MAKINGMOVESPollards MOVING AND STORAGE

Take the stress out of moving

Helping kids with the move

54321 counting down to your move day

Day in the life of... a removal man

Moving home

Hints& tips

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approach it in my own way using a simple 4-step approach.” Katie continued. “First, I used my gut instinct. Checked each website to see they looked professional – a good indicator of how much care a company will take with my belongings. I especially liked Pollards’ website; it looked professional and the team seemed approachable and friendly.

“Then I considered the services they offered. Were they what I was looking for?

“Thirdly I checked references. People are very busy, so if they’ve taken the time to leave good feedback it shows the company has gone the extra mile. Pollards has lots of great feedback and is clearly proud of its reputation in looking after its customers. This was very reassuring.

“It was important for me to trust my belongings to someone reliable and responsible and I felt Pollards would meet my requirements.”

But Katie wasn’t quite finished with her research.

“I found out about BAR (British Association of Removers), which has been the recognised voice of the professional moving and storage industry in the UK for over 100 years. All BAR members adhere to

We met up with Pollards’ customer, Katie S, who’d undertaken a move during the summer, to ask about

her experience. She told us how she came to choose Pollards.

“After the excitement of actually buying and selling the house, there was a groundswell of activity. I had to find time to undertake it all, take care of my family and, of course, work. With my husband working away, we decided to look for a way to make things easier.”

The solicitors and banks were out of their control but at least they could make sure their belongings were treated the way they wanted.

“At this point, we decided to research removal companies,” Katie said. When we asked her why she decided to hire a removal company, she laughed.

“Can you honestly imagine doing all the packing, unpacking, heavy lifting, loading and unloading, and the transportation yourself? I get tired just thinking about it!

“I’d given it some thought and decided to

“ “I loved that I didn’t have to manage the whole move single-handedly – I could share the burden with someone else”

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UNLOAD THE STRESS!Let your removal company take care of your house moving concerns.

MAKINGMOVES

a strict code of practice. Of course Pollards is a member, which gave me further reassurance.

“Finally, I phoned my short-listed companies for quotes and to compare the services offered. I was asked several questions so the removal companies could give a detailed and accurate quotation. . .”

These were the most common:

• How many rooms are there? –of course, more rooms means more belongings.

• What are your main pieces of furniture? – try make a list of everything you need.

• Any special items such as piano or grandfather clock?

• Any stairs and if so, how many?

• Is there on-road parking? If not, are special parking permits required?

• Do you require packing materials?

• Would you like a full or partial packing service?

“The lovely lady in Pollards’ office helped me answer these questions and suggested Danny Pollard come to meet me and give me a quote.”

Such personal service clinched the deal for Katie and she booked the move slot, and with husband Nick still working away, opted for the full packing service.

Finally, we asked Katie where she thought Pollards added the most value to her move.

She replied happily, “I loved that I didn’t have to manage the whole move single-handedly – I could share the burden with someone else; an experienced, reliable company, specifically trained for this purpose. Pollards were aware of all the major moving requirements and thought of some things that hadn’t even occurred to me! They were incredibly professional and I felt they had the capability to work in all sorts of situations. I felt secure, knowing that all my luxury house items and valuables were safe. There is hardly a better feeling than knowing that your property is in the hands of someone who knows what they’re doing and is capable of executing the whole move with ease, confidence and efficiency!”

POLLARDS MOVING AND STORAGE | 3

HANDY HINTS TO PREPARE FOR YOUR MOVE

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2 Pack early and wisely

• Before you start to pack, force yourself to de-clutter

• Set aside a box to keep with you for important documents

• Keep your jewellery and items of sentimental value in a separate box

• Every box and bag should be labelled with its destination (such as the room) and any special instructions to the movers.

• Back up all your computers

• Take a photo of your old house

• Make arrangements for any pet care

1 Questions to ask the current home owner

To make your life easier remember to ask the current owner these questions (it’s a lot to remember, so why not make a tick list?)

• Where’s the main stopcock - to shut off the water?

• Where are the gas and electricity meters?

