers, is a removal company based in Edinburgh. It was established in autumn 2009 in East Lothian and moved its operations to Edinburgh (Blackhall) in 2010 because most of its removal work was in the city centre. The company describes itself as occupying the middle ground between individual man-with-a-van providers and large national removal firms, aiming to offer a professional service at affordable prices while remaining small and local enough to be flexible and accommodating.

The company states that it operates in Glasgow and London as well as Edinburgh, and that it began operating in Toronto, Canada, in summer 2013. It also mentions plans to expand into other parts of the UK and Canada.

Domestic and office removals

1st Movers carries out home removals in and around Edinburgh. The company presents domestic moving as distinct from office moving and says it prioritises reducing the stress of a house move, describing its approach as moving belongings rather than boxes. For offices, it covers moves ranging from small business premises to large corporate buildings spread across various floors, and it emphasises the importance of paperwork in office relocations.

Piano moving and nationwide moves

Piano removals are a specific line of service. The company states that it moves grand pianos as well as baby grands and upright pianos, and it argues that a piano moving company that does not move grand pianos should not be entrusted with an upright piano. It also lists piano removals in Edinburgh and Glasgow and piano disposal in Edinburgh.

For long-distance work, 1st Movers says it will take customers anywhere in Britain and sometimes beyond, and that it makes regular trips to and from London and Wales. The service pages list routes including Edinburgh to London, Edinburgh to Manchester, Glasgow to London, London to Edinburgh, London to Glasgow, London to Aberdeen, London to Scotland, Aberdeen to London and England to Scotland.

Packing, cleaning and man with a van

Alongside removals, the company lists a packing service and a cleaning service. It also offers a man with a van service in Edinburgh, described as a basic no-frills option that still includes friendly customer service. This service provides a van and one or two porters on an hourly basis for as long as the customer requires, and the company presents it as a budget option for smaller local moves.

The company also mentions storage as part of its long-distance and piano moving work, describing itself as a one-stop shop for moving needs.

Customer feedback and company background

The website displays a Google Reviews rating of 4.8 from 179 reviews for 1st Movers Edinburgh at 94 South Bridge, Edinburgh. The reviews shown are mixed: some customers praise careful handling, flexibility and communication on long-distance moves, while others describe problems with a move within Edinburgh and criticise a quote for a small part-load move from London to Aberdeen as excessively high.

The site also includes a blog, a team page, terms and conditions, and a section on franchising opportunities.