An hourly rate rewards a slow crew. That is the whole argument, and it is why we have never used one.
We price by volume: how much space your load takes up in the truck once it is in. A quarter load, a half load, a full truck. The crew lead confirms which one you are looking at before anything is touched, so you agree the figure while your things are still on the ground.
That has two effects worth knowing about. The first is that stairs are free. A third-floor flat with no lift takes us longer, but it does not take up more space in the truck, so it does not cost you more. The second is that the price can go down. If the pile turns out smaller than the photos suggested, you pay for what actually went in.
There are two things that sit outside volume, and we say so upfront: fridges and freezers carry a disposal charge because of the gas, and mattresses carry one because of how they are processed. Both are quoted per item, both appear on the estimate, and neither appears as a surprise on the invoice.
