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As a Leeds removal company with over 100 years of removals experience, we’ve moved people all over. Not just in and around Leeds, but across Yorkshire, the UK and even the world.

The perfect house – and the perfect location – is something different to everyone. Some people crave the calm peacefulness of a detached property in a rural location. Others want the hustle and bustle of a city centre and the minimalist simplicity of an apartment. For some people the perfect home might be a compact cottage in a thriving market town, or a terrace in a community-centred suburb.

But what all house hunters have in common, in our experience in Leeds removals and beyond, is wanting their new property to be somewhere they feel safe and secure.

Which is why this article caught our eye, as it’s all about the safest places to live in and around Leeds.

It seems the safest place to live in the area, according to police figures, is market town Wetherby, situated 12 miles from Leeds centre and towards West Yorkshire’s boundary with North Yorkshire. Second on the list is Garforth in East Leeds. The remaining areas all concentrated on the North of the city – Guiseley; Collington, Rigton and Harewood; and Primley Park and Wigton Moor took third, fourth and fifth spots.

Scarcroft, Shadwell and Scholes was sixth on the list. Aberford, Barwick and Thorner was seventh. Bramhope and Pool in Wharfedale took the eighth spot. Ninth went to Alwoodley and tenth to Roundhay.

If you’re looking beyond Leeds (but still in God’s Own County), the safest places to live in Yorkshire are apparently Leeming, Pickhill and Thornton in Hambleton, North Yorkshire.

Of course, there are plenty of places beyond those listed which offer safe, attractive and interesting places to live. We’re lucky we get to see such a lot of locations in our work in Leeds removals. There are so many welcoming and warm communities within the city and beyond it – and lots of lovely places to set down roots.

If you’re thinking of moving home we can help with all your house removal needs. There are no ‘daft questions’ and we’re always happy to help answer any queries you may have. We understand that for most people moving isn’t something they do every day, and we’re on hand to help you through the process.

With the property market continuing to be buoyant, it’s always worth trying to secure your removal firm with plenty of notice. So as soon as your property sells, or your offer is accepted, it’s never too early to get in touch and get an estimate for your removal. That way, once you have a moving date agreed, it can be booked in straight away, giving you the best possible chance of securing the day you want.

Looking for a removals company, Leeds? Get in touch with us to find out how we can help make your move as stress-free as possible – wherever you’re moving to!

It’s no secret that the property market has been a bit hectic in recent months.

A few months back a report revealed that there were 29 buyers, on average, for every home on the British market. That’s a lot of competition!

As a Leeds’ removal company, we see a lot of property transactions come together, and sadly fall apart.

So, as a buyer, what can you do to help improve your odds to secure the house of your dreams before someone else snaps it up?

1. Get on good terms with the estate agents in your chosen area. If they know what you’re after, they’re far more likely to be able to give you a heads up if something suitable is coming to market. Some properties are being sold before they even come to market. Property portals are great for searching, but they can’t help you in any personal way. Make sure you provide feedback on viewings afterwards as that is helpful to an agent and helps make the relationship a two way street!
2. Know your stuff. If, as a buyer, you’re armed with as much information as possible about the area, the value of properties located there, and some of the history of the property you want to go for, you can come to the table fully prepared. Of course, buying a home is an emotional decision but the negotiation to purchase also needs to concentrate on facts and figures.
3. Know your buyers. Many of us – understandably – have a deep emotional connection to our property. It may be that for personal reasons your buyer feels very sentimental about the garden and is hoping someone doesn’t come in and cement over it all. Or they may be hoping for a family to move in, to follow in their footsteps. If the seller is up for it, there’s the potential to make a connection during viewings or when putting in an offer. Some sellers prefer to keep out of the process – but most will have hopes about what happens to their pride and joy after they leave! Some people write a letter to go with their offer explaining why they want the house and think it’s right for them.
4. Be prepared to negotiate. It has been a sellers’ market for a long time now, and many properties have gone for far more than their initial asking price. As house prices start to steady you may have more bargaining power as a buyer – but the key is to remain flexible. If you think the competition is going to be tough, put a strong initial offer in to show you’re serious.
5. Be ready to go. Make sure you’re as prepared as possible when it comes to being a buyer – for example, mortgage offer in principal, ID easily available, a solicitor in place and a removal firm in mind. Sellers will want to know you’re serious – and that they’re not going to be waiting months for you to sell a home first. Being prepared can often put you to the front of the queue.
6. Be flexible. Some sellers might want to delay the sale while they find a new property to move into – others might want to move as quickly as possible. Be as flexible as you can be if you want to be the preferred buyer.

