You have looked around your current home, to check what needs moving – are there any access issues – you know your own house well, but have you thought about your new home?
What about your new property? You need to think about parking for a Removals Lorry (depending on the size of your house move, the vehicle may be a small transit which needs a car space all the way up to a 40 ft lorry which would need at least 3 car spaces) – a few things to check first:
Parking
- Are there parking restrictions? Are there double yellow lines, or single yellow lines outside the property, or if in London on a red-route.
- Do residents or workers always park on the street – can a space be blocked to prevent others from parking there?
- If the removals vehicle can not park outside your new house then where can it park – estimate a distance which may be the worst case scenario. A trans-ship vehicle may be required.
- If there are parking restrictions, then you will need to contact the council for a parking bay suspension, or a parking dispensation – this needs to be done at least 7 days before the move so they have time to notify other residents.
- If arrangements have not been made in advance of the move, and the lorry can not park outside the house, then additional resources may be required on the day of the move, which will not only cost more – but will cause more stress for your move.
- Can a vehicle get on to the driveway without causing damage to overhanging trees or hedges?
Moving into an Apartment
- If moving into an apartment, has the car park got a height restriction? if so, how high and how far would the vehicle have to park from the entrance.
- You will need to advise the Building Manager to advise them you are moving in.
- Does the apartment have a lift? How large is the lift? Will all furniture fit into the lift?
- If the furniture will not go into the lift, and the stairs are not wide enough then a platform lift can be used – however, arrangements for this need to be in place atleast 2 weeks before your move – as in some instances a council permit is required and pathways blocked off for safety reasons.
Dismantling Furniture
- Was the furniture you have in your house, flat pack and built in the room or did it fit in OK?
- Most flat pack furniture is not built to be dismantled again, and can cause damage to back panels whilst being removed.
- Will the furniture have any access issues at the new house, if so it will need to be dismantled.
- If you are not 100% about dismantling furniture then a good Removal Company will be able to dismantle and rebuild your furniture for an additional charge.
- Will windows need to be removed to get oversize sofa’s into the house?
It is very rare for the removal company to check the property which you are moving to, this is your responsibility to ensure that all measures have been taken to allow the vehicle to park outside or reasonably close to your new home, and for all furniture to have been prepared in advance of the move to allow for free movement.
If you have any concerns then speak to your removals coordinator who will have the best level of experience to overcome these issues prior to your move.