When should you book a removal company?

Like so many things with moving house, knowing when to book a removals firm in London is all about careful timing. So many people wait until they have an exchange or completion date to start looking for movers. However, this can be a huge mistake.

Remember the number one rule – book early, save money

How much notice do removals firms need? The simple answer to this is – as much as possible! In nearly all cases, booking a removals company as early as humanly possible will result in a cheaper rate. The more organised you can be in planning out your move, the more you will save when it comes to moving day.

London is a hugely busy market, with thousands of house moves happening every day. Prices, as with most things in London, tend to be a little higher too. If you lock in a cheap rate early, you’ll make your move much less stressful as well as more affordable.

Booking in a removals firm when you don’t know your move date

One of the key questions to ask removals companies is whether they can be flexible if you book in a date early. Some companies, such as Kiwi Movers for example, prefer you to ‘pencil in’ a date as early as possible. Even if you don’t have a date for your move or even for exchanging contracts, you can still estimate a date and get it provisionally booked in. If this date changes, which it is very likely to do, we will happily reschedule and honour the existing price in most cases where an advance booking has been made – provided of course that you let us know as early as possible.

So, knowing that you can reschedule your moving date if you need to, absolutely don’t hesitate to book a date in now. Don’t wait to find out your exchange or completion date, get it booked in now.

Call Kiwi Movers on 020 8877 9682* to check availability and prices, and to let us know about potential moving dates.

What else affects the cost of hiring a removals firm?

There are other things that may affect your decision when considering when to book a removals firm in London. If you’re keen to save money (as we all are), you can also avoid bank holidays and weekends. This is because these tend to be the busiest times for removals firms, as it’s when everyone wants to move. To avoid peak-time rates, plan ahead and choose a weekday for your move if you’re able to.

You could also use this time, while waiting for things to happen on your property transaction, to de-clutter. If you have less to move, it can be moved more quickly. You may find that the price of moving is cheaper.

Hopefully you now have a better idea of when to book a removals firm in London, with that all-important budget in mind. But if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Kiwi Movers team.

Let’s discuss relocating locally…

Moving locally and short distance moves can sometimes be harder to organise than a long-distance relocation. Some people find it difficult to choose the right solution, whether it’s a full removals service, man and van or tackling the move themselves. But what is the best way to move within neighbourhoods or London boroughs? Here’s why professional movers could be the solution for short distance removals in London.

Don’t fall into the DIY trap

If you’ve ever moved house yourself, you’ll know just how back-breaking it can be. With a few years elapsing between moves, it’s easy for the memory of how tiring, stressful and pretty awful that day was to fade. This can lead to you thinking – “we’ll just hire a van and do it ourselves, it’ll be easy and we’ll save money”.

In reality, it can make the move many times more stressful and difficult than it needs to be. And factoring in van rental and the very real likelihood of breaking or damaging items or property (or yourself!) along the way, it isn’t always a money-saver.

When it pays to bring in the professionals

There are a couple of questions to ask yourself when coming up with a plan for short distance moves. These are:

• Do I have a lot of stuff? As a general rule of thumb, if you have at least two bedrooms or an attic/cellar full to bursting with stored items, you have a lot of stuff.
• Do I have anything valuable? This could be expensive antique furniture, or something of great sentimental value like a family heirloom.

If the answer to either of these questions is yes, and for many people both will apply, then it could pay to bring the professionals in. A highly trained team of professional movers, experienced in short distance removals in London, can take a huge amount of stress off your shoulders. Choose the right team and you’ll drastically reduce the stress, cost and time spent on the move.

Professional London removals companies like Kiwi Movers will take extra care with valuable items, drastically reducing the chances of damage. They know how to tackle logistical problems such as tight spaces or multi-floor moves, and they come fully insured for every eventuality for your peace of mind.

Planning short distance moves – which option to choose

The best way to start your planning is early and with a chat with a home removals specialist. You can provide the details of the move, including the new location, how much stuff you have and details of any valuables. The Kiwi Movers team can advise on the best option, from a full crew for short distance removals in London or a great value man and van service which charges by the hour. You’ll also be advised to book as far in advance as you can, avoiding bank holidays and other high-demand times. This is how you’ll get the very best price for your move. Get a callback from a Kiwi Movers specialist here.

You’ll be extremely glad you chose the professional London removals option on the day, when you see just how many heavy, bulky items come out of your house! All the stress and work is handled by someone else, so you can simply look forward to settling in your new place.

Considering a London office relocation? There’s a lot to remember, so it can feel a little overwhelming. Take a look at these essential points, to help you prioritise your ‘to-do’ lists:

1. Minimising business disruption is your number one goal

In all of the steps below, remember that everything you do should be to minimise business disruption. Cost is important too, but business disruption can cost you far more so it should take priority.

2. Phased removal

It’s a mistake to try to move absolutely everyone and everything at once. Unless, of course, you’re small enough to complete it and get back up and running in just one day. You need to plan the move in phases, to ensure maximum business continuity.

3. Professional furniture removal

Office relocation companies can be a godsend during a move. It simply isn’t feasible, good value or practical to arrange the removal of a large office or multiple offices yourself. You need a professional, who can move everything quickly, safely and efficiently. Choose a company like Kiwi Movers, which specialises in small office removals in London – with highly trained movers, a fleet of clean, spacious vehicles and full insurance.

4. IT relocation

Just as important as office relocation companies are specialists who can handle IT relocation for you. You need to ensure minimum business disruption, so you’re back online quickly. Better still, you never go offline completely – this is the skill of a great IT relocation team.

5. Update your Google Business details

Your company will leave more traces online than you realise. If an important detail changes, such as your address, it’s essential to be methodical in updating the information. Start with your Google Business details. This is your main ‘listing’ and can also affect other things such as SEO.

6. Data confidentiality

In the upheaval of a move, it’s easy for data protection procedures to slip a little. This could result in very serious consequences, so make sure you build in a plan to ensure data confidentiality. For example, ensuring unwanted and old digital devices are securely disposed of.

7. Employee health and safety

Are staff members tripping over loose cables and mess, or at risk of being harmed by anything else during the move? As with everything else in this list, you need a plan to minimise health and safety risks.

