Empty everything, including the bits you forgot
Drawers, cupboards, bedside tables, filing cabinets and ottomans all travel empty. Weight inside a carcass puts stress on joints that were never designed to carry a load in transit.
Appliances need particular attention. Fridges and freezers should be emptied, defrosted and fully dry, and washing machines should be drained with hoses disconnected and secured.
Remove and wrap anything fragile or detachable
Take out glass shelves, remove mirrors from dressers, and detach table legs where they unscrew easily. Keep the fixings in a labelled bag taped to the underside of the item so nothing goes missing.
Wrap glass and mirrors in bubble wrap or blankets and mark them clearly. Anything that could scratch a surface should be separated from that surface before it goes in the van.
Secure moving parts
Tape drawers shut, secure cupboard doors, and lock or immobilise anything on castors. Cable-tie loose cables against the appliance rather than letting them hang.
For sofa beds and recliners, make sure the mechanism is fully closed and latched. A mechanism that opens mid-journey can damage both the item and whatever is next to it.
Clear the route before the van arrives
Move shoes, bins, plant pots and door mats out of the way. Prop open doors that swing shut. If you have a parking bay or permit, have it ready.
Time spent clearing a hallway while a driver waits is time you are paying for. Doing it beforehand is free.
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