Moving house can quickly become stressful when important details are overlooked. One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is underestimating how much time and planning is required. Leaving packing until the last minute often results in damaged belongings, forgotten items, and unnecessary stress.
London adds its own layer of difficulty. Narrow Victorian staircases, controlled parking zones, shared lifts in apartment blocks, and one-way systems all turn a straightforward move into a logistical puzzle if you haven’t planned for them.
Below are the ten mistakes we see most often — and exactly how to avoid each one.
1. Leaving packing until the last minute
Packing almost always takes longer than people expect. A one-bedroom flat can take a full weekend to pack properly; a three-bedroom house can take considerably more. Rushing the job at midnight the day before is how belongings get broken and boxes end up unlabelled.
Start with anything you won’t need in the coming weeks: books, out-of-season clothing, spare bedding, decorative items, and paperwork. Aim to have eighty per cent of your home packed two days before the move, leaving only kitchen essentials and toiletries for the final morning.
2. Choosing a removals company based only on price
Another major mistake is choosing a removals company based solely on price. While affordability matters, reliability, insurance, and customer reviews should also be considered.
An unusually low quote often signals something missing — no goods-in-transit cover, no waste carrier registration, a van that’s too small for the job, or a crew of one when you were expecting two. Before you book, ask three questions:
- Are you fully insured, and what does that cover?
- Is the quote fixed, or an estimate that can change on the day?
- How many crew members and what size vehicle are included?
A clear answer to all three is worth far more than the cheapest number on the page.
3. Ignoring parking, access, and permits
This is the mistake that costs London movers the most time. If your street sits in a controlled parking zone, a removals van cannot simply pull up outside for four hours.
Most London boroughs let you apply for a suspended parking bay or a temporary dispensation, but they typically need several working days’ notice and carry a fee. Leaving it to the day before often means the van parks streets away — and you pay for the extra time spent carrying everything further.
Check both ends of the move. It’s easy to organise parking at the property you’re leaving and forget the one you’re moving into.
4. Underestimating how much you actually own
Lofts, garages, sheds, and the cupboard under the stairs hold far more than most people remember. When the inventory you described doesn’t match what’s actually there, the vehicle runs out of space and a second trip becomes unavoidable.
Walk through every room, including storage spaces, before requesting a quote. If you’re unsure, photographs are genuinely helpful — send them with your enquiry and we can size the job accurately.
5. Not measuring large furniture and doorways
If you’re moving furniture or large appliances, ensure measurements are taken beforehand to avoid access issues.
Period London properties are particularly unforgiving. Wardrobes that fit perfectly in a modern new-build will not always clear a Victorian stairwell turn. Measure the item, then measure the doorway, the hallway width, and the tightest point of the staircase. If something genuinely won’t fit, it’s better to know a fortnight in advance than at eight o’clock on moving morning.
6. Forgetting to notify utilities and services early
Creating a moving checklist several weeks before your move can help you stay organised. Label boxes clearly, notify utility providers early, and set aside essential items you’ll need immediately after arriving at your new home.
Your notification list should include gas and electricity, water, broadband and phone, council tax at both boroughs, your GP and dentist, the DVLA, your bank, your employer, and Royal Mail redirection. Broadband in particular can take weeks to activate at a new address, so start that one first.
7. Not setting aside a first-night box
Unpacking never finishes on day one. Without a dedicated box of essentials, you’ll spend the first evening opening cartons at random looking for a phone charger.
Pack one clearly marked box containing kettle, mugs, tea and coffee, toilet roll, hand soap, towels, bedding, chargers, medication, basic tools, and a change of clothes. Load it last so it comes off the van first.
8. Assuming your belongings are automatically insured
Many people assume home contents insurance covers items while they’re in transit. Often it doesn’t, or it covers them only if a professional removals firm is handling the move.
Ask your removals company what their goods-in-transit cover includes and what the limits are, particularly for high-value items such as artwork, antiques, and electronics. If you’re carrying anything irreplaceable, jewellery and important documents are usually best transported personally.
9. Booking the wrong vehicle size
Booking a van that’s too small means multiple trips, extra hours, and a higher final bill. Booking one that’s far too large can mean paying for capacity you never used — and, in tight London streets, a vehicle that struggles to get close to the property at all.
As a rough guide, a small van suits single items and student moves, a medium van suits a one-bedroom flat, and a Luton van suits larger house moves. If you’re between sizes, ask — we’d rather advise you correctly than turn up under-equipped.
10. Failing to plan moving day itself
The final mistake is treating moving day as though it will simply happen. It runs far more smoothly with a plan: confirm arrival times the day before, decide who holds the keys at each end, arrange childcare or pet care, keep phones charged, and take meter readings at both properties before you leave and after you arrive.
Working with an experienced removals company can eliminate many common moving problems and make the entire process smoother, faster, and more cost-effective.
Planning a move in London?
London Removals & Clearing Ltd provides fully insured house removals across London and the whole of the UK, with transparent pricing agreed before any work begins. Tell us what needs moving and we’ll send a clear quote — usually within 15 minutes.
Get your free quote or call us on 07734 865361.