8. Employee morale

Moving offices can be a stressful time for employees. It will help if you can make the move as stress-free as possible, keep your team in the loop about the relocation and do a full induction on arrival at the new office. 

9. Time the move carefully

For example, avoid relocation during peak periods for your business as this can affect revenue. Consider employee holiday patterns and busy traffic periods in the local area, especially if planning a London office relocation when congestion can be severe at certain times.

10. De-clutter

Before the move, get your employees involved in de-cluttering and taking personal items home so you’ll have less to shift.

For an easy, effective and professional move, contact the Kiwi Movers office relocation London team on 020 8877 9682* for a quick, competitive quote.

Hotel customers don’t always realise how much work goes into running a hotel, especially when it comes to the furnishings.

Furniture comes and goes all the time, as part of renovations, replacements, repairs and general maintenance. This causes something of an expensive headache for hotel management teams. This is because ad hoc services aren’t cheap and they aren’t always reliable either. This is why the smart management teams choose to work alongside a specialist hotel removals partner.

Hotel furniture maintenance and replacement

Hotel furniture undergoes heavy use, and much of it consists of bulky, heavy items. This means that once something is broken, worn or in need of replacement, it’s very difficult to move. Discretion is essential in a busy hotel with paying guests around. You must also be careful not to damage other parts of the hotel in the process.

Hiring a man and van for this kind of specialist job simply won’t do. It’s costly to call out these one-off services. Furthermore, many hoteliers have been stung by the lack of experience, insurance and expertise of the casual movers they have employed. Wouldn’t it be so much more convenient to have a specialist in removals for hotels on standby? The Kiwi Movers team can be in and out with your furniture without disturbing your guests (or your wallpaper), turning a nightmare hassle into a simple, quick task.

Renovation

One of the most crucial times to call on the services of a dedicated hotel removals partner is during renovation. This hardly ever involves the removal of one or two items. Instead, you could be looking at whole floors’ worth of furniture, some of it bulky, valuable or brand new. A logistics expert is extremely helpful at this stage, helping you to plan and manage a smooth renovation including:

• Safe storage of furniture
• Movement of furniture to other parts of the building
• Installation of new furniture
• Disposal of unwanted pieces.

Crucially, a hotel removals expert such as Kiwi Movers significantly reduces the amount of time the renovation takes. Think about it – if you speed up the time it takes to get furniture out of the way ready for decorating, and get it back in place just as quickly, that’s half of the battle won.

Need a removals team for your hotel?

Furnishing a new hotel from scratch usually means lots of new furniture, all needing to be installed very carefully. You don’t want to trust just anyone with the care of such a valuable load. You need a hotel removals expert.

Kiwi Movers has been the trusted contract logistics partner for a number of hotels and hospitality businesses, and we’d be happy to help you. Please call our hotel removals team on 020 8877 9682* for a chat about your needs.

Do you need to relocate your business but keep putting it off? You’re not alone.

A survey in 2015 found that a massive 75% of small and medium-sized businesses fear the stress and anxiety of moving so much that they put it off. The research, conducted by energy company E.ON, also found that office relocation was one of the most stressful tasks that business owners have to deal with. It can also cost an average of £40,000 over five years and cause 7.5 working days to be lost due to the disruption.

If you give in to this anxiety and stay put, you could be stuck in cramped, inefficient premises for years. This could stunt business growth, staff morale and overall success. So surely there must be another way? There absolutely is, and it all starts with looking very carefully at the office relocation companies you choose to use.

What you can do to minimise the stress

The first, most important way to reduce the high anxiety linked with office relocation is to choose the right moving service. Opt for the most professional, experienced and highly trained office small office removals expert you can find. It will absolutely be worth it. Using an office relocation London company such as Kiwi Movers can take the stress of the physical move completely off your plate. It can ensure that:

• The move is carried out as quickly and efficiently as possible. This means no wasted time and no paying for services you don’t use.
• Nothing is broken or damaged. On the rare occasion a breakage does happen, a professional small office removals firm such as Kiwi will have full insurance to compensate you for the damage.
• It all happens on time and to schedule. This ensures minimal business disruption and fewer lost working days.
• You receive a door-to-door service. From packing and moving at your old office to delivery and reassembly in the right rooms at the other side, our office relocation London team handle it all.
• You receive expert assistance in planning the move. This can be one of the biggest sources of stress ahead of a move. It can make you feel overwhelmed by the scale of the task, with no idea where to start. Here, the guidance of a removals specialist can be invaluable.

With the logistics of the move handled by a commercial relocation specialist, business owners and managers can focus on other ways to minimise the anxiety of the move. For example, dealing with the disruption to working patterns or the anxiety affecting employees.

Call Kiwi Movers to start planning your office relocation

With many years of experience in commercial moves, our office relocation London team understand completely how stressful the experience can be. This is why we do our utmost to minimise stress, anxiety and disruption.

We can help you to plan the move from start to finish. We also provide a highly trained, experienced and fully insured team of professional movers to complete it efficiently and on time. Please call the Kiwi Movers team on 020 8877 9682* for advice and an immediate quote.

What removals options are available when moving between London boroughs, such as from Wandsworth to Southwark, and not halfway across the country? For journeys like this, it doesn’t always make financial sense to book a full removals crew and pay for a full day of their time.

If you need such a service of course, it is well worth the money. A professional removals team ensures that your move is smooth, stress-free and your belongings are protected. However, for shorter moves there is another solution that promises the same benefits but for a much more affordable price.

Man and van Wandsworth to Southwark could be the answer

Man and van services are becoming increasingly popular with those making shorter trips with fewer boxes and bags to move. For example, those moving in or out of student accommodation, or furnished apartments.

It only takes around 30 minutes (depending on traffic) to move between Wandsworth and Southwark in inner London. This trip is so much easier with a smaller van and a driver who knows the London streets. Compare this to a full-size removals truck which would undoubtedly face problems with stopping and parking.

How much does man and van Wandsworth to Southwark cost?

