Sizing a van around what you are moving
List the largest items with rough length, width and height, and give an estimate of total weight, because bulk and payload limit a van in different ways. Mention anything awkward, such as a wardrobe that cannot be dismantled or long timber. Describe loading at both ends, including stairs, lift access, distance from the kerb and whether anyone will help lift.
Picking a suitable van
Start with the load, then choose the van. A small van works well for boxes, tools and light collections; medium and long-wheelbase vans suit furniture, stock and trade equipment; and a Luton is the better choice for bulkier items on a house move. Subject to dates, driver details and availability, the range includes the Volkswagen Caddy, Ford Transit SWB, VW Transporter Automatic, Ford Transit MWB and Ford Transit LWB. Make, model, transmission, seats, payload and licence position are all confirmed at quote stage, so treat these vehicles as a guide to the kind of hire on offer rather than a guaranteed reservation of a particular model.
Keeping a Full Load Inventory
A load inventory is the single most useful page you can prepare. Go room by room, or job by job, and list every item that will travel: furniture, appliances, boxes, tools and materials. Beside each entry, note the approximate dimensions and whether the piece comes apart. Number the boxes if that helps you keep track, and mark anything fragile with its own line on the list. Keep the inventory with your hire dates, the collection and delivery addresses, and the access arrangements you have been given at each end. When you contact the team about a van, the inventory tells them exactly what you need to carry, whereas a rough description may leave gaps. If something on the list changes, update it before the booking rather than after.
Allowing Enough Time in the Day's Schedule
How much time should the day itself have in it? Building slack into the schedule is a decision you make on paper first. Look at the dates you have chosen and decide whether the packing and the journey need one day or two, noting the hours when each address is accessible. If friends or colleagues are helping, confirm their availability in writing and note a contact number for each. Record the time you plan to arrive at the collection address and the delivery address, plus any deadline, such as a storage unit's closing time, that shapes the day. Share the timing alongside the load inventory and access details when you request a quote, and ask any remaining questions then, while dates can still shift.
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Last checks before booking
Before the hire is confirmed, go over the key points: whether the vehicle is available, the driver requirements, mileage, insurance, the delivery or collection arrangements and any extras you have asked for. Make sure payload, loading height, tail-lift needs, driver details, deposits and insurance excess are confirmed before you settle on a van size. A clear request gives the date, the length of hire, a rough route, the delivery or pickup address, the passengers or load you expect and any special requirements that might affect which vehicle is suitable.