storage in leicester

A Guide to Packing for a Stressful Move

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Moving out of home for the first time? Upgrading to your second property? Moving offices? It comes to us all at some stage in life, and it often brings one thing with it: stress. From the logistical nightmare to last-minute panic, moving isn’t easy. But rest assured: here are four steps you can take to ensure a stress-free move.

What’s going to go where?

Getting everything into boxes then into the removal van is the first hurdle. It’s easy to forget you’ll have another one when you arrive at your new space: where to put everything? If your old home or office is very similar to your new one it won’t be too hard, but if it’s different, then you’ll need to plan. Sketch a floor plan of both premises and mark out what will go where – you’ll thank yourself for it when moving day comes around.

Book a removal specialist early on

You could, of course, try and do it all yourself, but you might find it tricky, especially if you have lots of stuff. We’d recommend searching for removal companies in Leicester as soon as you know you’re definitely moving – that way, you can enjoy some early peace of mind that all the hard stuff will be taken care of and then some.Continue reading →

Tips for Using Rental Storage Units – Leicester

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If you need more space when relocating with excessive belongings, rental storage units are an incredibly convenient storage option. There are numerous reasons to rent a storage unit, but once you have made up your mind, you need to make sure your possessions are efficiently stored and protected. Leicester has many outdoor storage options, and the factors you base your decision on play a key role in delivering the value you expect.

Here are the top three tips and tricks that you need to know beforehand to utilise the service to the best of its potential:

Use Climate Controlled Storage

With the increasing popularity of luxury items in storage, there is a growing demand for secure and high-quality storage with climate-controlled facilities. Climate controlled storage units maintain a consistent temperature all year round. There is also an option of enhanced humidity control in some units, which cost a little extra but are worth the investment.
Basic storage is usually sufficient for most household items but climate controlled storage becomes necessary for sensitive items like antiques, electronics, musical instruments, art or other temperature-sensitive fabric which include glass, metals, leather, and plastics. Climate control will insulate your possessions from extreme weather conditions.

Choose Proper Boxes and Packing Materials

Once you have made the decision of moving things into a storage unit, the next step is to decide how to ensure the safety of your belongings. Even though it is tempting to use cheap boxes, they may not be up to the task. Careful packing goes a long way in keeping your household items intact. It is always better to buy new boxes as compared to using old ones as they may be damaged or contain bug-attracting food and water residue.Continue reading →

how to choose removal company

How to Choose a Removal Company

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Are you moving to a new town or further afield? A reliable removal service can help make moving home less stressful, and you shouldn’t underestimate the amount of organisation it takes to move your belongings to a new property.

At Stokes Removals we offer a range of removal packages for moving property, storing items and packing services for businesses and domestic users.

Here are the most important factors we think you should consider when choosing a company to help you move to your new home.

Get a List of Removals Quotes

One of the first steps when moving house should be putting together a list of quotes from different companies, we recommend that you gather between four to five quotes. When getting a quote for your removal, it will depend on the distance and time of year that you are moving. To keep the cost low, we suggest avoiding school holidays! During this step, it is important that you know exactly what is included in every quote that you receive. For example, some companies offer packaging materials and others will charge you extra for this. You will also need to think about the value of your belongings and check what level of insurance they can provide you with during your move.

Request a Survey

Many companies will give you an instant quote online, but we advise that you get a more accurate price. A removal business should also give you the option to have a detailed assessment; this is where they will send out a sales estimator to evaluate all of the items that you intend to move. You will then be able to compare the cost from each company, making it easier to decide which company to choose.Continue reading →

Who Do You Need to Inform Ahead of a House Move?

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When moving home you’ll need to make a list of people you have to contact concerning your move. Whether it’s family and friends, banks or utility companies, everyone is going to start wondering where you’ve gone if you don’t tell them that you’re moving.

The internet has actually speeded up the process of contacting people, and made it cheaper to do via e-cards instead of traditional mail – allowing you to inform virtually all of your family and friends instantly and for free. A mail redirection service is also something to consider however, as some mail will still probably be addressed to you and sent to your old address.

It should be remembered that any mail redirection service will need to be set up at the Post Office as soon as possible, as it may take a week or more to come into effect.

The list you make should be broken down into sections, and this can be done by using headings. There should be a section regarding your services, one regarding your finances, one for your insurance companies, and another for various authorities. The final section should just be labelled ‘Other’ or ‘Miscellaneous’.

The name of each company should be next to the specific service provided, and next to this should be a space for the date that you notified each service, bank, company, or authority. This organisation might seem over the top, but it means you can be sure of who you notified and when should anything go awry.Continue reading →

Is There A Temporary Solution To A Clutter Problem?

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One of the most stressful factors in moving home is preparing your property for viewings, you find yourself undertaking more cleaning than you’ve ever attempted in your life and are flabbergasted by the amount of possessions you’ve accumulated over the years! You want your home to be pristine, light and airy to attract potential buyers and show them your homes full potential, and you don’t need to get rid of your furniture, ornaments, books, files and other possessions to do it.

Temporary Storage Is Your Key To Selling Success

You need to make your home as de-cluttered as possible so viewers can visualise their own furniture in your space, so how can you de-clutter quickly on a budget?

You can use de-cluttering your home as an excuse to finally get rid of lingering possessions you no longer need, remember not everything has to make the move with you. If you have wardrobes full of old clothes, tattered old furniture you never use or ornaments that were ill conceived gifts from your in-laws 20 years ago it might be the perfect time to pay a visit to charity the charity shops.Continue reading →

What to consider when you’re moving office

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The process of relocating your office to somewhere new can be challenging unless a good deal of effort goes into planning the operation. It is important to break down this process into manageable chunks and to be clear about what needs to be done and when it needs to be done. One of the great advantages of using Stokes Removals is that we can provide professional advice and assistance.

Things to Consider:

Here are just a few of the things that you should consider when moving office:

  • It is best to begin planning your relocation as soon as possible. The main reason why this type of move becomes chaotic is that it has been a rush-job.
  • Do an assessment of your old and new locations in order to discover what jobs will need to be done in order to complete the move.
  • Create a list of all the tasks that will need to be carried out in order to complete the move. You should also add a date on which each task needs to be completed.
  • Think carefully about how you are going to use the new office space. It will be a great help to create a plan – for example, where you intend to place furniture.
  • You will want to make sure that none of your office furniture or equipment is going to be damaged during the move. When you choose a professional relocation firm, you can be sure that the proper safety precautions will be taken to protect your possessions.
  • It might be a good idea to ask your team members to empty their desks and take responsibility for moving this content.
  • Make sure that you use the right packing containers to keep items like computers safe.
  • One of the most difficult tasks during your office relocation can be dealing with drawers full of files – now can be a good time to recycle any documents that are no longer required.
  • It is usually best to do your office relocation on the weekend, as this can be less inconvenient to clients or employees.

If you are planning to move office in the Leicestershire area, you will be making a good choice by choosing Stokes Removals. We have over fifty years’ experience with this type of work, and we have relocation services to suit every budget. Call us today to find out more.