Flat moves may seem simple on paper (fewer rooms, fewer boxes) but in most cases they tend to take longer than a house move. Stairs, parking and access are usually the culprits. Organise these well and your moving day will go much smoother, faster and with less stress.

1) Stairs and lifts

Learn from your movers how exactly items will make it out. Is there a working lift? What are the lift dimensions? Do you have narrow stairwells or corners? Include the dimensions of bulky items such as sofas, mattresses and wardrobes so that people can measure them beforehand. If you are higher than the first floor with no lift, going up and down the stairs is slow going, making this an extra time-consuming (and potentially expensive) scenario.

2) Parking and loading space

Close to the entrance, there must be sufficient safe parking for a removals van. Look out for resident-only bays, double yellow lines, height restrictions or restricted access roads. Do also consider the best point of loading; a rear entrance or service road or loading bay will be more convenient than out in the main street. For Removals Cheltenham, contact //express-removals.co.uk/removal-companies-near-me/removals-cheltenham

3) Building access and rules

Speak to your building manager regarding move-in and move-out time slots, key fobs and lift booking, as well as any potential restrictions on noisy work. Make sure that you can secure and hold open doors safely, and protect common areas if necessary.

Planning ahead and asking the right questions will ensure the move goes smoothly and avoids the potential for a stressful and prolonged moving day.

Related: Getting your House Ready to Sell