So, summer is nearly over…and stories of an arctic winter have already started coming in! According to news reports we should be bracing ourselves for the worst winter in a decade…yay… (although to be fair we wouldn’t mind the chance to do a bit of sledging and snowman building, but we’d rather it was limited to a day or two when there’s no moves booked to interfere with!)

If all the talk of winter has you feeling like The Grinch, and you’re still firmly in flip flop and sun hat territory, you’re not alone. Seasonal Affective Disorder is thought to affect two million Brits according to the NHS. Add in some post-holiday blues after a fantastic summer getaway in sunnier climes and you’re probably starting to re-pack your suitcase as you read.

But for well over 300,000 Brits a year, living in a different country isn’t just a pipe dream or restricted to a short term holiday. It’s a change in lifestyle which sees them going to life abroad. Whether it’s for work or study, for family, for retirement, or just because you want to, it’s a big undertaking – but an exciting one!

Here at Holdsworths Removals we can help you plan your international move, making sure we think of every last detail to make getting from A to B (Alwoodley to Barcelona? Adel to Byron Bay?) as hassle free as possible.

If you’re planning a move to mainland Europe a move by road, door to door with a dedicated team, is entirely possible, just like you would do within the UK. And if you’re moving further afield the move can happen by ship or freight plane.

If you’re moving the contents of an entire home with you, you may have enough for your own shipping container, which is a cost effective way to transport your belongings. If you’re only taking a few important bits and pieces – anything from a prized piece of furniture or a few suitcases to a garage full – we can offer a shared container. That way you only pay for the space you need, sharing the costs with others, making it great value for money.

Air freight is the most expensive way to transport items but is ideal for those things you need quickly, or for smaller items.

Whatever you’re taking and wherever you’re heading at Holdsworths we can offer our advice and expertise built up over almost 100 years of being in business. We’ll ensure your items are transported in the safest, most efficient way possible to suit your needs. We can even help you pack them to make extra sure they arrive in the best possible condition – they will need to be ‘export packed’ and inventoried to be suitable for their long journey. We have a network of trusted partners across the world which we can call upon if needed to help complete the journey.

The sold sign is up, the removal firm is booked – all that is left is to get packing!

Here at Holdsworths we have almost 100 years of removals experience – during that time we’ve packed up thousands of homes and belongings. There’s nothing we don’t know about getting belongings of all shapes and sizes safely from A to B. So, if you’re planning a house move, here are our top tips to help you pack like a pro:

1. Hire in the experts! It’s worth giving some consideration to whether you would be better getting the professionals in to pack for you. At Holdsworths we can pack up a house in next to no time, meaning less time for you living surrounded by boxes – and the reassurance that things are packed correctly. Often people like to have a good clear out (which you may have done ahead of putting the house on the market) and then let us do the packing.
2. Start early. You’ll be amazed how long it will take you if you’re reminiscing and deciding what to do with things as you go along. The earlier you start – particularly with areas such as the loft or garage which don’t get used day-to-da,y the easier it will be. Your kitchen and bathroom are likely to be the last two rooms you tackle, as high use areas.
3. Get well equipped. There’s a saying which goes ‘A bad workman blames his tools’. But there’s no denying that having the right tools for a job will always help it go better. Good quality boxes, and plenty of bubble wrap and strong tape will make your move so much easier. Cheap boxes are no saving at all if it gives way and dumps all your fine china on the pavement.
4. He ain’t heavy. There’s no point packing boxes which are too heavy to carry. Put heavy items in smaller boxes, and lighter ones in bigger sizes. If a box is getting too heavy, fill the remainder with light items such as cushions or linens. Try not to leave empty space in boxes, as it just allows things to move around, which can cause damage. Remember, soft items can often go in bags too.
5. In the closet. We use hanging rails to transport items from wardrobes – which is so much simpler for you when you get to your new home, and saves ironing! Drawers can often be moved with items still inside. Speak to your move coordinator to find out what they’ll be able to do – put there’s no point emptying things which don’t need emptying.
6. Look after your delicates. Anything you’re worried about, make sure it’s completely enclosed in bubble wrap or tissue paper and pack carefully in a box marked fragile. You might want to keep some valuables or sentimental items with you, which of course is completely fine. Just put them somewhere safe on move day, so the team know not to pack them on the van.
7. Something extra special. If you have an item you’re particularly worried about moving – say a large sculpture, piece of artwork, or musical instrument, speak to your removals team about the best way to transport it. There’s always a way, but it helps if teams can come prepared with any special equipment they might need.
8. Get labelling. Be scrupulous about your labelling. Seal every box securely with tape and make sure it’s clear what is inside and what room it’s heading for in the new house. It will make the life of the removal team easier – and your life when it comes to trying to find things at the other end.
9. Re-flat-pack. Some items of furniture may need disassembling. Do these ahead of time where possible and make it easy to find all the elements at the other end. Keep everything together, screws included, which can be put in a bag and sellotaped to a larger piece.
10. Create an essentials kit. If you are following the van in your own car, keep some essential items in the boot just in case. This should consist of bedding and sleepwear (when everyone is tired, the last thing you’ll want to do is try to find them), some food and drink, medicines, torches, kettle and mugs, chargers, things for pets/babies, toilet rolls, soap, toothbrushes and anything else you think you’d struggle without for 24/48 hours. You never know what time you may get into your new house, so it’s always best to be prepared.

