How do I get stuff into my apartment?

FIRSTTIMER

Hi,


I have just put in an offer on an apartment and had a sudden fear of panic. How do I get all my things into the 4th floor apartment. Is it better to get someone like Pickford's to do it? I have around 3 car full's of stuff - but I am now thinking do I have to travel back and forth to the car for every box and go up and down the lift practically all day. What's best when moving into an apartment block.


Help!

lincroft1710

If you have only 3 car loads, then that doesn't sound enough for a professional remover. Can you find 2 friends to help you move the stuff and reward them with a meal out that evening.

pinkshoes

Get your friends to help and bribe them with beer!

Person_one

FIRSTTIMER wrote: »

Hi,


I have just put in an offer on an apartment and had a sudden fear of panic. How do I get all my things into the 4th floor apartment. Is it better to get someone like Pickford's to do it? I have around 3 car full's of stuff - but I am now thinking do I have to travel back and forth to the car for every box and go up and down the lift practically all day. What's best when moving into an apartment block.


Help!

That's generally the plan, yeah. A friend or two is helpful, one of you can unload the car and one can take it up in the lift and into the flat.

Don't monopolise the lift for hours though if there's only one!

G_M

You have a car?
It's only 3 loads?
There's a lift?

Does not sound too problematic.

The only issue would be if you are selling and have to be out pronto on Completion. If you can take your time, then DIY, unless you are elderly/infirm/disabled etc.

And if you have a friend or 2, so much the better.

Alternative is man+van.

davidmcn

Person_one wrote: »

Don't monopolise the lift for hours though if there's only one!

I think a house move is reasonable excuse to commandeer the lift (within reason). May be faster if you fill the lift rather than just carry one box per trip. Shouldn't take hours.

Person_one

davidmcn wrote: »

I think a house move is reasonable excuse to commandeer the lift (within reason). May be faster if you fill the lift rather than just carry one box per trip. Shouldn't take hours.

If there's only one lift then you need to be considerate of the other people who live in the building. Some of them may not be able to use the stairs.

You can fill the lift, but you can't keep filling it without gaps, or blocking the doors open for ages at a time.

Elfbert

Also check you can use the lift at all! Depending on the lift/building size there's sometimes a fire fighting lift which you're not allowed to transport goods in, or restrictions on lift usage.

Or just a freeholder/leaseholders sick of the lift breaking down when stuffed with someone else's possessions

In my block people usually make a big pile in our lobby, then heave it into the lift as fast as poss, then heave it all out again on their floor, then transfer it to the flat. Friends are very helpful in doing this quickly!

teddysmum

You could compare the cost of hiring of a small van with that of fuel for a number of car journeys, but it will probably only be cheaper if the distance involved is large.


Three car loads is very little, as some take one car load for a week's camping/caravanning holiday.


I was about to add what the previous poster has already suggested about using the lift economically.

WibblyGirly

At festivals I've seen people stacking their stuff on pull along trolleys. If you have a few mates you could all fill a trolley each and take it up the lift and you wouldn't have to do as much lifting that way.

kingfisherblue

I'd buy a trolley and some bungee cords or rope. Stack boxes onto the trolley and secure. It will make life easier and you can use the trolley again when you move out, or sell it on Ebay. If you have friends to help, consider having two trollies. As you take one up, a friend can be stacking the next trolley. Have another friend upstairs to help unload quickly. You should be done in a couple of hours. Your upstairs friend can also put the kettle on.

If you're organised, take all the bedroom things up together and take the trolley directly into the bedroom. Same with lounge, kitchen, etc. It's better than having a muddle of boxes all over the place.

Enjoy your new home!