01327 876007
mick@alltranzltd.co.uk
01327 876007
mick@alltranzltd.co.uk
Posted on 25th May 2026 at 06:55
Most problems on moving day trace back to things that were not sorted early enough. A call not made, a box not labelled, a removal company booked too late for the date you actually wanted.
A clear timeline moves those decisions away from the day itself. When you know what needs to happen at six weeks, four weeks, two weeks, and the week before, nothing gets left to chance and moving day is just moving day.
Here is a straightforward six-week plan to follow.
Quick Reference: Your 6-Week Moving Timeline
Timeframe - Key tasks
6 weeks out - Book your removal company, start decluttering
4 weeks out - Update your address with key contacts, gather packing supplies
2 weeks out - Pack non-essentials, confirm details with your removal company
1 week out - Pack almost everything, label every box
Moving day - Have essentials to hand, do a full final walk-through
After moving in - First-day priorities, then admin within 7 days
This is the most important task on the entire list. Removal companies with a solid reputation fill their diaries quickly, particularly for Friday and Saturday slots. If your date is confirmed, book now rather than later.
At this stage, decide whether you need a full packing service, fragile-only packing, or whether you plan to pack everything yourself. Alltranz offers both full and fragile-only packing options, so making that decision early gives our team time to prepare the right materials and allocate the right crew.
Book your removal company as soon as your moving date is confirmed. Weekend slots go first.
There is no point paying to move things you will not want in your new home. Work through the house one room at a time and sort items into three piles: keep, donate, and dispose.
The less you move, the faster the day runs and the less it costs. Starting decluttering at six weeks also means you have time to arrange collections, charity drop-offs, or a skip without any pressure.
Address changes involve more organisations than most people expect, and some take several weeks to process. Starting at four weeks gives you enough time to catch anything you miss on the first pass.
Work through this list and tick each one off:
Sort your address changes at four weeks. Leave them until the week before and some will not update in time.
Most people underestimate how much packing material they need. A typical three-bedroom house requires 40 to 60 medium boxes and around 20 smaller ones, plus packing paper, bubble wrap, and strong tape.
Alltranz has a trade counter at our Daventry depot where you can buy boxes, paper, bubble wrap, and tape directly. You can talk to the team about quantities rather than guessing online and ordering too little.
Non-essentials are anything you can manage without for the next two weeks: out-of-season clothing, books, ornaments, spare bedding, rarely used kitchen equipment, and anything decorative that is not in daily use.
Pack these first, label every box clearly, and stack them out of the way. The more you pack now, the calmer the final few days will be.
Two weeks out is the right point to call and run through the final details. Confirm the start time, the vehicle size, and any access restrictions at either property: narrow roads, parking permit zones, steps, tight corners, or lifts.
Every vehicle in the Alltranz fleet is fitted with GPS trackers and dashcams, so your belongings are fully accounted for from collection to delivery. If anything about the logistics has changed since you booked, this is the right time to raise it.
By one week out, you should be working through the house room by room. Leave out only what you need for day-to-day life until the morning of the move: bedding, a few changes of clothes, toiletries, phone chargers, and essential kitchen items. Everything else goes in boxes.
Packing one room at a time keeps it manageable and prevents boxes from getting mixed up across different areas of the house.
Write the destination room and a one-line description of the contents on every box. This sounds small but it makes a real difference. When the crew knows exactly where each box belongs, nothing gets carried twice and unpacking at the other end is far quicker.
If you want to go one step further, number the boxes for each room and keep a running list. That way you know immediately if anything is missing.
Keep one box or bag in your car that does not go on the van. Include:
Having these to hand means you can make a cup of tea the moment you arrive, regardless of what state the kitchen is in.
Before the van pulls away, walk through every room including the loft, garage, shed, and any outbuildings.
Do not skip the loft or garage. They are where things get forgotten.
Do not try to unpack everything on day one. Focus on making the house liveable: get the beds up so you can sleep, locate the boiler and central heating controls, find the fuse box and the stop tap, and get the Wi-Fi router running.
A working kettle and a few basics in the kitchen is enough for the first evening. The rest can wait until tomorrow.
We are a family-run removals company based in Daventry, and we handle moves across Northamptonshire and throughout the UK, from local moves down the road to national relocations.
For customers who want us to take on the whole job, our full packing service covers everything from wrapping to loading. For those who prefer to handle most of the packing themselves but want professionals taking care of the breakables, our fragile-only option is there alongside your removal booking.
Every vehicle in our fleet carries GPS trackers and dashcams. We are available for weekend moves. And when you call, you deal with a person and not a job title.
Ready to book or want to talk through what you need? Call us on 01327 876007.
Q: How far in advance should I book a removal company?
For most moves, booking four to six weeks in advance is a sensible target. Friday and Saturday slots fill up faster than midweek, so if your moving date is set, calling early is the simplest way to secure the time you want. A quick call to check availability costs nothing and removes one of the biggest uncertainties in the whole process.
Q: What if my moving date changes?
Let your removal company know as soon as possible. Most companies will work with you to move the booking to the new date, particularly if you give reasonable notice. The earlier you call, the more options you have. Do not wait until you have a confirmed new date before getting in touch.
Q: Do I need to pack everything myself?
No. Alltranz offers a full packing service where our team handles everything from wrapping individual items to loading the van. We also offer a fragile-only packing option for customers who want to pack most things themselves but want professionals handling glassware, china, artwork, and anything breakable or valuable. Both options can be added to your removal booking.
Q: Can I move on a weekend?
Yes, Alltranz is available for weekend moves. Saturday dates are popular and book up quickly, so it is worth calling as soon as your date is confirmed. Call us on 01327 876007 to check availability for your preferred weekend slot.
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