Moving from Wandsworth to Chelsea only involves a short hop over the Thames, a journey that can take as little as 15 minutes by road. For such a short journey (less than 3 miles), it simply isn’t worth calling in a full moving crew.

A far more suitable option for many house movers is man and van. This is especially the case if you don’t have much to move, but too much to lug onto a local bus or pack into the back of a taxi.

Man and van Wandsworth to Chelsea – how much will it cost?

The great news for house movers heading for new digs in Chelsea is that man and van for such a short trip is really affordable. The Kiwi Movers team charge just £75 plus VAT per hour (for off peak moves) for their man and van Wandsworth to Chelsea service. If you’re packed and ready, you may be able to get the move done in as little as an hour. This means that you’ll pay less than £100 for the whole service. This is a fantastic price considering that you get:

• A team of experienced, professional movers – who treat your possessions with care, working speedily and efficiently
• A fully insured, clean, spacious van in great condition
• Comprehensive insurance for your possessions – in the unlikely occurrence that an item is damaged or broken, our insurance covers a replacement or reimbursement
• Complete peace of mind – we guarantee that we’ll turn up on time and ready to move.

The dangers of cheaping out on your move

Of course, we know that you’ll want to save every possible penny on your house move. You’ll be looking for the cheapest possible options, but be careful. Cheap hardly ever means quality.

Not every bloke off the internet with a van is the right choice for your move. It could even turn out disastrously. What if the man and van doesn’t turn up at all, leaving you stranded on the pavement with all your possessions? This is particularly inconvenient if you have someone moving into your old place or you’ve taken time off work to move.

Other ‘worst case’ scenarios include:

• Breaking down on the way
• A filthy van causing your stuff to arrive covered in dust and dirt
• Damage, breakage or loss of your possessions
• Damage to your new home as your stuff is carelessly moved in
• A move which takes far too long, when you’re billed for the time!
• A man and van service that takes your money (or your stuff) and is never heard from again.

If all of these send shivers down your spine, make a smart choice. Go for a reliable man and van Wandsworth to Chelsea service like Kiwi Movers. You simply don’t need the stress on moving day, so choose a 100% reliable, quality guaranteed service instead. Please call us on 020 8877 9682* to find out more.

What size van will you need and more…

So,  time to move house. You’ve made the smart choice and decided to look into using a London house removals service rather than trying to tackle everything yourself. It’s a sensible move because many people find that it’s way more work, sweat and stress than they realised. It can even end up costing more if your plans fall apart.

Budget will always be a concern with a house move, so how much on average does it cost to move house in London? Let’s take a look at a few useful points to consider for moving the contents of a two-bed house. This is one of the most common sizes of house moves – especially in London when space is at a premium.

Your stuff and how large a van you’ll need

The first thing to think about is how much stuff you actually have to move. This will affect how long the move will take, how big the moving crew is and crucially, what size of moving van will be needed. All of this will be reflected in the price.

You don’t need to worry about selecting the right van, as moving experts like Kiwi Movers will do all of that for you. All you need to do is provide as accurate an estimate as possible of how much stuff you have.

Let’s look at two-bed house removals in London, for example. If you have an average two-bedroom property that isn’t stuffed to bursting with clutter, you can expect to take up around 500-700 cubic feet in a removals van. Provide details of roughly how many boxes you’ll need as well as listing larger items of furniture. It can be a good idea to buy your boxes from the removals company. This means you can fill them and tell them exactly how many you have.

Of course, it goes without saying that a good way to save money is to reduce the amount of stuff you have. It could be time for a clear out, making you some extra cash and giving you a fresh start in your new place.

Distance travelled

Another thing that affects the price of two-bed house removals in London is how far you’re going. If you’re only going between neighbouring London boroughs, the journey will be quick and won’t cost as much. You can even consider hiring man and van services which charge by the hour. This is a good option if you don’t have much stuff.

Packing services

Don’t fancy packing everything yourself? If you’re prepared to pay a little extra, your moving crew can do all the legwork for you.

So, how much can you expect to pay?

Contact Kiwi Movers to get a free personalised quote for your move based on all of the factors above.

On average, people pay upwards of £500-£550 for two-bed house removals in London, not including packing. It can be well worth the money to know that every detail is covered – so you can put your feet up!

Everything in London costs more than it should, but storing furniture in London doesn’t always have to break the bank. With just a little research and forward-planning, you can get great value, flexible storage space that works for you.

Money-saving tips for London furniture storage

Here are just a few of the top tips you can use to bring the costs of storage down to a manageable level:

• Have a de-clutter before you store. If you don’t use or need it and are unlikely to in the future, is it worth paying to store it? If you can reduce the amount of stuff you need to store, you can choose a smaller unit and save money. You may even make some money from the sale of unwanted furniture which could pay for a month or two of storage.
• Think carefully about the size of unit you need. It’s not worth paying more for space you don’t need. It’s also a mistake to pay for a unit that’s too small and then have to upgrade to a bigger space. Do your calculations carefully so you’re only paying for what you use.
• Consider sharing a unit with a friend. If you each don’t have much to store, you could split the cost to make the unit more affordable.
• Sign up for a longer stay. Long-term storage, or even signing up for a longer term in self-store facilities, can often work out cheaper. Discounts are offered the longer you stay, so it could be a money-saver if you know you’ll need storage for a while.
• Consider disassembling items (if possible) to save space. Bulky pieces can be stored much more easily when they’re in bits, so you can fit more in your unit.

