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.
What to Write Down for Boxed Belongings
Open a note and record the practical facts before anything else. List every boxed item you intend to move, numbering the boxes if that helps you keep track, and mark which room each one came from so nothing gets separated from its group. Against each entry, note approximate dimensions and, if it matters to you, the contents in general terms. Add the hire dates you have in mind and the access arrangements at both ends, including any restrictions the people at either address have mentioned. If a storage facility is involved, note its opening hours and the contact details of whoever handles arrivals there, since questions about access rules belong to them. A written record like this is straightforward to forward when you ask the team for a quote.
Getting a Business Delivery Ready to Quote
For a commercial delivery, start from the recipient and work backwards. Write down the delivery address, the name of the person receiving the goods and a phone number for them, then confirm the delivery window they expect and any instructions they have given you about the site. Next, prepare a load list: how many parcels or items, their dimensions, and the quantities of each. Note the date or dates you need the van for and how the access looks at both the pick-up point and the destination. When you request a quote, include the full list, the dates and the recipient details, and use the opportunity to ask whether the quantities you have recorded suggest one journey or more than one, so you can plan around the answer.
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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.