Recycled Boxes

The first thing you need before moving is a good set of boxes. These do not, however, have to cost an arm and a leg, nor do they need to be brand new. They just need to be durable, high-quality cardboard boxes. There are many firms around offering second hand boxes and some are also available to collect once you have finished using them. That way, your waste is minimised after the move is finished.

Don’t waste unnecessary amounts of money on brand new boxes – unless you cannot source the right sizes in your local box company’s recycled box stock. Obviously, as the boxes come from many different sources, they will not be uniform in size – so they are not ideal for moves where you will need to store your items in one neat place.

Read more about second hand boxes from Brighton Removals and see whether they would be right for your move.

However, for most moves, pre-used moving boxes are perfect for the job. You can be happy in the knowledge that your actions are not impacting on the environment while also saving a lot of money.

In this ecologically-conscious age, it is important to make the best of what has already been manufactured. Source recycled boxes and send them back when you’re finished!

Click here to read more about second hand boxes from Brighton Removals.

Choosing a Man with Van

With so many man with van services clamouring for your attention in Google, how do you make an informed decision? The best thing to do is to ignore your desire to get it all sorted out, and take the time to measure the different removals companies against each other. There are many comparison sites available, but really these sites are glorified lead-generating sites (sites which charge a limited number of removals companies for job leads). What you really need to know about each company are 5 things: price, reliability, workmanship, insurance and customer service. This article will take a look at each criteria to help you make an informed choice of man with van.

Prices for Man With Van Services

Obviously you want to get the cheapest price possible, but beware as cut-price removals can end in disaster. Look in the moderate price range. Expect to pay £25 per hours as the cost of maintaining decent transport and paying highly-trained staff is significant and if removals companies are cutting corners, this can mean that the people who are moving your precious items could damage your precious items or not have the staff available to complete your move in the desired time.

Reliability

Go with your instinct – did the person who turned up to quote your job have a relaxed manner? Was he/she polite and helpful? What you think is probably true: again, do not go with the first, cheapest man with van that you find. Take a day to ask questions and have them come round to impress you. Almost without exception, the more comfortable you feel when you first meet your man with a van, the better the move will go.

Workmanship

Ask around – have any of your friends used local removals services before? What were their experiences of the work carried out? Are they happy to recommend anyone? These are your best leads. At The Brighton Removals Company, we receive most of our enquiries through recommendation and repeat business. Client satisfaction and customer service are the most important aspects of the business.

Insurance

Never use a company that has no insurance – it may seem obvious but companies without insurance are out there and put your valuables at risk.

Customer Service

To reiterate, customer service is paramount. The removals company you select should be polite and courteous and aim to make your move as pleasant as possible. Do they offer a packing service? Is there a number you can call any time with someone ready to help you with your questions and problems? The job doesn’t end when they leave your new home with all your belongings unpacked – they are entering into a relationship with you and need to be there to answer any questions once you have moved.

You should be left feeling happy after your move and want to keep them in mind for recommendation and repeat use.

Brighton Removals Companies

Removals companies in Brighton, East Sussex

There are many removals companies in Brighton that will provide an adequate service but very few that provide a full and courteous experience. Our aim at the Brighton removal company is to give you a stress free time and ease the trauma of moving house.

Whether you have found your removal company from the web or yellow pages or a flyer, their image will reflect their company ethics. If they have poor tacky design that may tell you that they haven’t fully thought their business and what they stand for.They have rushed things together because their primary concern is getting your money not taking pride in their company and the work that they do.

Any contact with a company will tell you a lot about them. They should answer the telephone or email promptly and in a friendly way. They should get back to you as soon as possible, and they should always be on time for any appointments they may have made with you. If they miss an appointment then you might seriously doubt their commitment to doing a good job.

The good removal companies in brighton will take care of any worries or fears that you might have about your house move. They will not ‘um and ah’ about how difficult your move will be. Any problem can be overcome by a good removal company. Wynching sofa’s down, taking windows out, dismantling furniture, long distances are all in a days work for us and although they are not a walk in the park we will not make a big deal out of it. We aim to provide positivity when you need it most so you can concentrate on other important aspects of your move.

Check whether your removal company has the correct ‘goods in transit’ insurance and maybe casually ask if they have had any accidents in the past.

From the outset you should expect a great service because you are inviting people in to your home and hoping that they will treat you and your belongings with respect. So take your time to choose someone that stands out from all the removal companies in Brighton.