Beware of false economies

If a London furniture storage facility seems a bit too cheap, it’s worth checking whether it’s up to the job. For example, does it offer full insurance, and what’s the security like? Are the facilities suitable for furniture, particularly valuable or antique pieces? Can you access your unit 24/7 in a location that works for you?  It would be a false economy indeed to save money on storage costs only for a valuable piece to be damaged.

How to get the most from London furniture storage

First of all, you need to decide whether you need self-store or long-term storage for your furniture. There are key differences between these two services. Self-store is simply a secure, clean and dry unit which you load and control access to. Long-term storage is managed by a specialist such as Kiwi Movers, where your property is stored in tamper-proof containers with 24/7 surveillance, digital inventory systems and fire protection in place.

It’s really important to choose storage facilities that are suitable for furniture, and to prepare pieces properly for storage. For example, before storing furniture in London you should:

• Take photos of any damage
• Wrap furniture
• Avoid cleaning furniture, as the moisture can turn to damp in a storage environment.

Kiwi Movers offers a range of fully secure, insured, accessible and convenient solutions for storing furniture in London. Call a project manager on 020 8877 9682* to talk about what you need.

No two moves are ever the same, and the Kiwi Movers have loaded some weird and wonderful things onto our removal company vehicles over the years.

We’re proud to be able to move many things that other removal companies are unable to, simply because they don’t have the equipment or the right specialist experience. Or in some cases, they don’t have the insurance – whereas we’re fully insured for a huge range of different items.

The amazing things we can move

Want to move a piano, hot tub or a giant king-size bed? That’s no problem for the Kiwi Movers team, as we’ve handled these kinds of items in many moves, handling and delivering everything with care and professionalism.

A particular specialism that our team is known for is valuable artwork and antique furniture. These are the items that you’ll be most worried about before your move, as they are often fragile. Many items are expensive or immensely valuable, or maybe they have sentimental value or are centuries old.

You absolutely don’t want to be trusting precious items like these to any old man and van you’ve found on the internet. You need a removal company with specialist experience, full insurance and the right equipment.

Moving offices and trade show setups

As well as house moves, Kiwi Movers is also a dab hand at office/IT relocation and the setup for trade shows and exhibitions. No project is too ambitious. You can arrange a consultation with us where we take in detailed information about what is to be moved and your timescale. With this, our experienced project managers can come up with a watertight plan and a schedule for the move.

We know that big moves like this can be a real hassle. Office moves already cause disruption, and time equals money no matter what business you’re in. We’ll do our utmost to complete the move quickly, efficiently and with as little fuss as possible. We’re logistics specialists, so leave all the planning in our capable hands.

What we won’t move – and no professional movers should!

We won’t tell you that we can move just about anything. This is because there are some things that no professional removals companies worth their salt would touch. These include:

• Pets and live animals
• Hazardous materials – for example, chemicals, highly combustible or flammable materials and anything containing asbestos
• Firearms without the right paperwork
• Large sums of cash
• Dead bodies – just don’t ask! This one’s a job for the funeral directors.

We won’t move any of the above for obvious reasons. It’s either not safe, not legal or another professional should be handling it. Ask us about anything else though and we’ll see what we can do.

Part of the service with our removals company is for an expert to conduct a survey of your property, so they can list everything to be moved. During this, they’ll flag up anything that might be an issue. You can also ask questions about anything you’re not sure of.

Give us a call on 020 8877 9682* to arrange your consultation and get started planning your move!

Planning a big London house move in 2019? How exciting! Now’s the time to start your planning, including choosing your removal company and looking at costs for the big day.

One question we’re regularly asked here at Kiwi Movers is – how much does it cost to move house in London? As London mover specialists, we’ve handled hundreds of house and office moves in the capital. We know just what’s involved, including the challenges of navigating the congested London streets and the times when it’s cheaper to book in your move.

Moving in London compared to the rest of the UK

As all Londoners know, everything in the capital is more expensive than in the rest of the UK. On average, it can cost between £300 and £650 for a basic house move (without extras like packing) in Newcastle, whereas in London it can range from £330 up to £700 or more. Some estimates go all the way up to £2,000 for a large house move.

What affects the costs of moving house in London?

Asking how much London house moves cost is similar to asking how long a piece of string is. It varies hugely, depending on a number of crucial factors:

• The size of your home. One-bed flat moves, for example, will be a lot cheaper than three-bed house moves.
• Ease of access. If there are lots of stairs, it will inevitably take longer than moving the contents of a bungalow.
• Distance to be travelled. If you’re moving between neighbouring London boroughs, this will be cheaper than travelling outside of the capital.
• The amount of stuff you have
• The number of people needed to complete your move
• When you plan to move. You can save money by moving during an off-peak time such as a weekday outside of any holidays.
• Whether you’re moving anything particularly bulky, heavy, valuable or tricky to move. This can mean that specialist equipment will be needed.
• Any challenges associated with either property (i.e. a window needs to be removed to get a sofa out).
• Other factors such as parking permits (often needed in London).

You can save money by sorting out your own boxes, doing your own packing and choosing a nice, quiet time for your move.

Personalised quotes are essential

Every house move is different. It’s important to get prices based on the exact details of your move, including the distance to be travelled and all the other points above.

Ahead of moving house in London, you can expect your removal company to carry out a consultation and home visit. This is where they’ll gather all this info, and use it to give you a personalised quote.

This is very useful, as it means no nasty surprises when it comes to the cost. If your movers know exactly what to expect beforehand, they can give you an accurate estimate that covers the exact work to be done.

Simply give us at Kiwi Movers on 020 8877 9682* to arrange a consultation and to find out how we can make moving house in London a doddle.

