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If your belongings need somewhere to stay between homes, arranging the storage unit is only part of the job. You also need a workable plan for getting everything there, accessing it while it is stored and moving it out again.
For a London move, a short distance on the map can still involve a flat with stairs, a busy loading area and a storage unit several corridors from the entrance. This guide helps you organise those details before booking your man and van.
Treat storage as two separate moves
Write down the collection address, storage address and eventual delivery address if it is known. Keep the move-in date separate from your expected move-out date. If you do not yet have a confirmed date for your new home, say so rather than booking a return journey around an assumption.
Ask for a clear explanation of which journey each transport quote covers. Keep the storage agreement and moving arrangements together, with contact details for both providers. This makes it easier to change the right booking if your plans shift.
Choose how you will use the unit
Before selecting a unit, decide whether you expect to leave everything untouched or visit regularly. For example, a household staying in temporary accommodation may need to retrieve winter clothing, work equipment or children’s belongings before the final move.
Ask the storage provider to assess your inventory and explain the space needed for access as well as the belongings themselves. A tightly packed unit may be inconvenient if the one box you need is at the back. Check what the provider permits you to store, and keep anything unsuitable out of the moving load.
Get the arrival instructions before moving day
Contact the storage facility directly and make a short arrival note for your mover. Include the correct vehicle entrance, reception location and any procedure that must be completed before unloading.
- Do you need an appointment for the first visit or a reserved loading slot?
- Must the account holder attend, and what identification or authorisation is required?
- Will the unit be ready before the van arrives?
- Is access available at the planned arrival time, including the time needed to finish unloading?
- Are there vehicle-height restrictions, a goods lift or a long route from the loading area?
- Are trolleys available, and does their use need arranging?
Share relevant instructions securely with the people handling the move. Do not assume that having a unit number alone will allow a driver to enter and unload.
Describe the whole carrying route
A ground-floor storage building does not necessarily mean a ground-floor unit. Tell your mover the unit’s floor, approximate distance from the unloading point and whether there are steps or lift restrictions. Photographs can help explain awkward access.
Give the same level of detail for your London collection address: stairs, communal doors, lift arrangements and the distance to the vehicle. Confirm any loading arrangements with the building or facility beforehand. The aim is to quote for the actual route your belongings will travel.
If vehicle choice is still unclear, our London moving van-size guide explains what information to send with an enquiry.
Create an inventory you can use later
Number your boxes and keep a simple list on your phone or in a document. A label such as “Box 12: spare bedding and towels” is more useful for retrieval than “miscellaneous”. Put labels where you can see them when boxes are positioned in the unit.
Take photographs of furniture before the move and note any existing marks. Keep fittings from dismantled furniture clearly associated with the correct item. Ask the mover and storage provider how delicate or unusual pieces should be prepared; avoid treating all belongings as suitable for the same packing method.
Our packing and moving house guide covers wider preparation. Keep documents, daily essentials and anything you will need immediately out of the storage load.
Plan the retrieval order
Decide which belongings you are most likely to need first and tell the team before unloading begins. Ask for a practical layout that allows the access you have agreed with the facility, rather than attempting to rearrange heavy items on a later visit.
Before leaving, check your inventory, photograph the accessible layout and confirm the unit is secured according to the provider’s instructions. Keep the access details somewhere you can reach without returning to the unit.
Confirm the move-out details when your plans are firm
Once your delivery date is confirmed, check the storage provider’s notice and collection procedures. Update the mover if you have removed or added belongings during storage. Share the new property’s access details rather than assuming the original quote covers a different delivery arrangement.
Need help planning transport to or from storage in London? Contact JP Man & Van or call 07925405549 with your inventory, dates and access details to discuss the move.