The beauty of man and van services is there’s no fixed price or even daily rate. These services charge by the hour, so you only pay for the time you use. For a short move such as the half-hour drive over to Southwark, even including loading and unloading time, you could get the whole move done in as little as 1-2 hours.

Choose Kiwi Movers for your move and select an off-peak time, and you could be looking at just £75-£150 plus VAT. This price, a fraction of the cost of a full removals service and a fraction of the stress of hiring a van yourself, gets you:

• Two experienced, capable movers
• Expertise moving all kinds of items into and out of all kinds of spaces
• Full insurance cover in case of breakages, loss or damage
• A perfectly maintained, clean and spacious moving van
• Loading and unloading on each side – a full door-to-door service.

The best reason to choose man and van? Complete peace of mind

Most people who use our man and van Wandsworth to Southwark team not only do so because of the affordable price, or the convenience of this flexible service.

They love it because when you use a trusted, reliable and specialist company such as Kiwi Movers, you get complete peace of mind. We will always turn up on time, deliver a professional, efficient service and give you excellent value for money. You just can’t guarantee this with a man and van you find on the internet, who may not even turn up at all.

Moving day can be stressful enough, so why take the risk that it could turn into a nightmare? Please get in touch with the Kiwi Movers team to find out more and for an instant quote.

Moving house can be expensive, so it’s important to keep costs down where you can. One massively overlooked area where savings can be made is in the removals service you choose.

Some people go for a full removals vehicle with a whole crew of movers, even if they don’t have much to move or aren’t going very far. These services tend to have a minimum charge of 2 hours or so, but what if you don’t need that long? You could end up paying for time you don’t use.

If you’re moving just a few minutes’ drive away, such as between neighbouring London boroughs, there’s a much cheaper and more convenient option. Man and van Wandsworth to Fulham services make a lot of sense for this less than 15 minute journey, and they could save you a bundle.

Why choosing man and van is a smart move

Not everyone realises that man and van is a good option for house moves. They only think of man and van as a way to collect a Gumtree sofa from the other side of town or to take a pile of unwanted clutter to the tip after you’ve had a clear out.

It’s actually an amazingly convenient way to move house, as crucially – our man and van Wandsworth to Fulham services charge by the hour. You get the services of a competent mover (or two, if you need them) for as long as you need them, with no time or money wasted.

If you don’t have much stuff, all you really need is a standard van. A smaller vehicle will also find navigating the London roads easier, especially the traffic on the Wandsworth or Putney Bridges, among the busiest in London. And have you thought about parking? Finding somewhere to stop and unload once you arrive in Fulham is much, much easier in a van rather than a huge moving truck.

In short, you just don’t need as much fuss when you’re only moving 10-15 minutes away. You don’t need to wrap everything up three times in bubble wrap like you would on an hour-long journey where the risk of breakages is higher. All you need is a simple, straightforward way to get your stuff from A to B.

How much does man and van Wandsworth to Fulham cost?

To keep your costs down, you can book your man and van service and only be charged for the time you actually use. Charges are by the hour, so a 15-minute drive over the Thames to Fulham and some time for loading, unloading and parking could bring the whole move in at just £75+ VAT. This is if you move off-peak, as it becomes more expensive during peak times when a lot of people are moving house or the roads become busy.

Cost is of course an important consideration when choosing a man and van Wandsworth to Fulham service for your move. However, you do need to be wary of cowboys or conmen advertising rock-bottom prices, as you’ll likely end up with a rock-bottom service too.

Don’t forget about quality, reputation, training, insurance and professionalism. You’ll get all of this with Kiwi Movers, as well as a great value price. Please call us on 020 8877 9682* for a quick quote.

Moving just across the river to Hammersmith? You don’t necessarily need a full removals service complete with enormous moving lorry and a full moving crew. Instead, you could save yourself some cash (and hassle) with a simple yet effective man and van Wandsworth to Hammersmith service.

Why man and van is a great option for short trips

It isn’t far at all between the thriving London boroughs of Wandsworth and Hammersmith and Fulham. It’s just a short hop over the Thames, a distance of less than 5 miles. On a good day when traffic isn’t too nightmarish, you should be able to complete this journey in around half an hour.

For such a short journey, it simply doesn’t make sense to call in a full removals company complete with all the bells and whistles. But what if you don’t have a car? Not many Londoners do, with public transport networks being so good and parking being nigh-on impossible. You can’t get all your stuff on the tube and driving a hired van across London yourself can be extremely stressful – and shifting everything can be exhausting too! This is why the best solution is to hire a man and van service, with all the heavy lifting, driving and parking taken care of.

You pay by the hour, rather than having to book in a full day when you might only need a fraction of that time. It’s also a good option if you only have a few boxes to move, rather than a whole houseful plus grand piano, four-poster bed and collection of family heirlooms.

It’s a great choice for:

• Students moving in or out of halls
• People moving in or out of fully furnished properties
• Small or short-distance moves.

How much will man and van Wandsworth to Hammersmith cost?

Our man and van service from Wandsworth to Hammersmith and Fulham charges by the hour, so you only pay for time you use. Our team are super-efficient too, so if we can shave some time off to save you money, then we will.

If you can be all packed up and ready to go outside your house, you could get the whole job done in as little as an hour. At our great value hourly rates, this means a total price of just £75 plus VAT. Top tip – this is our off-peak price, so make sure to choose a quieter time for your move to save cash.

The importance of choosing wisely

In one way, house movers are lucky to have such an enormous choice of Wandsworth to Hammersmith man and van services to pick from nowadays. It seems like everyone with a van has started up their own business. On the other hand, this means that there are likely to be a lot more cowboys, con men and simply inexperienced services about – especially online and on social media. It’s crucial to choose carefully, only going with a company you feel 100% comfortable with.

Kiwi Movers has an exceptional reputation for man and van house moves. We have an experienced team (who won’t break your stuff) and a fleet of clean, well-maintained vans (that will always turn up on time). We’re fully insured, great value and promise to make moving day a breeze. Call on 020 8877 9682* to book your move.