Are you starting to book in your trade shows and exhibitions for 2019? If your calendar is starting to fill up, now’s the time to start thinking about transport. You’ll need to factor this into the cost of the pitch and make sure you have a watertight trade show logistics plan in place for each event. The last thing you want is last-minute stress or expense if your transport lets you down.

Trade show transportation – your options

Larger organisations that regularly exhibit at trade shows may have their own vehicle. However, this isn’t an option for most businesses. You can hire a van or other vehicle each time, but this can soon become prohibitively expensive.

A cost-effective, low-stress option is to use a removals firm offering a trade show logistics service, such as Kiwi Movers.  This service guarantees you transport and assistance for each trade show slot you’ve booked in advance. You get an experienced team, full insurance, the return journey and peace of mind that transport is 100% sorted.

How much does trade show transport cost?

As with every type of move or logistics project, Kiwi Movers will give you a quick, personalised quote. This means you get a price tailored to exactly what you need and there are never any nasty surprises when it comes to the bill.

However, there are some important points to remember that can affect the cost of trade show transportation. These include:

• The return journey. Trade shows differ in price from removals on this crucial point. The former involves a trip back with your dismantled trade show setup and equipment.
• The amount to be moved. Just like with house moves, the amount to be moved will affect the price. Simple trade show setups can be extremely affordable, while larger, more complicated projects will naturally be more expensive. This is because more time, man power and larger vehicles will be needed, along with detailed planning by a dedicated logistics manager.
• Peak and off-peak times. Timing also affects the price of trade show transportation, just like with home removals. Choose an off-peak time if you’re able to and the price will usually be cheaper. It may mean arriving earlier than normal or selecting different exhibition days to avoid weekends, if this is a viable option for you.

Man and van could be the most affordable solution

If you don’t have much to move and there are no logistical complications, the cheapest and simplest option for trade show transportation could be man and van. Kiwi Movers’ offer a competitively priced, fully reliable and insured service from as little as £75 an hour (plus VAT) in off-peak times. You only pay for the time you use, and you get a stress-free start and end to your trade show experience.

Call Kiwi Movers on 020 8877 9682* to speak to a project manager about your needs, or get in touch for a quick quote by filling in our online contact form.

Worried about getting ripped off by less-than-reputable London removals companies? We’re here to help you avoid any potential pitfalls. Here are our five top signs to watch out for that a removals firm could be ripping you off…

1. They can’t show you evidence of insurance cover

No insurance, no move. This should be your motto when looking for London removal companies. Full insurance is protection for you and your belongings, as well as for the company. If something is damaged or broken, you need reassurance that the mover’s insurance will cover it. If a company has the right insurance, there should be no problem proving this to you before you make your decision.

2. They won’t give you an estimate

If a London removal company won’t give you even an estimated figure for the cost of the move, why would you consider using them? This is very suspicious, and not at all good practice. Look for companies like Kiwi Movers who provide detailed estimates. This will outline the full service, any extras and use accurate information from you in order to come up with their quote.

3. You don’t get given an itemised receipt

What exactly are you paying for with your move? This is what an itemised receipt can tell you. It will give you a clear, transparent list of everything you’ve paid for, including time taken and amount of stuff moved. It should cover extra services you’ve agreed to. It’s also a record of the service provided, which you may need if you later discover a problem (i.e. damage to an item)

4. They aren’t based in London but advertise as a London removal company

The problem with this is that companies based many miles away may advertise as London removal companies, but then farm the work out to someone else. This ‘someone else’ could be a complete amateur without the skills, experience and local knowledge that the initial company promised. The whole point of hiring a professional mover in a city like London is not just to hire someone with a van and the time to shift your boxes. It’s to find someone with experience of the unique challenges of moving in London.

5. The initial price is super low

A cheap price on its own doesn’t necessarily mean that a London removal company is ripping you off. However, it should ring some alarm bells. After all, there’s a difference between a good value price and a ‘too good to be true’ mega cheap price. When it comes to the latter, there’s a chance there may be hidden costs sprung on you later. Some poorly reviewed moving firms will quote a super low price to win your business, then add on loads of extras when you get your final bill. This isn’t cool, which is why Kiwi Movers gives you a clear picture of the full costs at the outset.

Take your time choosing a removal company and always look at online reviews. If you have questions, ask away! Give the Kiwi Movers team a call on 020 8877 9682* to get your burning questions answered and to find out how we can help with your move.

Moving house can sometimes turn out to be a bit of an ordeal, but not if you do some clever prep. For tips on packing and moving in style and without breaking a sweat, it’s the internet to the rescue!

Let’s take a look at the best moving hacks we could find online. They won’t change your life, but they could make moving day so much easier.

Make handles in all of your boxes

A top tip by Dave Hax is to make handy handles for all of your moving boxes to make them easier to carry. It takes just seconds and the use of a knife or pair of scissors to do. All you need to do is cut three sides of a rectangle and fold upwards and voilà! Handy handle. Just don’t make it too wide or large or you could destabilise the structure or strength of the box. This moving hack is only useful if you’ll be shifting boxes yourself, as removals companies are fine to move boxes using their own equipment.

Use towels and sheets to wrap your plates

This is another of the many useful moving hacks in the Dave Hax video above. Why save up newspaper or buy loads of packing paper when you can wrap your breakables in sheets and towels that you’re already transporting?

Don’t take your clothes off the hangers, just wrap them in bin bags!

You could waste hours removing clothes from hangers, folding and packing them, and doing the same thing in reverse in your new place. In this simple but effective moving hack, all you need to do is pull a bin bag up over a bunch of clothes on hangers and tie it at the top. Just leave the hook of the hanger peeping out. This means you can bag it, unhook, pack and then simply hang back up again at the other side.

