Removal Day

Removal day can be a stressful, even traumatic day, so take some time out for forward planning to ensure the move goes ahead as effortlessly as possible. Here at the Homeowners Club we’ve compiled some top tips to help you get through the big day, with everything you need to know from packing at one end through to unpacking at the other. Think of this as your moving house checklist.

Packing

Use this as a great opportunity to have that much needed sort out. It’s time to throw unwanted possessions out, unload on friends and the charity shops. Before you get started you’ll need to get some suitable boxes from the supermarket and try and get going as early as possible as it always takes longer than you’d expect.

Top tips

• Firstly, that big clearout.
• Wrap items and line boxes with newspaper. Pillows and blankets are also useful for wrapping and protecting items.
• Pack important documents together, such as birth and marriage certificates and keep in a safe place.
• Create a priority packing list to have easy access to all your essentials as soon as you arrive, these may be coffee, tea, snacks, cups, a kettle, utensils, a kitchen cloth, prepare overnight bags and toiletries. Make sure these items are loaded up last, so they will be coming off first.
• Start in your loft and work your way down.
• Pack room by room, clearly labelling each box so they are kept together and nothing gets lost.
• Check your contents insurance will cover damages and breakages.
• Don’t over-fill large boxes as they will get too heavy and pack heavy items in small boxes to keep the weight to a minimum.
• Label boxes clearly with what they contain and where it should go in the new house.
• Pack hazardous materials, such as paint, bleach, aerosols in a separate box and label clearly.

The removal

If you’re doing the removal yourself: Don’t try to do it alone, get a friend(s) over to help.

• Check prices for van hire, comparing the costs for a weekday or weekend hire.
• Ensure you hire a van the right size, too big and you’ll have trouble parking, too small and you’ll have to make too many trips.
• When loading the van, heavy boxes at the bottom, lighter items on top.

If you hiring the professionals: Paying people to do the move for you will relieve a great deal of stress.

• Get quotes from different companies and check the fine print of the moving day insurance.
• Make sure the company is a member of the British Association of Removers.
• Book the company two weeks before your move.
• Always make a list of everything you’re taking so nothing gets left behind.

What the company will need to know:

1 - The amount of furniture to be moved

2 - An estimate of the number of boxes to be moved

3 - Instructions and directions to your old home and your new home

4 - Time for the team to arrive

5 - A parking space kept free for the removal van at both ends

6 - A list of furniture that will not fit through the front door

7 - A plan of where the furniture will be going in your new home

Who needs to know you’re moving

Use this moving house checklist to make sure you’ve notified everyone:

• Services and utilities; Water, gas, electricity, telephone, post office, cable/satellite and internet, rental companies and TV licensing.
• Financial; Banks, building societies, credit card companies, council tax department, National Savings and Premium Bonds, your employer, insurance companies, pension companies, Inland Revenue, social security and your solicitor.
• Health; Doctor, dentist and optician.
• Motoring; DVLA, Breakdown Recovery Company, vehicle registration and vehicle insurance.
• Others; Friends & relatives, subscriptions, milk delivery, newsagent, sports club, library and schools/colleges/universities.

Removal day tips

• Easy access to and from properties.
• Lofts must be readily accessible if necessary.
• Hanging clothes can be left as specialist hanging boxes are utilised.
• Disconnect and drain electrical appliances in advance.
• Take down fixtures and fittings, such as curtains and blinds before the removal team’s arrival, unless agreed to be left.
• Double check with your removal team who’s responsibility self-assembly furniture is?
• Finally, you will need to be present during the removal to ensure nothing is left behind or taken that shouldn’t be.

Good luck with your move and we hope we’ve been of some help to ensure your day runs as smoothly as possible and most importantly your new abode feels like home sweet home in no time at all.