How Much Do Removal Company Leads Cost? (And Which Sources Are Worth It)

If you run a removal company, you already know that getting a consistent flow of new enquiries is one of the hardest parts of the business. Word of mouth is great when it's working - but it's unpredictable. And paid lead generation can feel like pouring money into a black hole.

So what do removal leads actually cost? And which sources give you the best return for your money? This guide breaks it down honestly - including an option most removal companies haven't considered yet.

The Main Sources of Removal Company Leads

1. Google Ads (Pay-Per-Click)

Google Ads is one of the most common ways removal companies try to generate leads. You pay every time someone clicks on your ad when searching for terms like 'removal companies near me' or 'house removals [city]'.

The reality of PPC for removals:

• Cost per click in the removals sector typically ranges from £1.50 to £6.00 depending on location and competition
• Conversion rates from click to enquiry are often between 3% and 8% for well-optimised campaigns
• That means an actual enquiry can cost anywhere from £20 to £200 depending on your targeting and landing page quality
• You're competing with national brands, aggregators, and other local firms all bidding on the same terms

Google Ads can work well at scale with proper management, but it's expensive to run well and easy to waste money on if you're not experienced with campaign optimisation.

2. Comparison Sites (Compare My Move, Reallymoving, etc.)

Comparison sites promise a ready-made stream of leads from homeowners actively seeking removal quotes. In exchange, you pay per lead or per job.

What the reality looks like:

• Leads are typically shared with three to five other removal companies simultaneously
• You're competing purely on price at the moment of contact — there's no time to build rapport
• Lead quality varies significantly — some are serious enquiries, others are speculative
• Lead costs typically range from £15 to £50 depending on the platform and job size

Comparison sites can generate volume, but the race-to-the-bottom dynamic makes it hard to win on anything other than price - which is rarely the most profitable way to run a removal business.

3. Social Media Advertising

Facebook and Instagram ads can build local awareness, and some removal companies have success with targeted campaigns in their operating areas. However, social ads target people by demographics and interests - not by the fact that they're actually moving house. This makes them a broad awareness tool rather than a reliable lead generation channel.

4. Referrals and Word of Mouth

The best source of leads - free, pre-qualified, and already trusting - but entirely unpredictable. You can't build a consistent pipeline on referrals alone, though nurturing them actively (asking happy customers for reviews and recommendations) is always worthwhile.

5. Property Address Data (Sold STC Leads)

This is where the approach is fundamentally different from everything above. Rather than waiting for homeowners to come to you, you receive the addresses of properties that have just gone Sold STC - the exact moment the homeowner starts thinking about removals - and reach out to them directly.

What makes this different:

• You're reaching people before they've started searching - not competing at the moment they search
• The cost is as low as 40p per address - a fraction of any other lead source
• No contracts, no minimum spend - you pay only for the addresses you receive

Comparing the Numbers

Let's put this in concrete terms. Imagine you're targeting a postcode district that generates 30 Sold STC properties per week.

• At 40p per address: 30 leads per week costs £12 - less than the cost of one enquiry on a competitive Google Ads term
• If you convert 1 in 10 to an actual job: that's roughly 3 jobs per week from one postcode district
• The average removal job value varies widely, but even modest jobs generate multiples of the lead cost

The maths on comparison sites or Google Ads rarely looks this clean - because you're sharing leads, paying more per contact, and competing at the least favourable moment.

What's the Catch?

Fair question. Property address data requires you to do the outreach. You need to write the letters, post them, follow up with door knocks if relevant, and handle the responses. It's more active than sitting back and waiting for enquiries.

But that's also its strength. The removal companies doing this consistently are building a proactive pipeline that doesn't depend on algorithms, ad budgets, or comparison site algorithms. They control the reach. And they reach people earlier than anyone else.

If you find the right providor, this can be as simple as pushing a button and delivering your marketing material to those addresses.

Which Approach Is Right for You?

The honest answer is that the best strategy probably combines multiple sources. Google Ads or social for awareness, referral cultivation for your best jobs, and proactive Sold STC outreach for consistent, predictable volume.

But if you haven't tried reaching home movers at the point of sale agreement - and at 40p per address - it's almost certainly the cheapest, earliest-access lead source available to removal companies in the UK right now.