Moving House Checklist: Hertfordshire Edition ☕️
Whether you are moving across town or to the other side of the country, the process of getting your life from Point A to Point B fundamentally comes down to three choices:
- Do everything yourself
- Hire a van
- Hire a professional removal company (like us!)
However you choose to tackle it, the physical mechanics of moving remain exactly the same. It is an 11-step process. In this guide, we will walk you through exactly what you need to do at each stage to make your move as smooth and well-organised as possible.
Let's jump into it.
Step 1: Plan
The first and most crucial step is proper planning. The absolute last thing you want to be doing on moving day is packing boxes and labelling when you should only be loading the vehicle.
Start by noting today's date and your actual moving date to work out exactly how much time you have. Whether you have a single day or a whole month, you still have to complete all 11 steps — but your timeline will heavily dictate your stress levels, safety, and costs.
Next, count your rooms and note how packed they are. Make an executive decision on what items must stay out until the very last minute. For example, if you work from home, you will want to keep your desk setup active as long as possible. You will also need daily essentials like plates and cutlery right up until the end.
This is also the time to decide what you will take with you and what you will leave behind. Ask your relatives and friends if they want anything, give the things to charities, or organise a garage sale. Finally, plan to cancel your internet, council tax, and utility bills, and schedule a deep clean if you want to avoid property management cleaning fees.
Your plan should look something like this:
Step 2: De-Clutter & Organise
Tackle this room by room, exactly as mapped out in your plan. Do not try to declutter the entire property in one go. Pull everything out and pile it into distinct groups: keep, give away, fragile, and non-fragile.
Step 3: Pack, Wrap, and Label
You will need sturdy boxes, wrapping materials for fragile valuables, and markers for labelling. You can choose from a wide range of quality boxes and other packaging from professionals. Alternatively, supermarkets are usually happy to give away empty banana boxes for free.
When packing fragile items like TV screens, you can wrap them in thick clothing or bed sheets to save money, or purchase proper bubble wrap. Ensure you label moving boxes clearly, and pack essential items only in the last few days. Also, do not pack personal documents, jewellery, and money — keep these safe and with you.
The Wardrobe Hack
We love this tip from 'BodybuilderGrouchy36' on Reddit. Use garbage bags to pack your clothes on hangers. Leave the clothes on the hanger, take the garbage bag, open it up and start to fill it with 8–15 hangers and clothes items with the bottom of the garments going in first. Then take the garbage bag ties and wrap it around the hangers so they are all together nicely. It keeps the clothes clean, and when you move, you hang it in the new closet and rip or cut the garbage bag off.
Step 4: Store Internally
Once a room is fully packed, wrapped, and labelled, stack those boxes safely in an empty space or corner of your property. Then, consult your plan and move on to packing the next room.
Step 5: Move to the Loading Point
This happens on the day of the event (or a few days prior if you are using a storage facility). You must move boxes safely. Always practice proper manual handling (lift from the knees!). A sack truck is incredibly handy here. If you are in a building block, utilise the lift and do not hesitate to ask friends for help. Start by staging the biggest, longest items first, as these need to be packed into the van before the smaller boxes.
Step 6: Load the Vehicle
Move everything from your loading point into the vehicle. Always load the heavy, long furniture first to create a secure base, then pack the smaller, lighter boxes tightly around them to prevent shifting during transit.
Step 7: Drive
Depending on the amount of belongings you have, the type of vehicle required will change. If you are doing it yourself in a small family car, you must plan for multiple trips. If you choose to hire a van, be aware of the hire company's conditions; you usually need to be a certain age, have held a licence for a specific number of years, and be comfortable driving a manual transmission.
It is also vital to think about how the removal van can access your current and future home, advise your neighbours that the van will be parking outside your house, and get any necessary permits.
Step 8: Unload
Assuming you have arrived safely, it is time to unload. Again, prioritise safety. Think about the weather conditions and the layout of the new property. Will you be parking near the door? Are you arriving in the morning with plenty of daylight, or will you be moving heavy objects in the dark? (If the latter, prepare adequate lighting). Assess the building entrance width and lift availability before you start moving the heavy items inside.
Step 9: Unpack
This is where your meticulous labelling pays off. Move the “Living Room” boxes straight to the living room, and the kitchen boxes to the kitchen. If you start packing based on how you are planning to unpack in your new home, moving in will be much easier.
Step 10: Organise
Take your time unboxing and organising your new space exactly how you want it.
Step 11: Voila!
You have successfully moved house!
The Three Methods of Moving: A Comparison
Wondering which route to take? Here is a breakdown of how the three main methods compare across the entire process:
| Moving Method | Cost / Tools | Speed & Time | Stress Levels | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Do It Yourself (Car) | Low cost. Requires fuel, banana boxes, bin bags, and calling in favours from friends. | Very slow. Multiple trips required. Weeks of packing. | Extremely high. You manage every single step, timeline, and logistical hurdle. | Low. High risk of dropping items or personal injury without proper lifting tools. |
| 2. Hire a Van | Medium cost. Van deposit, daily rental fee, fuel, insurance, and packing materials. | Moderate. Faster transit, but you are still responsible for all the manual labour. | High. Driving an unfamiliar, large commercial vehicle adds to the packing stress. | Moderate. You have the space, but still lack professional lifting equipment and securing straps. |
| 3. Hire R&R Removals | An investment. Covers professional labour, transport, insurance, and fuel in one transparent quote. | Extremely fast. A whole house can be moved in a matter of hours by an experienced team. | Zero. You quite literally sit back and relax while the professionals execute the plan. | High. Fully insured, trained in manual handling, and equipped with sack trucks, blankets, and straps. |
The R&R Removals Way
If you choose R&R Removals, we take the stress entirely off your shoulders. We can audit the property, handle all the planning, pack, wrap, label, safely load the vans, drive, unload, and even unpack for you.
All you have to do is sip on a lovely hot cup of coffee ☕️.
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