• Do any surfaces need special cleaning products?

• Which day are the bins collected?

• Do you have any old tins of paint in the same colour as the walls?

• Do you have any instruction manuals or warranties on electrical items?

• Where did any fixed furniture come from, e.g., kitchen cabinets?

• Which companies supply the energy, broadband and home phone?

• Where is the thermostat?

• What is the code for the house alarm?

• Where are the smoke alarms?

Here’s our handy checklist of things you’ll need to think

about before your move

Have you thought about?

MAKINGMOVES

3 Make a Survival Pack

The last box to go on – and the first to come off. The removal van should carry everything you need for that day. Include cleaning products, a kettle, cutlery, a pen and paper, toolkit, light bulbs, bread and milk, snacks, a flask of tea or coffee, takeaway menus, mobile phone charger and essential toiletries such as your toothbrush.

4 Make your beds up first

Put in a set of bedding for each bed, towels and a change of clothes or any work or school clothes for the next day in case you’re too exhausted to unpack anything else once you arrive. Get the children to pack their favourite toys or games, so they can quickly settle in.

And don’t forget a bottle of champagne and glasses!

POLLARDS MOVING AND STORAGE | 5

5 What to do on moving day

Make sure everyone knows what they have to do – and when. Take children and pets to a safe, settled place so that your movers can get on with their work. Leave any fixtures and fittings that you agreed, and when you get to your new house check that those you requested are there. Be the last to leave your home to make sure everything has left too. Don’t forget to collect the new keys!

6 Once you’ve moved in

Read the meters at the new house and let the supplier know. You don’t want to pay for gas and electricity the previous owners used! It’s also a good idea to change the locks so you know you’re the only one with keys. Contact your insurer to check your home insurance policy is valid for your new home straightaway. Unpacking boxes might take you some time, so find the sofa and crack open that champagne – you deserve it.

THINKING OF THE CHILDREN

to friends and family is one of the hardest parts of moving. Older children, such as pre-teens and teens, seem to have the most difficult time, according to the experts. ‘It will bring closure to the friendships you‘re leaving behind.’ Keep it simple: you’ve got a lot on!

Tour old haunts. Visit favourite spots one last time before you move.

Make a memory book. Your children can fill it with photos of home and friends, along with their email addresses.

Say goodbye to your home. During a family meal ask each child to recall a favourite memory in the old house.

How can I help my children adjust to sleeping in their new rooms?

Your children are bound to be anxious the first few nights. Unpacking their boxes of special belongings as soon as they arrive will make them feel more at home.

Point out what‘s better about the new room: ‘It‘s so much bigger; those shelves are perfect for your books’ They’ll feel more comfortable knowing the lay of the land, so walk them to your bedroom and the bathroom and point out light switches in case they need them. Use night-lights along the route to the bathroom. Try to stick a routine and bedtimes even on that hectic first day,

Moving to a new home is stressful for you, but even tougher on your children. Here are some tips to turn it into a

fun adventure for the whole family.

Great Ways to Get Children Excited for the MoveChildren feel powerless when you tell them you‘re moving. “They usually don‘t have any input in the decision,“ says Lori Collins Burgan, social worker and author of Moving with Kids. “So involve them in as many other decisions as you can.“

Make a family wish list to help you reach a consensus on some of the things you want from your new home: a bigger garden, a playroom, separate rooms for the children.

House-hunt together. If practical, take your children to see prospective houses with you. If you‘re searching online, bookmark favourites so your children can take a look.

Let them map out their new rooms. Make it an art project with mood boards, using paint swatches, fabric samples for bedding and curtains, and snapshots of furniture.

Pack treasure boxes. Give your children their own packing boxes to decorate with stickers and use for favourite things. Take them in the car with you to keep them close.Throw a goodbye party. Saying goodbye

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GOOD MOVEHow to Make Moving Easier on Kids?

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MAKINGMOVES

How to Prepare Children for a New SchoolSwitching schools can be scary. Be positive about it and they‘ll take their cues from you.

Help break the ice. Get a class list from the school office and arrange some play dates with your children‘s new classmates. Stay involved once school starts. Social networking can help, as can helping with school trips and special days.