If you’re moving house and not going far, such as the short hop from Wandsworth to Kensington, you don’t necessarily need a full removals service. In fact, it could end up being far more expensive than you actually need. A man and van Wandsworth to Kensington service could be far more convenient and cost-effective.

Why consider man and van for your move?

The journey from Wandsworth to Kensington is only around 4.2 miles if you take the Wandsworth Bridge Road. A professional, reliable man and van team could complete this journey in under half an hour. For such a short journey, you simply don’t need to pay for unused space in a large moving truck or for a full team of movers to bubble-wrap every single piece of property you own.

This kind of service is really flexible, as you only pay for the time you use for your move. Our man and van Wandsworth to Kensington service here at Kiwi Movers charges by the hour – which includes a fast, efficient and ultra-professional team.

There are many circumstances in which man and van is clearly a winning choice, but here are just a few:

• You don’t have very much to move, so it’ll all easily fit into a small to medium van
• You don’t have far to travel, but no transport of your own
• You’re moving out of (or into) a furnished flat, so you don’t have a lot of stuff
• You’re a university student moving in or out of halls
• You need to move but don’t fancy hauling your stuff on public transport!

How much does it cost for man and van Wandsworth to Kensington?

The great thing about this particular journey for house movers is that it’s short. Man and van services charge by the hour, so you won’t be paying very much at all for your move. Choose Kiwi Movers and move at an off-peak time, and you could pay as little as £75 an hour plus VAT. This gets you two strong, professional movers and a reliable, fully serviced van with plenty of space for your stuff. It also covers loading, unloading and comprehensive insurance, so that you can feel confident that all your belongings are covered during the move.

What man and van really buys you though is peace of mind and a stress-free move, provided of course that you choose the right company.

Watch out for man and van cowboys!

The internet is stuffed full of ads for man and van services, especially on social networks. You need to be extremely careful when choosing a company for your move, as not everyone with a van is able to provide a reliable, secure moving service. Be wary of ‘too good to be true’ rates, as this could mean:

• A clapped-out van
• No insurance
• An unreliable service – they may not even turn up!
• Damage to your stuff.

When moving house, you need to keep stress to a minimum. You don’t want to be worrying about whether the team will actually turn up, or if your belongings will survive the journey. This is why we would always recommend choosing a quality, reliable service which offers complete peace of mind. Get in touch with the highly rated Kiwi Movers team for an immediate quote for Wandsworth to Kensington man and van services.

Moving to Merton soon? If you’re moving from a nearby London borough like Wandsworth, a man and van service could be a cost-effective option. So, hold fire before you call in a full removal crew and take a moment to consider your options.

When man and van is a smarter choice

If you aren’t moving far or don’t have very much to move, you don’t necessarily need a full removals service. A far more flexible and cheaper option is man and van. A couple of moving professionals (who won’t damage your stuff and will always turn up on time) in a handy-sized van to help you move for a couple of hours. These services charge by the hour, so you’re not paying for time you don’t use.

If you’re moving out of a furnished tenancy, for example, you aren’t likely to have very much stuff. It would be a huge waste of money to use a full removals service. However, you also don’t want to be cramming everything in your car or schlepping it across town on public transport. The solution – man and van.

Man and van Wandsworth to Merton – how long should it take?

It doesn’t take very long to travel between these two neighbouring London boroughs. The drive takes roughly around 1 hour and 30 minutes depending on your starting point, destination and of course traffic.

Man and van Wandsworth to Merton – how much should it cost?

If you use Kiwi Movers’ man and van Wandsworth to Merton service for around 2 hours (to cover loading, unloading and any traffic you may run into), this could cost you just £150 plus VAT.

This gets you two moving experts, who have extensive experience between them of moving quickly, efficiently and safely. They’ll move everything from door to door, providing you with a convenient, stress-free service. Our movers know that your time is money, so there’s no hanging around.

If you move during peak hours, this cost will be higher – so a good tip to save money is to move at quieter times. For example, avoiding bank holidays and weekends when everyone else is trying to move house.

Why it’s important to choose man and van services carefully

You may see man and van services advertised cheaply on sites like Gumtree. In our experience though – you need to be very careful when choosing who to use. Many of these ads are posted by people with no experience of moving, with no insurance and with no testimonials or reviews from customers who have actually used them.

Moving day can be stressful enough, so the last thing you need is worries over the van being late or not turning up at all. In the worst cases, some of these man and van ads are posted by con artists who happily take the money and are never heard of again. Yikes!

How Kiwi Movers can help

What the Kiwi Movers service ultimately guarantees is complete peace of mind. We’re fully insured, so your property is completely covered at all times. You don’t have to worry about anything getting damaged during the move, and we could even save you money due to our speedy, efficient service.

We promise to always turn up right on time and will never leave you hanging around on moving day. Kiwi is known for reliability, honesty and top-notch customer service. Our man and van service is one you can trust, which unfortunately can’t be said about some of the questionable ads you see posted online.

Give us a call on 020 8877 9682* to see how our man and van service could help make your move from Wandsworth to Merton a piece of cake.

Choosing a moving service is not always as simple a decision as you may think. Not just any man and van in London will do. If  you choose the wrong one, it could make moving day incredibly stressful.

Man and van services – what could go wrong?

Unfortunately, a lot can go wrong when you choose a man and van service out of the local paper or from a listing on your local Facebook group.

Unfortunately, some people start ‘man and van’ businesses simply because they happen to have a van at their disposal. What they don’t have is the attention to detail and experience needed to complete a house move smoothly. These services may be fine for shifting a few boxes, but not for full moves. You should always approach with caution if you’re moving house or have anything valuable to move.

