If your removal van reaches your new home before you do, it is not necessarily a problem.
This can happen quite easily on a long-distance move, especially if you are travelling separately, collecting keys on the way or dealing with delays in a property chain.
The main thing is whether somebody can provide access to the new property. If nobody is there and the keys are not available yet, the removals team may simply need to wait until you or another authorised person arrives.
Do You Need to Arrive Before the Removal Van?
Not always. Ideally, somebody should be available at the new property when unloading begins, but that does not necessarily have to be you.
Depending on the move, access might be provided by:
- Your partner or another family member
- A landlord
- An estate agent
- A building or site manager
- Another person you have authorised
What matters is that the removals team can get into the property and somebody is available to answer any questions about where furniture and boxes should go.
What If You Haven’t Got the Keys Yet?
This is one of the biggest considerations when moving long distance.
You might leave your old home early in the morning and travel several hours to the new property, only to find that completion has been delayed or the keys have not yet been released.
If the removal van arrives before access is available, unloading cannot normally begin.
The best thing you can do is keep your removals company updated.
If you hear that completion is running late, let the team know as soon as possible. That gives everyone a clearer idea of what is happening and allows the movers to plan around the delay where possible.
What If You Get Stuck in Traffic?
Long journeys do not always go exactly to plan.
Motorway traffic, accidents, roadworks or simply stopping along the way can mean you arrive later than expected.
If the removal team is likely to arrive before you, call them and let them know.
In many cases, a short delay is manageable. The important thing is communication, particularly if nobody else can provide access to the property.
Can Movers Start Unloading Without You?
Potentially, but only if somebody authorised can provide access and the removal team knows where everything needs to go.
For a straightforward move, clear box labels and a room plan can make this much easier.
However, it is still useful to have somebody at the new property who can make decisions.
- Which bedroom does a particular wardrobe belong in?
- Will a sofa fit through a certain doorway?
- Where should particularly heavy furniture be positioned?
- Is anything going into a garage, shed or storage area instead?
Having somebody available prevents furniture being unloaded into the wrong place and needing to be moved again later.
Will You Be Charged If the Removal Van Has to Wait?
This depends on the removal company, the quote and how long the delay lasts.
If you are moving through a property chain, it is worth asking about waiting time before you book your move.
This is particularly important for long-distance removals because a late key release can have a much bigger impact when the crew has already travelled several hours.
Your removals company should be able to explain how delays and waiting time are handled as part of your quotation.
Should You Try to Beat the Removal Van To Your New House?
You do not need to turn moving day into a race. The priority is making sure there is a clear plan for access at the destination. Before setting off, make sure:
- You know how and where you are collecting the keys
- The removal team has the correct destination address
- Somebody can provide access if you are delayed
- Your phone is switched on and easy to reach
- You tell the movers if your plans change
Planning a Long-Distance House Move?
On a long-distance move, the removal van and customer will not always arrive at exactly the same time.
That is usually manageable as long as access, key collection and communication have been planned beforehand.
At Moved Removals, we can help plan the timing and logistics of your long-distance move so both ends of the journey run as smoothly as possible.
