How to Prepare for a Removals Company
Your removal team arrives in a few days. Here's exactly what you need to do to ensure a smooth, efficient moving day and avoid costly delays.
The Night Before: Your Moving Day Checklist
Evening Before Moving Day
- Confirm arrival time - Call your removal company (L&K: 01843 278 026) to confirm exact arrival time
- Pack final boxes - Everything except tomorrow morning essentials (kettle, toiletries, phone charger)
- Empty and defrost fridge/freezer - Should have been defrosting for 48 hours already
- Secure parking - Arrange parking space near your Margate/Kent property for removal van
- Charge devices - Fully charge phone, tablet, laptop (power might be off)
- Prepare cash - £20-£40 for tips if team does exceptional job (optional but appreciated)
- Set out drinks/snacks - Tea, coffee, biscuits for your removal team (not required but welcome)
Morning of Moving Day
Before Removal Team Arrives
- Final walkthrough - Check every room, cupboard, loft, shed, garage
- Valuables in car - Jewelry, documents, laptops travel with you, not in van
- Clear pathways - Remove obstacles from hallways, stairs, doorways
- Protect floors - Lay down protective sheets if you have light carpets (removal companies often provide this)
- Meter readings - Photograph all utility meters with date/time visible
What You Should Pack (vs What Movers Pack)
Depends on your service level. Here's the breakdown:
Bronze Service - You Pack Everything
You pack all boxes, dismantle furniture, prepare everything. Movers load, transport, unload only.
Silver Service - We Pack Your Boxes
We pack boxes using your materials. You provide boxes/wrap. We pack, load, transport, unload.
Gold/Platinum - We Pack Everything
We pack everything professionally. You literally just supervise. (Platinum includes all packing materials.)
What Movers WON'T Pack (Any Service Level)
- ✗ Valuables: Jewelry, cash, passports, important documents
- ✗ Hazardous materials: Paint, chemicals, gas bottles, batteries
- ✗ Perishables: Open food, frozen items
- ✗ Plants (sometimes): Check with your removal company
- ✗ Pets: Arrange separate transport for animals
How to Speed Up Your Move (And Save Money)
Bronze service is hourly after the 4-hour minimum. Here's how to keep it efficient:
- 1. Have EVERYTHING packed before they arrive - Don't be packing boxes while they're loading. This wastes time and costs you money.
- 2. Dismantle beds the night before - Beds ready to go = faster loading
- 3. Clear access routes - Nothing blocking hallways, stairs, or doorways
- 4. Park close - Shorter carry distance = faster move = lower cost
- 5. Be decisive - Don't deliberate on moving day about what to keep/throw
Kent-Specific Preparation Tips
🏠 Moving in Thanet (Margate, Ramsgate, Broadstairs)
- Victorian terraces: Measure doorways - some are narrow. May need to dismantle wardrobes. Common in Margate Old Town.
- Cliftonville flats: Many have no parking - arrange resident permit exemption or loading bay
- Seafront properties: Check weather forecast - high winds can delay moves
- Westbrook apartments: Book lift if available, check if need building permission
- Tourist season (June-Aug): Traffic in Thanet is heavy - allow extra time
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ❌ Not booking removal company early enough - Peak season books out fast
- ❌ Underestimating packing time - Start 2-3 weeks before, not night before
- ❌ Not labeling boxes - "Kitchen" not enough - write contents too
- ❌ Overfilling boxes - Heavy boxes slow down move and risk breaking
- ❌ Not measuring furniture - Check it fits before moving day
- ❌ Forgetting to update address - DVLA, bank, doctor, insurance
- ❌ No moving day survival kit - Kettle, toilet paper, phone charger essential
Questions to Ask Your Removal Company
Before booking, clarify these points:
- Is the quote fixed or hourly? (L&K offers fixed pricing for Silver/Gold/Platinum)
- What's included in the price? (insurance, packing, dismantling?)
- What's NOT included? (hidden costs to watch for)
- What happens if the move takes longer than expected?
- Do you provide packing materials? (or do I need to source my own?)
- Are you fully insured? (goods in transit + public liability)
- Can you provide references from recent Kent moves?
L&K Removals: What We Need From You
When you book with L&K Removals, here's what helps us give you the smoothest possible move:
✅ Before We Arrive
- • All boxes packed and sealed (Bronze service)
- • Parking space arranged for van
- • Access cleared (hallways, stairs, doorways)
- • Valuables removed (we don't transport jewelry, cash, documents)
- • Let us know about any fragile/valuable items needing special care
ℹ️ Helpful Information
- • Parking restrictions at both addresses
- • Number of flights of stairs
- • Lift availability (if flat/apartment)
- • Any very heavy items (piano, safe, gym equipment)
- • Furniture that needs dismantling
Packing Like a Pro: Room-by-Room Guide
Kitchen
- • Pack plates vertically (like records) wrapped in paper
- • Nest pans and pots inside each other
- • Use towels/tea towels to wrap fragile items
- • Label box "FRAGILE - KITCHEN - OPEN FIRST"
- • Keep kettle, mugs, teabags out until last minute
Bedroom
- • Pack clothes in wardrobe boxes (hanging) or suitcases
- • Vacuum bags for bulky items (duvets, pillows)
- • Small items in labeled bags/boxes
- • Strip beds on moving day morning
- • Keep one change of clothes accessible
Living Room
- • Remove bulbs from lamps before packing
- • Wrap TV in blanket (movers can help with this)
- • Cable-tie wires together, label which device they belong to
- • Take photos of TV/electronics setup for easier reconnection
On Moving Day: What to Expect
Here's how a typical moving day with L&K Removals runs:
1. Arrival (08:30-09:00 typical)
Team arrives, introduces themselves, confirms parking location, does walkthrough
2. Loading (2-4 hours for average house)
Systematic loading, heavy items first, fragile items protected, furniture wrapped
3. Final check (15 minutes)
You and team leader check every room together, take meter readings
4. Travel to new address
You follow in your car (or travel separately)
5. Unloading (1-3 hours)
Items placed in designated rooms, furniture positioned as directed
6. Final payment & completion
Confirm all items delivered, final payment (bank transfer on the day), team departs
More Essential Moving Guides
💰 Removal Costs
What to expect to pay in 2025
📋 Complete Checklist
8-week moving timeline
📅 Best Time to Move
Save money on moving season
Top Tips From Kent Removal Experts
- 💡 Pack an "open first" box - Toilet paper, kettle, tea, mugs, soap, towel, phone charger, scissors, lightbulbs
- 💡 Use towels as packing material - Wrap fragile items in towels/bedding to save on bubble wrap
- 💡 Label boxes by destination room - "Kitchen - Pots & Pans" not just "Kitchen"
- 💡 Keep hardware bags - Put bed bolts, wardrobe screws in labeled sandwich bags taped to furniture
- 💡 Photograph electronics setup - TV cables, router connections - makes reconnection easy
- 💡 Book time off work - Moving day is exhausting. Book day off, plus ideally day after for unpacking