If we can help you with your packing or moving needs, why not get in touch?

When you’ve decided to move home, it can seem to take ages for anything to actually happen. It can take a while to get the house ready to go on the market, then it can take quite a few viewings to find the person who sees your house as their new home. But once that offer is made and accepted – hurray! Things can finally get moving… (excuse the pun).

Except they don’t. Somehow it just seems to drag on and on even more! Solicitors, surveys, mortgage brokers – everything needs to happen and things don’t seem to be progressing at the speed you want. So, what can you do to try and hurry things along?

Firstly, bear in mind this is one of the main reasons you are paying your estate agent commission. Obviously they’ve helped secure the sale, but this is when you need them to be fighting your corner to get the sale through to the finishing line as smoothly and efficiently as possible. A good estate agent is worth their weight in gold.

Hopefully before you even accepted the offer, you were confident the buyers were in a financial situation to be able to complete the sale – either as cash buyers or with a suitable mortgage offer in place. Mortgage offers can take several weeks, so you don’t want to be delayed by someone who hasn’t yet got it – even if they assure you it will be no problem, there’s no guarantee.

As soon as you receive them, complete your property information forms, with all the details of the property and the fixtures and fittings you might be leaving. The sooner these are with the solicitors, the quicker things can progress and any questions can be addressed. Make sure you get any paperwork organised and ready to send – if you’ve had building work done you’ll need building regs and planning. Include things like warranties and gas installation certificates too.

A lot of time can be wasted waiting for documents to arrive in the post – and there’s always the risk they don’t. Where possible ask to be emailed paperwork so you can print it out yourself to complete it if needed, which may save a few days here and there.

Try and agree a loose timescale for how and when you’d like to exchange and complete. It helps if everyone – professionals included – are working towards the same date, even if circumstances mean things need to change along the way. Remember that a completion date must be set by the time you exchange contracts.

Make sure you keep in touch with everyone in the process as necessary. Be easy to contact and check in as needed to ensure things are on track. It’s fine to make sure you’re keeping on top of what’s happening, and if everyone is in agreement, you can always cc everyone in the process in on relevant emails. If possible, a friendly, open process also means things can be dealt with directly rather than having to go through one person to speak to another person.

Finally, it’s definitely worth getting your removal firm organised as early in the process as possible. Even if dates aren’t finalised, you should get in touch with your preferred provider and get them to come and assess your requirements so they can provide an estimate. Popular dates – especially Fridays in the Summer – get booked up far in advance, so don’t be tempted to leave it until you have exchanged or you may not be able to get a removal team when you need it. Here at Holdsworths we’re obviously dealing with people in this situation day-in and day-out so we know how the process works. We’re always happy to have a chat through things and explain how best to proceed.

And hopefully, you’ll be raising a glass of champagne to toast your new home before you know it!

If you’re in the process of moving home you’ve probably spent weeks now thinking of every detail from every angle. Which estate agent and solicitor to choose, how to market your home, where you might want to move to and hopefully you’ve given some thought to a reliable removal firm (we know a good one we could recommend….)

