Where have the removal boxes gone?

For many years people moving themselves could find cardboard boxes at a number of places most commonly supermarkets. Due to environmental  legislation these companies need to be seen to re-cycle more and as a result do not have as many cardboard boxes available for people to collect. This subject is explained in depth by storage.co.uk  in their recent blog "should you pay for removal boxes? "

There are many box providers in the UK today and a large number of these are self storage sites. In their blog post storage.co.uk mention that a typical medium box can cost anything between £2.90 and £4.34, quite a price variation. Our boxes in comparison are £2.75 for a med box and as low as £2.39 if you buy 10 or more, furthermore they are boxes that are used in the removals industry and are extremely strong. It is worth asking if the boxes you are thinking of buying on line or from a self store site are single or double walled, and if they are double walled if they are strong. Our boxes can be used more than once as they are so robust. 

We sell a wide range of packing materials from our shop next to Billericay Railway station or you can buy direct from our on line store Essex Removal Boxes as long as the delivery address is in Essex.

See our shop prices below and our online prices (Which has some special offers for void fill and wardrobe cartons)

  

All these products are used in the removals industry and therefore will be all you need. It is worth mentioning that a professional removal company will supply all the packing materials you need and this is an important factor to consider when you are thinking whether to move yourself or not. There are many other problems with moving yourself and they are outlined in great detail  in chapter 10 of our moving report - "The Top Ten Removal & Storage Disasters to Avoid" and would be worth looking at if you are undecided wether to move yourself or employ a professional. Follow this link to see the chapter "if nothing else remember this one!" 

The trend for increased cardboard prices and availability will continue and the desire to find a solution to meet peoples budget will remain. This is one reason why a professional removal company that is accredited would be the best option when moving house, if you decide you want to move yourself then at least make sure that the boxes you buy are as strong as possible.

Do you want to pay for your house removal twice? No? Then read this first.

Like most things in life, unforeseen charges are really annoying, especially when they are out of your control. Take for example the additional costs that you could incur if your flight was cancelled because of striking air traffic controllers, and the next flight costs you double the original flight.
Or when you find you have to pay your solicitors fees for someone else's incompetence.  There are many examples of this and in most instances Insurance can offer the solution to the problem.
The removals industry is no exception, particularly so, as you are often relying on other people involved, there are usually estate agents, solicitors, banks and bureaucracy to contend with as well as local councils, surveyors and government departments. You can see how there is the potential for a last minute hold up or disaster!
In most cases your solicitor will ensure that the removal date is agreed and fixed and once exchange of contracts has taken place this is usually so. However, there are unforeseen scenarios that can change the date or even cancel it all together. 
Once you have exchanged contracts it is usually assumed that the date agreed is definite, but there are occasions where this is not always the case. Take for example the possibility that someone in the chain is taken seriously ill or injured a few days before the removal day, and are physically not able to prepare in time for the agreed date, the completion day may need to be put back a week or so. Or that someone in the chain changes their mind and is prepared to loose their deposit rather than go ahead with the move. Or there is a bereavement and the probate will complicate things and will also involve a delay. There are many other unlikely reasons why the move could be postponed or cancelled but the point is they are there. Most people don't ever have a problem but for some it can be very costly indeed. Most removers will have postponement and cancellation fees in place. Some companies are allot tougher than others and it is always important to find out what they are before entering into a contract.

A typical example would be as follows- (some will charge higher percentages over longer periods of time)

Cancellation Postponement fees- from Removal day.
4-7 Days Notice   50% of Total Fee`s
3  Days Notice     75% of Total Fee`s
1-2 Days notice    90% of Total Fee`s
Less than 24hrs   100% of Total Fee`s


So  as you could imagine these costs could be considerable, and although you could claim the costs from the party involved it may be a difficult process to obtain compensation.  So if for a small fee you could cover these costs should they arise, would you take the chance?  Well it all comes down to the type of person you are, but I would strongly suggest you consider it, as it could well pay in the long run. Especially when you consider how stressful the whole moving experience can be, and particularily if your the type of person that thinks that if anything could go wrong it will for me!

It is important to remember this cover is only if your move is agreed and contracts have been exchanged or the rental papers have been signed and accepted. Its not available if the move date is provisional and you haven't exchanged contracts.
This cover is not to be confused with the `Waiting Time Charges Waiver` which covers you on the removal day for charges you may incur if there is a delay in the release of your keys.

What protection can you expect when moving house?

Protection can mean several things. Protection from rouge removers, protecting you with insurance or  physical protection of your furniture and property.  Ill cover the latter in this post.

Moving house is probably one of the most stressful things you can ever do in your life, it can also be one of the most expensive! People employ professionals throughout the whole moving process from Estate Agents, Solicitors, Home Stagers, Mortgage Brokers and Surveyors to Builders, Plumbers, Security companies  and carpet fitters and cleaners. Only the best? Of coarse! but why do some people try and save a bit of money on the most important part of it all- Looking after your cherished items on moving day?  You've got expensive, sofas TV`s Mattresses etc etc so why do people use unregulated removers or man and van services just to save a few quid? When in reality they are just setting themselves up for a potential nightmare!.