But just how bad could it be? The Kiwi Movers team has heard all kinds of horror stories from people following a bad experience with a man and van service. Common problems included:

• Failure to turn up at all, leaving movers standing on the doorstep with their belongings. If you’re part of a chain, this could cause major problems. Someone may be waiting to move into your property and you lack the transport to move out!
• A van that is too small, leading to many more trips back and forward. Even worse, you could be charged for these extra journeys
• A van that is far too large and can’t fit down the street or driveway. This means a long walk back and forward to the van for each load
• Careless loading or driving. If you fancy having your belongings arrive at your new home in one piece, it’s recommended to choose your moving service carefully.
• No insurance. If something gets broken, your man and van service should have insurance in place to cover it. If they don’t, there’s no way for you to claim back the costs of repairing or replacing the item. This can leave you out of pocket.
• No door-to-door service. To some movers, this is a chargeable extra, but many movers expect their stuff to be delivered into the property itself. Unfortunately, without checking this in advance, you could find your belongings simply left by the roadside. Or, you’ll have to pay extra to have everything brought inside.
• Missing items. It’s easy to put your trust in your movers. After all, this is what they do for a living, right? However, man and van services aren’t always professional movers. You may even be their very first job after buying a van. This means that they aren’t experts at what they do, and they may not even be trustworthy. Sadly, we’ve heard lots of stories about property going missing, as well as whole van loads of stuff simply being driven away by unscrupulous conmen.
• Damage to your home. If you’ve spent all that time cleaning your old home ready for moving out, the last thing you want is a mishandled box taking a big chunk out of the paintwork. If a company isn’t insured for damage to property, you could end up paying for that damage yourself.
• A completely rubbish van. The picture with the ad may show a pristine white moving van with lots of clean space for your belongings. What turns up on the day may be not much more than an old banger. You absolutely do not want your perfectly packed possessions inside a dirty, tatty van that looks as if it may break down at any moment. But if you’ve no other options on moving day, you may have to go ahead. Fingers crossed!

If a service seems a bit too cheap, it’s worth trying to find reviews or recommendations from previous customers to see if it really is too good to be true.

Not all man and van in London companies are the same…

The good news is that there are man and van services out there in London that will save you money compared to a full-scale removals service. Crucially, they can also be trusted to do an exceptional job. There are five key things to look for when choosing a company for your house move:

• Quality
• Training
• Insurance
• Reputation

Consider these in priority order, remembering that a cheap service is not really good value if the service isn’t good quality. A shoddy service can make moving day a real nightmare, raising your stress levels through the roof. If you’re stressed out, exhausted and behind schedule, surely this undermines the whole point of using a moving service in the first place?

Kiwi Movers have an extremely handy man and van in London service that comes highly recommended by our happy movers. It’s essentially a scaled down removal service for smaller moves, or for those who aren’t moving far. You may not need the full belts-and-braces removals service complete with packing, unpacking and all those extras. You simply need a trustworthy couple of professionals with transport to move your belongings safely.

The key message in here is to always look for a professional setup. A person may buy a van and think they can offer the same level service as a company that specialises in house moves. This rarely happens. Approach man and van in London services with caution, making sure to ask lots of questions and get an assurance of quality before agreeing to go ahead. And never hand over any money unless you’re sure!

To find out more about our affordable man and van in London services and to get an immediate quote for your move, simply call the Kiwi Movers team on 020 366 89726.

No matter where you’re moving or how much stuff you have, we’re confident we can find an affordable, great quality service to suit you. Above all, we’re fully trained, fully insured and have the best vans in the business.

Moving overseas is no small undertaking. Unless you have no possessions and are planning to start afresh, you’ll need to arrange for a house-load of items to be shipped overseas. There are quite a few things to consider with overseas removals. For example, the cost of shipping and protecting property from damage. There’s also the potential loss of items and the condition everything will arrive in on the other side to worry about.

Using an overseas removals company vs DIY

You may be tempted to arrange the shipping of your possessions overseas yourself. However, you’ll quickly find that this can be both complicated and expensive. You may be fine to move house in the UK by yourself and may even save money in the process, but for an overseas move it’s usually best to call in a specialist. A firm of international movers can handle everything for you, including:

• Packing and wrapping to ensure no damage to your items
• Door-to-door shipment of your stuff between transport hubs
• Transit of your shipment by road, sea or air
• Clearing customs, paying fees and other necessary paperwork and procedures related to international shipment.

When you get a quote from an overseas removals specialist like Kiwi Movers, it’s all in. Every part of the process is included in the quoted cost, so all you need to do is sign up and pay the fee. Moving overseas will inevitably have a cost, but it doesn’t necessarily need to be stressful. Using a moving firm can take the hassle of arranging everything off your plate, so that you can focus on your other plans – and there’s likely to be lots to do if you’re moving abroad!

How to choose an overseas removals company

It’s important to select the right international movers to handle your job. After all, it’s pretty much your whole life that they’ll be packing up and shipping hundreds or thousands of miles! Here are some essential features and services to look out for:

• Tracking – letting you check in on the progress of your shipment, which can offer great peace of mind
• A dedicated project manager – to oversee every aspect of the move and to be there when you need to ask a question
• A strong global network of trusted handlers
• Flexible collection times that work for you
• Ability to handle shipments of any size
• Affordability – even when factoring in the convenience of using a comprehensive international removals service, it still needs to be affordable.
• Full insurance to cover all of your belongings while in transit.
• A door-to-door service at both the point of departure and the destination. It’s not a convenient service if you have to handle the final stage of the journey yourself.

For a quick quote on your move and to speak to a specialist international shipping project manager, call Kiwi Movers on 020 8877 9682*. We’re an experienced overseas removals company with the expertise to handle moves of all kinds and sizes. No matter where you’re moving to, we can help.

If you’re moving house in London, you’re going to need boxes, and lots of them. Finding enough or the right kind of boxes for all of your belongings can be a real challenge, especially if you don’t fancy paying a fortune for them.

Luckily, we have some insider tips for where to find free cardboard boxes in West London. Give these a try:

• Supermarkets and shops. Major retailers, including supermarkets and appliance shops, are places that are the most likely to have a large quantity of boxes. You can also try off-licences and fruit and veg shops, retailers who’ll have boxes of the right size and strength for your purposes. Most retailers will be happy to let you take them off their hands, but you may need to visit a few places to get the numbers and sizes you need.

Supermarkets in West London where you can free cardboard boxes

• Freecycle and Freegle sites. You’ll be amazed what you can find for free on sites such as this (or local Facebook groups), and cardboard boxes are often listed for free. People who have just moved house realise just how useful their old boxes can be for others, so are happy to give them away.