Brighton Removal Company guide to Leaks

Leaks are very common, especially in a working van that is filled to the brim every day. If the leak is on the roof then the best thing you can do is get a fiber glass kit from your local branch of Halfords and follow the instructions carefully.

If the leak is on the Metal body then purchase a body repair kit from your local body works shop. This shouldn’t cost you very much.
This will do a good job to keep the water out. And because it’s white it will not ruin the aesthetics of the van.

Cover the inside in silicon leak glue for good measure. Unfortunately finding the leak means that when its raining ( or soon after ) you will have to get into the back of the van and feel around where you suspect the leaks are. Try and park under a street light so that if you have to go out at night you can see what you are doing!

When you have located your leak areas wait until the rain has stopped and dry the problem areas.

Use some all weather silicon drainage glue in a gun pointed at the affected area until you cannot see the leak.

Wait for this to dry. Usually about 3-4 hours. Then apply another layer. Repeat this a few times until you are confident that no water will come through.

Removals Guide – Heavy Items

Lifting heavy objects

During removals, you must be very careful not to hurt yourself so this guide has been put together to help you approach your move in a considered, efficient manner. We all know to lift from the knees not from the back. Do not bend your back or twist it at all. Do not to attempt to lift anything heavy without having someone around to help!

Make sure you have cleared the path of which you wish to make. Stand close to the load and center yourself over it with your feet about shoulder width apart. Then begin to tighten your abdominal muscles. Keep your back straight, bend your knees and squat down to the floor. Get a good solid grasp on the load with both hands. Keep the load close to your body use your leg muscles to stand up lifting the load off the floor. Your back should remain straight throughout lifting, using only the muscles in the legs to lift the load. Do not twist your body when moving the load. Instead take small steps with your feet turning until you are in the correct position. Again bend at the knees using only your leg muscles and place the load in the area you intended. Sometimes its best to place the heavy item on a table or something that is higher ( as long as it is safe ) so that you don’t have to bend all the way back down.

Removals Guide to transporting a fridge freezer

What to do to with you fridge-freezer. On the day of your Brighton removal take out and pack all food. Make sure that all movable glass parts have been removed from inside. Slide your fridge out. Be careful that the bottom does not scratch your floor. Fridges usually have wheels but they can still mark lino, tiles or wood easily. Next unplug your fridge. As mentioned the fridge should have wheels at the back so if you tilt it back it should roll. This job should be always undertaken by two adults, one at the front and one at the back. Try not to lean the fridge back totally horizontal because this is bad for the fridge, its mechanisms and the gasses that keep the fridge cold. Gently lift the fridge over stairs and obstacles as to not unsettle the gasses too much. When you have the fridge in its new home plug it in but leave switching in on for a few hours. Because the gasses have been disturbed it is dangerous to switch it on straight away. Manufacturers recommend that you should leave it for twenty four hours but it should be alright after four hours.

House rental and home sales

If you are a taking on a house rental you have the option of moving into your new house whenever you can get the keys. Hopefully you will have an overlap in your tenancies so you have more time to clean and move your belongings.

Home sales

If you are buying a new house then you will have a completion date that will be decreed by your solicitors. This will not always be the day that you would like. However, on this day you will get your keys and the money will be exchanged with the previous owners. You will receive the money for your old house.

This exchange will sometimes (if you are lucky) complete at 12. Otherwise it will occur after your solicitors have finished their lunch at around two. Unfortunately I’m not kidding. If you are really unlucky it won’t complete until late in the afternoon. The latest time it might complete would be five thirty. I have not yet undertaken a move that remains incomplete, but I have heard that it is possible if something goes very wrong. Be alert and plan carefully to make sure your house rental or house sale goes as smoothly as possible.

Chris Hudson, TBRC Man with Van Brighton

Moving House Checklist Tips

Lifting heavy objects

Here are some more moving house checklist tips. During removals, you must be very careful not to hurt yourself so this guide has been put together to help you approach your move in a considered, efficient manner. We all know to lift from the knees not from the back. Do not bend your back or twist it at all. Do not to attempt to lift anything heavy without having someone around to help!

