Step 1
Tips on Planning
Simple and effective ways to keep your moving day stress levels to a minimum.
Decide how many helpers you need.
Our Movers will usually give you the option of having either one or two helpers, or more depending on the size of the removal. The driver is counted as one helper and it's usually worth opting for another helper if you have any large heavy items, especially if there are stairs involved or you prefer not to assist in any way.
Provide useful info.
Try to supply as much helpful information as you can before the move, particularly with regard to the items that need to be moved, along with any useful details about the parking situation at your address and any flexibility you have on time or dates. If you have any specific requirements such as needing assistance with dismantling furniture etc, it's also best to let your Mover know in advance to ensure they are prepared.
Boxing up.
Make sure your belongings are well packed to protect them in transit and enable your Mover to work more quickly and efficiently. Avoid leaving your packing to the last minute and being forced to scrape together used boxes from the local supermarket. They will almost certainly be too flimsy to safely hold your belongings inside, and you should ideally purchase some good quality moving boxes which are relatively inexpensive.
Avoid overloading boxes.
It's surprisingly easy to over-pack large moving boxes to the point where they become difficult to carry, even for strong Movers. Always try to obtain enough boxes and spread the weight evenly, particularly large boxes containing books. As you fill each box keep an eye on the weight by trying to tilt them up. Remember these boxes will usually need to be carried to the van which can sometimes be a very long way away, with stairs and numerous doors to be negotiated along the route.
Be ready.
Unless otherwise agreed with your Mover, always be ready to go for the time arranged. Good Movers like to work fast and efficiently as soon as they arrive and will really appreciate anything you might be able to do to help them in some way. If possible try to prop doors open in advance to provide a clear route between the van and your belongings, and stack the boxes close to the exit doorway so they can be taken and loaded into the van first. Delicate items like picture frames or anything easily breakable should be protected with ample bubble wrap or covered to prevent accidental damage.
Parking.
As we all know, parking in London can be a problem at the best of times but is particularly so when you are trying to park as close to someone's front door as possible. Unless you have already arranged a reserved parking space with your local council (which is really a necessity for large moves) if possible try to do what you can within reason to facilitate a space close to your property. Having said that, Movers are experts at finding the best spot to pull up and single yellow lines normally allow for loading and unloading during the day, so there is usually somewhere to park even if it's a bit further along the road than hoped for.
Read your Mover's terms.
As with any other type of business each removal company will have their own particular set of terms and conditions. These will aim to cover every potential scenario, and are there purely as a safeguard for both parties in case of a problem. They are almost never required but if there is any particular aspect of your move that you are unsure about, such as how your Mover accepts payment or what the incremental charges will be if you go over any allocated time, either ask your Mover directly or have a look at their terms.
Trust your Mover's judgement.
Lastly, try to relax and don't be afraid to let your Man with a Van Mover take the lead where possible. Remember they do this every day for a living, know the quickest and most efficient way of working, and are there to help you. Our Movers enjoy their work and like nothing more than a satisfied customer when it's all over.
Happy Moving!
For further info see FAQ's or read more in Why Use Us.
Moving House Tips
A moving house checklist can take the stress out of a home move.
Moving home can be an overwhelming experience – trying to balance work and family life at the same time as relocating can cause high levels of stress. However, if planned out properly, there is no reason why it cannot be a relatively painless experience. There are all sorts of questions and problems to confront, whether you’re moving across the street or you’re relocating from London to Dorset. As a company that has carried out thousands of house removals over the years, we have created a list of things to remember when moving house. This simple guide provides ten useful tips that will help you plan out your relocation well in advance of your moving home.
Start early
Everything can be made so much simpler if you start sorting through possessions early, planning what you want to take when you leave your home, what’s going into storage, what you are getting rid of, what item is going in which room or in which property – if you’re moving to multiple addresses. The more time you give yourself during this period of the removal process the more relaxed the moving day will be.
