Moving without a car

paulj2021

canaldumidi said:

Rent or borrow a car. If there's any issues on the day you want to be able to get to the EA easily.

And after moving in there are bound to be things you want to pop out and get. A car for 24 hours will give you flexibility(assuming you can drive....).

I don’t currently drive unfortunately 

Drawingaline

I would just pack as if to were having a night away, but include important documents and passport etc.  If you are in a hotel overnight then there will be a place to eat, or worst case pizza/burger could be delivered.

I wouldn't bother with packing anything else to take with you, I am sure you will be able to pick up a takeaway tea/coffee from somewhere on the way to the new house the following morning, and again, unless you are moving to the sticks (if you can't drive I find this unlikely!) Then popping out to grab a sandwich/snacks once you are in will be easy enough I am sure. 

I have never offered removal people hot drinks (we don't drink tea at all anyway) and last time we moved was last year's big lockdown so couldn't anyway. We just bunged them a cash tip at the end to buy a few drinks (hot, alcoholic or whatever) to show our appreciation on a job well done, in particularly difficult circumstances (lockdown, working around two adults and four children, rain and a man down!)

Good luck.

MatthewGaskin

Make sure you have allowed for public transport cancellations. You need to be able to let the movers into the new home promptly - many removal contracts include a clause with costs for them hanging around unable to unload.

I would also suggest joining a local facebook group so that anything you've overlooked or forgotten can be asked about. I did this for my recent move and it's helped me get to know some of my neighbours early, as well as incredibly valuable advice about tradesmen, where shops are, etc. Access to that kind of local knowledge is vital when you can't explore easily yourself by car.

I would also say, in addition to the other good suggestions here, make sure you have some toilet roll: you *really* don't want to find yourself without any in the new place. Best of luck!

caprikid1

Not sure where stuff is more likely to go missing, a bag on public transport or movers.

As has been suggested car hire ?

user1977

caprikid1 said:

As has been suggested car hire ?

As has been pointed out, the OP would also need a driver...

onylon

The comments from drivers are very telling. 

1. This is a money saving forum. Renting a car "for flexibility" would be a waste even if the OP could legally drive it.

2. Bags are highly unlikely to go missing on public transport. Just keep your things close as you would in any public space. 

3. Deliveries are now cheap, fast and very convenient. I live in the suburbs and most things will arrive within 24 hours.

4. As the OP doesn't drive they are likely to live somewhere with shops/amenities within walking distance. Most people can comfortably walk 15 mins to the shops to pick up a few bits.

5. You can order a taxi if needed. For short distances it's still cheaper than renting a car.

I'm hoping to get my licence this year so that I can pop into town a couple of times a week. Its definitely a luxury spend and I expect this would be true for a lot of people if they thought about it. 

Slithery

onylon said:

The comments from drivers are very telling.

What?

One poster suggested renting a car may be a good idea, that's it. The person who suggested it might not even drive.

onylon

caprikid1 said:

Not sure where stuff is more likely to go missing, a bag on public transport or movers.

As has been suggested car hire ?

@Slithery - I suspect caprikid1 is not a regular user of public transport given their concerns about safety. I get similar comments, often with the offer of a lift, from well meaning neighbors. 

paulj2021

Just to clarify, I don’t drive, and my journey to the new home involves taking a ferry as it’s not on the UK mainland, so being given a lift by a friend would involve them having to take a return car ferry (which is not cheap!) instead of me taking a one way cheap pedestrian fare. No car hire firms do one way hire to where I’m going unfortunately! 

TBagpuss

OP, take enough for a couple of days so you have changes of clothes of there is any delaying getting your stuff and unpacked. 
Maybe enough in a suitcase that you can manage for a few days in case it takes you longer than planned to unpack.

Washbag and include a towel - if there is a shop near your new home then pop there as soon as you arrive and pick up loo roll, some cleaning materials and teabags/ milk./ coffee as appropriate. if there isn't a shop that near the consider putting a loo roll, extra hand towel and soap into your bag.

I'd probably take small items such as a laptop, chargers and so on. And if  it's not included in the removals, make sure that you have things like screwdriver, allen keys etc so you can put your furniture back together 

Snacks.

Book a supermarket delivery for the afternoon/evening  of the fay you move in and include cleaning products etc. 

Also pack and very clearly label a couple of boxes
- one of kitchen essentials - kettle, mugs, at last one set of crockery and cutlery, cleaning stuff (maybe add the loo rolls, a couple of space light bulbs, and some towels to this box) 
- one of bedding so you can make up your bed as soon as removal guys arrive so you have somewhere to crash when you need to - consider including things like an extra blanket in case the heating isn't all you might hope for, an eye mask in case you haven't got the curtains up or they aren't as thick as you need, and earplugs. 

Ask the movers to ensure that those go into the van last and come out first. If you have a vacuum cleaner do the same with that.