Mark Ratcliffe Moving & Storage don't just offer reliable removals - we offer many storage and packing options to help your move abroad run as smoothly as possible.
Are you starting a new life abroad? Perhaps you are taking your business to a new location overseas? Mark Ratcliffe Moving & Storage are here to help your move run as smoothly as possible. We have a number of agents worldwide in over 200 countries who are here to help your move go ahead as expertly as possible. Your belongings are closely tracked from start to finish - through customs clearance right up to your new location. We offer to unwrap and set up all of your goods so you can quickly begin your new life in a new country.
Moving abroad has become so popular in recent times due to transport being so accessible and an increasing range of opportunities and experiences abroad. Whether you are a student, a young family or retiring to a new place - we are here to help you transport your life to your new destination. Our team are fully trained, insured and are prepared to handle any moving project. It is within our company ethos to always put the customer first, so we get to know your exact requirements and make sure we tailor our service to your needs. We always handle client's belongings with care and caution, so they reach their destination unharmed. Over our many years in business, we have grown and grown and are proud of the reputation we now have as one of the most reliable removals firms in the area for international moves.
We work with you to plan a detailed approach as to what transport methods suit you best. We can transport your good via road, air and shipping - whichever is the most effective and efficient. Should you require, we offer a packing service whereby our team safely pack your belongings using professional tools and materials. Or if you prefer to pack your goods yourself, we highly recommend using our high quality tools which are available to be purchased at our shop. Here, we offer various sized cartons, plain paper, tissue paper, bubble wrap and 2" vinyl tape. We also offer to unpack your goods at your new location should you require this service. We even offer portable wardrobe cartons to keep your clothes clean and crease free.
Are you moving your business abroad? We also help with commercial international moves. We can provide A3 plastic stacking crates for files, trucks and dollies to cater for all office moves. We even offer furniture dismantling and reassembling at your new location if this is of interest. We have many storage options for all domestic and commercial clients in the form of warehouse containers or storage rooms. On depository, we will take a full inventory of all of your goods. You will then be charged by the day, so you only pay for the time you use. We work 7 days a week, on a flexible basis - so we are available weekends and bank holidays.
We are proud to have built up a loyal client base of happy customers. Here is what Andrew had to say about his move to Thailand working 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."
Read more customer reviews on our reviews page.
Mark Ratcliffe Moving & Storage take pride in offering professional and reliable service at competitive prices, just get in touch today for your free quote! Call 01323 848 008 or complete the form at the top of this page.
Most of our Lewes work falls into one of three property categories. Tile-hung Victorian and Edwardian terraces on the older streets, where the move-out involves narrow staircases, sash windows that need protecting, and original mantelpieces that we wrap individually. Post-war semis and detached homes on the mid-century estates — wider doors, garages that often function as overflow loft space, and gardens that have accumulated sheds, greenhouses and outdoor furniture. And modern detached new-builds, where the move is faster but the inventory is usually bigger thanks to the bonus rooms and double garages.
Whichever of those three describes your Lewes home, the survey covers the same ground: room-by-room walk, photo of every awkward corner, and a written, itemised quote within 48 hours. We don’t quote off a phone call for anything bigger than a one-bedroom flat — phone quotes too often miss the loft, the under-stair cupboard or the shed, and the price moves on move day. A proper survey is free, takes 30 to 45 minutes, and means the price you see is the price you pay.
Our daily routes out of the Lower Dicker depot put Lewes within standard half-day or full-day reach, depending on inventory size and the destination address. A typical Lewes 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 Lewes 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 Lewes routes through our customs-controlled holding bay at the depot, where the container is loaded after a final inventory check.
The Lewes 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 Lewes 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 Lewes 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.