Clear out your clutter
One of the most important house moving tips is to make sure you sort out your clutter before the removal men arrive. Give yourself five categories: Keep. Sell. Bin. Store. Give Away. Focus on one area at a time and try and do little and often rather than taking it on all at once during your home move.
Find out about your new home
One of the most important house moving tips is to be aware of the final destination. Where are facilities such as washing machines, TV sockets? How big are the rooms and the corridors? Will there be difficulty in getting large furniture in? If there are access problems then you can discuss it with the home removal company in advance rather than getting a shock when you arrive.
* Any potential issues should be identified to the removal company during the quotation process and if necessary a site survey can take place if there are likely to be any particular challenges moving into your new home.
Learn about your new location
Do as much research as you can on the new town or city you’re moving to. If you have children it’s a good idea to start looking for and contacting potential schools in the area, as well as seeing what sort of afterschool and leisure activities are available, Ofstead Reports are readily available on all schools and easily found on the internet. It’s just as important to check your own interests against what your new location has to offer and start seeing what sort of entertainment, fine dining and cultural aspects are on offer. One aspect that people sometimes overlook when relocating to places they aren’t familiar with is to assume that it will be easier to find your footing when you get there but it’s well worth taking a few trips out to your new location to really get to the know the place and be accustomed to it before your arrival.
Download a moving App and start making an itinerary
If you’re a smartphone user then it’s a great idea to check out what Apps are available to assist with your relocation. You can plan out your relocation with reminder notifications, you can download an App to help you take note of your possessions, there are even ones that will help you calculate your commute. Our advice is to download an App that will help you create an itinerary for your possessions. A good App will help you organise your itinerary in each room and it can also be used for insuring your possessions.
Insurance
A good quality removal companies will be able to offer different levels of insurance cover depending on the level required and movers should discuss the details with their surveyor. Your household insurance policy may provide the cover you need, but check the details on your policy beforehand or speak to your insurance broker to clarify the level of cover they can provide and notify the insurers that you are moving and the dates of the move
Book your removals with Hb Man wits a Van
This is possibly the most important tip we can offer – book your removals company as early as possible. Removal companies tend to be very busy at the end of the week, end of the month and Spring and Summer is the busiest time of the year. Not only will this help to guarantee you are able to move on the specific day you require, it will also ensure that you are booking with the right company.
Draft a timeline – you may need to consider storage for any gaps
Moving home isn’t always a case of leaving one property and moving into your new home straight away. There’s often a gap between the two and it’s necessary to rent somewhere in between moves. Our storage packages are the perfect way to ensure that your possessions are safe and secure while you wait to move into your new property.
Pack from the top down
The most efficient way of packing for a household move is to start at the top of the house and work downwards. This way you won’t find yourself in a sea of boxes. And remember to label boxes so you know what’s in them and where they came from, or better yet, use your downloaded App to take inventory of your items.
We normally write the destination room at your new home on the tape and the general description of the contents. This ensures the boxes end up in the right room in your new home and allows the boxes to be used again, so we will be doing our bit for the environment.
Boxes used should be at least two ply in thickness to ensure they don’t collapse during transportation. You can buy packing materials designed for moving house direct from out site.
Getting ready for the big day
Closer to the time of your big move day it’s a good idea to have some basic items ready for your move. If you have children, make sure you have something to keep them busy during the move, so don’t pack their favourite toys or books. Include phones and IPads for the kids as this is one day when you want to relax usage rules of these items. You’ll also need to have some food and drinks ready for the journey.
Lastly ensure bedding is readily available if your move in is happening over more than one day.
Step 2
Tips on Packing
China, Ornaments, Glassware & Breakables
Before filling the removal box, place a layer of screwed-up packing paper approximately two inches thick, or a layer of bubble wrap in the bottom of the box to act as a cushion, then place a layer of strong or heavy china across the bottom, add another layer of china, each separately wrapped in a sheet of packing paper, continue until the box is almost full, then add another layer of screwed-up packing paper or bubblerap a couple of inches thick before sealing removal box with 'FRAGILE' packing tape and marking on contents and destination room.