Remember that moving companies can get very busy – so it’s always worth having made contact with your chosen one if you have a move planned. If you’re looking for a removals company, Leeds, Holdsworths has over 100 years of expertise organising home moves in the region and beyond.

If you’re looking for Leeds removals, get in touch to find out more.

The whole process of selling and buying a house can keep you very busy. From the big clear out, getting your house ready for viewings and finding a new house you like enough to call home, to securing mortgage offers and the mountains of paperwork – it can get a bit overwhelming at times.

Although it may seem like the ‘end point’ of the moving process, choosing a removal firm is something which you’re best not leaving until the last minute. Particularly at the moment when the market is so buoyant – dates are booking up fast. So, in those quieter moments, when everything is in the hands of the solicitors and surveyors, it’s worth starting to put some calls in to local removal companies to find the one you’ll want to go with when the time is right.

But how should you go about choosing the removal firm you want to use? We’ve pulled together some helpful top tips to assist you in your choosing (although we know a really amazing removal company in Leeds we’d like to recommend…)

1. Firstly, and most importantly, make sure your chosen removal company is a member of the British Association of Removers (BAR). That gives you reassurance that they follow a code of conduct and about the level of service you will receive. They should also have British Standard BSEN:12522 for home moving and storage – look for the badge!
2. Be clear what you want – a man with a van might be cheaper, but realistically how long will it take to move with those resources? If you’ll be charged by the day/hour, what happens if it takes longer than quoted?
3. Beware cowboys – every industry has them, and removals are no exception. Be cautious of companies which just have a mobile phone number and no business premises or insist on cash in hand payment. What happens if you need to get hold of them and no one answers the phone? Trust your gut feel. These people will be driving off with a van full of everything you own, so you need to feel 100% confident in them.
4. Make sure you ask any questions you have. You should be able to ask and not feel like you’re being an inconvenience or that you’re being fobbed off. No question is too ‘daft’ – you won’t be the first person to ask it!
5. If a price looks too good to be true, it probably is. There’s a lot of work goes into safely moving the contents of an entire house, so if someone is quoting substantially less than other companies, what corners are they cutting?
6. Check reviews and ask your friends – don’t trust a couple of Facebook reviews which could easily be staged. Look at official reviews through independent services like Feefo. Also ask around your family, friends and local network for recommendations. You’re far more likely to get a genuine feel for the service offered.
7. Have they got insurance? Make sure you’re clear on what insurance they have in place to cover your belongings whilst they’re in transit and in case of any damage at either end. Accidents, although rare, do happen.
8. Be sure you get a signed contract in place – you don’t want to rely on just a handshake (in Covid-free times) and a text. If you’re relying on these people helping you on move day, make sure it’s all set in stone.
9. What is included in the service? Or what can be included if you want it? Can they help with packing? Can they provide boxes and carriers? How do they handle things like transporting the contents of a wardrobe? Can they help with storage if you end up needing it as part of the move? (remember sometimes dates don’t end up tying in). Can they/will they take furniture apart if needed?
10. If you have any specialist/unusual/heavy items, speak to the removal company about how they’ll manage moving them safely. There should be a plan in advance of move day for anything beyond the usual boxes and furniture.

If you’re looking for a quote for a removal company in Leeds, why not get in touch?

2019 was an uncertain time for the property market. Brexit and a general election meant people put off moving home until things were a bit clearer. Of course, people do still move – for jobs, good schools, to be nearer family, downsizing or to get some extra space, but the figures show there were less houses on the market and less activity than previously.

But it seems that things are definitely on the up. December 2019 showed the number of mortgages being approved jumped to its highest level in over two years. According to the Bank of England 67,241 loans got the go ahead – the highest figure since July 2017. Good news indeed.