Get informed before the school year starts. Enquire about the curriculum and after-school activities to help your child get excited about going to school. You can even plan the route you‘ll be taking.

Take a tour of the building. If you move during summer your children‘s new school may have “meet the teacher“ sessions before the school year starts. If you enrol them mid-term, ask if an older child can show them around.

POLLARDS MOVING AND STORAGE | 7

Great readingBig Ernie‘s New Home: A Story for Young Children Who Are Moving by Teresa Martin

The Berenstain Bears‘ Moving Day by Stan Berenstain

Moving House: Miniature Edition by Anne Civardi

Moving with Kids: 25 Ways to Ease Your Family‘s Transition to a New Home by Lori Collins Burgan

The Moving Book: A Kids‘ Survival Guide by Gabriel Davis

Footsteps Around the World: Relocation Tips for Teens by Beverly D. Roman

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plastic manufacturing company shares, they own so much; but it’s life and what makes a home.

“Some clients watch my every move and clean everything before and after I have touched it. They offer helpful tips such as ‘Don’t drop anything.’ I always take the same care as if they were my own cherished possessions.”

Has he ever broken anything? “Unfortunately yes,” he says, admitting his

fallibility. “I recently dropped a DVD player, which I felt awful about. The guilt niggled me for days.”

Narrow stairs, gravel paths, lift doors and even pompous neighbours all bring their problems.

“If I could, I’d make all architects spend a week doing my job before they designed buildings – they seem to have no concept of how furniture is going to be put into a house.

“On the upside, it’s always pleasing to see customers’ stress melt away as the van door is closed for the last time. And my calf muscles aren’t bad, either!”

Dave speaks, his hands gesticulating vigorously; his voice, slightly northern, calm but powerfully sincere. In an age when companies frequently claim to be ‘passionate’ about looking after customers, Dave comes across as a

Meeting Dave the first thing I discover is that he doesn’t drive a lorry. With his close-cropped hair and neatly buttoned Pollards’ polo

shirt, he exudes an almost fanatical passion for the art of packing objects correctly and moving them around. And although 50 years old, he is unable to hide his child-like excitement.

“People look at you strangely when you say you’re a removal man and you really enjoy it,” he admits, a little proudly. “They think you’re mad.”

As I’m not too sure he isn’t, I press him to explain. Does he really enjoy covering hundreds of objects in protective wrapping?

“I love it. It’s my favourite bit of the job because I’m a perfectionist. I drive people crazy, but I must have the boxes neatly taped and written on. You can wrap a chair in bubble wrap to protect it, or you can cut it in all nicely. Even things like putting silver in tissue paper, because there’s no acidity in it, so it doesn’t tarnish. . .

“Packing things teaches me a lot about the small things that mean so much to people.

“They accumulate so much. Some fill the van three times over with just books and DVDs – and those with children should have invested in

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‘If I could, I’d make all architects spend a week doing my job before they designed a house.’

A day in the life of... A REMOVAL MA

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF...

MAKINGMOVES

man who really is. “You’re not just moving their furniture,” he explains humbly. “It’s their life. So many customers turn around to us and say, ‘You’ve got our life in the back of your truck’. And a couple of hours earlier you were a stranger.”

It is tempting to wonder if Dave absorbed his instinct for rigid professionalism from his first employer, the Army, which he joined on leaving school, and where he says he was ‘very, very keen.’

He enjoyed military life, but gave it up in 1991, not wanting ‘to spend so much time away from home’

After working in conventional haulage, which he found ‘mind-numbingly boring’, Dave walked into a jobcentre looking for something new.

“They said, ‘What about removals?’” he remembers gleefully. “I thought ‘yes’ straight away. And from my first day in the job I’ve just loved it.”

That was 10 years ago. Since then he has risen through the company’s ranks.

“I still hate driving – it’s incredibly boring. That’s probably why I’m so buzzy when I get to the customer – I’m so happy to be working with people.”

