On the Move

We’ve caught up with Terance Puna, General Manager of local removals company Gentleman & A Van, for his top tips for families on the move:

1 – Prepare your moving house ‘to do’ list and folder – from floorplans and inventories to useful phone numbers and utility company details for both locations – having everything in one place alongside a task list will help you manage your move.  List everything from researching parking restrictions to setting up a re-direction service, taking meter readings and organising utility services, and tick them off as you go.  Give everything on the list a deadline and assign each task so everyone helping you knows exactly who’s responsible for each job.  Take the edge out of last-minute cleaning by organizing an end-of-tenancy clean too.

2 – Hire professionals – don’t cut costs with a DIY move.  Set your budget and get three quotes – it pays to have the peace of mind that the job will be done well.  Ask your friends and work colleagues for their recommendations too so you can feel confident in the service you’re booking.

3- Organise insurance – a good quality removals company will be able to offer different levels of insurance cover – take time to discuss this with them to ensure you are fully covered.

4 – Do your research – find out all about your new area – from schools to sports and medical facilities, shops and restaurants – so you feel at home from day one.  Ask friends if they know anyone who lives there who can offer tips too.

5 – Declutter and recycle well in advance – now’s the time to go through your attic or basement and let go of all that stuff you’ve kept for years. Think about what you you’d like to keep and what you can sell, donate, recycle or dump. De-cluttering is less overwhelming if you do it gradually and give yourself enough time to work through your home room by room. If you’d like to donate unwanted furniture then various charities such as the British Heart Foundation or The Salvation Army will come and collect it from you.  Or if you’d like to make some money from de-cluttering check out the following sites:

www.ebay.co.uk                                    Best online Auction site

www.facebook.com/marketplace          Biggest audience

www.nextdoor.co.uk                             Best website for selling locally

www.shpock.com                                 Best App

www.depop.com                                   Best website for Clothes

www.vinted.co.uk                                  Best website for Shoes and accessories

www.webuybooks.co.uk                        Best website for selling Books

www.mazumamobile.com                     Best website for selling for Mobile Phones

www.musicmagpie.co.uk                       Best website for selling Tech

6 – Buy good quality packing materials – your boxes should be at least two ply in thickness to ensure they don’t collapse during transportation.  Remember to pack heavy items in small boxes.

7 – Make a packing plan – label the boxes with what’s in them, where they’ve come from and where they’re going to.  Create an inventory and pack room by room so when you get to your new home it’s easy to unpack room by room too.  The most efficient way to pack for a household move is to start at the top of the house and work downwards.

8 – Pack a survival kit  – it’s worth keeping a box of essentials aside – from a kettle, coffee, clothes, toothbrushes and bedding for the first night to cleaning products and the childrens’ ipads.  Plan a pizza night and make move day a fun event for the whole family.

9 – Involve your children – depending on their age, make the moving process fun for your children.  Help little ones pack their special items – from teddy bears to favourite clothes – and make choosing the paint colours and furnishings for their new bedroom an exciting project. Consider buying children their own special wheelie bag which can contain everything they need for the first night in their new home.

10 – Storage solutions – consider arranging to store excess possessions until you have space for them or the time to sell them once the move is completed.

Terance says, “We’ve built up an unrivalled reputation for offering a one stop shop for moves – from planning and packing to organising storage.  Our aim is to make our clients’ moves seamless and stress free from the moment we receive the first booking call.  We’re at the heart of the community with the majority of our customers coming to us via word of mouth – local people know us and trust us to deliver’. 

www.gentlemanandavan.co.uk