Sizing a van around what you are moving
List the largest items with rough length, width and height, and give an estimate of total weight, because bulk and payload limit a van in different ways. Mention anything awkward, such as a wardrobe that cannot be dismantled or long timber. Describe loading at both ends, including stairs, lift access, distance from the kerb and whether anyone will help lift.
Fitting the van to your route
Start with the load, then choose the van. A small van works well for boxes, tools and light collections; medium and long-wheelbase vans suit furniture, stock and trade equipment; and a Luton is the better choice for bulkier items on a house move. Subject to dates, driver details and availability, the range includes the Volkswagen Caddy, Ford Transit SWB, VW Transporter Automatic, Ford Transit MWB and Ford Transit LWB. Make, model, transmission, seats, payload and licence position are all confirmed at quote stage, so treat these vehicles as a guide to the kind of hire on offer rather than a guaranteed reservation of a particular model.
Organising a Household Move
What turns a moving plan into a workable enquiry? A written inventory is the usual starting point. Go room by room, listing furniture with approximate dimensions, counting boxes, and marking anything fragile, long or awkward on its own line. Note the dates you are considering and whether packing finishes before the van is needed or runs alongside it. Record the addresses at both ends and any access details you already know. If helpers are joining, jot down their available hours too. When you call for a quote, you can read through the inventory and ask how it compares with the van types under discussion. Cross off anything being sold or left behind first, so the list reflects what will actually travel.
Allowing Time for Packing and Loading
Packing almost always takes longer than first guessed, so build the schedule on paper before fixing dates. Work backwards from the van collection time, allotting a block for each room and noting which boxes must be finished earliest. Record your own estimate for the packing stage separately from the loading stage, and mark items that still need wrapping or dismantling. If friends are helping, note when they arrive and when they leave. Questions to raise when enquiring include how the hire period is counted, whether an extra day could be added if packing overruns, and how a change of dates is handled. A written timeline, even a rough one, gives you something to adjust if the week does not go to plan.
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What to confirm on the phone
Before the hire is confirmed, go over the key points: whether the vehicle is available, the driver requirements, mileage, insurance, the delivery or collection arrangements and any extras you have asked for. Make sure payload, loading height, tail-lift needs, driver details, deposits and insurance excess are confirmed before you settle on a van size. A clear request gives the date, the length of hire, a rough route, the delivery or pickup address, the passengers or load you expect and any special requirements that might affect which vehicle is suitable.