 

However, what you might not have given much thought to in the whole removal process is storage. But with almost 100 years’ experience in the removals industry, we can tell you that storage can be a huge helping hand when you’re looking to move.

 

Firstly – self storage can be an absolute blessing when it comes to getting your home ready to market. You’ll have heard it all a million times but decluttering and creating a ‘blank canvas’ is important when helping potential buyers to see the best in your home. But of course, we all accumulate ‘stuff’ all the time – and the fact your house is bursting at the seams and you need more space is probably one of the reasons you’re moving! Consider temporarily moving excess furniture and belongings to a self storage centre – not just for the photos, but for when you’re conducting viewings too. The beauty of self storage is you can gain access whenever you need it – so you don’t need to worry about being apart from things for too long. Although you may come to love the more minimalist look!

 

If you have work to do in your home – perhaps some decorating or DIY to get things looking ship shape – moving things out to a storage unit can be much easier than trying to constantly redistribute a whole room around your house.

 

But storage can also come into its own for the move itself. Often move dates can’t tie in for one reason or another. Perhaps the chain is out of sync, and the people buying your home need to be in on a certain day which those you’re buying from can’t meet. If it’s going to mean staying with friends or family for a couple of weeks, or a short spell in a hotel, we can look after your belongings in the meantime. We pack up your property as usual, loading items straight into containers on the removal truck. The containers are sealed and taken to our secure storage depot. They remain there untouched until you are ready for them to be redelivered to your new address.

 

Perhaps you’re downsizing your property and you can’t decide what will fit in your new home, in terms of space and style. Using self storage means you can move some of your items there, even ahead of move day, and then slowly sort through once you’re in your new pad.

 

So, if you’re planning a move this year, why not think about how storage could help you? Our friendly team are always on hand to answer any questions, so why not get in touch…

If you’re thinking of putting your home on the market, you want it to look its very best for the photos. Pictures are the first thing a potential buyer will see – and the more viewers you can tempt through the door, the more likely you are to get the sale you want.

 

So, if you’re giving your home a makeover ready for its close up, here are some top tips for making sure the photos do your beloved house justice:

 

1. Get a professional in to take the photos. If the estate agent insists they will take them themselves, say you want to check the quality before they’re used. Your home is likely your most valuable asset – you want it to look amazing!
2. Clutter is the enemy. Cluttered rooms automatically look smaller and your stuff everywhere makes it harder for someone to see how they could make the property their own. Consider hiring some self storage and have a good clear out. You don’t need to get rid of everything, so there’s no need to be sentimental – we’ll keep it safe and sound, while your home dazzles potential new owners.
3. Empty rooms don’t work. Don’t overdo it on the house decluttering – furniture helps people to see the dimensions of the room and allows them to imagine the room being used.
4. Keep it neutral. You may like bright colours or bold patterns, but they’re always divisive! Make sure things are as neutral as possible, so give things a lick of paint – it doesn’t have to be magnolia but something uncontroversial!
5. Get your Mrs Hinch Follow the Instagram star’s lead and make sure the house is spotless.
6. Stage the look. Think of everything as you look around – is it giving the impression of a happy, healthy home? make sure your dining table is set for dinner rather than piled high with homework. Have kitchen work surfaces as clear as possible – hide things in cupboards for the photos if needs be (but consider self storage for the longer term while viewings take place)! Put toys away and switch off TVs. Move everything off bathroom surfaces – go for the hotel bathroom look!
7. First impressions count. People want their home to look attractive from the outside – so it’s vital your photos show your house looking its best. Make sure rubbish and bins are hidden away, lawns are neat and trimmed, pathways are weeded and paintwork and doors have been freshened up.
8. Book in the good weather. Of course, we jest. We live in the UK so the weather at most times of the year is anyone’s guess. But obviously exterior photos tend to look better against a blue sky, and natural light will help rooms look bright and airy. Bear in mind times of the day when the light might be starting to fade and consider when the sun hits certain rooms in your home.

 

Follow those steps and you’ll have sold your home in no time at all. And, when you’re ready for a removal firm, give us a shout!

Spring cleaning, fresh starts – this time of year is all about taking a look at things and making sure they work for you, as well as at opportunities for growth and new beginnings.

