Category: Removals

Moving offices or premises provides much more challenges than a usual home removal. Not only is there usually more people to think about but there is often lots of equipment on top of the restraints of ensuring that the company doesn’t spend much time out of action. All of the following tips should help ensure that the move runs as smoothly as possible.

Professional Removal Company

Not only will using a removal company take a lot of the strain and worry from you so that you can focus on your normal business, it will also ensure that professionally trained crews will be handling your vital items. A specific member of our team will take control of the move and oversee it with you from beginning to the end of the office move.

Extra hint: Make sure your removal company is BAR verified. The British Association of Removers will provide you with extra protection if something happens with the removal.

Plan

Using a removal company or not, planning is the key to success. Setting out clear directions to where items should be moved to saves valuable time and worry after the move day. Making a floor plan of the new office is a great way to achieve this.

Extra hint: Ensure that your employees are responsible for any personal items or objects to ensure the safe move of absolutely everything.

IT Equipment

Often proving the biggest obstacle for an office move is the IT and computer equipment. If you are using a removal company then ensure that everything is communicated with them regarding the IT equipment and they will provide the professional advice required to ensure that everything is kept safe.

Protect Yourself

Bear in mind any information, paperwork or computer equipment that may harbour any confidential information. This does not want to be left behind or lost unnecessarily. Consider using storage services to ensure their safety and also back up any technology that may have the potential to lose valuable data.

Declutter

As with any removal, it is a great opportunity to have a clear out or revamp your equipment. If you decide to dispose of any paperwork or hard drives then consider professional IT or paper destruction services which can be provided by your removal company.

Extra hint: Some documents might need to be kept for record purposes for a certain number of years, consider a professional storage or archive company to ensure their safety.

Research by the Barclays UK property predictor offers good news for Yorkshire property investors in the face of UK-wide uncertainty. As house prices decline in London, Yorkshire is predicted to hold its own with a projected increase in housing prices of 3.6% over the next five years.

Yorkshire’s healthy mix of bustling cities like Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, Wakefield & Doncaster which provides healthy employment opportunities with ideal locations for families looking for either the urban or rural lifestyle, is exactly what investors are looking for in “the Brexit uncertainty” suggests Ray Withers of Property Frontiers.

Withers continued “One of Yorkshire’s attractions is the range of investments and locations that it offers. This is truly a county with property to suit every budget – hence its rapidly growing status as a top UK investment honeypot”.

Withers suggests that in amongst the popular and more well-known investment locations such as Leeds and Sheffield, Yorkshire boasts a number of opportunities for different levels of investment. These include the huge metropolitan district that is Bradford which is the UK’s fifth fastest growing city. Bradford is experiencing a steady increase in investment and is earmarked as a possible future high speed rail link.

The guide then suggests areas such as Doncaster, Wakefield and Halifax with strong transport links but where incredible property value can be found. On the flip side, there is the more traditional charm of Scarborough on the east coast that is inviting investment looking for something a bit different.

Holdsworth’s have been running removals in Yorkshire from their headquarters in central Leeds for nearly a century. In that time, Holdsworth’s has become a leading and trusted removal company and has run home removals across the county and beyond.

Anyone looking to add a bit more of a spooky edge to their up and coming Halloween can investigate how haunted your house is thanks to Chestertons. The London residential property specialist and estate agents have put together a series of ghostly statements and if any of them apply to your home then you will find out whether your home could really be haunted!

You can find the quiz here: http://howhauntedisyourhouse.com

Here at Holdsworth’s we think it might help with an up and coming home removal so you can investigate any supernatural stories or freaky feelings at your current or potential new home this this Halloween!

Of course this is just paranormal fun and games. But the site does let users select a region of the UK for real-life accounts and stories from the local area. With titles such as “The Headless Spectre” and “The Village That Comes to Life”, these stories might provide some extra creepy stories to share over the next week.

In advance to a removal, there is plenty of stuff going on and to think about. Hopefully most things are arranged and sorted such as your removal company. But there will be a point where all of the belongings in your home will have to be sorted. Whether you are downsizing and wanting to cut down on your furniture or upsizing and wanting to invest in some new furniture, Holdsworth’s want to offer a few of the most safe and efficient ways of getting rid of your old household furniture.

