Mark Ratcliffe Moving offer reliable international removals, storage and packing options.
Mark Ratcliffe started in the removals industry in 1982 with a second hand shop and single Luton van in Hampden Park, Eastbourne. Throughout the 80's and 90's, the business went from strength to strength and in 1995, we started to specialise in overseas moving. We joined The British Association of Removers (BAR) in 1997 and quickly became the largest independent mover in Sussex. We employ 28 full time staff, operate 11 trucks and 4 trailers. We have two warehouses in Eastbourne totalling 26,000 sqft and hold 750 warehouse containers.
Mark Ratcliffe Moving offer first class Worldwide or European Removals for all commercial or domestic clients. We work closely with our worldwide agents in over 200 countries to ensure your moving experience goes ahead as smoothly as possible. Your shipment will be closely tracked from your UK port of discharge, through customs clearance and straight to your new location. Your goods will be delivered, unwrapped and set up efficiently.
Moving abroad has become increasingly popular in recent times due to transport becoming so accessible and increased opportunities abroad. Whether you are a student studying abroad, an entrepreneur starting a new business abroad, or even a family beginning a new life elsewhere - our friendly team can help! We are fully qualified and insured to undertake your moving project. We are enthusiastic about what we do and prioritise getting the job done well and with a smile. We understand that getting your belongings to their new home safely is the priority. We treat your goods as if they were our own, always treating them with the utmost care and consideration. We have gained a fantastic reputation for international removals through providing reliable commercial and house removals, making the process straightforward for you.
When you enquire, we get to know your exact needs so that we can devise a detailed plan which fits your requirements and budget. We transport your belongings via shipping, road and air - whichever route is the most effective. We offer a packing service - whereby we can safely pack your belongings using our specialist, reliable packing tools and materials. We can unpack your belongings once we have arrived safely at your new destination should you require this service. If you would prefer to pack your belongings yourself, we offer high quality packing materials which you can buy from our shop. We stock a large selection of various size cartons, doubled walled for extra strength, as well as plain paper, tissue paper, bubble wrap and 2"vinyl tape. We also stock portable wardrobe cartons to keep your clothes clean and crease free.
We can also help with commercial international moving. We have all of the required tools to ensure your move can run smoothly, including; A3 plastic stacking crates for files, dollies and trucks to cater for all commercial moves. Furniture dismantling and reassembling is also available, should you require. We offer storage options for household or commercial clients, in warehouse containers or in the conventional way of storage rooms. A full inventory of your goods is taken on depository and charges are by the day, so you only pay for the period your good are in store. We work flexibly and operate 7 days a week, meaning we are available weekends and bank holidays should you require us.
Here is what one client had to say about their experience moving internationally with us:
"Dear Mark, Thank you for the excellent way that you transported all my belongings from Eastbourne to Sakon Nakhon, Thailand. Everything arrived in good condition and exactly in the timeframe that you had told me. The delivery company accepted that I changed the delivery address without any hassle so everything was delivered to my new home. The guys who delivered were excellent. They were very polite and courteous and spoke excellent English. I can thoroughly recommend your service which, for me, was efficient and worry free."
At Mark Ratcliffe Moving and Storage, we always put the customer first. We prioritise customer service and providing impeccable service at affordable prices. Contact us today for your free quote by filling in the form at the top of this page or give us a call on 01323 848 008.
Hastings sits in the East Sussex commuter belt and our work here covers the full property range. Victorian and Edwardian terraces close to the centre, 1930s and post-war semis on the inter-war estates, substantial detached homes on the larger plots, and a growing minority of new-build properties on the recent developments — the new-builds tend to have bigger inventories because the rooms are larger and people fill them.
For any move bigger than a one-bedroom flat we recommend a free in-home or video survey rather than a phone quote. It takes 30 to 45 minutes, walks every room, and produces a written, itemised quote inside two working days. The single biggest reason phone quotes mislead is the loft — almost every customer underestimates what’s in theirs by roughly double. The walk-through finds it before move day, not after.
Our daily routes out of the Lower Dicker depot put Hastings within standard half-day or full-day reach, depending on inventory size and the destination address. A typical Hastings pickup with a Sussex or Surrey delivery completes in a single day, including pad-wrapping at the load and unwrapping at the unload. The lorry leaves Lower Dicker in time to be on your driveway ten minutes before the stated load time — we don’t make customers wait around at 6am for a 7am scheduled start.
For chain-day moves out of Hastings the timings matter and we plan the schedule from the keys-release time backwards. For longer-distance UK moves — to the Midlands, the West Country, the north — we generally split the day across two crews if the inventory exceeds a single lorry. Anything heading overseas from Hastings routes through our customs-controlled holding bay at the depot, where the container is loaded after a final inventory check.
The Hastings quote process runs in five practical steps. First, a phone or web enquiry — tell us the address and the rough move date and we’ll suggest a survey slot. Second, the survey itself: either in-home (30 to 45 minutes) or over a video call. Both produce the same paperwork. Third, the written quote, emailed within 48 hours, itemised by line — pad-wrap, transport, packing materials, insurance, any specialist handling — so you can see what every cost line covers.
Fourth, the deposit and date hold: typically 20-25% on confirmation, fully protected under the British Association of Removers’ Advance Payment Guarantee. Fifth, the move itself — uniformed crew, our own lorry, no agency labour, blankets washed between jobs, and a written inventory at handover. None of this is unusual but it’s worth saying because a meaningful minority of removal firms across East Sussex cut corners on at least one of those steps.
Most Hastings moves use one of three packing options. Full pack — our crews pack everything in the house the day before move day, using removal-grade cartons and tissue. Fragile-only pack — we handle the kitchen, the display cabinets, the framed art, the mirrors, the lamps, and the customer packs the easy stuff (books, clothing, linen, garage). Self-pack with materials supplied — we drop off cartons, tape, bubble and tissue, and you do it yourself with our written room-by-room guide.
Where the dates don’t line up (the sale completes a fortnight before the purchase, the chain slips, or the new property isn’t ready), we hold the load at our A22 depot in steel strong-rooms with 24-hour CCTV. Short-term storage between contracts is charged by the week; longer-term storage is invoiced monthly. For Hastings customers needing self-access self-storage, the ground floor of the depot is fitted for that — individual digital-entry doors and 24/7 access via a key fob.
After the move, we come back to collect empty cartons free of charge if you’re within standard delivery range. We also offer an unpack service for customers who prefer the new home set up by us — particularly common for older customers and white-glove relocations.
For end-of-month dates in the May–September peak, six to ten weeks ahead. Mid-week, mid-month dates can sometimes be booked two to three weeks ahead. The earlier you book, the more choice of slot and crew you’ll have.
Yes — typically 20–25% of the quoted price on booking, with the balance payable on the day of completion. All deposits are protected under the British Association of Removers’ Advance Payment Guarantee.
Crew time, our own lorry, fuel, pad-wrap (industry-grade blankets washed between jobs), basic transit insurance and labour. Packing materials, fragile-only or full packing service, and any specialist handling (piano, antiques, art, marble) are quoted separately so you see the price of each.
Yes — full British Association of Removers members and audited annually, including the BS 8564 international removal standard. Our membership number and current audit dates are on the BAR site.
Sometimes — depends on the date and the inventory size. Smaller jobs can often be slotted in within a week. Larger 3- and 4-bed moves usually need at least two weeks’ notice so we can crew correctly.
Yes — FIDI-network shipments to over 200 countries. International moves route through our customs-controlled holding bay at the A22 depot, where the container is loaded after a final inventory check. We don’t sub-contract international work to third-party brokers.