 

Maybe that means a house move is on the cards – or perhaps it’s your business which feels like it’s outgrown its current premises. Here at Holdsworths we can help with every type of removal – we understand it can seem daunting, but with almost 100 years of experience, we’ve seen and dealt with every situation, and safely moved thousands of people into their new place.

 

If you’re considering an office move, what do you need to consider?

 

1. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to plan the move. Find a removals company you trust at least three months in advance. A good removals company will give you a project manager to oversee the move, giving you one point of contact to liaise with and ask questions of.
2. Make sure your removals company is a member of the BAR (British Association of Removers). This gives you peace of mind that they adhere to a strict code of conduct and will provide a high level of service.
3. Use the time ahead of the move to begin the great office declutter. There will be things which are no longer needed – and it’s pointless taking them with you. It may feel difficult to make the time, but it will need to happen so get everyone to block out a couple of hours in their diary one day and all roll your sleeves up!
4. If you’re getting rid of office furniture or IT equipment, it’s important you remember any legal and environmental responsibilities. IT equipment will need to be properly disposed of to ensure confidential data is not accessible. For other items consider a staff sale or charitable donations.
5. While decluttering you’re bound to find confidential documentation which either needs disposing of or keeping securely. If you want to dispose of it, we can offer a shredding service, which is quick and easy and saves you huge amounts of time and worry. We can also help with document storage if required (or long or short term storage of other items). Research how long documentation needs to be kept, from a tax perspective but also GDPR. You can hold on to things too long!
6. As a removals company we would offer advise on processes to ensure the move is as straightforward as possible – for example sequential packing of files and stock, proper labelling systems and room planners. All these things will make it significantly easier at the new premises to get you up and running in as short a time as possible.
7. Everyone worries about the moving of IT and we can offer advice on how best to move equipment, ensuring everything is properly labelled and packaged and transported with the utmost care. We can then make sure that IT is the priority at the new premises, so your IT experts can get you reconnected and working asap.

 

So, if this Spring sees a new start for your business, give us a call. We’ll get you from A to B and back up and running before you can say “now where did we pack that kettle?”.

Merry Christmas from Holdsworth’s Removals

From all at Holdsworth’s Removals of Leeds, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The new year will lead Holdsworth’s into its 99th year operating across Yorkshire. Established as a removals company in Leeds in 1920, we are proud to still be offering a first class, professional removals service going into 2019.

If you are interested in a removal in 2019 then please get in touch, but please also bear in mind that our office closes on Friday 21st December and will reopen on Wednesday 3rd January where we will be ready to help with your removal.

We hope you enjoy the festive period.

This week officially brought the end of British Summer Time. This results in dark mornings as the evenings begin to grow dark towards the shortest day of the year, also known as the Winter Solstice, on the 21^st December. Winter can often be a bleak period of inactivity. But there is plenty of opportunity of how to spend the shorter days and darker evenings. Here are some hints from Holdsworth’s.

Moving Home

The peak period for the removals industry is the summer time as movers try to fit their removal into the long sunny days and school holidays. But inevitably, house moves continue into the winter and the removals industry continues. The winter is a fantastic time to either research your dream house move and look into a brand new area that you might desire. Or if you have an immediate removal on the cards, there is also more of a likelihood of finding the removal company that you seek.

Private Documents

In the modern era, identity theft can be achieved using the smallest amount of personal information. If you work from home or have filed away confidential information, it is easy for this to become a daunting mountain of paper. But rather than throwing these in the bin and leaving your confidential waste open for somebody to pick up, consider a paper shredding company to securely destroy your documents.

This not only protects your confidential waste but helps recycle the paper as many paper shredding companies recycle their waste.

Declutter

The shorter days and longer nights certainly mean that we spend more time indoors during the winter months. This provides an opportunity to have a clear-out to declutter your home. Whether it’s before Christmas when you inevitably accumulate even more stuff, or tackle it in January after the accumulation of more stuff has happened.

Having a clear-out and decluttering is often a bit of a daunting task. Whether it’s the loft, the garage or you simply have left it a little bit too long, it takes a bit of ruthlessness and organisation. But if there are items, collections or memories that you cannot be so ruthless about, container storage and self-storage options can help you achieve you decluttering goal while keeping your belongings safe and secure. When it comes to the organisation, simply set out boxes for keeps, the tip and for storage and get stuck in!

