There can be a lot to think about when moving house. Setting time aside to plan each element can help the process and keep you on top of everything that is going on.

When you hire a removal company, there are several things you can do to make their job easier and help keep your removal costs down. From ensuring everything is packed to plain old kindness, our guide covers some things you can do to help your removal company.

Your removal company will be undertaking a big task for you, especially in larger houses with many items to move or limited access. There is a whole list of things that you can plan and do in advance to make your job as easy as possible and make the whole day run smoothly.

In this guide, we cover a list of 11 considerations that should be taken to help your removal company on the day.

1. Communication

As with most things in life, communication is key to a smooth and successful moving day. Ensuring you communicate well with your removal company will eliminate any possible issues.

If you do not tell your removal company what you have done and what you may need some help with, they could turn up unprepared on the day. This could create delays that a good line of communication would've easily remedied.

Make sure you save the number and email address of the chosen removal company. You aren’t hassling them by getting in touch to update them on your plans.

2. Book your removal company in advance

Removal companies can be busy, especially when it's a popular time of the year to move house, such as during the summer holidays, over the Christmas break, or on a Friday.

Movers rarely have the luxury of choosing which time of year they move. Moving is usually dictated by circumstance rather than desire. However, booking dates well in advance can avoid disappointment and extended waiting times.

This includes getting a removals survey done early so that time is allowed for the removals company to process the quote and booking the removal date as soon as possible to ensure your desired moving date is secured. Consider using a moving checklist to keep on top of everything.

3. Home Removals Survey

Although some businesses will provide a quote for home removals based on a phone call or email, this can easily lead to miscommunication and a possibility of the job being estimated incorrectly in terms of size and price.

Inviting your removals company to complete a home removals company survey or using a video home survey service is a good way to remedy this. This process allows the removal company to understand what is in your house and what special circumstances you may need and, as a result, allows them to produce a much more accurate quote for their services.

This has the added benefit of allowing you to better budget for the move at a time when finances may be of greater concern.

4. Organise Parking

If you live on a street with permit parking, where parking is only available at a distance from your property or where there is no suitable parking for large vans or trucks – this will be of concern to the removals company.

For permitted parking, ensure you have secured enough permits for the number of vehicles coming to help you move. Where parking is an issue, ensure that you discuss this with the removal company and help them assess other options for getting your home contents to and from the vehicles.

Often where heavy or many items are concerned, securing parking as close as possible to the property is highly beneficial.

5. Consider Access

Access can be a major issue when it comes to moving days. However, parking near the building and easily carrying everything out of the front door is ideal. This is rarely the case in a modern world of apartments, flats, and shared houses.

Communicate with the removal company about the options for access. Do you have easy access through the front entrance? Is there anything that needs to be cleared in hallways or shared corridors that may block this access? Are there options for rear access through a garden or back alleyway? Is there anything that you can do to make this route accessible for the mover?

Considering and clarifying these questions to the removal company is a good way to limit any issues on the day. Don't be afraid to communicate and ask your removal company questions.

6. Clear the loft

Ensure you have left yourself enough time to go through your loft's contents, box it up, and move it downstairs so the movers can shift it out of the building. This is also an excellent opportunity to sort through and eliminate any items you do not want to take to your next house. Sort through and decide what you are keeping, what should be thrown out, what you may be able to sell, and what could be of value to a charity shop.

7. Ensure Everything is Packed

This may seem obvious, but ensuring all your items are packed securely and ready to shift can be overlooked when you have much to consider. Unpacked items can be a nuisance when movers come in to get all your kit.

Not only does packing up everything help the mover be more efficient, but packing in a planned and structured way will help you unpack all your items in your new home.

If you're unsure where to start packing, read our packing tips.

8. Use Quality Packing Materials

Although you can save yourself a few quid using budget packaging material, high-quality packaging will likely save you and the removal business a lot of hassle in the long run.

This is for several reasons. Firstly, cheap packaging is prone to falling apart when put under pressure, which moving can often cause. Better quality packing is much more likely to withhold its structure, keeping your belongings together and safe.

Cheaper packaging is also often thinner and usually less structured as a result. This can mean your items are more likely to get damaged inside the box during transit. Higher-quality packaging protects items better and keeps them secure.

9. Dismantle Furniture

Dismantling your furniture before the move date will allow your chosen removal company to pick up and move your belongings easily. It also means they will be less prone to damage when moving.

By dismantling your furniture before the removal company arrives, you will save valuable time on the day. You might avoid a waiting time fine too. However, many removal companies offer a furniture dismantling service that you'll need to book in advance.

10. Unplug all Electricals

Another simple and obvious one. Unplugging all electrical before the move date is a small act that will make it easier for the removal company to get on with their job.

Similarly, collecting and securing any electrical wires with string or zip ties will allow your electrical goods to be moved more safely.

11. Clear Living Obstacles

Removal companies are usually full of very hard-working individuals. They will likely want to crack on with the job and move your belongings as quickly and safely as possible.

You can help them do this by ensuring that any living obstacles, such as children or pets, are kept clear of the work going on. This doesn’t just ensure the movers can get on with the job but also means that everyone is kept safe and out of harm’s way.