Other research from Zoopla took a look at how first time buyers are faring and which are the most popular locations for those buying their first property – and how much buying a home there will set you back. All the areas across the country have some things in common – being within reach of a big city (or cities) but in a more affordable location. In Yorkshire Bradford is the most popular area with those buying their first home – covering areas such as Bingley, Shipley, Thornton, Keighley, Silsden, Howarth and Ilkley. The average price those taking a first step on the property ladder will pay in the area is £110,000 with a deposit of 15 per cent. That will get you a three bed semi in many cases.

So, with things looking on the up for those wanting to move, how can we help at Holdsworths?

With almost 100 years expertise in home removals, we can help make your move a reality – getting your things safely from your old home to your new home. We can even help with packing if required – our expert team are pros at getting you packed up with the minimum hassle and ensuring everything makes it in one piece, exactly as it was packed. It doesn’t matter where you’re moving to – whether it’s your first home in Bradford, or your fifth home in the highlands of Scotland. We can even help with overseas moves, if your plans are taking you to a different country.

Just contact us to get a quote as soon as you know you’ll be moving – that way we’ll be ready to go once you know the estimated completion date. We recommend at least six weeks ahead of time if you’re able to – but don’t worry if an impending move is creeping ever closer, we’ll always try help out if we can!

We can also help with storage requirements – including container storage if for some reason you need to move out of your old property before you have the keys to the new one. We’ll load everything into containers within our removal van and secure them with you, keeping them locked and safe at our storage centre before delivering them to your new home when needed.

Whatever moves 2020 has in store for you – we’re happy to help any way we can!

Whether it’s Marie Kondo or Mrs Hinch, there’s many an expert you can follow on social media to help you get to grips with sorting, organising or cleaning your home. With the peaceful and pristine properties they create, it’s easy to feel yourself almost getting enthusiastic for a good Spring Clean!

For anyone considering a house move a good declutter, freshen up and deep clean is essential. You want the photos to sell the property at its absolute best, as spacious, light and airy. If you’re moving because it’s starting to feel too cramped, you certainly don’t want potential buyers thinking that!

‘Quality over quantity’, ‘a place for everything and everything in its place’ and ‘a tidy desk equals a tidy mind’ – all sayings we’ve probably heard hundreds of times – but that’s because they’re true!

So, here are some top tips from us here at Holdsworths to help you get sorted before putting your home on the market:

• Be honest – It’s easy to become blind to clutter in your own home. Force yourself to really look around – or even ask family or friends to be honest with you about any areas of your home they think look cluttered!
• Don’t get overwhelmed – Start with a room at a time or even a shelf or a cupboard every time you have five minutes. Break it into manageable chunks so you don’t get overwhelmed.
• Create three piles – Much of the stuff you have in your home you probably use rarely, if ever. Sort things you don’t need frequently into three piles:
  • Chuck – bin things which have no further purpose for you or anyone else
  • Donate – consider whether you could donate the items to a friend, to charity or to something like a school or nursery
  • Store – consider self storage for items if you will need them again in the future. That way you can access them whenever you need to, but they’re out of the way day-to-day. It’s also preferable to piling stuff in a garage or spare room – you don’t want to give an impression of a lack of space or storage to would-be homebuyers coming for a look round.
• Don’t drown in paperwork – Paperwork can quickly pile up, even in this electronic age. Make sure you sort through any papers and recycle things where appropriate – but if it’s got any personal details on it, it will need properly destroying. Use a home shredder, or if you’re looking at paper mountains why not get in touch about our shredding service?
• Don’t get sentimental over clothes – When sorting clothes be realistic. Are you likely to wear the item again? Do you even like it? (as Marie Kondo says does it spark joy?). If not, pass it on.
• Declutter surfaces as much as possible – It will really help for cleaning purposes, as it will be much quicker to wipe round ahead of a viewing.
• Sort out the kitchen cupboard and surfaces – We’re all probably guilty of having a lot of gadgets in our kitchens which we never use, making the room look cluttered. Smoothie makers, popcorn makers, bread machines – sound familiar? If you don’t use it daily it needs to be in a cupboard rather than on display on your work surfaces, and if you don’t currently use it all consider donating or storing it!

