Moving house comes with its own set of challenges and stresses. But you can make the day go more smoothly by planning ahead. Here we look at tips and tricks when it comes to loading your removal van. Some of these may seem really obvious. However, given the number of things you need to remember to do when you’re moving, we thought it would be useful to list them.
You (and some friends) or Professional Removers?
Your first real choice is whether to undertake the removal yourself, or get a team of professionals in to do the job for you. Often this comes down to the price of moving. Other things to consider when making this decision include:
- Do you have time to organise the whole move by yourself?
- Will you be able to pack your entire house yourself?
- Will you be able to move the heaviest items in your house?
If you do decide to do the move yourself, you then also need to work out what size of van you need. If you’re not sure, contact a company that rents out vans and ask their advice. You’ll not be the first person to use their vans for moving, so someone there should be able to give you an idea of the size of van required to move, say a two-bedroom flat.
Right. How To Pack The Van
If you’ve decided to move yourself and have taken advice on the size of van you’ll need, you’re ready to think about how to pack the van. If you favour the ‘just sling it in’ approach, you’re likely to have one of the most stressful days of your life. Spend another couple of minutes reading these tips and remove a huge chunk of potential stress from your move.
The Simple Stuff
Make sure you have the tools and packaging materials you need. Otherwise you’ll spend a lot of your time trying to fix things on the fly. So make sure you have boxes (plenty of them), packing tape, large blankets, Bubble Wrap and some straps to secure larger items in the van. And always, always write on the outside of the box what it contains. Hunting for one thing in a sea of boxes is never fun – especially when you’re trying to get settled in your new home. If you have really heavy items, make sure you hire (or borrow) a trolley to help with the weight.
Get Loading
Try to think of the van as a large 3D jigsaw or a giant game of Tetris.
- We’d suggest that you load the heaviest items first (furniture, appliances, books, vinyl etc.), so that you don’t crush other possessions. You’ll also want to make sure that long (or large) items are packed early – like sofas, beds, headboards and mirrors.
- Protect other items with blankets, cushions and soft furnishings.
- Make sure drawers and wardrobes face the van’s walls so that they can’t fall open during transport.
- Try to have similar sized boxes to make stacking them easier (think about how hard Tetris becomes once you get lots of different shapes).
- Try to minimise the gaps between boxes, as this minimises the chance of things moving during transport (and getting damaged).
- Try to distribute weight evenly – it makes for a safer journey.
- Disassemble furniture if you can.
- Use straps to tie down your cargo. Once you start driving and going round corners, things can move. So, to save a disaster as soon as you arrive at your new home, make sure your possessions are securely stored.
Don’t Panic
Once you know how big a job you’ve got on your hands, we’re here to help you. Anything you don’t need immediately can be safely stored with us. We can even come and pick the stuff up from you – to remove another little job that will steal your time.
Final Piece of Van Loading Advice
Make sure you keep a box in the cab of the van that has essentials in it. Things like the kettle, tea / coffee, mugs and perhaps a packet of biscuits. You might also want to keep your toothbrush and a change of clothes – as you may feel slightly dirty once you’ve arrived at your new place.
If you think you need some storage, just give us a call. We’re happy to show you round our storage facilities. Our knowledgeable, friendly staff will be on-hand to help you find the most cost-effective storage option.
Give us a call or pop in to see how we can help you make your move simpler, lighter and much, much easier.