Charity

If you are certain about getting rid of your household furniture ahead of your removal then recycling or offering your furniture to charity helps so many people out. Charities are always on the hunt for items including household furniture. It obviously helps you clear away some unwanted items while putting them into further use if they are still functional.

Recycle Now have a fantastic local recycling resource which can help you pass on unwanted items to be re-used by searching via location or per item.

Council Collection or Drop-off

There is also the option to call upon your local council. For some items and sometimes for a small fee, you can arrange for your local council to pick up any unwanted items. Alternatively, if you have the correct vehicle and pass, you can drop items off at your local council waste site.

Re-sell

In the online world, there are many platforms where you can easily upload any unwanted items for free. There is also the “old fashioned” but well-trodden way of advertising in local shops. This way provides a great opportunity to make a bit of money as part of the clear out.

Upcycle

Especially with wood furniture, upcycling has become a new way of introducing a new lease of life your furniture. Using varnishes, polishes or even just a lick of paint you can bring your old furniture to life once again maybe for a place in your new home or even just to sell-on.

Store It

If there are certainly items that you know won’t have a place in your new home but maybe hold some sentimental value or you aren’t quite ready to get rid of, container storage is an affordable and managed way of ensuring their safety right until you require them again. Read more about container storage from Holdsworth’s here.

A question often recevied at Holdsworth’s Removals refers to that of outdoor or garden items. Outdoor items are often come with separate complications compared to that of every day indoor items that can be stored within boxes or wrapped and moved easily. Your removal company will be able to help with any advice and how to prepare for the items to be moved, with the following tips.

Check with Your Removal Company

It is always worthwhile staying in touch with your removal company throughout the move. But when it comes to outdoor items, keeping the removals company informed is vital so there are no misunderstandings come the move day. There are outdoor items in the garden that removals companies won’t be able to move.

At Holdsworth’s of Leeds, we believe that we have the right method to ensure that there are no misunderstandings. When you arrange for one of our estimators to visit your property, you will show them around your home to show them what needs to be moved to your new property. This will include a visit to the garden and outdoors to discuss what can and needs to be moved.

Dismantle

If you have outdoor furniture then dismantling in advance of the move day is ideal. Holdsworth’s can do some of this dismantling for you but this has to be arranged in-advance. But if you are dismantling the furniture, ensure that this is done as safely as possible using the original instructions or using advice you might be able to find online. Having these items dismantled and ready to pack up will be of huge benefit on move day.

Quick tip – if your outdoor furniture is put together using nuts and bolts than secure these in a sealable bag and tape them to the furniture. This way you will avoid having to match up the fixings as well as, worst of all, losing them completely amongst the removal.

Clean

Giving your items a quick clean or rinse down is also important. Not only does it protect the items themselves when in transit but it also helps with other types of removal. For example if your items are going into storage for some time then clearing them of any dirt reduces the risk of decay or damage when in the unit. Also if your items are part of a move overseas, some border controls will extensively inspect items for any “alien” effects such as dirt that might impact the environment.

Call Holdsworth’s Removals on 0113 269 0000 for advice on moving your outdoor items and your removal.

As a removal company verified by the British Association of Removers, Holdsworth’s of Leeds takes pride in the services that we provide to our customers. This goes from the planning that goes into each move to the training of our removal crews. But that also continues to the boxes that we use on our removals. Packaging materials have to adhere to BAR standards for verified removal companies and are often checked. We use Holdsworth’s branded boxes (pictured) that adhere to this standard with the assurance that your packed items will be secure.

If you are using Holdsworth’s of Leeds for your packing then they will bring the boxes with them. But if you are taking on the packing yourself, get in touch with Holdsworth’s using 0113 269 0000 and you can purchase some packing materials including our boxes.

But a common question we are often asked is what to do with the removal boxes after the move. Here are some options for you.

Give Back

Holdsworth’s are more than happy to take back the boxes providing that they are in good condition as we can find good use for them. Just get in touch with your Move Coordinator and you can either arrange for the boxes to be dropped off or to be collected if we have one of our vans or representatives in your area.

Pass On

Passing the boxes on to those that need them is a great way to get rid of your boxes and also helping somebody else out. The cost of boxes can be a surprise when taking on your own packing and you haven’t budgeted for them. Holding on to them until a friend or family neighbour is moving could be doing a massive favour. There is also re-sale value on online market places for removal boxes.

Alternatively, charities are constantly on the look-out for boxes so call around your local charity shops and see if they need anything.