It may seem like a daunting task at first but getting organised is always worth it. Imagine life not having to fight through a wardrobe to find outfits and being able to make a sandwich without having to clear a space on the work surface! And if you are planning a move, it might just have you selling up and calling us about removals services in no time!

A snippet in our fantastic local paper, The Yorkshire Post, caught our eye a few weeks ago.

It being around Christmas, no doubt lots of us had spent many happy hours watching our favourite films, catching up with repeats of old classics and enjoying the Christmas specials, cuppa (or something stronger) in hand and tin of Quality Street on the go.

Many of the homes in our favourite shows and films become so familiar to us, we can almost feel like we’ve been there. Take the famous New York apartment belonging to Monica in Friends – so loved it’s done its own tour here in the UK!

Estate agent comparison website GetAgent.co.uk had the clever idea of doing some investigations to work out the value of some of the best known properties which will have appeared on our screens over the festive season.

One of our favourite Christmas films is Home Alone – did you know the suburban detached house in Chicago would cost around £1.2 million now? Not that different from Buddy’s dad’s apartment in New York from Elf at £1.05 million. Susan Walker’s detached family home at Forest Lake in Illinois from the Miracle on 34th Street would cost around £2.75 million if listed today. If you’ve watched The Holiday this Christmas, the small but very pretty Surrey cottage owned by Iris would be worth around £528,000.

Another well known property in Surrey is No 4 Privet Drive – known by every true Harry Potter fan as the Dursley family residence. The estate agent particulars would have to mention that roomy under the stairs cupboard when they market it for around £348,000.

If budget is no object, of course why not aim big. Downton Abbey’s Highclere Castle estate, home to the Crawley family, should do nicely and would be worth approximately £137 million if it was to hit the market today. If you fancy a pad in the capital city instead (or as well) perhaps try Bridget Jones’ flat in Borough Market, which would cost an estimated £1.44 million. Natalie’s terraced house in the ‘dodgy end’ of Wandsworth in Love Actually would cost around £1.02 million.

If you’ve been treating yourself to some sitcom classics this Christmas, if you fancy the look of the Vicar of Dibley’s country cottage you’d be looking at around £580,000. Gavin and Stacey’s terraced house in Barry, South Wales, would set you back a much more affordable £174,000. Del Boy and Rodney’s home in Nelson Mandela House, on the other hand, would now be worth just short of £400,000! Maybe this time next year they really will be millionaires after all…

Wherever your next move is taking you, we can help get your belongings there safely, efficiently and with a friendly and stress-free removals service. So, if 2020 sees you planning a move, get in touch – we’re always happy to chat through how the process works and can get you booked in for an estimate. Happy house hunting!

As reports started coming in last weekend of the first snow of the winter (although there certainly wasn’t any round us in Leeds!), it was that first reminder of what the weather can do this time of year.

So far, in the main, it’s been a wet one, with endless rain. Which doesn’t always make for a fun house move, but it’s not usually much to worry about. But, what happens when rain becomes ice or snow? Should it be something you’re worried about? (to add to the no doubt extensive list of things you’re already worrying about when it comes to moving house!)

The simple answer is – NO! Of course, there are occasionally freak weather occurrences which leave us under four foot of snow, but it’s not very frequent in this country. Rest assured in almost 100 years of moving experience we’re well used to moving in all kinds of great British weather. If it is in any way possible, we’ll get you moved safely into your new home.

Some people are put off moving in the winter with worries about being stranded or dealing with slippery drives. But you often can’t predict when a house will sell or how long a sale might take – so don’t delay booking a removal firm thinking they’ll be easy to get at short notice ‘out of season’. We get booked up all year round, and particularly when there’s bank holidays to work around, so it’s always worth getting something confirmed sooner rather than later.

The best advice for a winter move is to chat through any concerns with our team, and we’ll hopefully be able to reassure you. We’ll be keeping an eye on the forecast as much as you are, but we’re used to dealing with all kinds of situations so try not to worry!