Moving house is a stressful experience that occasionally brings out the less pleasant side of a customer’s character and no matter how tactful he is Dave simply cannot do anything right!

“The key thing is to remain polite and professional, and do the job to the best of your ability. And keep smiling. I’m sure in hindsight they remember how we took away some of their stress as we get asked back so many times.”Call Pollards on 0800 9750 324

POLLARDS MOVING AND STORAGE | 9

Making Moves Q&AWhat is your work/life balance like? “it isn’t always easy. Although work takes me away, it means we can fund lovely family holidays. My wife is fantastic, and our older children all muck in. They seem able to keep juggling the balls without dropping them too often.”

What’s the best thing about your job? “The comradeship’s great, the travel’s fantastic; meeting people, being outdoors, it gives me time to make a difference in people’s lives. And it’s always a laugh; we have fun.”

What’s the worst thing about your job? “Facilities for truck drivers. Finding somewhere to park, get a proper shower and decent meal at a reasonable price; England just doesn’t cater for it.” Lunch is difficult. “I’m vegetarian, so I struggle. On the road I’ll have something like a pasty.”

What would you be if you weren’t a removal man?

“I’d like to work with people – definitely not sit behind a desk all week.’

What are the biggest myths about removal men?

“Everyone assumes that you want a cup of tea every 10 minutes!”

“People say to me, ‘It must keep you fit.’ But it doesn’t. Your body just gets used to the work.”

L MAN

COUNT DOWN TO YOUR BIG MOVE

weeks to go ■■ Start the packing process. Assess wardrobes

and remove clothing you no longer want. Begin to assess items room by room.

■■ Send unwanted goods to charity; sell items online, or have a sale to help pay for your move.

■■ If you have children, work with the current and future schools to transfer records and make plans for a smooth transition.

■■ Pack infrequently used things such as seasonal items, rarely used gadgets, and items stored in the attic or cellar.

■■ Use up food from the fridge, freezer etc. Keep grocery shopping to a minimum and don’t buy in bulk before the move.

■■ Let friends and family members know you’re moving. Send emails with your new contact information or post moving announcements.

■■ Purchase boxes, packing material, tape, labels, and box cutters. Remember speciality items like dish boxes, wardrobe boxes.

■■ Create a box-labelling system. Numbering boxes, colour-coding by room, and a master list with inventory will help.

■■ Make a room-by-room schedule and start packing!

weeks ■■ Complete an official change-of-address

form with the Post Office.

■■ Consult your list of businesses and services; make address changes on all accounts.

■■ Request leave from your job for the days surrounding your move. Book a babysitter or pet care if needed.

■■ Confirm all paperwork with your removal company and double-check that proper insurance is in place to cover your valuables.

weeks ■■ Cancel any newspaper or milk deliveries.

■■ Gather valuable paperwork, jewellery, and small family heirlooms. Keep these special items separate from your moving boxes and make a plan for transporting them by hand.

■■ Do an inventory of valuables and photograph them. Note any existing scratches, dents or damage to your furniture.

10 | CALL 0800 9750 324

5432 1 GOMoving is less of a chore when you break down the tasks into weekly to-do lists. Use our guide below to make your move manageable, or print our checklist and have it available while you pack.

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MAKINGMOVES

weeks ■■ Keep plugging away at the packing. Don’t

leave it all until the last week!

■■ Tie up loose ends. Double-check address changes, insurance cover and the removal company.

■■ Put together an info pack for the new owners of your home containing warranties, recommendations and your contact information in case they have questions or need to forward your mail.

■■ Make sure any major appliances are cleaned, unplugged, and ready to go. Defrost freezers and arrange professionals to disconnect gas appliances.

■■ Fill prescriptions. Make sure that everyone has any medications they need to hand

■■ Make sure you have enough cash or a credit card to pay for any unexpected expenses.

week until the move ■■ Dispose of all flammable items that can’t be

transported (paint, chemicals, aerosol cans).

■■ If you’ve anything else to donate to charity, bag it up and take it in.

■■ Back up all computers and have a plan in place for checking email and paying bills online while your computer is in transit.

