Moving Guide For Flats And Apartments
December 27, 2018
Moving to a new home can be incredibly exciting. After all, new and unexpected opportunities lay ahead; you’ll have a new space to personalise and a new location to explore. But that doesn’t mitigate how stressful it can potentially be. From organising everything to the actual moving day, there’s a great deal to think about.
A moving day has plenty of different elements to consider. Your moving checklist feels overwhelming to create, but completing the tasks is even harder. Adjusting council tax, comparing energy prices, trying to remember your new address, meeting your new landlord, picking up cardboard moving boxes, there’s so much to do. So, focus on one thing at a time.
And on the day itself, put your trust in a well-recommended removal company to help you. Whilst the research can seem stressful and the expense unnecessary; hear us out! Because you’re not an octopus, so the likelihood that you need a helping hand is high.
Should I Hire a Removal Company?
Moving from a flat or apartment, as with any space, comes with potential issues. With dreaded staircases and parking fines to manpower and insurance. Your main goal is to get your belongings from A to B safely, but you might not be sure exactly how to do that. Whilst friends and family helping out may feel like a good option, one wrong move and you’re having to replace your dining set without the correct coverage, or worse, repair damage to your old property.
Hiring a professional removal company is essential when moving from a flat or apartment.
Not only will they be able to provide the necessary manpower and insurance, but they will also be able to help you organise the moving day itself. Do you know how to pack and move your furniture safely? How about how to protect fragile items during the moving process? Well, luckily for you, they will, so that’s one less thing to worry about.
And with the average cost of hiring and insuring a removal vehicle yourself often being more than simply hiring a team of experienced professionals, why take the risk?
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the most important factors to consider when moving from a flat or apartment!
Moving Guide for Flats and Apartments
With cheaper rent and fabulous locations, it only makes sense that apartments have become such a popular home option over the last several decades. With developers favouring them due to the amount of people they can fit into an urban space by building flats, the choices out there are endless. It means there are plenty of opportunities for people entering the housing market too.
In urban centres like London and Birmingham, flat and apartment living has become the norm, but these dwellings present their fair share of challenges when it comes to moving.
Stairs
Many apartment complexes lack lifts, especially those of a certain age or in refurbished buildings.
With this, problems can arise when shifting heavy items. You will want to let your removal company know well in advance if there are no lifts in your building.
Additionally, you’ll need to create a detailed list of what they will need to lift in terms of size and weight. This will ensure that if necessary, additional manpower or equipment will be available when you move, along with enough time being allocated to load and unload.
Neighbours
When you’re in a flat or apartment, it’s important to inform your neighbours of your moving arrangements. After all, your removal company may end up taking up the stairways for several hours.
A quick chat will lessen any resulting inconveniences and maybe even result in offers of support from those willing to lend a helping hand when it comes to loading up the moving van!
It may even lead to a lovely friendship, but if not, you at least know who your parcels might end up with when you're not at home.
Parking
Sadly, central urban locations tend to be somewhat lacking when it comes to parking spaces.
What may appear to be the perfect spot, could see you land yourself an expensive parking ticket and who needs another expense when moving? So, do your research and find where your movers can park during the day.
Get a parking permit if needed, or find the nearest car parking location. Warning them about potential fines in advance could save you a substantial amount of stress.
After all, nobody enjoys looking for a car parking space in a hurry!
Access
Unfortunately, in urban areas such as London and Manchester, it’s common for developers to stick apartment blocks wherever they can find the space.
Thanks to this rather insensitive planning, access is often difficult to predict. Be it outside stairs, small alleyways, or back entrances, it’s a good idea to let your removal company know, allowing them to prepare.
Similarly with porter service, it’s best to inform all involved to avoid potential difficulties in both your old and new property.
Timing
So often, timing is not considered when moving. With both road and foot traffic being heavier during rush hour - when people are going to work and coming home - moving at the wrong time can add a lot of stress to your day.
This is only amplified in urban areas. Not only could you encounter traffic, but you could also end up upsetting your neighbours by blocking them in as they try to get to work.
Try to make a note of when the peak travel times are for your apartment block and plan accordingly.
Damage
A high percentage of people living in apartments or flats are renters, especially in expensive cities like London. If you’re a renter, it’s crucial that your movers do not cause accidental (and expensive) damage to your current property.
After all, you’re going to want as much of your deposit back as possible. So, ensure that you give your movers as much information as possible. Be it transport, staircases or awkward corridors.
Ensure that you have a written record of informing them, just in case you need to hold them accountable. Most professional removal companies will have more than enough insurance coverage to protect you come moving day.
While a professional company may seem expensive, you will rest far easier than you would after hiring an uninsured white van man!