Use every empty vessel you have and save on boxes

The next of the moving hacks in the video above will save you a small fortune on moving boxes and save space at the same time. Use what you already have and bring suitcases, laundry hampers, bags and more into service for packing. You can even fill shoes with socks, make up bags with toiletries and buckets with cleaning supplies and knick-knacks.

Take a picture of your electronic setups and put all electronics in one place

It can be a nightmare trying to remember how all your various wires and cables plugged into the back of that device. There’s an easy fix – take a picture of the setup on your phone, as per this handy hack. Then, keep all electronics in one box or bag, then you know exactly where to find everything.

Remember, moving doesn’t have to be stressful if you’re prepared! And a great removals company can make it so, so much easier. Give the Kiwi Movers team a call on 020 8877 9682* for a chat on how we can simplify and streamline your move.

If you’re moving house in London and you’ve gone online to do your homework, you might find yourself up against quite a bit of confusing jargon. This is especially the case for people moving to the capital for the very first time. What on earth is a ‘red route’ and how will it affect moving day? And will you need a ‘dolly’ during your house move? Let’s bust some jargon!

Property Survey

Also known as a ‘move consultation’, this is when a member of the Kiwi Movers team pops round to ask crucial questions about the move. They’ll ask about:

• Whether or not you’re in a chain
• The parking situation at both the property you’re leaving and your new home
• Your move date.

The survey will also mean taking a close look at your property, from top to bottom. Don’t worry – you don’t need to tidy up! We’ll just be making a note of any large, awkward or valuable items that will need to be moved. The consultant will also check for furniture that’ll need to be dismantled.

Volume

This term is used by London removals companies simply to mean the amount of stuff to be moved. It includes everything from boxes to furniture. An accurate estimate of ‘volume’ is essential to work out how long the move will take and how many movers will be assigned to the job. Finally, what vehicle will be used.

Congestion Charge Zone and London Low Emissions Zone

Removals companies in London have an extra challenge to deal with as well as getting your stuff from A to B. They must also deal with London’s road restrictions, which includes the Congestion Charge Zone. This is where a daily charge is due if you drive through the zone during certain hours. Another one that London removals companies know all about is the Low Emissions Zone, where vehicles that don’t meet certain emissions standards will be charged for entry.

Red routes

This is another challenge affecting removals companies in London. Red routes are the busiest roads in the city, so-called because of their red markings. There are signs along these routes advising on what you can and can’t do in relation to parking, loading, bus lanes and turns. Experienced London removals companies know about red routes and how to use them, so no penalties are incurred.

Self-store

Don’t want to move everything right now, or don’t have enough space in your new place? Self-store is the solution. It refers to clean, modern storage units where you pay a weekly, monthly or annual cost. In most cases, you can also access your self-storage unit whenever you want.

Dolly

This is a word that London removals companies use regularly, but those not in the industry may not have a clue what it means. A dolly is simply a small, wheeled platform designed for moving heavy objects. Professional movers use dollies to shift all of your bulkier items safely, smoothly and without the risk of injury or damage to your property.

Have any other burning questions? Please call the team at Kiwi Movers on 020 8877 9682* – we pride ourselves on our jargon-free, straightforward approach to London moves.

When moving house, timing is crucial. It not only affects the likelihood of selling or buying a house and getting the price you want, but also moving day. Believe it or not, the time of year you pick for the move can affect the cost as well as the smooth running of the day.

Considering moving house in winter?

Many people move house in winter. This could be just the way everything has worked out with their property transaction or when their lease ends, but it can also be more of a strategic decision.

This is because moving house in winter can actually be cheaper. The property market is far less active in winter (as people mainly choose to sell houses in summer when they look at their best). This means less demand for London removals in winter and lower tariffs. You’re more likely to be able to book in the day you want, at a great price.

You may also be able to secure a short notice booking more easily, just in case you need to move unexpectedly early. London removals companies have more space in their calendars, so they can fit you in even at very short notice.

As an added bonus, tradespeople may also have more availability in winter, just in case you need any snagging work done when you move in.

Make sure you avoid Christmas

Winter in general may be a cheaper time to book in a removals team, but make sure you avoid Christmas! It sounds obvious, as everything is more expensive at Christmas, but it’s easy to fall into the trap of wanting to ‘be in by Christmas’. Wait just a few weeks more and you could save a small fortune on moving costs.

Cons to consider with London removals in winter

London removals in winter are undoubtedly cheaper, but are there any other things to consider? Make sure you bear the following in mind before booking in a winter move:

• Fewer daylight hours – winter days give you far less daylight time in which to complete your move, so make sure your move is achievable. The last thing you want is to book in another day, if that’s even possible with your property chain.
• Slippery surfaces – moving in winter can be more hazardous, especially if you aren’t experienced. Slippery surfaces, wet conditions and ice-cold hands are all problems that could make DIY moves very dangerous, so it’s always best to call in the professionals for winter moves.
• Driving conditions – just like with the above, poor weather conditions can make driving hazardous. This is especially concerning for those carrying a full load of heavy furniture and boxes. Again, it’s best to rely on the experts, with their expertise and winter-ready vehicles and equipment.

For London removals at any time of the year or to book in your winter move, simply call Kiwi Movers on 020 8877 9682* for a quick quote.

Packing to move house is something of an art form. It requires careful planning and a good deal of organisation, otherwise you could end up moving many more boxes and bags than necessary. Worse still, you could face the hassle and expense of breakages due to improperly packed items.

If today’s the day you tackle the packing of the kitchen, you’re in for a real challenge. Not only is your kitchen the fullest room of the house in terms of stored items, but it’s also full of breakables.

