Despite the willingness of your Removal Company to assist you in your home move in any way they can, there are certain items that they cannot pack or move for health and safety reasons.
Some of the items your removal company cannot move though you may still want to move yourself to your new home. In this week’s home moving blog we will look at how to safely pack those items.
The list of items a Removal Company cannot pack and transport includes anything that is hazardous, explosive or corrosive.
Your Removal Company cannot move fireworks. But why would you want them to? Use them at your home moving party!
Aerosol Cans
Acids
Firearms and ammunition
Motor Oils
Anti-Freeze
Liquid Fuels
Pesticides
Fertilizers
Gas
Batteries
Cleaning supplies
Fireworks
Alcohol
Paint and paint thinners
Perishable Foods
Pets
Plants
Irreplaceable Items
High-value items such as jewellery
Personal documents such as birth certificates and passports
Be sure to get a list of non-allowable items from your removal company so that you do not invalidate any home moving insurance you have.
Transport liquids in a plastic tote box rather than a cardboard box because if there is any leakage the spill will not seep through the plastic as it would cardboard.
Remove the cap of the liquid container and place a piece of cling film over the neck opening. Then replace the cap securely.
Place liquid bottles in a ziplock bag.
Pack liquid containers upright and pad between each of the containers so that they cannot move about within the tote box.
Be sure to clearly label the box as containing liquids and which way up the box should be carried and stored.
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Tips on How to Move Flammable Liquids to your New Home
The ONLY safe way of moving flammable liquids is in purpose made fuel containers. The HSE recommends the following size containers.
Plastic containers for up to 10 litres of fuel
Metal containers for up to 20 litres of fuel
If you must transport flammable liquids to your new home then:
The containers should only travel in the boot of the car, not with the passengers in case of leaking fumes.
Ensure the containers are kept upright by wedging them securely or strapping them down.
Moving Firearms and Ammunition to your New Home
As a condition of your firearms licence you must notify the Firearms and Explosives Licencing Unit of your local Police when you move home.
Here is a comprehensive list of contact details for Police Firearms Licencing Units in the UK. It is recommended that correspondence is through email so that there can be no misunderstanding of instructions or advice given.
England
You need to ensure that your guns and ammunition are safely and legally moved to your new home.
Moving your firearm from point AtoB may mean having to leave your weapon in an unattended vehicle for a short space of time if you have a long journey to your new home. Norfolk Police offer this advice:
The firearm must be out of sight of passersby
The vehicle must be locked at all times
If possible the vehicle should be left in sight of the responsible person
Any vehicle alarm or immobilizer must be set
Where practicable an essential part of the firearm such as the bolt should be removed and kept in the possession of the responsible person
Where possible ammunition should be stored separately from the weapon and concealed from view.
5 Tips on How to Move Pets to a New Home
Save yourself and your pets’ stress. Keep them away from packing materials and out of harms way on moving day.
Moving home can be stressful not only for humans but especially for your family pets. Here are 5 tips to help keep your pet safe and calm on moving day.
Keep pets away from rooms that you are decluttering or packing in.
If possible arrange for pets to be at a boarding kennel on moving day. It will be less stressful and safer for everyone.
Locate and make a note of local vets in the new town you are moving to.
Change the registration details of pets that are microchipped.
Introduce your pets slowly to their new home.
For more in-depth help on how to move your pet safely to their new home read the following guides:
We know that home moves are stressful for humans and pets, but your plants get upset being relocated too. Here are 5 tips on helping plants cope with the upheaval of a home move.
Consider transferring small plants to plastic pots which are less likely to get broken in the home move.
If moving a number of small pots, put them in plastic tote boxes rather than cardboard boxes which can be damaged by any leaking water from the plant pots.
Keep the plants upright at all times.
Move garden pots out of the rain before moving day. They will be lighter to lift.
5 Tips on How to Pack Important Documents for a Home Move
From birth certificates to driving licences, the loss of an important document can be not only expensive to replace but could also lead to identity theft. So it is important when moving home to keep all your important documents safe.
Take photos or scans of important documents so that you always have a back-up copy.
Index your folders so you know exactly what is kept in them.
Plastic sleeves will help protect your precious documents from getting dirty
Concertina files are great as they have different compartments so that you can segment different categories of documents.
Keep your important documents with you at all times so that they do not inadvertently get loaded onto the removal van.
Transfer part-full tins of paint to smaller containers. It will take up less space and the paint will not dry up so fast.
Decant paint to glass jars as they are easier to seal with screw top lids.
Tap around the edges of the tin rather than press on the centre of the lid to seal a paint tin. This prevents the lid from warping and creates a better seal.
Only transport in plastic totes boxes because if there is a spillage the plastic will stop any liquid seeping out onto your other items.
Pack paint close together or with padding to prevent them from moving about whilst being transported.
5 Tips on How to Pack Perishable Food for a Home Move
It is not worth the risk of moving old tins of paint to your new home.
You should plan on using up or donating any perishable food before moving day.
Transport food in airtight plastic containers or ziplock bags.
Use a cool box or insulated freezer bag to keep food cool and fresh.
Never keep food within the freezer or fridge that will be in the removal van.
Be sure to seal any bottles securely to prevent spillages.
Packing Tips for the Other Items on the Removal Company Prohibited List
Fertilizers – Place the sack of fertilizer inside extra thick garden waste sacks and seal securely.
Gas – Keep bottles upright and out of direct sunlight. Wedge or strap down in the vehicle so that they cannot move about in transit.
Batteries – Should be kept upright, securely held in position, and out of direct sunlight. Do not transport within the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
Cleaning supplies – Follow the packing instructions for liquids to ensure there are no spillages. Keep away from direct sunlight and ventilate the vehicle in case of fumes.
Fireworks – Transport only in metal boxes away from sources of ignition.
It should be said that the reason that the majority of these items cannot be moved by the removal company is that they are hazardous not only to the removal crew but to the other items you intend to move to your new home.
Therefore you should seriously consider whether you really need to take them with you. In most cases, it will be cheaper and easier to just replace the items when you get to the new home.
Consider the costs, damage, and inconvenience if just one tin of paint were to spill open in the back of your car and cover your document file in gloss white paint.
The final consideration is that your insurance may be invalidated if you attempt to ‘smuggle’ any prohibited items onto the removal vehicle and there is an incident.
Better to be safe than sorry. And a safe home move should be everyone’s priority.
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and you may be speaking with another licensed provider.
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