A new build home move feels different from any other house move. The house is spotless, the street may still be half finished and the builders are often working next door. Getting a van onto a live site and unloading without marking the paintwork takes a bit of planning. So before you book van hire in Warrington for the big day, read through the points below. Most of them come from customers who learned the hard way.
Planning a New Build Home Move Around Completion Day
On a new build, the keys usually come from the sales office once your solicitor confirms completion. That can happen late in the day. Our depot opens at 8am and closes at 4pm, Monday to Saturday. As a result, a one-day hire can leave you loaded and waiting with the clock running. Instead, many customers take the van the day before. They load the old house in the afternoon, then drive to the new one as soon as the keys arrive.
Pick the van to suit the load. For a full house, the Luton van with tail lift is the usual choice. The lift takes the strain off sofas, wardrobes and washing machines. That matters when the new drive has fresh block paving. For a flat or a move in stages, the long wheelbase high roof van is easier to park.
Driving on Unfinished Estate Roads
Many estates hand over homes before the roads get their final surface. That leaves raised kerbs, manhole covers that sit proud of the road and patches of loose stone. Take these slowly in a loaded van. A raised cover hit at speed can jolt the whole load. Meanwhile, mud from the site can make the surface slippery after rain, especially near the entrance.
Satnav can also let you down. A brand new street may not appear on the map yet. The postcode can also lead you to the wrong end of the estate. So ask the sales office for a site plan and the best entrance for a large vehicle. Then walk or drive the route in your car the week before. That way you will know where the tight bends and temporary barriers are.
Site Traffic, Contractors and Parking
On a live site you share the road with diggers, delivery lorries and contractors’ vans. Give them room, and never park across a site gate or a turning head. The rules in the Highway Code on parking and reversing still apply on estate roads that are open to residents. Because site vehicles move unpredictably, reverse only with someone outside to guide you.
New streets are often narrow, with parking bays rather than wide kerbs. Your neighbours may be moving in the same week, too. So ask the sales office whether anyone else has a move booked that day. Park as close to your front door as you can without blocking a drive. Also keep off fresh verges and new turf, because a loaded van leaves deep ruts in soft ground.
Protecting New Floors and Paintwork
The biggest risk on moving day is the house itself. New carpets, fresh paint and pale flooring mark easily. So bring your own floor protection. Lay it from the front door through to each room before the first box comes in. Old sheets and cardboard work well. Then wrap the corners of large furniture in blankets or bubble wrap of your own.
Next, measure the hall, the stairs and the landing before the day. New builds often have tight turns at the top of the stairs. A sofa that went through the old front door may not reach the lounge. If it will not fit, it is better to know in advance than to scrape a newly plastered wall. Meanwhile, keep a pair of indoor shoes by the door for everyone carrying.
Snagging After a New Build Home Move
Most buyers carry out a snagging inspection soon after they move in. That is when you list faults for the developer to fix, such as sticking doors, paint runs or cracked tiles. However, a room full of boxes hides those faults. A sensible plan therefore takes the essentials first. The spare room and the loft boxes can wait.
In practice, that can mean two trips. The first brings beds, the kitchen and everyday clothes. The second follows once you have logged the snags and the developer has made any repairs. A shorter hire on our long wheelbase van suits that second run well. Our guide on van hire for new homeowners covers the jobs that tend to follow in the first few weeks.
New Estates Around Warrington
We help a lot of buyers onto new estates, and every new build home move brings its own access puzzle. To the west, our page on van hire Burtonwood covers routes near the M62. Likewise, our page on van hire Westbrook covers that side of town. From our depot at Cockhedge, the A57 heads west, so it is a short run on a quiet morning.
Load the van in the order you want to unpack. Beds and the kettle go in last, so they come out first. Boxes marked by room save trips up and down the new stairs, too. Then, if the keys arrive late, you can still set up the bedrooms before dark.
When you collect the van, bring your photocard licence and a DVLA check code. Most of our vans need no deposit. You can also leave your car in our free secure car park while you move. If your completion date is fixed, book early. Selected vehicles carry 10% off when booked at least two weeks ahead. Our van hire special offers page shows the current deals.
Tell us your completion date, the size of the house and whether you plan a second trip. We will then hold the right van for you. Call Warrington Van Hire on 01925 396 222, or use our contact us page to start your booking.