• Friends and family who have recently moved. Do a shout-out on social media to see if anyone you know has just moved, as it’s likely that they’ll have a load of boxes just lying around.

• Recycling centres. This may not be the easiest way to find free cardboard boxes in West London, but it’s worth a try if money’s tight. If you’re prepared to get your hands dirty, you can pick up all the boxes you need at your local recycling and waste management centre. Ask the staff there if you can have a look at the cardboard recycling section. As long as they agree and it’s safe to do so, you can have a rummage and will likely find at least a few free cardboard boxes.

Beware: free boxes can be unstable boxes

We would be remiss in our duties as professional West London movers if we didn’t mention a very important consideration that you must keep in mind when getting hold of boxes.

Free boxes, begged and borrowed from wherever you can, are not always the most suitable for moving. They aren’t reinforced in the same way as proper moving boxes, nor are they as strong. This can lead to instability, with boxes collapsing spectacularly at the very worst moments.

At best, it’ll be annoying having to pick all of your books, papers or other bits and pieces off the street. At worst, it could result in a valued item or breakables being smashed to pieces as the box is moved. Can you take the risk?

To prevent this from happening, either be extra careful about what you pack in what type of box or use professional moving cardboard boxes. Kiwi Movers are happy to supply moving boxes, and we are proud to offer a range of sizes at an affordable price.

Luckily for anyone wanting to move house in London, there are a huge number of different options to choose from. You can go for a full-scale removals service, handling everything from packing and storage all the way through to unloading and even unpacking. Or, you can keep it casual and hire a man and van service in London by the hour.

But which is the best option to choose?

First things first – your budget

Moving house is always more expensive than you think it’s going to be, usually due to extra costs you didn’t realise you’d have to pay. One of the costs many people forget about is removals, but this is an expense that can be well worth saving a little money back for – especially when you realise how back-breaking and stressful it can be to do it yourself!

That being said, there are ways you can save money on moving house in London. One of these is to use a man and van in London rather than a removals service. This can be much more affordable if you aren’t moving far or only have a few items to move, simply because it doesn’t involve hiring a whole team of movers for a relatively small job. It’s a great option for students moving in or out of home or halls.

How far are you moving?

Before you plump for man and van in London services though, consider whether your move is suitable. If you need stuff shifting between nearby London postcodes, it’s a good choice. However, if you’re moving a long distance, a man and van won’t necessarily be able to help – or may not be the cheapest option.

If you’re moving far, or moving internationally, a removals service is most definitely your best bet.

What are you moving?

Some man and van services, such as here at Kiwi Movers, offer full insurance and also have a great deal of experience in moving valuables and bulky items. Many don’t though, and choosing man and van over removals does carry the risk that your items will be broken or damaged. Removals experts know everything there is to know about the challenges of moving, so could be the only option to ensure your property arrives safely and on time.

How much do you want to do yourself?

If you use a man and van service, you’ll inevitably have to do some work yourself. This doesn’t necessarily mean moving anything (although some services will want you to have your stuff in a certain place all ready to go) but you may need to pack and unpack at either end. If you want to avoid doing any dirty work, a removals service can take every part of the process off your hands.

For quick quotes for both our man and van in London services and full home removals, please don’t hesitate to contact the Kiwi Movers team on 020 8877 9682*.

If you’ve ever tried to ship excess baggage with an airline, you’ll know just how much hassle and expense it can be – especially if shipping long distances such as the UK to New Zealand.

Using an airline’s excess baggage service is very much not the cheapest or most convenient way to send your belongings over to New Zealand – nor is it always the quickest. If you’re moving house, working away or travelling for a few months, you should know that there is a far better way to ship excess baggage.

Looking to ship your stuff internationally? Kiwi Movers are typically cheaper and easier than using an excess baggage service.

Get a quick, no obligation quote now.

Door-to-door services

If you make use of an excess baggage service from a removals and shipping specialist such as Kiwi Movers (also a New Zealand specialist), you can say goodbye to lugging all of your boxes and belongings to a delivery office or airport terminal.

Just like it can be much easier (and less physically exhausting) to use a removals company to move house, a dedicated excess baggage service can make the process as simple as answering the door. If you have your stuff ready, all you need to do is to arrange a pickup from your home or another location. Simple! This is how easy everything in life should be.

How much does it cost?

The cost of excess shipping to New Zealand is nearly always cheaper than using an airline’s baggage service, but how much it will cost all depends on what you want to ship. Pretty much everything can be shipped via an excess baggage service, from sports equipment to a whole home’s worth of boxes, furniture and possessions. It is all covered by a reassuring guarantee, so you can sleep easy knowing that all of your bits and pieces will be safe on their long journey.

The good news is that it is simple and quick to get a personalised quote, and you can even do it online. Simply use Kiwi Movers’ shipping slider to indicate how many of each baggage type you wish to ship, then just choose your destination city. The quote you receive includes doorstep pickup of your belongings, shipping and even customs and quarantine clearance.

Shipping even just one accompanied item can be extremely affordable, while for larger removals – you can get a bespoke quote to suit your budget.

How long does it take?

You no longer need to wait months and months for your items to be shipped, or be left in the dark as to when it will arrive. Kiwi Movers can guarantee the safe delivery of your belongings and baggage within just 10-12 weeks, plus you can track the shipment at every stage of its journey.

For an instant quote on excess shipping to New Zealand or another international destination, head here to use the shipping slider and quote calculator. If you have a lot of items to ship or a more unusual request, please feel free to give the Kiwi Movers team a call on 020 8877 9682* to see how we can help.

If you’re looking for a well-connected, picturesque corner of South West London, moving house in Earlsfield could be the ideal choice.

Earlsfield, tucked away in Wandsworth, is just three stops (less than 15 minutes) by rail to Waterloo, so it’s easy to get to central London for work or play.

While not as well-known as its neighbours Clapham, Battersea, Balham and Tooting, young professionals and families alike are starting to flock to Earlsfield – and stay there. The area offers great schools, picturesque terraced houses, plentiful shops and amenities, and a great choice of trendy bars and restaurants. If you’ve overlooked it in your property search, you could be missing out!

