Moving dates do not always line up neatly. You may need to leave one London home before you can move into the next, or you might want to keep furniture out of the way while work is completed. A delay on moving day can create the same question at much shorter notice: where should your belongings go, and how will you get them back?
The right answer depends on how long the gap may last, what you need to access and whether your delivery address is ready. Plan the move and the storage together, rather than treating storage as an afterthought.
Start with the dates you know
Tell your removals company which dates are confirmed and which are still provisional. Include the date you must leave your current property, the earliest likely date for delivery and any work that needs to finish before furniture can arrive. If your plans change, update the team as soon as you can.
If a property transaction is involved, your solicitor or estate agent is the right source for its status. Your removal company can then explain the practical options for collection, storage and redelivery; it cannot confirm a completion date on their behalf.
Decide what stays with you
Before packing, divide your belongings into three groups:
- Keep with you: identification, documents, medication, chargers, keys, essential clothing and anything you may need immediately.
- Need soon after arrival: beds, basic kitchen items, work equipment and children’s essentials. Mark these boxes clearly so they can be identified when you are ready for delivery.
- Can stay in storage: seasonal items, surplus furniture and boxes you do not expect to open during the gap.
Make a simple inventory of larger items and an approximate box count. Tell the team about anything unusually heavy, fragile or valuable, and ask how those items should be packed and covered. An inventory helps GAV assess the move and the storage space; bedroom count alone will not give an accurate answer. The removal and storage size guide explains what to include.
Choose storage around access, not just duration
If you will not need to visit your belongings often, container storage may be worth discussing. Items can be collected as part of a planned move and held until delivery can be arranged. If you expect to add or retrieve things regularly, ask about self storage and its access arrangements instead.
Ask what is included in the quotation: collection, packing if required, handling into storage, the storage period, access to stored items and redelivery. Check the notice needed for redelivery, any minimum period, and the insurance or liability terms that apply. Availability and prices depend on the job, so have the team confirm them for your circumstances rather than relying on an old online offer.
Plan collection and redelivery as two separate visits
Give GAV the full collection address and the likely delivery address, including floor level, stairs, lift restrictions, parking and the distance from the vehicle to each entrance. If the delivery property is not ready yet, say so. A final address or date can be confirmed later, but the team needs to know what is uncertain when preparing the quote.
When the new property is ready, allow time to arrange keys, access and a legal loading space. Decide which rooms should receive the first-delivered items. If you are collecting only part of what is stored, explain that before the delivery is scheduled so the right items can be identified.
What if the move is delayed at short notice?
Contact the removals team promptly, even if you do not yet know the new date. Tell them where the belongings are, whether loading has begun and which parts of the plan have changed. The team can discuss what may be possible with its vehicles, schedule and storage capacity. Do not assume that an unplanned overnight hold or same-day storage space is automatically available.
The GAV removals FAQs explain how the team approaches delayed key release and an unsuccessful completion. For your own move, confirm the revised arrangements and any extra costs directly with the office.
A short checklist before you request a quote
- List your confirmed and provisional collection and delivery dates.
- Note the furniture, approximate number of boxes and anything needing special handling.
- Decide what must remain with you and how often you may need access to stored items.
- Record stairs, lifts, parking and loading details at both properties.
- Ask for the collection, storage, access, redelivery and cover terms to be clear in the quote.
GAV can discuss the removal and storage parts of the plan together. Request a removals quote if you need the contents of a home moved, or ask about storage if storage is your main requirement. Include the uncertainties as well as the details you already know.