We’re not ones to complain. Moving house is a big, stressful event and people are doing their best to get through it. But after nearly two decades of moving people across Bristol and beyond, there are a handful of things that come up again and again. Little things that, if they’d been sorted the evening before or the morning of, would have made the whole day run a lot more smoothly for everyone. Let’s talk about those, so you can make sure your next move goes without a hitch.

Label boxes for the room, not just the contents

“Miscellaneous” and “stuff” are not helpful labels. Neither is a box that just says “kitchen”, really. Is it delicate crockery, or bulky appliances? That will change how we treat it and where we put it at the end.

If something is fragile, make that very clear on multiple sides of the box. And if a box needs to go in the van last because you’ll need it first when you arrive at your new home, tell us that too.

The room, rough contents and any handling notes all mean we’re not stopping to ask you where everything goes, and nothing fragile ends up at the bottom of a stack because we didn’t know.

Arrange parking before we arrive

If we can’t get the van close to the front door, every item has to travel further, and that time adds up fast. Loading and unloading is already the most physically demanding part of the job, so the last thing anyone wants is a long carry from a van parked halfway down the street.

If you’re in a residential area, put cones or bins out the night before to hold a space. Some councils (including Bristol, Bath, and North Somerset) allow you to apply for a temporary parking suspension for moving day, which is useful if access is tight. And if you’re in a flat with a car park or a shared driveway, let your neighbours know in advance. Most people are accommodating if you ask, but holdups happen when nobody knew to expect a lorry.

Don’t forget to do the same thing at the other end, if you can!

Defrost the freezer the night before

If we had a pound for every frosted freezer we’ve arrived to… It’s one of the most commonly forgotten jobs in the whole move, and it’s not something you can rush.

A freezer that hasn’t been defrosted can’t be safely transported, and even if it could, you’d be dealing with a puddle of water at the other end. Switch it off the evening before, put towels down, and have somewhere for the food to go, whether that’s a cool box, a neighbour’s freezer, or accepting that some of it won’t survive the move. It’s a small job that causes a big problem when it’s left too late.

Tell us about anything awkward in advance

…Not when we’re standing in the hallway looking at it.

A piano, a safe, a wardrobe that won’t come apart, a staircase with a bend in it, a narrow doorway: all of these are manageable. But they’re much more so when your removals company knows about them before the day, so they can bring the right equipment and the right number of people.

Dismantled furniture is another one. We’re happy to help with that, but if you want us to take beds apart and reassemble them, that needs to be agreed in advance. A quick conversation when you book, or a message the week before, makes a real difference.

Keep high-value and fragile items separate

Jewellery, passports, laptops, sentimental items, anything irreplaceable: these shouldn’t go on the van unless you absolutely can’t avoid it. We have insurance, but some things are priceless. Pack them separately, keep them with you in the car, and don’t leave them in a box labelled “bedroom” for us to load without knowing what’s inside.

Professional removals teams handle fragile items carefully all day long. But a removal van is a van, and the road between your old house and your new one is not a controlled environment. Things shift. The less that’s at risk, the better, and you’ll feel more at ease knowing your most important things are with you.

If there’s a piece of furniture that’s precious to you, or something that’s already a bit fragile, tell us before we start.

Quick tips

• Take your meter readings the night before. Gas, electricity, water. A photo of each gives you a timestamp, and it saves a lot of back and forth with suppliers later. While we’re on the topic, make sure your energy supply and contract is sorted in both homes.
• Charge your phone overnight. On a moving day you’ll be on it constantly, coordinating with us, the estate agent, and whoever’s waiting at the other end. If you can’t do that, it’ll be a nightmare.
• If you’ve got a lot of plants, particularly large ones, mention it when you book. They can’t be stacked like boxes and need floor space in the van, so it helps to know about them in advance. We’ve got a guide to moving plants here, so you can make sure they get through the journey unscathed.
• Find out where your stopcock is at the old place, and ask where it is at the new one when you pick up the keys. If a pipe causes trouble on moving day, you’ll want to know straight away.
• Have a key for every lock before the day starts, including the front door, back door, garage, and any outbuildings. And make sure you’ve tested them beforehand.
• Pack a moving day essentials bag and put it somewhere we can’t accidentally load it. There’s a full list of what you might want to include here, but phone charger, soap, toilet roll, and any documents you need on the day is a good start.

Ready when you are

A smooth moving day for us (and you) is the result of someone spending a couple of hours the evening before just getting things in order. Parking sorted, freezer on, boxes labelled, awkward bits relayed. None of it is complicated, but all of it matters.

If you’re looking for a friendly removals team that will handle the day with care and keep you in the loop from start to finish, get in touch. We’re happy to talk through the details of your move and put a fair quote together. Call us on 01179025985, or drop us a line at [email protected].