Recycle

Cardboard is a recyclable material so rather than just throwing them in a skip, get down to your local tip and dispose of them into the cardboard section.

Get Creative

Boxes can be great fun. We have all bought a gift for a child, only for it to be overshadowed by the box itself. Maybe you could turn them into an indoor, cardboard fort!

When searching for a new home or moving house, there is a lot to be said for a place name. Certain place names are seen as desirable for example Alwoodley in Leeds or Ilkley in Bradford and others can be seen as opportunities to find a good deal in an up and coming area. Other place names can come synonymous with other things such as Headingley and the student population and sports venues, Otley and its varieties of pubs or Yeadon with Leeds Bradford Airport.

Of course, these place names have an impact on your house in terms of the areas being desirable for one reason or another. But what about when it comes down to the more unique place names in Yorkshire? The Yorkshire Post worked with estate agents Marcus Alderson to investigate whether towns and villages with unusual place names has an impact on the value of homes in the area, regardless of the location.

Yorkshire and the north is rich with unusual place names. The Yorkshire Post article suggests that unique names might be favourable providing they sound pleasant. Whether its tongue twisters such as Ugglebarnby near York or Arkengarthdale near Richmond. Every day words used as place names such as Jump near Barnsley, or unusual sounding ones that are translations from old meanings such as Wetwang near Driffield are also seen as possibly favourable.

But when you have unusual place names that are possibly rude or have negative connotations then it may have a detrimental effect on housing prices despite actually being in nothing but fantastic locations. Some examples being Bedlam near Harrogate or Slack Bottom near Hebden Bridge, both of which tick all the boxes of being a desirable areas to buy a new home and live happily but buyers might be put off simply by the name of the village or town.

All of these pale in to insignificance compared to Scratchy Bottom or Shitterton, both in Dorset, which were voted as “Britain’s worst place names” in 2012.

The Internet has changed the way that we do things. We can order our weekly food shop online to have it delivered to our door, we can track exactly where a package is and when it might arrive as well as having all of our news and television in the palm of our hands. On the back of this there has been a series “simpler” ways to do your shopping in the manner of price comparison and broker websites. The same has applied in the removals industry but we aim to keep things simple for our customers by providing as many benefits as possible by booking your removal directly with us.

The Best Price for your Removal

Booking directly with Holdsworth’s Removals is the most likely way to get the best price for your move. Getting in touch with Holdsworth’s is easy – you can do this via our website, email, over the phone or by paying a visit. You can then get the price for your removal by either completing one of our home contents forms and sending that back to us or by arranging a visit for one of our knowledgeable estimators. This cuts out any unnecessary middle men and in touch with the experts on removals in Leeds.

Expert & Friendly Customer Service

Through all of this there will be one of our Move Coordinators looking after you every step of the way. Our Move Coordinators will deal with your initial enquiry and will be there to help with any question that you might have all the way through until your move day. Even then they will be there to help with any queries after your move.

Reliability

At Holdsworth’s we aim to provide as much care and protection for our customers as possible. We offer insurance against loss or damage to household goods which is a requirement of our membership of the British Association of Removers. These insurance schemes have to adhere to the BAR code of practice. And by using a BAR verified removal company there is an after care service in the unlikely event that you are unhappy with something with your move.

While Holdsworth’s Removals has been affiliated with and based in the city of Leeds for almost a century, something we are very proud of as you will see on the side of our removals vans which are branded with “Holdsworth’s of Leeds”, we are also very proud to serve the North Yorkshire town of Harrogate on a regular basis. We have been providing services to Harrogate as a removal company throughout our history with residents seeing us as reliable for a removal. As proven by the following testimonials from the Harrogate and North Yorkshire area:

“All the staff were efficient, professional & calm. Nothing was broken. Gary & Simon deserve a special mention” – Mr Stokes

“We were recommended by a friend. Pleasant, efficient and easy going throughout but professional with it. All the staff who were involved were excellent” – Dorothy

“Your staff were absolutely brilliant & helpful in every way. They worked incredibly hard on both days of the move & were reassuring and kind all the way. I would recommend them wholeheartedly” – Michael

So we thought we would put together a helpful Holdsworth’s guide for those thinking of a Harrogate removal.

Why Harrogate?

