Home removals
From a single piano to a full house, handled only by full-time 1st Choice team members.
Domestic removals →
Movers | Storers | Shippers | Packers
Removals in Wimborne, Poole and Bournemouth
1st Choice Removals is a family-run removals and storage company based at Canford Business Park near Wimborne, moving homes and businesses across Wimborne, Poole and Bournemouth since 1990. Every UK move is carried out by our own full-time, uniformed crews, fully insured and backed by our membership of the British Association of Removers.
Prefer to talk? Call 01202 570970
1990Family business founded in Canford Magna
BARBritish Association of Removers member since 2011
~1,000Storage units across 4 local sites
AbroadEuropean and worldwide moves, surveyed, planned and managed by us
What we do
All services →One team for the whole move
European & international
European moves planned and managed by us with trusted partner removal firms, plus worldwide relocation to Australia, the USA and beyond.
Moving abroad →
Business & office
Office-to-office moves, employee relocation, storage and distribution, planned around your working week.
Business removals →
Secure storage
Around 1,000 containerised storage units across 4 local sites, for a week or for years.
Storage →How it works
Book your free home visitThree steps, one point of contact
- 01
Planning
A free home survey across all BH postcodes and DT11, or a video survey you record yourself, then a no-obligation quote.
- 02
Preparation & packing
Pack yourself with our kits, or let the crew wrap and box everything, fragile items included.
- 03
Loading, transport & unpacking
Floors and door frames protected, furniture placed room by room, and unpacking if you want it.
Reviews
Read 100+ reviews →What our customers say
Both teams packing & un-packing, pleasant & understanding. Prompt & reliable. Really good service, happy on all accounts.
Professional, punctual and friendly service. Customer service was excellent from start to finish. Excellent value and service.
Mike, Clint & Colin were incredibly helpful & polite at all times. We are very pleased with the efficient service & will recommend to friends. Excellent.
Care for your home
Protecting your property is our priority
We don’t cut corners to save time. Both your old and new homes are protected before anything moves.
- Heavy-duty sheeting on your floors
- Banisters, doors and frames padded
- Fragile items wrapped and boxed properly
Our story
Three generations of Dorset removals
Still a family business: Chris and Fiona run removals, and founders Alan and Richard look after storage.
Why choose us →1969
Alan Vaughan starts his removals career. Richard follows in 1985.
1990
1st Choice founded in Canford Magna with one 3.5-tonne lorry.
2000s
First warehouse with 50 storage units. Fiona joins in 2003, Chris in 2006.
2011
Joined the British Association of Removers.
Today
Around 1,000 storage units across 4 local sites, certificates of professional competence, customs export training and regular European moves.
Where we move
Local to Dorset, trusted much further
Local removals in Wimborne, Poole and Bournemouth
Our base at Canford Business Park sits between Wimborne, Poole and Bournemouth, so most local moves start only a few miles from our yard. We know the area's busy town centres, seafront flats and narrow older streets, and we plan each move around them.
We move homes across the BH postcodes and into north Dorset, including:
- Wimborne, Broadstone and Ferndown
- Poole, from Hamworthy and Parkstone to Canford Cliffs and Sandbanks
- Bournemouth and Christchurch
- Verwood, Ringwood and Blandford
See every area we cover, or read about some real local moves.
Why you can trust us with your move
- British Association of Removers member since 2011. We offer the BAR Advance Payment Guarantee on inland domestic moves, which protects the money you pay in advance. See our accreditations.
- Our own crews on UK moves. Full-time, uniformed 1st Choice staff. We never use agency labour.
- Fully insured. Every move is covered for goods in transit.
- Moving abroad, managed by us. We survey, plan and manage European and worldwide moves, with trusted partners carrying out the transport.
- Real feedback. Read over 100 written reviews from our customers on our reviews page.
Moving abroad from Dorset
We move families from Dorset to France, Spain, Portugal, Ireland and the rest of Europe, and further afield to Australia, the USA, Canada, South Africa and Dubai. Fiona and Chris hold International Certificates of Professional Competence, and Fiona holds a BTEC in Customs Export and Import Procedures. European transport is carried out with trusted partner removal firms, and partner agents handle customs clearance and delivery at worldwide destinations.
For shipments abroad, marine insurance must be arranged by you directly; we do not provide it. Start with our European removals and international removals pages, or the moving abroad checklist.
Questions
Your questions answered
How much does a house removal in Poole or Bournemouth cost?
Every move is different, so we do not publish set prices. The cost depends on how much you are moving, access at both properties, the distance, and whether you want packing or storage. We give a written quote after a free home visit in BH postcodes and DT11, or from short room videos or photos if you are elsewhere. Call 01202 570970, book a free home visit or Get an online quote to get started.
Do you offer free home visits?
Yes. If you live in a BH postcode or DT11, a home visit is free, with absolutely no obligation. One of our moving consultants looks at what is moving, checks access and parking, and answers your questions, usually in around 20 to 30 minutes. Book your free home visit and pick a free time slot. Elsewhere, Get an online quote instead.
Which areas do you cover?
We are based at Canford Business Park near Wimborne and cover Wimborne, Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch, Ferndown, Broadstone, Verwood, Ringwood, Blandford and the rest of Dorset. We also move people to anywhere in the UK, across Europe, and worldwide to destinations including Australia, the USA, Canada, South Africa and Dubai.
Are your removal crews your own staff?
Yes, on UK moves. Every UK move is carried out by full-time, uniformed 1st Choice crews, and we do not use agency staff. European moves are surveyed, planned and managed by us, with trusted partner removal firms carrying out the transport. The people in your home work for a family business trading since 1990.
Are you members of the British Association of Removers?
Yes. 1st Choice Removals has been a member of the British Association of Removers (BAR) since 2011. For inland domestic moves we offer the BAR Advance Payment Guarantee, which protects the money you pay in advance for your removal. Ask us about it when you book and we will explain how it applies to your move.
Is my furniture insured during the move?
Yes. All our moves are fully insured for goods in transit. On moving day we also protect your home with heavy-duty floor sheeting and padding on banisters, doors and door frames, and we wrap fragile items properly. If you are shipping belongings abroad, marine insurance must be arranged by you directly, as we do not provide it.
Do you offer storage as well as removals?
Yes. We have around 1,000 containerised storage units across 4 local sites, for short or long term storage. It helps when completion dates do not line up, during building work, or when downsizing. Because we move and store your belongings ourselves, they can go straight from your home into storage and back out to your new address.
How far ahead should I book my removal?
Get in touch as soon as you have a rough moving date, even before contracts are exchanged. An early survey lets us plan the crew, vehicle and any packing, and gives you a firm quote to budget with. Popular dates such as Fridays, month ends and school holidays tend to go first, so it pays to ask early.