They say that moving home is one of the most stressful times of your life (not with us, of course!).
From contracts and viewings and solicitors and wishing you could move the process along a bit, there’s so much to think about before you actually get to moving day. By the time it arrives, you’ll undoubtedly want to get it over and done with as quickly as possible, so that you can start enjoying your new space. But how long should it actually take to move, and have you factored that time in?
There are many ways that you can make this process as stress-free as possible on moving day, and it all starts with being prepared and having realistic expectations. It could even involve handing jobs over to someone else.
Do you have to pack yourself?
Professionals can pack far quicker than most people, because they do it every day. Why not pass this job over to them? Professional packing will also mean that your possessions are better protected as they travel to their new home. Yes, it’s an additional service, but most companies will not transport your items unless they are packed properly, so it could take the stress of packing and knowing that it’s done properly off of your shoulders.
Loading the truck
Having your packing done properly can also speed up the process of loading them into the truck, as chances are they can all be loaded systematically on to a trolley.
Allow time for your bulky items
Larger items like washing machines, fridges, sofas, beds and wardrobes all take up space in the truck, and take time to position safely and efficiently. Factor in around 15 minutes for each bulky item that you would like to move with you.
Travel time and parking spaces
Have you ever used Waze? It plots travel journeys in real time, dependent on what’s going on with the traffic. If you have an idea of your moving time in advance, it is worth checking Waze at around the time you will be travelling, to give you an idea of the amount of time you need to allocate on travel – outside of those things that none of us can plan for, like accidents.
Of course, the closer we can park to your new property at either end, the quicker it will be to move your possessions, so if there is a way that you can reserve a parking space, that will make things easier.
How much time does it take for each property?
The key thing to remember here is these times are an average and they don’t include packing or travel time. Every property is unique, and depends on a number of factors, including how many of those bulky items need to be loaded, the layout of your properties and, if you’re moving to a flat, the availability of the lift.
- A studio flat –takes around two hours and two people
- One bedroom property – takes around three hours to move everything out of
- Two bedroom property – takes around four hours for two people to move out and load
- Three bedrooms or bigger – it usually takes an entire day to load belongings, especially if you’re taking all your furniture and everything from your kitchen.
One of the things to consider when choosing a removal company is that most charge by the hour. When you contact companies to give estimates, bear in mind that you want your items to arrive in one piece, so look for quality of service, as well as price.
If you’d like to talk to us about your future move, we’d be happy to talk through your requirements – please get in touch.