Anyone planning a move usually asks first how much it will cost. The answer depends on something few people think about: how big a truck you need, and whether it can reach your door. People often book "a van" by eye. If the load does not fit, a second trip follows and the bill grows. If the truck is too big, it may have to park on the next street.
Volume matters more than weight
Furniture and boxes take up space long before they get heavy. A wardrobe, a sofa, a bed and about 20 boxes of clothes and books fill a truck body fast. The weight is still far from a tonne. For a home move, movers count cubic metres first and kilograms second.
Removal trucks fall into a few classes. The smallest hold 15–18 cubic metres and carry up to 1.5 tonnes. The next class is 25–30 cubic metres and 4–5 tonnes. Above 30 cubic metres, the load can reach 10 tonnes. For heavy and awkward items there is also a truck with a crane, which carries up to 8 tonnes. Its boom lifts up to 7 tonnes.
In practice, a studio flat and a house with a cellar and an attic need very different vehicles. A wrong guess either way costs money.
The biggest truck is not always the best choice
Trucks over 3.5 tonnes gross weight are not allowed in the central parts of the city without a permit. The small class, up to 1.5 tonnes, can enter the centre with no problem. The middle class needs a permit, or it cannot stop in front of the building. The largest vehicles are mainly for trips between towns, for example from Burgas to another city.
There is a catch. Say your belongings fill one big truck, but the address is in the centre. You have two options: get a permit, or make several trips with a smaller vehicle. Which is cheaper depends on how much you have to move and on both addresses.
A site visit, not a guess by eye
A firm can give an exact price only after someone sees the belongings. During the visit, the mover judges the volume, the weight of individual items and how many workers you will need. There is a big difference between a 10kg box and an item of 30–40kg. It changes both the number of loaders and the time needed to load.
A figure given over the phone without a visit is only a rough guide.
In Burgas, this work is done by KOREKT – Moving, a firm with more than 25 years in the business and more than 10 years in the city. The visit and advice are free, and the price is stated in advance, with no hidden fees. Its vehicles cover all classes, from a van to a 10-tonne truck with a tail lift, plus a truck with a crane. If an address in the centre needs a permit, the firm arranges it, and the drivers check the route beforehand.
The crew loads with straps certified up to 3,500kg. If needed, the loaders pack your items and take apart and put together furniture. Anything that does not fit in the new home can go into storage. The firm is certified under ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001.
How to prepare for the visit
- A list of large furniture and appliances makes the visit shorter and more accurate.
- It helps to know whether there is a lift at both addresses and where a vehicle can stop.
- Tell the firm about a piano, a safe or any other very heavy item when you first ask.
- Boxes, film and tape can be bought in advance, with a discount for larger amounts.
- Orders are taken every day from 08:00 to 20:00.
The Burgas office is at 18 Vasil Aprilov Street. The phone numbers are 0700 1 4485, 0882 944 098 and 0882 944 099. You can also make an enquiry for a free visit online, and the firm will then contact you to agree the day and time.