Moving delicate artwork

Here are just two furniture removal tips to remember when it's time to move house.

1. Be realistic about any furniture that's in bad condition

Before you have any conversations with a furniture removal business about which furniture items you'd like to take with you, you should take a long hard look at your collection and consider the condition of some of the older items so that you can decide if they are worth taking with you when you leave the property. For example, whilst you might have loved your vintage armchair when you purchased it fifteen years ago, and you might still have a sentimental attachment to it, there is little point in bringing it if its cushions are sagging and its upholstery is ruined by stains that you just cannot get out.

Being tough on yourself regarding this matter will save you cash, as you won't have to request a van that is large enough to fit these older furniture items in it and can instead book a small van. Furthermore, you can book the removalists for a shorter period, as there will be fewer items that they'll need to move. Last but not least, your new place won't end up stuffed with furniture which is no longer comfortable or beautiful.

2. Don't stack furniture near the front door

If you're hoping to get the furniture moved quickly, then taking the smaller items (like your bedside tables and dining chairs) out of their rooms and stacking them near your property's entrance might seem sensible, as the furniture removals staff can then grab these things as soon as they arrive. However, this may not work out the way you anticipated. The removals team will probably have a plan for how they'll lay the furniture in their truck so that it all fits in neatly and in a manner that will keep each item stable.

This plan might require them to, for example, put the sofas in the truck first, before the lighter items like the dining chairs or side-tables. As such, if you fill the front hallway with these smaller items before they start, the removalists may have to temporarily put all of them in another room or put them outside in your front yard, to clear the hallway so they can then take the bigger furniture out first. This mistake could inadvertently give the removalists an additional task.