How to pack your kitchen – 8 essential tips

We’ve put together some essential packing tips to help make the job easier…

1. De-clutter

This is one of the most important packing tips for any room. Don’t move what you don’t need, or you’re only making work for yourself. Before packing, have a good old sort out. Send unwanted items to the charity shop, tip or pop them online and sell them. Et voilà! There’s far less to move.

2. Put essentials to one side

Don’t make the mistake of packing absolutely everything, only to find that you can’t find a kettle or mug to have a brew in the first few days of unpacking in your new place. Put these items to one side, to be packed in their own accessible box.

3. Choose strong boxes – but not too large!

The temptation with a large box is to overfill it, which means a super heavy box that is likely to break. Avoid such a catastrophe with small and medium boxes, ensuring they’re as durable as possible. It’s a good idea to source them from moving companies like Kiwi Movers, as we have the perfect moving boxes for the job.

4. Get the rest of your packing materials

As well as boxes, you’ll need newspaper or packing paper, tape and marker pens to label each box. It depends how much stuff you have, but moving an average family kitchen requires at least 10 medium, 5 large and 5 heavy duty boxes.

5. Sort items into designated boxes

This is a no-brainer, as it makes unpacking so much easier on the other side.

6. Put items inside each other

Provided you wrap everything carefully enough, this is one of the best tips to take on board when learning how to pack a kitchen. Using the space inside bowls, pans and other items can save loads of room inside your moving boxes.

7. Moving food

Unopened products can be wrapped and packed carefully, but anything open will need to be sealed with tape or placed in a suitable container first. It could be worth planning ahead to use up as many items as possible before moving.

8. Call in the professionals to move your appliances

Remove any moving parts that can be easily and safely removed, then let the Kiwi Movers team do the rest. We have experience in moving heavy and awkward items, so we can shift appliances quickly and efficiently along with the rest of your boxes and furniture.

Can’t face packing? Kiwi Movers offers a packing service, making it easier to get you into your new home. Call us on 020 8877 9682* for a quote.   

Failing to pack something called an ‘open-first box’ before moving house is a rookie mistake, but we’ve all been there. In the rush and chaos of packing, we pack literally everything. Unfortunately, that usually means that in the first few days in your new home, you can’t find any of the essentials you need – not even to make a cup of tea. The kettle, your hair brush and even the toilet roll is buried at the bottom of goodness knows which box.

Think of an open-first box as a survival kit. It’ll keep you sane as you gradually unpack and find homes for all your stuff, and save you having to buy everything afresh.

Packing tips for your open-first box – what to include

Before you start packing, make yourself some lists. This not only makes your feel productive (even if you haven’t actually done anything yet) but it also organises your workload. Make a separate list for your open-first box for moving house, including essentials such as:

• A couple of mugs or cups
• The kettle – plus the toaster too if you like
• Non-perishable food/drink such as coffee, tea bags and snacks
• Toothbrushes and toothpaste
• Soap, shampoo and conditioner
• Hairbrushes, cosmetics, deodorant and other personal hygiene items
• Hairdryer
• At least one change of clothing for every family member
• A couple of bathroom towels
• Toilet roll
• Scissors, a knife, bottle opener and can opener
• A torch – just in case you have to creep into the cellar to flick a fuse switch
• A sponge, tea towel, washing up liquid and bin bags
• A phone charger, plus chargers for other electronic devices
• A set of cutlery and plates (camping or paper plates are a good idea for the first night)
• Basic medicine (i.e. painkillers, hay fever tablets) plus any prescription medication.

A good way to think about your open-first box for moving house is like packing for a holiday. You need basic supplies for a short period of time. You may find you have other essentials (kid’s toys, electronic devices, books etc) that you can’t do without, even just for a night or two.

Other crucial tips include:

• Your open-first box should be the last box you seal. You’ll be using all of your useful items right until the last minute, so it makes sense that you’ll pack them last.
• Take your open-first box to your new home in your own vehicle. Unless you give your moving crew specific instructions to offload it separately, don’t put the box in the van with the rest of your stuff. It’ll likely get lost, or buried.
• Don’t forget to label it! If the box is the same shape, size and colour as all the others, what hope have you of finding it easily if it’s not labelled?

Need help with packing or moving, or both? Simply call the Kiwi Movers team on 020 8877 9682* for a quick quote and a 100% efficient, professional and insured moving service from start to finish.

In an ideal world, you’d have many weeks to plan a house move. You could take your time de-cluttering, packing and arranging every detail of the move. Unfortunately though, life doesn’t always work like that.

Sometimes, you may need to consider moving house in a hurry. It might be that things happen unexpectedly with your house purchase or sale, or that the chain of property transactions takes a sudden leap forward. Your plans may change, and you may need to leave your rental property earlier than expected.

Packing to move house in a hurry may not be ideal, but it is doable. Follow these packing tips to pull off a full house move in a fraction of the time, with as little stress as possible:

1. Call removals companies in case of cancellations

You never know, you may just be lucky and a last-minute spot may come up when you need it. Even when all removals firms are fully booked, it’s always worth ringing up just in case. Using a removals firm can make all moves much easier, but especially if you’re moving house in a hurry. Professional movers have the transport, packing materials and expertise to make the day as hassle-free as possible, so you’d be mad not to use them if you have the budget and a cancellation space becomes available.

Call Kiwi Movers on 020 366 89726 to check for cancellations or to enquire about a short notice move.

2. Make a checklist

Now, it’s time to think about packing. Tackling such a large job can seem overwhelming, but not if you break it down into manageable chunks. It’s up to you how you sort jobs, whether it’s room-by-room or in priority order.

