Moving house can be a stressful time for even the calmest of people. With so many things to think about, organise and plan, it can soon become too much if you don’t start the preparation early enough.
If you’re planning a move, then you could well be in need of van hire to help things go ahead as smoothly as possible, and if this is the case, then you might be wondering which type of van is most appropriate. In light of this, we’re going to give you some advice and tips on the best removals van to hire, as well as a few other hints and tips on moving house, so you can rest easy knowing you have things under control.
Declutter the home
First things first, before you even get the boxes out and start packing up your belongings, you need to have a good sort through them. If you’re hoarding items that you no longer use or wear then now is the time to be strict with yourself and get rid of them. If the items are still in good condition – and you have enough of them – you could arrange a car boot sale to earn a bit of extra cash. Likewise, you could send them on to a local charity shop of your choice.
Packing
Make sure you have the right materials to pack your items up safely. You’ll need boxes, bubble wrap, newspaper and sticky tape. Always pack the heavier items at the bottom and try to pack boxes room-by-room, labelling them accordingly i.e. Kitchen, so that unpacking can be far easier.
Choosing the van
Hiring a self-drive van for your move is a practical and economical choice, but knowing which one to hire can be the tricky part. If you only have a few boxes to move i.e no furniture, then a short wheelbase van (SWB) could be the right size for the job. It provides plenty of room for a house move and allows you to transport more than what would fit into a car load, so you can get the move done quicker. To give you a rough indication, they can carry around 600 kg in weight. However, if you have more than a few boxes that need moving, for instance if you have fixtures and fittings to move too, then you might need to consider a long wheelbase van (LWB).
Luton Van
Long wheelbase vans, such as the Luton box van have a large rear box at the back, providing plenty of room for your belongings. To put it into context, a Luton van is capable of holding the equivalent to a one bedroom flat all in one go. Its wheel arches do not jut into the van itself, therefore there is more loading space inside the van. The only downside is that the van is higher off the ground (around 203 feet) so you will have to be careful when lifting items into, and off of the van, especially if they are heavy.
Transit Van
The Transit van is another popular option for house removals. A high top, long wheelbase Transit van is perfect for taller items of furniture, such as wardrobes and fridge freezers as it has a high roof to allow for the extra height. It can easily hold a load of around 800 kg, but it is slightly more awkward at manoeuvring, so if you aren’t used to driving a long and tall vehicle, be sure to take it slow and position your wing mirrors correctly before setting off.
Decluttering your home and packing your items strategically will all contribute to helping you get the most out of your hire van as you can load it more efficiently, make less trips and safely transport all of your belongs to your new home.
Caversham Vehicle Hire
If you’re looking to hire a van to help you move house, then please feel free to get in touch with Caversham Vehicle Hire or visit our van hire page. Here you will find the different vans we can supply, including short and long wheelbase, Luton and Transit vans, as well as a rough indication of how many boxes can fit in each, so you don’t end up with ample space left over or too little space.
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