Sorry don't mean to go off on one! but seriously when you ask someone to move you from A-B, everything in your home, pack it up and put it all on a lorry and then move it into your new home, you can imagine that if not done correctly they could end up causing allot of damage if not handled correctly.

The first thing to do is pick an accredited remover either British association of Removers or National Guild of Removers and Storers Ltd (These are the only two). Preferably that have been recommended to you, but certainly have been established for several years and have testimonials available. The next thing to do is ask what protection they will offer for your furniture and property.

Most professional removal companies will have the following:-

Covers for your Doors, Bannister's and Carpets. 

Sofa and Armchair Covers 

Hanging Garment Carriers  

Mattress Covers

Dining Table and Chair Covers

Wide screen TV covers

Piano Covers



Dining Table Cover



 



Sofa and Armchair Covers



Wide screen TV Cover

As well as all these specialist covers there will be hundreds of Removal Blankets to protect anything else.

When Moving House you want to cover as many bases as possible, ask about these type of covers when getting quotes, it may save you lots of upset later on! 







Paying for a removal and packing service? What`s left for you to do?

 Deciding to let your remover do the packing aswell as the moving is a really good idea. The advantages of this are many but there is still lots for you to do.
If you are moving direct from house to house locally there are less considerations than if you are moving overseas with a term in storage.
By deciding to have the packing done for you, you can focus on other things such as de-cluttering.
Spend the time before the packers arrive to dispose of unwanted items you dont want in the new house. There are several methods to achieve this:-

Dump rubbish- Take to recycle centre or civil amenity site, or hire a skip if there is a large amount. A tip here is to always get a larger skip than you think you need as it will work out cheaper than getting a second smaller skip. (and theres usually more than you think!) We use Ahern Skips who cover the whole of Essex.
Unwanted furniture- There are several ways of dealing with these items, either break up and skip, arrange for the council to collect (they will usually charge a small fee and you will need to leave the items on the boundary of the property.) They will usually only take a few items, (Handy if its an old sofa and cooker!)  Talk to your remover about this, they may well offer to carry them out for you. Or consider a charity shop or if its valuable an auction. We reccommend Lighthouse charity and Chelmsford Auction Rooms.  Many people also use ebay and Freecycle as another way of disposing of items.
Brick a brack-  Smaller items such as books toys china etc are always welcome in your local charity shop, or if you want to make some money why not try Ebay or why not do a garage sale this can be a lot of fun and a way of getting the kids involved and poss earning some additional pocket money!

Now you've disposed of unwanted items you can focus on all the things you need to do In preparation for moving see our Removal Guide for info on what you need to do. You may have decorating or building work planned for the new house so you may be interested in taking advantage of a Mobile Self Storage option which will solve this problem, or if you don't want to lift the items yourself arrange with  your remover to store it for you.
 When its a few days to go make sure that you know where you want things to go. For example you may want the study items currently in Bedroom 4, put in an outbuilding at the new house. (You don`t want to find all your files are in a bedroom when you need them outside). If there is a difference of locations label the room or leave instructions, as the packers can only label where items have come from not where they are going to.
Finally the day your packers arrive allocate areas where you can accumulate items you don't want packed, I recommend on the beds for clothes bags & essentials (as the packers will not pack the bedding being used, until the moving day!) one bathroom/ en suite for toiletries and an area of the kitchen work surface for other essentials such as kettle, bottle sterilizer chargers etc..  Make sure you have remembered to separate important items such as medicines, keys & paperwork required at short notice. Make sure you keep aside any floor plans or instructions for the removers.
When the packers arrive show them the areas that you have allocated for the items that are not to be packed and then leave them to it!
By now you have probably had your decision to get a packing service confirmed, and if you have also asked the removers to do the dismantling you have nothing left to do, except Relax!

What is a waiting time charges waiver? And why do you need it?

When moving home you may come across one of these. The whole reason for their existence is because the completion day process is so outdated.
When you buy a new property you could well find there is a delay in the money being transferred through the chain especially if you are some way along. This can be very frustrating as you have waited so long for your new property and after weeks of legal work there is still a delay in releasing keys on the day!
This whole scenario is one that has dogged the removals industry for years and caused stress and expense for many people for many years, but why does it happen?
Once Exchange of contracts has taken place the move is certain and a completion day is fixed, at this time you can confirm the day with your remover. Hopefully prior to that you have provisionally booked this date as you may find that your chosen remover is booked. (see my previous post- "What is the best day for moving house?" )  At that point all the contracts are in order, all the lending has been agreed the searches and surveys complete so it is just a simple task of sending the money through the chain so everyone can move in. Sounds simple?  It should be but for some reason there is usually a delay in the money being released from the first time buyer and further delays from solicitor to solicitor. With today's technology and instant bank transfers this should all be done in a matter of minutes!!  Unless anyone can explain to me the logical reason for this I am going to put it down to the interest the banks & solicitors gain from having large sums on deposit for short lengths of time. There can be no other reason for it, as all the donkey work has been done weeks before.
This is where the waiting time charges waiver can be very useful as you pay an upfront fee (usually between £30-£50) and it will cover you against waiting time charges your remover may charge you. We typically charge £20 per staff member per hour or part thereof after 2pm. So for example if we are all ready to unload outside your new house before 2pm and have 3 crew members present and you finally arrive with the keys at 3.30pm you would be liable for an additional £120 + VAT. (4.20pm would be £180 + VAT) If you have taken out the waiver this would be covered.
We always clearly put our charges on our quotes and offer a waiver, however, some removers are not so open so its a good idea to find out the companies policy for waiting time and preferably get it in writing if it isn't clearly stated in the terms and conditions. For more info on this subject and other problems associated with the small print see number 8 of my report "The Top Ten Removals and Storage Disasters to avoid!"