There are simple things you can do on the day to help the move go as safely and smoothly as possible, for example:

• There may be ice, especially early in the morning. Try to clear any ice and spread some grit. This will be safer for the team – and your belongings which they’ll be carrying!
• You may want to protect your carpets as people will be in and out with wet shoes. It won’t be practical to keep removing them whilst carrying furniture so consider laying something down to cover flooring. Just make sure it’s not a trip hazard.
• Use good quality packing materials to protect your items within. We’ll bring furniture covers to protect larger items from the elements.
• It may be dark when you’re moving out or moving in, so make sure you have spare light bulbs to hand in case they’re needed and maybe a couple of torches. Especially for the new house, which will be unfamiliar.
• Have an ‘essentials kit’ with you in your own vehicle, which should include winter coats and clothing, de-icer, shovel and grit – just in case! You can also include other items like toilet rolls, a kettle, food, chargers and any medicines you might need, and numbers for the utility companies. It’s also handy to have your bedding clearly labelled and ready to go – so if it’s late by the time you get into your new home and you’re all exhausted, you can get warm, comfy beds ready in minutes.

If you’re planning a winter move, why not get in touch for more information?

When you’re moving house there can be hundreds of things to think about. Liaising with vendors and buyers through estate agents and solicitors, mortgage arrangements, packing, thinking about the move itself… it’s no wonder it can start to feel overwhelming at times. It doesn’t help that much of the moving process is out of your hands – there isn’t much you can do to speed up waiting for searches or for other parts of the chain to get sorted.

That’s why it’s good to get the bits you are in control of organised and ready to go, so you feel like you’re getting somewhere! We have a full step by step guide to moving house here, which is really helpful to make sure you’re on track.

But we thought it might be handy to put our top five suggestions for things you can get sorted in advance, which you can tick off your checklist and feel good about!

1. Speak to a removals company – we would put this first of course, but make sure you have a removal company sorted as soon as possible. We can get very booked up at certain times and Fridays are always the most popular days. Get in touch to organise a quote and we can discuss getting you booked in – even if you’re not sure about move date yet. Best not to risk missing out by leaving it too late. Remember to always choose a BAR (British Association of Removers) registered removal firm for peace of mind.
2. Let everyone know – it can take a while to change your address on everything. Some you may not want to do in advance, so make sure you have a list with contact details to include financial organisations, insurance companies, government bodies, healthcare providers, utilities, phones, work, schools, friends and family. Get a mail redirection service organised at the Post Office to ensure if any are missed, you’re not caught out. Make sure utilities are aware and you know what to do with final/initial meter readings.
3. The big clear out – there’s bound to be things you don’t need to take to your new home. So, start having a clear out as soon as possible – wardrobes, kitchen cupboards, lofts, garages and under the stairs cupboards included! Don’t forget things like starting to use up food in the freezer and cupboards – you won’t be able to transport frozen food and so you don’t want it going to waste. Don’t leave the clear out until you’re packing when it all becomes more stressful.
4. Start packing – or at least start thinking about packing. You might decide you want to use a packing service such as the one we provide. If so, we would come and take a look and advise you how it would work. A packing service can save you a lot of time and stress – we’re super quick and make sure everything is packed safely and securely. If you’re doing it yourself, start early – pack up items you rarely use as far in advance as possible, such as those in your loft or kitchen equipment, to spread it out. Make sure you have all the packing materials you need – get good quality moving boxes. Remember to label boxes clearly.
5. Think about move day plans – if you have pets and young children you might want to think about what will happen with them on move day. It’s often easier if they can be looked after elsewhere so they don’t get upset or underfoot – or bored! Think about other things like whether it’s likely to be wet and muddy (we do live in the UK) – have you got some way of protecting your carpets? What items are being left for the new owners, and will it be clear to a removals team? Will any furniture need dismantling or white goods need disconnecting?

With a bit of planning and professional help, a move needn’t be so stressful after all!

For many of us our four-legged (or two winged, scaled or furry) friends are as much a part of the family as the people in it. But there can be one slight issue… clear communication.

While Fido might understand “walkies” and Tiddles may understand “dinner time”, neither is likely to grasp “We’re going to move house. It’s absolutely fine and nothing to worry about, but there’s going to be a lot of strange activity going on for a few weeks. Please don’t get upset as you’ll love our new home!”

For our animal friends the build up to move day can be stressful enough, with strangers looking round the house, packing boxes appearing and things being moved around. With that heightened sense that ‘something’s not quite right’, move day itself can all be too much for them.

