How to move awkward items when moving home

Transferring awkward items from one place to another

This guide is designed to help you move awkaward items. Should you ever be unsure about moving household items from your old house to your new one, hire a professional removals essex company instead.

Measure items to ensure they will fit in their new locations. Before you transfer anything that is cumbersome, make sure they are going to fit into the new area where they will be moved to. Keeping a tape measure in your pocket is useful to make sure you can take measurements accurately.

Have a strategy

Upon asking for removal estimates, makes sure the removals firm look around your property. They may offer options you haven't considered before and have the expertise in foreseeing potential difficulties. It will save you both money and time on the moving day. In extraordinary instances, windows, door frames or bannisters must be taken down to get furniture moved out of your house without any damage. It's better to understand this may occur from the start instead of learning on the day as this may put you under pressure at the last minute. On your moving day, make sure the walkways are free of objects so there is no risk of falling over anything. Additionally, make sure the area where the item is being moved to in your new house is clear of any clutter to ensure this procedure is as painless as possible.

Protection of your items in transit

To stop your precious items being damaged, your moving company should use coverings to protect against any damage whilst transporting them to your new address. A credible removals company can give you some packing materials designed specifically for moving if packing on your own, however, you might just decide this is all too stressful, and ask your removals company to pack your things for you. This makes more sense as they have the experience and supplies on hand to do this quickly and effectively. Let them know beforehand of any uncommon items you may have in your house to allow them to supply the necessary packing materials. If you do a self-pack, the removal company’s insurance is not likely to cover things in boxes you sealed and have packaged yourself.

Consider how your items are going to fit in their new home. Inform your removals company of any hard points to access, for example narrow doorways and stairs can present a problem. Make sure to tell them of any problems they may also encounter with parking directly outside your property. By letting them know as much information as possible, they will be more prepared and save you time on the day of your move.

Transferring electric equipment

Ensure cables are held in place and that all power leads are secured and cannot be tripped over during transportation. Packing tape should work just fine for this. If you still have the original packaging the item came in, you can use this to transport it. The most practical manner of transporting appliances would be to place them into a strong box and pad with a soft cloth, pillows or bubble wrap. An important point to remember is not to package any electrical item whilst it is still hot; wait for it to cool down.

Transferring a big screen or TV

If you have it, put the TV back in its original packaging. Otherwise, use a box with a good fit and bubblewrap to stop it from moving about inside the box - bedclothes are perfect for this. Tape down the lids of the box and make sure it's tagged and 'fragile' is written on there too.

Moving your PC

When purchasing a PC or laptop, retain the original box, as on the moving day as this will prove quite useful.

Expensive art

If you've got any unique paintings or sculptures at home that are precious to you, it's recommended to hire a removals firm with specialist knowledge of transferring fine art items, particularly if they're to be put in storage for any amount of time.

Transferring Furniture

Transferring a Settee

Transferring a couch may be tricky and if you aren't careful, you can mark the walls as they can be bulky, and some very heavy. A reputable Removals Company can package your items so they don’t fly about in transportation and will have lots of blankets to shield your precious property and possessions from getting damaged. Measure doorways at your new home if you are able to before you determine if you can take your couch with you.

Moving clothing and wardrobes

Wood furniture, such as wardrobes, are easy to damage, so ensure your Removals Company makes the appropriate precautions when transferring it. Most moving companies will supply protective sheets or specialist covers when transferring your items, preventing any potential damage. If they carry wardrobe cartons with them it’s worth insisting that your removals company uses them. These cartons are great for protecting your clothing. Simply transfer your clothing on coat hangers directly onto the railing of your new wardrobe. Use bin liners to keep your garments clean. A single liner can fit over several clothes hangers. Just make holes in the tops of them to allow the coat hanger hooks to become visible.

Transferring beds

First, remove the mattress and strip the bed. If it's possible for you to brace the mattress up against the wall before you start to dismantle your bed frame you will save yourself some space. Handy tools you might want to hand are a Hammer, Screwdriver and Allen Key. It's important to make a note to remind yourself of how the bed was initially put together, so you don’t get confused during reassembly. Keep all the fixings in a freezer bag or similar, and be sure to label it properly so you can easily see what is contained inside. Inform your essex removals company ahead of your move if you own a divan bed, as these cannot be broken down further and can sometimes be too bulky to fit through door ways.

Kitchen appliances

How to move fridges and freezers

Defrost the fridge freezer ahead of time. Here’s how:

• Remove food and put it in a Coolbox or if you don't have one of these use ice packs. By piling frozen food together like this you will stand a much better chance of it being cold by the time you get you to your new address.
• Turn the electricity off, open the door and put old towels around to mop up any water.
• Clean each drawer once ice has melted. Remove, clean and store these individually.
• Leave the doors ajar until you leave to stop mould.
• When it's time, close the door and secure with masking tape using a blanket around the item in order to stop any damage. Your appliance should now be good to transport. Once transported to your new address don't immediately switch it back on. Twenty-four hours are generally enough, but consult your guide if you’re not certain. This enables the liquid inside its mechanisms to settle back down.
• These appliances are quite heavy - be cautious when transferring them and make sure you don't injure yourself. Remember if an item is too heavy for you to lift, you should leave it to the experts!

How to move Ovens

It's inadvisable to connect and disconnect any oven by yourself, particularly when it's a gas oven. Use an experienced gas safe engineer to ensure this is carried out correctly and safely. Make sure the oven is completely clean before you begin transferring it and remove all fixings that may slip off during transportation. Keep them individually in a box that is marked. Close the door and secure with masking tape using a blanket around the item in order to stop any damage.