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.
How the right vehicle is confirmed
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.
Moving Boxed Belongings With a Clear List
Which details are worth recording before your boxes go anywhere? Begin with a full inventory: how many boxes you have, their approximate dimensions and which room each one belongs to at the destination. Numbering the boxes and keeping a matching written list lets you check nothing is left behind at either address. Note the hire dates, the addresses involved and the access arrangements you have already confirmed at each end, such as parking or entry times. If some boxes are heading to a storage unit while others go to a new home, record which are which so the day can be planned in stages. You might also note any boxes containing fragile items, purely so you can tell the team what the job involves when discussing which van suits the load.
Checking Entrance and Item Dimensions
Could anything you are moving fail to fit through a doorway? Before booking, measure the largest items, including sofas, wardrobes and appliances, and write down their height, width and depth. Then measure the entrances they must pass through at both ends, taking in door frames, hallways and any turns along the way, and note whether doors can be removed from their hinges if an item is close to the limit. Record these figures alongside your hire dates and the list of goods, since the team can use them when discussing vehicle options. If something cannot be dismantled, note that too. Where access at a destination concerns you, the contact there is the right person to ask about their own entrances and surroundings.
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Things to check before booking
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.