3. Get rid of unnecessary stuff – and be ruthless

Moving house in a hurry is much, much easier if you have less stuff to shift. The last-minute rush can actually be a blessing in disguise, as it forces you to be more decisive about things you’ve been meaning to get rid of. If you don’t use it, get rid of it. You can donate to charity or simply send to the tip.

4. Organise everything into piles

If you’re packing to move house in a hurry, it can make it much easier to organise everything into piles before you put it into boxes. You can sort based on similar items and which will be easier to pack together, as well as things you’re getting rid of. It’s ok to have a ‘maybe’ pile! Once you have your piles, you can see more clearly how much stuff you have and how many boxes you’ll need.

5. Bring in reinforcements

In an emergency, like moving house in a hurry, call on friends and family to help out. If they’re available, they won’t mind. Get them packing those piles you’ve made into boxes, disassembling large pieces of furniture and cleaning rooms – just make sure you’ve got refreshments on hand as a reward for their hard work.

Kiwi Movers can help with moves of all kinds, and it’s always worth giving us a call on 020 366 89726 in case of last-minute cancellations.

Storage prices in London

Many things in the capital tend to be more expensive than in the rest of the UK, but what about storage costs in London? Is it so expensive that it’s not worth doing, or are there affordable solutions out there?

Let’s have a quick look at the kinds of factors that can affect the price of London storage, and why some extra features can be well worth paying extra for.

Average storage cost per week in London – short term storage rates

If you don’t need to store your stuff for very long or you need flexibility, you’ll opt for short term self-store facilities. The prices vary depending on the provider and the amount of space you need – click here for a quick quote from Kiwi Movers.

On average, you may pay between £17 and £70 per week for a self-store unit between 10 and 50 square foot if you’re looking for a location in central London.

Kiwi Movers has handy locations in central and west London including Richmond, Chelsea, Wandsworth, Fulham, Battersea and many others. All of our units are accessible 24 hours a day, so you can come and go as you please.

Storage cost per year in London – long term storage rates could help you save money

In most cases, you can usually get a better deal on storage costs in London if you opt for a longer period, and if you pay upfront. If you know that you’ll need storage for 6 months or more, this is the option to choose. You could save hundreds compared to paying week-by-week or month-by-month.

Here at Kiwi Movers, we can offer you a discounted rate for longer stays at our storage facilities. We can even tailor the price to your exact needs, so please just call on 020 8877 9682* and we’ll give you a personalised quote.

How much stuff do you have?

This is one of the biggest factors that determines storage costs in London. The more stuff you have, the bigger the unit you’ll need. For example, storage costs for a 2 bedroom house will be much lower than for the contents of a 3-bed or 4-bed property. So, if you can reduce the pile you need to store, you can potentially save quite a bit of cash.

Extras that are worth paying for

As we all know, the cheapest option isn’t always the best. This applies to many things, but especially storage. A bargain price may seem great at first, but not if your unit is insecure and is broken into, or floods and your stuff is damaged. Can you access your unit when you need to, or do you need to work around someone else’s inconvenient opening hours? Is there any security in place or is your unit vulnerable to break-ins?

Kiwi Movers offers affordable prices along with 24/7 access and perfectly maintained units that are clean, dry and spacious. We also have comprehensive insurance, so that your possessions are completely covered. We also take security seriously, with CCTV protection and individually alarmed units. Get in touch for a quote.

If you’re doing your research and comparing self-storage quotes, well done. It’s a really smart move to shop around before buying anything, as just a little bit of legwork can potentially save you hundreds.

We’ve put together a few handy pointers to help you understand what to look out for when your London storage quotes start to roll in. Not all are straightforward to compare, so you need to prioritise on what you really need.

Self-storage quotes based on square footage

Most storage providers will give you self-storage quotes based on square footage. This means that the more space you need, the more expensive the unit is likely to be. It can be difficult though to envisage how big a unit will be, so be careful before picking the cheaper option. You could end up with a Tetris-style battle on your hands to fit everything in!

This should help:

• A 10 square foot unit is around the size of an old-fashioned telephone box
• 25 square foot is roughly the size of a small garage
• 50 square foot is the size of a studio flat
• 75-100 square foot is an average two-bedroom flat
• 125-150 square foot is a three bedroom house.

The longer the stay, the cheaper the quote

As a general rule, the longer you commit to a storage unit, the cheaper it will be. This is compared to the cost of a flexible weekly or monthly short-term arrangement. If you don’t necessarily need flexibility and know you need at least 6 months or more, look for long term storage quotes.

Discounts for longer stays can be considerable and many providers such as Kiwi Movers can offer tailored quotes. Make sure you follow enquiries like this up, and don’t just go with what’s written on the tariff sheet for length of stay.

Important things to check

When you’re looking at London storage quotes, make sure to check the following carefully:

• Is 24-hour access included? You need to be able to get to your stuff when you need it, so this really is an important one. Look for facilities that let you come and go whenever you want, without having to wait in a reception or hang around outside until opening time.
• Is the unit insured? If the worst should happen (such as fire, for example), you need to know that your possessions are safe. Always check whether the unit has comprehensive insurance, especially if you have valuables in there.
• What security measures are in place? Your quote should also include details of security measures such as locking, alarms and CCTV monitoring. If it doesn’t, get in touch to find out more as security is essential when it comes to self-storage.
• Are photos of the units provided, or can you go visit? You need to know that your unit is suitably maintained, clean and free of damp.

Get a quick, tailored quote from Kiwi Movers right here, and take a look at what the cost of storage with us includes on our Storage page.

When should you book a removal company?

