Practical (and slightly humorous) advice from the people who actually load the van. Follow these tips and your move will be faster, cheaper and far less stressful.
Nothing worse than having to walk 300 m with a washing machine. Most vans like ours are XL length, so you need to clear 2 or 3 car spaces to give decent access. Be honest about where your man and van can park — they can then prepare for any 50 m route march.
Acquire some door wedges and wedge all the doors open. It lets the air flow and makes access simple.
If access is very difficult or two doors meet each other, dismantle the doors — especially where some of your items are large or particularly awkward.
Minimise the number of people in your property unless they are actively helping with the removal. Stairs and corridors tend to be one person wide.
Decide if you want to help or not and tell your man and van. They’d be delighted if you help — it will probably speed up the job and save you money. You will also be using the man and van’s skillset to the max (packing and unpacking the van, moving difficult or awkward items, and managing the move). Hands to the pump are always welcome.
Make sure you are only moving the stuff that you actually use and need. Declutter in advance and minimise your removal footprint. Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree and Freecycle are your friends for this task.
Use quality, sturdy, rectangular boxes of similar sizes. They stack safely like Tetris blocks. Avoid overfilling huge boxes — your mover isn’t an Olympic athlete.
If you have lots and lots of books, put them into smaller boxes than normal. Books are very, very heavy.
Buy good box tape and double-seal the bottoms. No one wants to search for scattered Lego or hear breaking crockery.
Don’t leave boxes open or stuff bags so full that items stick out — movers cannot stack on top of them, wasting critical van space.
If packing clothes in bags, use heavy-duty bags. Cheap bags split easily, and nobody wants to see your knickers on the driveway.
Group all sealed boxes in the garage or right by the front door. The crew can crack on loading immediately without navigating every room.
Because man and van services charge by the hour, move as much as possible downstairs near the main door. Your man and van will love your bungalow approach — it makes the job much easier and quicker.
Make sure you measure your biggest units (length and height) so the van can be packed efficiently. If your sofa can stand upright you may well save yourself a second trip, rather than it sitting on the floor and eating all the space.
Transport large, expensive TVs in your own car if possible. If the van must take them, put the TV back in its original box with its original foam. If you can’t do this, manage your expectations — moving an unprotected glass screen inside a confined space packed with odd-shaped furniture carries a high risk of damage.
Large, thin, frameless mirrors are extremely high risk. Wrap them heavily in blankets or bubble wrap, slide them between mattresses or flat surfaces, or transport them yourself.
Whenever possible, transport high-value or delicate items in your own car. You’ll be stressed enough without arguing over who broke what.
If the mover must take fragile items, group them all together in one dedicated spot. Expecting a mover to spot fragile boxes scattered among 50 others is a recipe for heartbreak.
Keep mattresses, sofa/chair cushions and soft bags separate during loading. They make fantastic gap-fillers to wedge between wooden furniture and prevent items from rubbing or shifting.
Disconnect early. Tuck the drain pipe and the liquid dispenser tray inside the drum so nothing loose catches during transport.
Completely empty both sections (check the very top too). Drain the catch tray at the back, or dirty water will end up all over your carpet.
They are prone to damage due to size. Remove the doors, strip internal shelves, and remember the wheels usually only roll in one direction.
Moving heavy white goods across lino often tears it. Lay down hardboard, plastic sheets or thick cardboard paths first.
Keep garden gear completely separate from household goods — it is a recipe for a dirty disaster. Ask the driver first; many charge a cleanup fee or refuse dirty items.
Write the destination room on multiple sides of every box in thick marker.
Once you’ve prepared using the tips above, you can check our clear Man and Van Plymouth pricing or go straight to the homepage to book.
You may also find our Frequently Asked Questions and the guide to Removal Traps & Hidden Charges helpful.