■■ Each family member needs to pack a suitcase as for a two-week holiday, including comfortable clothes for unpacking. Remember all toiletries.

■■ Confirm moving day arrival time, mobile phone numbers and last-minute details with your removal company.

■■ Hire cleaners to do a quick clean after you’ve left or schedule time to make sure that everything is clean and in place for the new owners.

■■ Celebrate the memories you’ve made in your home and get ready to start a new chapter in your life.

To download our printable checklist please visit www.pollardsmovingandstorage.co.uk

POLLARDS MOVING AND STORAGE | 11

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NURTURING WILDLIFE IN YOUR NEW GARDEN

Our wildlife has the same basic needs. Wildlife and natural places are under increasing pressure and are being lost and damaged. Let’s make our gardens a safe place for nature, somewhere it can thrive.Here are 4 steps to giving nature a home where you live. Whatever time you have and whatever size space, you’ll find that each activity is simple and enjoyable for you and the whole family.

STEP 1 GROW FLOWERING PLANTS Giving nature a home starts with plants. Grow as many flowering plants as will fit in your garden. Plenty of flowers throughout the year help provide nectar, pollen and shelter for bugs, which provide food for birds and beasts.

STEP 2 INVEST IN A TREE OR SHRUBTrees, shrubs and climbers may take a few years before they mature, but eventually become places for wildlife to shelter, breed and feed. If you’ve only a balcony or small garden, you can still encourage wildlife with a mix of pot-grown shrubs, climbers and dwarf trees. What you plant really depends on the amount of space you have, but if they produce flowers and fruit or berries, you can’t go far wrong. A few wildlife favourites are Crab Apple, Rowan, Hawthorn, Privet, Dog Rose, Ivy and Honeysuckle.

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IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COMEHomes are where we eat, where we sleep, and where we bring up our families.

MAKINGMOVES

STEP 3 GIVE YOUR MOWER A RESTIf you have a lawn, it can be a great place for wildlife to live – especially if you let it grow. When it is time to cut your lawn, raise the height of your mower blades. This makes it better for bugs, which provide vital food for other animals. If you have space, a patch of longer grass over summer and winter might house and shelter all sorts of wildlife. You may even attract some butterflies, moths and grasshoppers that need long grass to complete their life cycles.

STEP 4 MAKE DEAD WOOD PILESDead and rotting wood provides a home where fungi, mosses and lichens can grow. As it decays, a pile of wood becomes a bug hotel for a variety of bugs. So whenever you prune, add the cut branches to the pile. If you have a balcony, fill a well-drained bucket with soil and wood chippings to attract bugs. To make it even better, you could add a couple of small rotting branches and put it next to flowers.

Join the RSPB at rspb.org.uk/join

It’s the best way to give nature a home across the whole of the UK today.

Here’s a quick checklist of who you might need to inform of your house move.

Notifying people of your move is best done in advance, particularly if you have to do it in writing, once you’ve exchanged contracts. Make a list of who needs to know, including:

• Bank/building society and any companies you have loans, savings investments or pensions with

• Credit card and store card companies

• Phone and internet service providers

• TV licensing

• Local council

• Subscriptions and clubs

• Your employer and children’s schools

• DVLA

• Gas and electricity supplier(s)

• Doctors and dentists

• Friends, family and colleagues

• Insurance providers, including car, home, travel

• Vet

POLLARDS MOVING AND STORAGE | 13

WHO NEEDS TO KNOW?

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POLLARDS MOVING AND STORAGE | 15

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OUR TEAM AT YOUR SERVICE

Pollards MOVING AND STORAGE

At Pollards moving and storage we offer a service which is based on value. Our professional surveyors can visit to discuss your specific moving needs. Please call now to arrange a free quotation.

Pollards Moving & Storage Head Office, Unit A, Spring Bank Industrial Estate, Watson Mill Lane, Sowerby Bridge, Halifax HX6 3BW

Call 0800 9750 324 Visit www.pollardsmovingandstorage.co.ukEmail enquiries@pollardsmovingandstorage.co.uk

Pollards Moving and Storage @Pollards_UK

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