In recent years, startups have turned their attention to what are known as “home setup services.” This is where utilities and moving are all merged into one package that is (hopefully) managed digitally, making the process of two moves a lot easier and a lot less stressful.
Updater in the US was launched over 10 years ago and manages a decent percentage of US moves. It has also raised $467.5 million to date. Others are Onadd.io and MovingHub, which originated from New Zealand and just launched in the UK.
Home installation service start-up Just Move In – which includes both sales and rentals – launched in the UK but quickly made a profit as it attacked the market in a thoroughly holistic manner.
Using the platform, a mover can manage municipality, water, sewage, energy and broadband in one environment (not going to third-party sites), and it will also soon be adding insurance and removals, integrating its service into the journey via API ( and) from transferring companies, banks and other types of fintechs. It even includes recommendations for removals and storage companies. See what I mean by holistic?
The UK-based startup has now raised a new funding round totaling $5 million (£4 million) led by Longbrook Ventures and Love Ventures. Mountside Ventures also participated, in addition to a crowdfunding round with follow-up investments from the angels Simon Rogerson and Chris Hulatt, the two co-founders of Octopus Group. John Browett, the former CEO of Dixons – and now Just Move In chairman – has also invested.
Just Move now counts British real estate giants Hamptons, Openrent and Pickfords among its clients.
Movers are supported by ‘Moving Specialists’, but the platform is increasingly automated, streamlining the registration and payment process with suppliers.
Ross Nichols, co-founder of Just Move In, said in a statement, “Moving is one of the most stressful things you will ever do, and on average we move 11 times each over the course of our lives. Just Move In is here to make moving carefree.”
Nichols previously founded the real estate tech start-up RoomFlick, while co-founder Tom Old was at Disruptive Ltd – owner of two global iPhone accessory brands, GEAR4 and NudeAudio.
Andrew Gale, founder of Longbrook Ventures, says: “Just Move In offers an innovative, frictionless solution to a highly cumbersome problem faced by all movers. I am confident that with the passion and hunger of this team, they will build on the impressive traction achieved so far and deliver an exceptional result for all. †
The startup is also a B-Corp, so it partners with ethical companies whenever possible and works exclusively with green energy companies, including Octopus Energy. It’s also part of 1% for the planet, with 1% of the revenue going to charity.