Like so many things with moving house, knowing when to book a removals firm in London is all about careful timing. So many people wait until they have an exchange or completion date to start looking for movers. However, this can be a huge mistake.

Remember the number one rule – book early, save money

How much notice do removals firms need? The simple answer to this is – as much as possible! In nearly all cases, booking a removals company as early as humanly possible will result in a cheaper rate. The more organised you can be in planning out your move, the more you will save when it comes to moving day.

London is a hugely busy market, with thousands of house moves happening every day. Prices, as with most things in London, tend to be a little higher too. If you lock in a cheap rate early, you’ll make your move much less stressful as well as more affordable.

Booking in a removals firm when you don’t know your move date

One of the key questions to ask removals companies is whether they can be flexible if you book in a date early. Some companies, such as Kiwi Movers for example, prefer you to ‘pencil in’ a date as early as possible. Even if you don’t have a date for your move or even for exchanging contracts, you can still estimate a date and get it provisionally booked in. If this date changes, which it is very likely to do, we will happily reschedule and honour the existing price in most cases where an advance booking has been made – provided of course that you let us know as early as possible.

So, knowing that you can reschedule your moving date if you need to, absolutely don’t hesitate to book a date in now. Don’t wait to find out your exchange or completion date, get it booked in now.

Call Kiwi Movers on 020 8877 9682* to check availability and prices, and to let us know about potential moving dates.

What else affects the cost of hiring a removals firm?

There are other things that may affect your decision when considering when to book a removals firm in London. If you’re keen to save money (as we all are), you can also avoid bank holidays and weekends. This is because these tend to be the busiest times for removals firms, as it’s when everyone wants to move. To avoid peak-time rates, plan ahead and choose a weekday for your move if you’re able to.

You could also use this time, while waiting for things to happen on your property transaction, to de-clutter. If you have less to move, it can be moved more quickly. You may find that the price of moving is cheaper.

Hopefully you now have a better idea of when to book a removals firm in London, with that all-important budget in mind. But if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Kiwi Movers team.

Let’s discuss relocating locally…

Moving locally and short distance moves can sometimes be harder to organise than a long-distance relocation. Some people find it difficult to choose the right solution, whether it’s a full removals service, man and van or tackling the move themselves. But what is the best way to move within neighbourhoods or London boroughs? Here’s why professional movers could be the solution for short distance removals in London.

Don’t fall into the DIY trap

If you’ve ever moved house yourself, you’ll know just how back-breaking it can be. With a few years elapsing between moves, it’s easy for the memory of how tiring, stressful and pretty awful that day was to fade. This can lead to you thinking – “we’ll just hire a van and do it ourselves, it’ll be easy and we’ll save money”.

In reality, it can make the move many times more stressful and difficult than it needs to be. And factoring in van rental and the very real likelihood of breaking or damaging items or property (or yourself!) along the way, it isn’t always a money-saver.

When it pays to bring in the professionals

There are a couple of questions to ask yourself when coming up with a plan for short distance moves. These are:

• Do I have a lot of stuff? As a general rule of thumb, if you have at least two bedrooms or an attic/cellar full to bursting with stored items, you have a lot of stuff.
• Do I have anything valuable? This could be expensive antique furniture, or something of great sentimental value like a family heirloom.

If the answer to either of these questions is yes, and for many people both will apply, then it could pay to bring the professionals in. A highly trained team of professional movers, experienced in short distance removals in London, can take a huge amount of stress off your shoulders. Choose the right team and you’ll drastically reduce the stress, cost and time spent on the move.

Professional London removals companies like Kiwi Movers will take extra care with valuable items, drastically reducing the chances of damage. They know how to tackle logistical problems such as tight spaces or multi-floor moves, and they come fully insured for every eventuality for your peace of mind.

Planning short distance moves – which option to choose

The best way to start your planning is early and with a chat with a home removals specialist. You can provide the details of the move, including the new location, how much stuff you have and details of any valuables. The Kiwi Movers team can advise on the best option, from a full crew for short distance removals in London or a great value man and van service which charges by the hour. You’ll also be advised to book as far in advance as you can, avoiding bank holidays and other high-demand times. This is how you’ll get the very best price for your move. Get a callback from a Kiwi Movers specialist here.

You’ll be extremely glad you chose the professional London removals option on the day, when you see just how many heavy, bulky items come out of your house! All the stress and work is handled by someone else, so you can simply look forward to settling in your new place.

The ins and outs of event logistics

Most visitors to trade shows and exhibitions simply don’t realise how much preparation time each stand or stall has to put in beforehand. It’s an enormous task, involving everything from designing a display and printing marketing materials to preparing presentations.

Just as importantly, there’s event logistics and trade show transport to think about. How will you get all of your bulky and often heavy materials to and from the show? If you’ve got a busy season of exhibitions lined up, you’ll find yourself developing some pretty impressive muscles from all that lifting and shifting.

The headache of trade show logistics

As well as being hard graft, many exhibitors find handling this side of trade show logistics to be a real headache. It can be really stressful, especially when things go wrong. For example, if items are lost or damaged on the way to the venue. There’s no time to find a replacement, so it could derail the whole event.

Trade show transport can also be expensive if hired on an ad-hoc basis. If you do a reasonable number of events a year, your transport costs will soon add up. If you’re having to do all the work yourself and it’s mega stressful, can you really say that it’s good value at the end of the day?

One potential solution if you do lots of events is to buy your own vehicle. However, this comes with its own problems. Purchasing a large enough vehicle (able to safely and legally carry the weight) is a huge expense, not to mention the cost of road tax and insurance. You’ll need somewhere to park and store the vehicle and someone to drive it. Lastly, you’ll need to invest in manual handling and other health and safety training for your team so that no one injures themselves.

