Hard-won advice from removal professionals. What to do, what to avoid, and the small things that make the biggest difference on moving day.
These tips come from removal industry professionals who move hundreds of families every year. Most of them cost nothing to implement — they're just things that most people don't think of until it's too late.
1. Declutter ruthlessly before you pack. Moving things you don't need costs money and time. Sell, donate or skip anything you haven't used in a year. 2. Book your removal company on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday — these are cheaper than Fridays and weekends. 3. Get a fixed-price quote rather than an hourly rate. It protects you if the job runs over. 4. Take photos of every room before you leave — you'll need them if there's a deposit dispute. 5. Photograph how your electronics are connected before you unplug anything.
6. Pack one room completely before starting the next — partial packing creates chaos. 7. Use your soft items (towels, t-shirts, socks) as padding instead of wasting bubble wrap. 8. Put heavy items at the bottom of boxes and light items on top. 9. Fill every box to the top — half-full boxes collapse under the weight of other boxes. 10. Keep all screws, bolts and fixings from dismantled furniture in labelled zip-lock bags taped to the furniture.
11. Be ready when the removal team arrives — their time is your money. 12. Keep a path clear from each room to the front door before the team arrives. 13. Do the kettle run — make the team a drink when they arrive. It sets the tone for the day. 14. Take gas, electricity and water meter readings at both properties and photograph them. 15. Do a final walkthrough: every cupboard, the loft, the garden shed, the garage.
16. Compare at least three quotes — prices vary significantly for the same job. 17. Ask about insurance excess before booking — some policies have high excesses that make claims pointless. 18. If your move date is flexible, ask removal companies which days are cheapest. 19. Dismantle flat-pack furniture yourself before the team arrives — it saves hours. 20. Source free boxes from supermarkets, off-licences and Freecycle instead of buying them.
21. Set up beds before anything else — moving day is exhausting and you'll thank yourself at 10pm. 22. Photograph the new property on arrival before you move anything in. 23. Change the locks on moving day — you don't know how many copies of the old keys exist. 24. Locate the boiler, stopcock, fuse box and meter on day one. 25. Get a Royal Mail redirect set up before moving day — takes 5 working days minimum. 26. Update your address with the DVLA within 3 months of moving — it's a legal requirement. 27. Use Cubic Move to store your documents, inventory and address book so everything's in one place for your next move.
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