A home removal can be a tough time for anyone. But for a family with children there is another level to think about and that is the effect that moving home can have on your children. But for all the worries regarding a house move, it is also an extremely exciting time in your life and that can be transferred to your children. So here are some helpful hints on making a removal an exciting time, rather than worrying time, for your kids.

Before The Move

The best thing to do when you first know about your removal is to sit down with your children and inform them of exactly what is going to happen. If you are positive about the move then that will resonate with your children as well and will focus them on the adventure of the move
rather than the worry. A great way of developing that is by researching and familiarising your children with where you are moving to. Look for attractions or local amenities such as cinemas, sweet shops or parks that are near your new home and visit them so that you kids can associate with the move and the new area. This should reassure your kids and keep them positive about moving somewhere new

Packing & Decluttering

A daunting task but if you haven’t signed up for a packing service from your removal company then there are great ways to make this an exciting task for your kids. First things first are to get them involved. Give them the responsibility of labelling the boxes and let them decorate them as they see fit. This takes what might be a boring task for you or your partner and making it a fun one for you children and yourself. Let them also have the freedom to pack their own “My Stuff” box but ensure that they definitely pack what they need – it’s worth remembering that a removal is great time to declutter. For larger items in the home it might be worth arranging for a babysitter or relative to take care of the kids to ensure that they’re out of the way.

As it moves closer to the removal day, buy a special bag for each of your kids for them to carry anything especially important to them, either a toy or book, so that it is close to them leading up to and on the move day. Equally, pack a box of essentials for the day of the move so that all the stuff you need on the first day/night in your new home are to hand.

On Move Day

On the move day, make sure that you keep in touch with your removal company so that you are assured at what they’re doing and can focus on the children. Getting the kids involved with the removal crew can be a great way to make the day exciting for them. Using gimmicks such as badges can be a great way of doing this. If you are staying with relatives or in temporary accommodation then fit this in as part of the adventure and plan your first night so you can all get settled early.

Settling In

Carry out your first night plan so that your kids have an exciting and fun night in your new home. Make it an adventure by getting them to unpack a special box to themselves or by hiding things around the house so they can explore. But make sure that you make your kids’ bedroom as homely as possible so that they can sleep easy on their first night.

The UK is in the midst of its warmest summer in years and with the heatwave rolling on, it Brits are already proclaiming it “too warm”! High temperatures are unfortunately affiliated with loss of life with the hot summer of 2006 showing an estimated 75 extra deaths per week for each degree of temperature increase.

June proved to be one of the hottest since records began in 1910 and July is set to follow that trend but it is in our homes where we can make a real difference. Public Health England suggests that one in five homes are prone to overheating with some properties more vulnerable than others. Top floor 1960s flats are most prone to overheating with research suggesting they can become six times hotter than ground floor flats, and nine times warmer a Victorian terrace.

Here are our handy quick hints for cooling your home down.

Shade

Research suggests that we can block out 30% of unwanted heats by blocking out sunlight through our windows. Don’t be afraid to close blinds or curtains during the day to block out this light as an easy way of reducing the temperature. Remember that dark fabrics absorb heat so using light-coloured curtains is better.

Move the Air Effectively

Opening windows when the air cools down outside is a great way of recycling air but ensure that your property is secure. Fans can just as easily make things worse by rotating warm air around the room. One method is direct fans towards the window rather than yourself to move the hot air away from you. Another hint is putting ice in front of the fan to create cool air.

Avoid Creating Heat

Keep lights off during the day to stop bulbs creating heat and also avoid long periods of cooking with ovens or slow cookers as they create more heat. Consider more summer friendly food such as salads.

Insulate

Insulation is often seen as a long term solution to keeping your house warm during the winter and reducing heating bills. But good insulation can also work by keeping heat out once you have a cool room.

Yourself

Remember to concentrate on keeping yourself cool and hydrated as well as the rooms in your home. Hot weather can cause a variety of changes to the human body and ensuring your body keeps at a cool temperature is the main battle. Also make sure you keep your food safely secured in fridges and out of sunlight.