A simple fact as to why people want to move to Harrogate is because it has been consistently ranked as the happiest place to live in the UK according to a survey by website Rightmove. This survey calls upon a number of categories including housing, community, pride, safety and recreation. All areas that Harrogate scores highly with its residents.

Where to Eat, Drink & Shop

Harrogate has a relatively compact town centre which makes it ideal for eating, drinking and shopping. The shopping is centred around the Victoria Shopping Centre which is adjacent to the railway station.

For eating and drinking there a many different areas around the town centre. These are mainly around John Street and the Montpellier Quarter which feature a good mix of traditional pubs, modern bars and a variety of restaurants.

Travel

For a medium sized town, Harrogate has strong transport links with the surrounding area and other major towns and cities. On the roads, the A61 provides direct links into Leeds city centre as well as acting with the A59 to provide links to the motorway network onto the A1(M) providing fast links to the north east, the south as well as West & South Yorkshire. There is also regular bus services linking to the Harrogate District and also longer routes towards Leeds & Ripon.

On the trains, Harrogate has three separate train stations all on the same line which links Leeds to York. There is Harrogate’s central railway station as well as local stations at Hornbeam Park and Starbeck.

Leeds Bradford Airport is Harrogate’s closest airport but road and rail links provide easy access to airports in Newcastle, Manchester, Doncaster and Hull.

What to See

Harrogate has some national renowned attractions that see tourists flock to the town each year. Here is a brief introduction to some of them in the town and the surrounding area:

Royal Pump Rooms – Harrogate is a notorious for its spring water. Based in the heart of the spa town, the pump rooms call upon one of the strongest sulphur wells in Europe.

Betty’s Tea Room – There are two Betty’s Tea Rooms in Harrogate, the original on Parliament Street. This is the home of Taylor’s of Harrogate famous for its Yorkshire Tea.

RHS Harlow Carr Gardens – The site of the second Betty’s Tea Room and also one of only four public gardens run by the RHS.

The Valley Gardens – Situated in the centre of Harrogate, these popular gardens are maintained by the council and feature many family based attractions such as an outdoor pool and mini golf.

The Stray – A huge area of grass parkland in the heart of Harrogate’s town centre that is hard to miss.

The Great Yorkshire Show – Hosted at the town’s showground by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, the three day GYS attracts thousands every year and is the largest agricultural show in England.

Mother Shipton’s Cave – One of England’s oldest attractions in nearby Knaresborough features a petrifying well. It has been open as a tourist attraction since the 17^th century.

Fountains Abbey – A UNESCO world heritage site to the north of Harrogate, the ruins of Fountains Abbey and its grounds are one of the best in the UK.

Brimham Rocks – Also north of the town is the balanced rock formations known as Brimham Rocks. Run by the National Trust, the area is part of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Photo credit – Foundation Harrogate

With the UK heatwave in full swing and the Summer Solstice coming up this week, it seemed appropriate that the latest Holdsworth’s removals blog explored how summer takes effect on the removals industry as a whole. It isn’t a very well-known fact but removals is a seasonal business so to ensure that our customers are fully aware of this and can plan as much as possible, we wanted to outline how the summer months affect us as a removal company.

Let’s Get Busy

As mentioned previously, removals is a seasonal industry and the summer months are when things start to get busier. There are many reasons for this. More simply it could be put down to having better weather to carry out the move but it also could be down to the school holidays and having more time to carry out the move.

This brings slightly different approaches to the move on a customer level and as a removal company. The main difference is the advance of bookings. During the summer months removals companies can be fully booked a week or at least two weeks in advance. While in the winter you might be able to arrange, pay and carry out the removal within a few days. This is unlikely to happen in the summer so ensure that your removal can go ahead by getting organised and keeping in touch with your removal company.

Move Day

On move day itself, the brighter and warmer weather makes things a little different. Not only do our removal crews ditch their trousers for shorts but they will need plenty of hydration breaks. But this will not stop them from implementing their effort and skills when carrying and loading your items. Each of them is fully trained and has the expertise required. And we are pretty confident that they are happier in the summer weather than the winter weather!

Students

At the start and end of summer there are always students requiring moves up and down the country and sometimes internationally. Sometimes a professional removal company is not necessary for these types of move, a van hire or man and a van service can be a bit better suited. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enquire and get a free no obligation quote from us just to check. We will provide you with the advice you need.

Holdsworth’s of Leeds can also help out with student storage options as well.