I hope that has explained what a waiting time charges waiver is and why you may need it. Please remember it is only applicable if you are buying a house and not renting or moving into store.

Packing for house staging.

Kat MacKinnon at Home Miracles requested a topic for this post-  "System to pack your stuff to be stored away, so that it is easy to find and access an item if needed"

House staging is becoming increasingly popular in today's housing market. Sellers are looking at ways of creating an impression in the minds eye of potential buyers. This technique is important when there is a shortage of buyers but also in the opposite market where better sale prices can be achieved.
In a previous post "is Mobile Self Storage the best house staging tool?" I described how mobile self Storage can be used to store effects for staging with minimal hassle for the customer, however, the difficulty can often be what to store?
The most common items to be stored are items of furniture with associated effects to create a feeling of space or to change a study/ dining room to an additional bedroom.
less obvious items are harder to judge and may require some professional advice on selecting personal effects that could be packed to create an impact. There is a home staging workshop in Basildon on Monday 17/1/11 , which may give you some really helpful ideas.
Once you have identified the items you want to store you will need some packing materials which can be purchased from our office in Billericay. You will also need to work to a system that will simplify the retrieval of items should you need to do so.
The obvious thing to do is label the box with its contents or number it, and keep a detailed inventory, being careful not to loose it!  Whether you are storing in a storage room or in a mobile self storage unit it would be advisable to identify the most likely items that you may need returned and keep them in the most accessible place. It would be a good idea to scan any inventories and keep an on line copy as well as a hard copy.

If you are not sure about the external storage option you could  pack and store in your loft, shed or garage being mindful of the possibility of damp. Many removal companies will offer advice on packing and supply packing materials, it may be the best option if you don't want to do the hard work yourself.

What is the best day for moving house?

A difficult question? well not really!
The best day for moving house is the day your preferred remover can fit you in!

With all the many considerations when moving house, the stresses and strains of hoping the exchange goes through you  may be forgiven for not worrying about what day the actual removal day falls on.
You will usually be informed by your solicitor what the completion day will be and at that point you will go to your chosen removal company and inform them of your moving day. This can often lead to disappointment as they are fully booked, your next favoured remover are also fully booked and so on and so forth until you have to settle for a man and van/lorry operator to fit you in. (That opens up a whole new can of worms, not for this post though)
Solicitors are not really concerned about the completion day (removal day) all they have to do is make sure the money moves from one account to another. The busier the completion day the more problems there are, so should be avoided.
The busiest day of the week is Friday. The end of the month is always busier than the beginning so combine the two and the last Friday of the month is the busiest day of the month. Listed below are 8 reasons why this day should be avoided.

1. Its unlikely you will secure the services of your preferred remover.
2. If short notice you may only be left with cowboy operators. (how do you spot a cowboy?)
3. You are more likely to pay a premium and not be able to negotiate a reduction.
4. There will be more completions for the solicitors so you are more likely to have a late key release.
5. If you have late key release you may have to pay waiting time charges.
6. Some removers may hire vans and agency workers to cover the demand - reduced quality.
7. If there is a problem with the completion you will have to wait until Monday to get it resolved.
8. The Estate Agent may have alot of activity and may cause a delay in the release of keys.

So what do you do?

The first thing to do is do your homework and get removal quotations nice and early and decide which company you want to move with. Once you have identified them let them know you want to move with them and explain the stage you are at with your move. You may be surprised at how much help and advice you can get from a good remover.
You may have some idea of when the move may take place even if you haven't exchanged contracts, your remover will let you know the dates around that time that are available.
Armed with this information contact your solicitor and ask if the time frame is accurate and that you want to move on the suggested date. (Someone in the chain will suggest a date that everyone else works towards, why don't you be that person?) Once agreed let your remover know that's the date your working towards and they will provisionally book for you. This will hold the resources they need, but will not commit you until nearer the time, usually seven days before the date.
This approach will save you allot of unnecessary stress and will give you the best hope for a trouble free move.

Everything above is to do with completion day moves, If you are moving to or from a rented property or moving into or out of storage you will have more flexibility and therefore more chance of getting the date and remover you want. Our current special offer is proof of this.