Plates should be packed one on top of the other with a sheet of packing paper between each. Place in the corners of the box with the largest at the bottom and work upwards. Wrap cups, mugs, bowls etc and place in the centre of the box.
Cutlery is often sharp and awkward to pack though does not scratch, so it can be wrapped in small bundles within a sheet of packing paper, place sharp knive blades facing inwards.
Avoid overfilling removal boxes or leaving items protruding from the top, as it will increase the risk of damage and make boxes harder to handle and stack.
Do not make boxes too heavy as you may need to move them yourself once the removal people have left.
Boxes with breakable contents need be clearly marked "FRAGILE" or "Glass with Care".
Bedding
Bed linen can generally be packed into black plastic sacks and tied with zip ties.
Keep a spare sack and tie for your removals day's bedding.
Wardrobes
Hanging clothes in wardrobes can usually be left for the removal people to pack and transport in the wardrobe boxes. DIY self moving tip is to take approximately ten items on hangers, place a black plastic sack upside down over them - with a hole for the hooks to come through - then place packing tape around the hooks of the hangers to keep them together. They can then be placed into the wardrobe placed as close to the exit as possible, or even in the van.
Irons, Fryers, Kettles
Typically these contain liquids, empty them and drain thoroughly dry before packing upright.
Do not pack your kettle, mugs etc, as you may need to make drinks for yourselves and or removals people.
Washing Machines and Dishwashers
Un-plumb and drain the day before your removal day, your removal company will usually expect to do this job.
Fridges and Freezers
In the weeks up to the house move try to use up any freezer stocks then defrost, drain and clean the inside surfaces the day before your removal.
Cookers and Fires
Disconnect gas and electric supplies to cookers and replace fittings with suitable plugs and caps. Your removal company can generally do this if you want. To protect white goods, wrap with bubblewrap or in corrugated cardboard sheet to protect the cooker sides.
Hi-Fi, DVD and Computer Games
As a preventative measure the DVD drawers should be emptied of disks, to prevent any jamming when re-starting or trying to add another disck ontop of the existing. Place all components such as wires, remote controls, power adapters in a bag within the box.
Lamps and Lamp Shades
Carpets
To take up a carpet remove tacks and rolled up. Avoid bending the carpet as this will make it more difficult to carry. Your removal company will need to know if you are taking some or all of your carpets.
Flamables and Fuel Filled Items
Fuel is flammable and containers should be emptied before your house move. Packed canisters separately and mark them for handling with caution, many removal companies are not allowed to carry accelerants and such goods due to insurance clauses, inflamables may include: paint, petrol canisters, gas bottles (full or empty) garden chemicals etc.
Loading Sequence
Place items that you'll need first at your new home in a box and clearly marked "Load Last". Items will include (kettle and lead, tea, coffee, cups, milk, sugar, etc).
Step 3
Tips on Moving
These best for packing of tins, packed foods, books, records for easy carrying; and for delicate china and glassware to minimise the inner box loadings on fragile items.
The ideal size for breakable ornaments, crockery, kitchen utensils, lamps and lamp shades. the base can be lined with bubble wrap for additional padding.
The large boxes are perfect for the packing of toys, picture frames, mirrors, bed linen, shoes, soft items such as clothing. If items are tall then use removal box 4, or long - packing box 3 is best.
Wardrobe boxes are useful for moving clothes between your old and new house without them getting damaged or creased. The sturdy cardboard wardrobes have a metal hanging rail for hangers that provides structural stability to the box. The boxes also double up as temporary wardrobes and are ideal for longer term storage of clothes such as winter coats, jackets and suits.
STEP 1
Planning
STEP 2
Packing
STEP 3
Moving