Make sure you have cleared a path so that your house contents can be moved easily. Stand close to the load and center yourself over it with your feet about shoulder width apart. Then begin to tighten your abdominal muscles. Keep your back straight, bend your knees and squat down to the floor. Get a good solid grasp on the load with both hands. Keep the load close to your body use your leg muscles to stand up lifting the load off the floor. Your back should remain straight throughout lifting, using only the muscles in the legs to lift the load. Do not twist your body when moving the load. Instead take small steps with your feet turning until you are in the correct position. Again bend at the knees using only your leg muscles and place the load in the area you intended. Sometimes its best to place the heavy item on a table or something that is higher ( as long as it is safe ) so that you don’t have to bend all the way back down.

Transporting a fridge freezer

What to do to with your fridge-freezer
On the day of your Brighton removal take out and pack all food. Make sure that all movable glass parts have been removed from inside. Slide your fridge out. Be careful that the bottom does not scratch your floor. Fridges usually have wheels but they can still mark lino, tiles or wood easily. Next unplug your fridge. As mentioned, the fridge should have wheels at the back so if you tilt it back it should roll. This job should be always undertaken by two adults, one at the front and one at the back. Try not to lean the fridge back completely horizontally because this is bad for the fridge, its mechanisms and the gasses that keep the fridge cold. Gently lift the fridge over stairs and obstacles so as not to unsettle the gasses too much. When you have the fridge in its new home plug it in, but leave switching it on for a few hours. As the gasses have been disturbed, it is dangerous to switch it on straight away. Manufacturers recommend that you should leave it for twenty four hours but it should be alright after only four.

Planning Moving Home

Getting ready to move

If you are planning on moving home, this guide has been put together to make the process easy. Drawing on our several years of experience, it is designed to make the packing process as speedy, yet careful, as possible.

Preparation is key so weeks before you move it is a good idea to start downsizing your belongings. That old broken chair that you will never get round to fixing and the clothes you never wear should be the first to go!

Be brutal! This should be an opportunity to look at your belongings in a whole new light. Moving presents fresh start, and this should show you that you don’t need much of the dead wood and old baggage you have been carrying around for the past few years.

Old furniture is a good place to start. Its unsightly and bulky and you will not be needing it in your new life.

We offer a very cheap service to take all unwanted furniture, old clothes and belongings and give them a new home at one of the many good charity shops and furniture warehouses around Brighton, Hove, Lewes and surrounding towns.

We also offer a clearances service ( provided it is in Sussex or Surrey ) for all your broken items of furniture and other rubbish.

Start packing for your move

The best thing to do is to get experienced packers like ourselves to take all the pressure off! However, if you are looking to save a few pounds then here are some hints on how to make your move go smoothly.

After you have shed all unwanted things start to think about packing the belongings you won’t be needing straight away. That way you can start your packing early and give yourself enough time to be ready for your house removal.

These include . . .

Clothes for the season that we are not in. They take up a lot of space and the wardrobe that they are contained in can be dismantled ( if possible ) to make more room for further packing.

Belongings and furniture in spare bedrooms.
The kitchen is the room that takes the longest to pack so if you can get as much as possible ready for removals.

Packing the kitchen
Find a clear surface and place the packing paper you purchased from us ( or a lot of old newspaper ) on it. Wrap each glass or porcelain item in paper. Fill a small box so there is no room for the objects to move. Smaller boxes are better for delicates and heavier items.

Pack everything that you can fit into a box. Blenders, coffee makers, kettles, toasters… everything!
Write on every box a few words to describe the contents and note down whether the box is particularly fragile.

Bedrooms
If your clothes are in drawers or wardrobes that do not flat pack then you don’t need to pack them. We will simply take the drawers out and move the chest. We can pop the drawers back in once we get the furniture into the van. The same goes with hanging clothes. Once we have the wardrobe in the van we can put the clothes back in it ready to transport.

Just get all the other loose items into boxes as fast as possible!

Try not to think about the objects as you pack them or it will take forever. That is probably why it is much more efficient to hire our packing team to pack for you as they have no emotional connection with your belongings yet they will pack them with care and speed.

Living room

Disconnect your television. Put all cables into a box along with all the related dvd players remote controllers and cable boxes.

Round up all your essential things that you keep in the living room. Wallet, purse, keys, and pack the rest. We have specially designed sofa covers to protect furniture and property in removals.

We hope this moving guide is of use to those of you who are planning on moving home, and of course, don’t hesitate to call us if you need any free advice.
Happy moving! from The Brighton Removals team.