Top spots in Earlsfield

If you’ve made your choice and D-day for moving house in Earlsfield is drawing near, it’s the ideal time to do your homework on the neighbourhood. Here are our tops tips to help you find your way on your first few weeks:

• Where to eat. Top restaurants in Earlsfield include The Jolly Gardeners (Masterchef winner Dhruv Baker’s eatery) on Garratt Lane, Italian favourite Il Girasole, Marina Fish and the great value Green Curry Thai Café. For something sweet, head to Cremoloso Gelato.

• Your new local. For a tipple to toast your home move, The Leather Bottle on Garratt Lane comes highly recommended.

• Shopping tips. For fresh produce, locals go to Wimbledon Park Farmers’ Market, and Southside Shopping Centre is right at the top of Garratt Lane.

• Other local highlights. There’s loads to do in the local area, from London’s biggest trampoline park Flip Out Wandsworth to King George’s Park, as well as the chance to catch a show at the Tara Arts Theatre.

If you aren’t sure where to head on your first day in Earlsfield, a safe bet is Garratt Lane where most of the area’s best venues are found.

Moving house in Earlsfield – practical tips

Come moving day, you want things to go as smoothly as possible. This is why so many people opt for London movers, as it can be so stressful shifting everything yourself!

Earlsfield is no different to any other London area in that parking can be tricky unless you know where to go, and traffic is chaos at rush hour. Here are some handy hints to make moving day easier:

• Watch out for parking restrictions. Wandsworth Council has designated parking zones (viewable on their website) so it could be worth doing some research in advance to avoid being stung by parking enforcement.

• Avoid major events. Earlsfield isn’t far from Wimbledon and its famous All England Tennis Club, so avoiding moving in the first couple of weeks of July could be a good idea if you want to avoid the traffic.

• Consider using our reliable West London removals team. From professional packing of all your breakables to delivering the last box safely and efficiently at your new pad, the Kiwi Movers crew can handle it all. Please call us on 020 8877 9682* for a quote.

Moving house? Take a closer look at Teddington, a delightful riverside village in South West London. Teddington is right on the north bank of the Thames, offering family-friendly, leisure-filled living with a wealth of independent shops and cafes.

Teddington is a new London hotspot for families, but it is also known as a thriving media and science hub. Parks, conservation areas and leisure facilities only add to the area’s attractions for new residents, who live in mainly Victorian properties ranging from cottages to large detached houses.

If you work in the centre of London, you’ll find this suburb of the borough of Richmond upon Thames a very manageable 33-minute commute to London Waterloo.

Teddington highlights – food, drink, shopping and more

If you’re moving house in Teddington, here are the essentials you need to know for your first few days. Where to eat, where to shop and what to do for fun. And of course, where to get a great pint or cocktail to celebrate your move.

Here’s our at-a-glance guide to Teddington:

• Cafes and restaurants
You really will be spoilt for choice when it comes to food and drink in Teddington. Fight the locals for a seat at the incredibly popular vintage-style café The Fallow Deer, or pick up something on the go from Sidra Patisserie or an ice cream from Flying Cloud (an airstream trailer by the Thames). In the evenings, the elegant French restaurant Retro Bistrot is a good bet, along with the award-winning The Kings Head, owned by Raymond Blanc’s White Brasserie company.

• Pubs and bars
Popular with locals is The Clockhouse, a refurbished pub on High Street, and The Anglers – a great summer pub on Broom Road. The Hogarth is a good shout for cocktails, along with tapas restaurant Bar Estilo. Just like with food, there are plenty more venues to choose from in Teddington if you like a tipple!

• Shopping
Teddington has a long high street, but is also known for it’s large number of independent retailers. Take your pick from vintage clothing and designer boutiques to charity shops and other unusual spots such as a cigar emporium.

• Parks and leisure
One of the most famous landmarks in Teddington is Bushy Park, the second largest in London after Richmond Park. This historic, 4,000-year-old park is home to a number of sports clubs, while also offering fishing, model boating ponds, the Pheasantry Café and a number of wildlife conservation areas for red and fallow deer along with many other species.

Top tips for moving house in Teddington

Whether you’re handling moving day yourself or using London movers to make the job easier, follow these top tips for moving to Teddington:

• Keep an eye on the calendar – as major events at nearby Hampton Court Palace, Twickenham Stadium and Richmond Park could have a major impact on traffic and congestion
• Avoid driving in peak times
• Be careful with parking, as much of the parking in Teddington is for residents. Look out for council-owned parking or secure a resident’s permit before your move.

As always, our West London removals team are always on hand to make moving day easier. If you need our help, give us a call on 020 8877 9682* for a quick quote.

Moving house in Chelsea, or moving to this exclusive part of London for the very first time? You’ll find a family-friendly village atmosphere, a fabulous cultural scene and a proliferation of mansion blocks and red-brick terraces.

This affluent, highly desirable area of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is a who’s who of London movers and shakers. Chelsea is also known for its large community of American residents, as well as famous former residents including The Rolling Stones, Oscar Wilde and Sir Laurence Olivier to name but a few.

Chelsea is a reasonably well connected part of London, with 5 nearby Tube stations and a number of handy bus routes. Plus, it’s just an 18-minute drive to central London.

Local hotspots

During your first few weeks in Chelsea, you’ll need a few top tips to help you root out the best places to dine, play and shop. Here’s just a few of the local hotspots that any self-respecting Chelsea resident needs to know about:

• Food and drink. Top spots for dining in Chelsea include Bluebird (a great place for cocktails too), Kurobuta Chelsea with its Japanese street food and award-winning gastro pub The Pig’s Ear. Great for breakfast is the Mona Lisa Cafe & Restaurant, while healthy organic fare can be found at Tanya’s Café on Ixworth Place. For drinks, Manicomio is a must-visit for cocktails, while the Ivy Chelsea Garden with its elaborate floral installations is a great place to impress a date.
• Culture, sport and other fun stuff. If it’s an afternoon or day out you’re after, you don’t need to travel further than your own neighbourhood. Choose from one of the many independent cinemas, art galleries and theatres spread across the area. Highlights include the Royal Court Theatre, Saatchi Gallery and of course, the yearly Chelsea Flower Show in May. Meanwhile, sports fans can head to Chelsea Football Club in Fulham, on the border with Chelsea.
• Shopping. Chelsea residents can take their pick from shopping on King’s Road or the higher-end Sloane Street, with its plethora of designer brands including Cartier, Jimmy Choo, Prada and Gucci.