Here at Britannia Turnbulls in Leeds, we have years of experience helping people and their pets move home – more than 150 years to be precise!

Here are our top tips for making sure your move is as stress free as possible for your ‘fur babies’:

• If at all possible, keep your pet out of the way on move day. See if a family member or friend can have them, or if needs be consider a kennels or cattery. It will be very stressful for them to see so many strangers in the house and boxes and furniture being moved around – and it’s easy for them to get underfoot and accidentally get hurt or cause some damage. Doors will be open, and you don’t want to risk them bolting and not being able to find them as your removal van is sat waiting to depart.
• If there is no option but for them to be at home, keep them confined to one empty room. Put a sign on the door and make sure everyone involved in the move is aware that door must not be opened. Make sure they have a comfy place to sleep and food/water and visit them regularly to give reassurance and to sort toilet trips.
• If your pet gets really stressed in the run up to the move, talk to your vet about things which might be able to help like pheromone diffusers or sprays.
• Make sure your pet is microchipped if appropriate – just in case they do somehow go walkabouts at your old address or your new one.
• Pack anything your pet will immediately need at the new house in your vehicle, or in a clearly marked box. You don’t want to be scrabbling around to find their food, bed, medicine or favourite toy when you reach the new house. Don’t wash things immediately so they retain a familiar and reassuring smell.
• Pets of all kinds should travel with you, not in the removal van. Make sure you’ve considered or sought expert advice on how to best transport them safely. Don’t feed them immediately before travelling in case it makes them car sick.
• Be patient with your pet – they may act out of sorts for a while in their new home. Just give them plenty of reassurance and take it slowly, introducing them to the garden or local area safely whilst on a lead – dogs and cats alike!

We’re always happy to help with any removals related questions – give us a call if there’s anything we can help with. And if you are moving we wish a very happy new home to you and your faithful friend!

If you’re going to trust all your worldly belongings to a removals firm, you want to make sure they’re the very best. It’s not an exaggeration to say they’re going to be looking after everything you own!

A competitive quote is obviously important, but it’s never the only thing you should judge a removals company on. Just like every industry, there will always be those who under price and fail to deliver (which could literally mean in this case not getting your belongings safely from A to B!)

So, what advice can we offer those thinking about moving home when it comes to choosing a good removals company?

1. Reputation and track record

How long has the removal firm been in business? The likelihood is if they’ve been established for many years they have the experience you want – and should be able to provide plenty of testimonials from happy customers. We don’t want to brag or anything, but have we mentioned we’ve been in business for almost 100 years?! Also, ask your friends and family for their recommendations (or for any tips on who to avoid.)

• BAR membership

BAR membership should be a non-negotiable. The British Association of Removers is an industry body which regulates members and can act in situations where a customer may be unhappy. Members adhere to a code of conduct so it gives you reassurance of the quality of the company you’re working with. Don’t just take a removal company’s word for their membership – you can check yourself online on the BAR website.

• Gut feel

Gut instinct is there for a reason. If something seems a bit off about the company you’re looking at, or there’s any warning signs, don’t ignore them. Try to meet them face to face, which should be necessary if they want to do a survey, to see what items you need moving. If a service is priced very cheaply compared to competitors, there’s probably a reason why. Also, look out for things like no landline or address to contact the company. If all you have is a mobile number and they don’t turn up or answer the phone come move day, what would you do?

• Customer service excellence

You should feel confident that the company knows exactly what they’re talking about and that they have the expertise to deal with any number of tricky situations should they arise. No one plans to have problems on move day, but you never know what might happen. Many of our removals’ teams have been working with us for 25+ years and have dealt with any number of issues confidently and calmly for our customers.

• Everything you (might) need

Does they offer accompanying services which might come in useful? For example, can they provide a packing service or storage? You might plan to use storage as part of your move, or it might be needed if something unexpected happens. For example, if your purchase gets delayed by a few days but your sale can’t wait, what would you do? At Holdsworths we can pack your items straight into container storage on the removal van so it gets safely and securely stored until you’re ready for us to bring it to your new home.

If you have any questions about removals, we’re always happy to help, with no obligation. Why not get in touch?