When to call in professional trade show transport

Experienced exhibitors have a number of tricks up their sleeves. One of the most time, stress and cost-saving is to set up a contract with a professional trade show logistics company. This obviously has it’s own costs, but the benefits make it well worth it for many companies. For example, professional trade show transport experts such as Kiwi Movers can offer:

• Minimal chance of items getting lost or damaged – as they’re being handled by experienced, highly trained movers using professional equipment
• Comprehensive insurance
• 100% reliability – no worries about your transport not turning up in time, or at all
• Zero stress – the movers handle the logistics at both ends of the journey, so you can focus on your preparations.

Contact Kiwi Movers to discuss your needs

To discuss your schedule of upcoming events and exhibitions and to find out how our professional trade show transport team can help, simply call Kiwi Movers on 020 8877 9682*. We can tailor our services to suit you, and we’ll always aim to find the best value, most affordable option for you.

Considering a London office relocation? There’s a lot to remember, so it can feel a little overwhelming. Take a look at these essential points, to help you prioritise your ‘to-do’ lists:

1. Minimising business disruption is your number one goal

In all of the steps below, remember that everything you do should be to minimise business disruption. Cost is important too, but business disruption can cost you far more so it should take priority.

2. Phased removal

It’s a mistake to try to move absolutely everyone and everything at once. Unless, of course, you’re small enough to complete it and get back up and running in just one day. You need to plan the move in phases, to ensure maximum business continuity.

3. Professional furniture removal

Office relocation companies can be a godsend during a move. It simply isn’t feasible, good value or practical to arrange the removal of a large office or multiple offices yourself. You need a professional, who can move everything quickly, safely and efficiently. Choose a company like Kiwi Movers, which specialises in small office removals in London – with highly trained movers, a fleet of clean, spacious vehicles and full insurance.

4. IT relocation

Just as important as office relocation companies are specialists who can handle IT relocation for you. You need to ensure minimum business disruption, so you’re back online quickly. Better still, you never go offline completely – this is the skill of a great IT relocation team.

5. Update your Google Business details

Your company will leave more traces online than you realise. If an important detail changes, such as your address, it’s essential to be methodical in updating the information. Start with your Google Business details. This is your main ‘listing’ and can also affect other things such as SEO.

6. Data confidentiality

In the upheaval of a move, it’s easy for data protection procedures to slip a little. This could result in very serious consequences, so make sure you build in a plan to ensure data confidentiality. For example, ensuring unwanted and old digital devices are securely disposed of.

7. Employee health and safety

Are staff members tripping over loose cables and mess, or at risk of being harmed by anything else during the move? As with everything else in this list, you need a plan to minimise health and safety risks.

8. Employee morale

Moving offices can be a stressful time for employees. It will help if you can make the move as stress-free as possible, keep your team in the loop about the relocation and do a full induction on arrival at the new office. 

9. Time the move carefully

For example, avoid relocation during peak periods for your business as this can affect revenue. Consider employee holiday patterns and busy traffic periods in the local area, especially if planning a London office relocation when congestion can be severe at certain times.

10. De-clutter

Before the move, get your employees involved in de-cluttering and taking personal items home so you’ll have less to shift.

For an easy, effective and professional move, contact the Kiwi Movers office relocation London team on 020 8877 9682* for a quick, competitive quote.

Hotel customers don’t always realise how much work goes into running a hotel, especially when it comes to the furnishings.

Furniture comes and goes all the time, as part of renovations, replacements, repairs and general maintenance. This causes something of an expensive headache for hotel management teams. This is because ad hoc services aren’t cheap and they aren’t always reliable either. This is why the smart management teams choose to work alongside a specialist hotel removals partner.

Hotel furniture maintenance and replacement

Hotel furniture undergoes heavy use, and much of it consists of bulky, heavy items. This means that once something is broken, worn or in need of replacement, it’s very difficult to move. Discretion is essential in a busy hotel with paying guests around. You must also be careful not to damage other parts of the hotel in the process.

Hiring a man and van for this kind of specialist job simply won’t do. It’s costly to call out these one-off services. Furthermore, many hoteliers have been stung by the lack of experience, insurance and expertise of the casual movers they have employed. Wouldn’t it be so much more convenient to have a specialist in removals for hotels on standby? The Kiwi Movers team can be in and out with your furniture without disturbing your guests (or your wallpaper), turning a nightmare hassle into a simple, quick task.

Renovation

One of the most crucial times to call on the services of a dedicated hotel removals partner is during renovation. This hardly ever involves the removal of one or two items. Instead, you could be looking at whole floors’ worth of furniture, some of it bulky, valuable or brand new. A logistics expert is extremely helpful at this stage, helping you to plan and manage a smooth renovation including:

• Safe storage of furniture
• Movement of furniture to other parts of the building
• Installation of new furniture
• Disposal of unwanted pieces.

Crucially, a hotel removals expert such as Kiwi Movers significantly reduces the amount of time the renovation takes. Think about it – if you speed up the time it takes to get furniture out of the way ready for decorating, and get it back in place just as quickly, that’s half of the battle won.

Need a removals team for your hotel?

Furnishing a new hotel from scratch usually means lots of new furniture, all needing to be installed very carefully. You don’t want to trust just anyone with the care of such a valuable load. You need a hotel removals expert.

Kiwi Movers has been the trusted contract logistics partner for a number of hotels and hospitality businesses, and we’d be happy to help you. Please call our hotel removals team on 020 8877 9682* for a chat about your needs.