Essential info for moving house in Chelsea

To make your moving day a breeze, there are a few important points to bear in mind. Top of the list is to consider using professional London movers. Give our West London removals team a bell on 020 8877 9682* if you’d like to sidestep the hassle of moving house altogether.

If you’re not fazed by the challenge of packing, loading, driving and unloading, remember the following:

• Parking can be tricky in this full, busy area, so allow yourself extra time to drive around and find a space to stop. And watch out for parking meters and ever-vigilant enforcement officers!
• If a parking permit comes with your property, make sure you apply for it as early as possible – preferably in time for moving day.
• If possible, reschedule moving day if it clashes with big local events such as the Chelsea Flower Show and the Live at Chelsea Show at The Royal Hospital.

Considering a move to the classy but understated borough of Islington, North London? You’ll be in excellent company, as the area has become a magnet for everyone from creatives and intellectuals to students and professionals in recent years.

Islington is fantastically well connected. There are ten Tube stops in the borough and plenty of handy bus routes, or you can avoid the rush hour crush by walking to the centre of the city in just 30 minutes. You can even hop over to Europe if you fancy it, as the Eurostar service at St Pancras is just on the border of the borough.

Local highlights

Anyone moving house in Islington will need the lowdown on where to eat, drink, shop and play. Here’s a quick snapshot of the best local highlights:

• Where to eat. On your first night in Islington, you’ll need to know where to get a decent meal. The Memsaab Indian Restaurant on Westbourne Road comes highly recommended, or if you’d really like to push the boat out and celebrate your move to Islington – why not book a table at celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurant on Westland Place, or Ottolengi on the fashionable Upper Street?
• Your new local. Crucial to any house move is tracking down your new favourite local pub. For many Islington residents, a popular haunt is The Drapers Arms on Barnsbury Street with its cosy atmosphere, great beer and good food. Islington is famous for its nightlife so you’ll be spoilt for other venues, from the O2 Academy to the Everyman Screen on the Green cinema.
• Shopping options. On your first Saturday afternoon in Islington, head to Camden Passage behind Upper Street for fabulous antique shops, vintage clothing and homewares.

Moving house in Islington

Before you can look forward to your first sip of an Islington pint or start immersing yourself in the local nightlife, you’ll need to get the actual house move out of the way.

Timing is crucial, or you could get snarled up in local traffic on what can already be a stressful day.

As when moving house anywhere in London, avoiding rush hour traffic is essential. Make sure to check that your move doesn’t clash with events such as the Wimbledon Tennis Championships or local events such as the Angel Canal Festival in Islington.

Remember that the same parking rules apply in Islington as in other parts of London, and traffic enforcement can be just as ruthless. Islington residents can apply for parking permits, so it may be best to do this before moving day if possible.

Another point to consider is the house or flat itself. Islington has plenty of Georgian and Victorian terraces, some of which don’t have the widest doorways and staircases in the world. It also has affordable housing in the form of tower blocks, so you’ll either need a lot of puff or a professional London removals service if you’re moving into the top floor!

If the stress of driving, parking and endless unloading sounds like something you’d rather avoid altogether, there are plenty of London removals options available to make moving day easier. Contact us here to find out more about our London movers in Islington, offering everything from a full packing service to man and van runs and full property removals.

71% of Expats Living in UK Don’t Believe they’re Immigrants, according to a new study conducted by Kiwi Movers.

Our study found that the majority (71%) of people who’ve moved to the UK from predominantly English-speaking countries don’t view themselves as immigrants.

Take the survey

The study involved more than 500 Kiwi, Australian, American, Canadian and South African citizens currently living in the UK.

Each was asked to select between two statements, based on which one they most closely identified.

“I’m an expat” – 71%

“I’m an immigrant” – 29%

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Moving to London from overseas? Need to ship something to New Zealand? Use our shipping calculator to see if our door-to-door shipping service is cheaper than air freight.

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When asked why they selected the statement they did, more than a third of respondents said it was due to their temporary residential status in the UK. This was the most common response.

However, 1 in 5 (19%) said they viewed themselves as expats rather than immigrants because the UK had a similar culture to their home country. A similar proportion (18%) said that they considered themselves not to be expats because they were native English speakers.

16% didn’t know why they identified more closely with the term expat than immigrant, while 9% said it was due to their peers referring to them in that way.

1% of those identifying most closely with ‘expat’ said it was because they live and work in a foreign country.

Of those who identified as immigrants, more than three quarters (76%) didn’t know why. 24% said it was because they live and work in a foreign country.

Why people identify as expats 

Of those who identified as immigrants most were South African (29%). Followed by Canadians (22%), Americans (20%), Kiwis (15%) and Australians (14%).

Regan McMillan, director of Kiwi Movers, who hails from Invercargill in New Zealand, believes the term expat insulates English-speaking, predominantly white foreigners living in the UK from the challenges faced by immigrants from countries with differing home cultures:

“I typically refer to myself as an expat rather than an immigrant, but rhetoric used during the EU referendum made me reconsider this. The term expat has a tone of privilege to it that may unfairly elevate us above others who’ve moved here to work.

By definition we’re immigrants as well as expats.But it’s rare to hear Kiwis, Australians, Canadians or South Africans being referred to this way.

There’s a strong ‘expat’ community in London and that’s a great thing. Australians, Kiwis, South Africans seem to naturally come together and form strong social groups. It makes sense. We’ve got a lot in common culturally.

Some of the EU referendum rhetoric focused on immigrants. But not on expats. I personally didn’t feel stigmatised or marginalised by this, even though friends of mine who are Polish and Latvian definitely did, but only because I consider myself an expat.”