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When two flatmates move out of a shared London flat, both might label a box “kitchen”. At the first front door, that label tells the movers which room to use, but leaves them guessing whose kitchen it belongs in. Give every item a destination first and a room second. Then agree the order of the stops with your mover before anyone starts loading.
Make a separate list for each drop-off
Give each destination a short, permanent name. “Bethnal Green” and “Brixton” work better than “first” and “second” because the addresses stay the same if the route changes. Use the full addresses and postcodes on the private booking sheet. On the boxes, the short names are enough.
Here is a worked example for two people leaving one flat. The box numbers start again for each destination, so the destination name always travels with the number.
- Bethnal Green: Four kitchen boxes, marked BG 1 of 4 to BG 4 of 4, plus a dining table and four legs. The fittings pouch goes in BG 1 of 4, with its location written on the list.
- Brixton: Three bedroom boxes, marked BR 1 of 3 to BR 3 of 3, plus a desk and its separate drawer unit. Give the drawer unit its own label so it stays with the desk.
Put a label on the top and a visible side of each box. For furniture, attach the label to the protective wrapping to avoid marking the finish. If you use coloured stickers, write the destination on them too. A new helper should be able to read the label without asking what a colour means.
Choose the stop order around access
Ask each recipient when they can actually open the door. In a London block, check the booked lift slot and which entrance serves it. In a terraced street, tell the mover how far the furniture must travel from the available loading point. Include access details for the collection address as well as both drop-offs.
Suppose the Brixton flat has a booked lift from 11 am to noon, while someone can receive the Bethnal Green delivery all afternoon. Give those windows to the mover before choosing the route. Ask whether collection, loading, travel and carrying the desk upstairs can realistically fit the first slot. If the timing is tight, it is easier to change the lift booking while the van is still empty.
Book the whole route and brief the crew before loading
Send one written request showing the collection address, both deliveries, the items for each and a contact at every stop. Ask the mover to confirm the order, carrying help and what happens if a recipient is delayed. When comparing offers, check that each covers both deliveries. See our guide to comparing man and van quotes.
On the day, show the crew both groups before the first item goes out. Point out anything awkward that has to come off at the earlier stop, such as a long tabletop. Let the crew plan how to position and secure it. If space is tight in the flat, use the labels to distinguish the groups and keep the shared stairs and entrance clear.
Count what comes off at the first door
Give the first recipient their part of the list. In the example above, the Brixton recipient should see three numbered boxes, the desk and the drawer unit. Check off each piece as it arrives. That takes less time than reopening boxes later to find out whether a missing drawer went to the other address.
If someone asks for an item to go elsewhere, tell the crew before unloading it. Update the item’s label and both destination lists. For a change of address or an extra journey, ask the mover to confirm feasibility, timing and any revised price before agreeing to it.
If nobody answers at a stop, call the agreed contact and discuss the options with the mover before changing the route. Swapping the stops can affect which items the crew can reach and whether the next recipient is available. If one destination is a storage unit, check its receiving arrangements in advance using our storage moving checklist.
What to send when asking for a quote
Start with a short message such as “One collection in Bow, with deliveries to Brixton and Bethnal Green. The Brixton lift has a fixed slot. I have a separate item list and a contact for each address.” Add the date, full addresses, floors, access windows and photographs of bulky pieces privately with your enquiry.
To discuss a London move with two drop-offs, send your route and item lists to JP Man & Van or call 07925405549.