Happy 2017 One & All!

When sleigh bells ring and choirs sing

And the children's faces shine

With each new toy we share their joy

With a christmas auld lang syne!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

We're feeling very festive around the dining table today, and hope you are too!

Merry Christmas from 1 Van 1 Man

The Magical Sleigh Versus The Humble Removal Van

Sometimes, it's hard to tell the difference...

Our Mantra For The Month...

Wherever you are, we hope you have a lovely Christmas Break!

Removal Men: The Modern Day Santa?

Perhaps we're not quite as esteemed as the jolly red fellow, but we share many qualities. Both travel from home to home delivering anticipated packages. Both have friendly helpers at hand. We even get to enjoy the occasional mince pie!

In all seriousness, Christmas is a wonderful time of year to work in this industry. People seem chirpier, homes are warmer and there are colours aplenty to enjoy.

Through Wind & Rain, Night Or Day

...1 Van 1 Man have your back! 

Yorkshire HS2 Route Confirmed - Attracts Early Criticism

While the routes for HS2 were only confirmed this week, the story has already begun to raise controversy in the local area. Residents of Mexborough, many of whom only moved to the Shimmer housing estate recently, warn that their homes could be bulldozed within a decade to make room for the new transport system.

Does Yorkshire need this? In light of earlier news that the Dales are to be expanded, does this lush green county suit the bulldozers, concrete and dirt that come with rail construction? Or, is it important that we stay connected so that we've got better transport links to other cities? Let us know!

Yorkshire Cities Shine In Work/Life Balance

More good news from the Yorkshire scene, as a recent study shows we outshine the rest of the country when it comes to work/life balance. That being said, there's still plenty more to be done, as this article shows in the Yorkshire Post.

Clocks Go Back - Removal Time!

Did You Know...

That November is one of our busiest months in the removal calendar?

Why?

Because it's the perfect time to schedule a stress-free house move, while also having the breathing space to enjoy Christmas in the new home. The heat is off from your holiday, and you can use half-term to get the kids involved in your adventure!

DIY Halloween Decorations

Receiving trick or treaters this weekend? Check out these tips for easy, DIY halloween decorations around the home.

Why We Love Autumn

1. Cooler temperature makes for easier loading

2. Halloween decorations! They make the job very interesting

3. The beautiful, fiery colours of freshly fallen leaves

4. Autumn is a big season for buying and moving houses. That means we meet lots of interesting new people!

5. Autumn is the precursor to Christmas. But ssh! We don't talk about that just yet.

<3

Home Moving Apps

I've noticed a number of moving and productivity apps for iOS and Android recently. The question is, are they any good? As a customer, have any of you had a good/bad experience with these? I'd love to know if any are worth recommending. Maybe 1 Van 1 Man should create their own?! Who knows what the future holds...

Purge While You Pack

...your future self will thank you!

Furniture Assembly In Pictures

Some snaps of a recent removal I took part in. For all the talk about vans, sometimes the biggest relief to customers is having someone assemble their furniture!

How To Build A Treehouse

Wikihow is one of our favourite websites. Not only is it informative, but it displays information clearly with legible, attractive illustrations. It's the go-to place when you're stuck with a household task, vehicle maintenance or...building a treehouse!

September Beckons!

It's September - a month of golden leaves, cool temperatures and excitement for the festivities ahead. As an ode to September we're posting the most autumnal house we could find.

Setting Up The Very Largest Furniture: The Pyramid Stage

Festival season is drawing to a close. Only a handful remain this summer, then it's back to hibernation for the winter. It's interesting to see how some festivals are set up. We do our fair share of assembly/dismantling in the removals trade, but nothing on this scale!

Moving in Japan

As Rio hand the Olympic baton to Tokyo, we stop to admire the qualities of 21st century Japan. Known for impeccable craftsmanship and technological prowess, the Japanese work ethic is a constant source of inspiration. Take their moving industry, for instance - now that is a bespoke service!

Brexit, EU Internet Regulations

Brexit, EU Internet Regulations

A Perfect Trip To Yorkshire

In light of Yorkshire Day last week - and the news that the Dales are to be expanded - I thought I'd point you towards a Metro article that highlights the holiday opportunities around the county. Is York included in their list? You bet it is. So is Skipton, Malham, Ripon, and plenty of other places we regularly visit as 1 Van 1 Man. There's time yet to enjoy a late-summer trip to Yorkshire. When the sights are that good, why wouldn't you?

Creative Decking Designs

Summer is in full swing, so it's time for us to take inspiration from the world of outdoor design. For those of you revamping the garden, why not look at this Pinterest board for some creative ideas for your barbecue area?

What Day is a Cow's Favourite?

Moo-ving Day!

Keep The Tots Entertained

Assembling furniture, fitting fridges, putting up shelves - time best spent without distractions. One way to get there is by building a cardboard maze for the young ones. Waste not, want not, as they say!

Removal Men At The Highest Tier

David Cameron leaves No. 10 Downing Street today, and even the Prime Minister needs a removal van. Personally I'm relieved we weren't called in; it's quite enough work without the added pressure of armed policemen!

What To Do With Leftover Packing Peanuts?

...or rather, what do 100,000 on a trampoline look like? These guys have the right idea. It's certainly a novel way of reusing your old packaging!

Leaving the EU and why it was form in the first place

Those decisions would make us go into what we would call a DIY recession. In order to know where you are going, people need to know where we came from and for what reasons decisions where made to keep us as a peaceful Europe. Without their energy and motivation we would not be living in the climate of peace and stability that we take for granted nowadays. See your history... http://europa.eu/about-eu/eu-history/index_en.htm

Leaving the EU and why it was form in the first place

Those decisions would make us go into what we would call a DIY recession. In order to know where you are going, people need to know where we came from and for what reasons decisions where made to keep us as a peaceful Europe. Without their energy and motivation we would not be living in the climate of peace and stability that we take for granted nowadays. See your history... http://europa.eu/about-eu/eu-history/index_en.htm

What's An Infinity Table?

What indeed? Take a look at this beautiful DIY 'infinity table' - a unit with a mesmerising light effect that seems to go on...and on...and on. Move it with care!

Check out the full gallery here.

Moving White Goods By Yourself

People often ask us about how to move their large electrical appliances - whether a fridge, freezer or washing machine. Besides the necessary unplugging/electrical connections to arrange, you must be careful to transport it safely. Here's a guide we found on the internet that explains just that. Alternatively, just ask your removal company!

Slow & Steady Wins The Race, Or Does It?

You'd think that a longer-term mortgage - with smaller monthly payments - would be a sensible way of planning for the future. Yes? Well, it turns out that people are being warned against this, as it could mean tens of thousands pounds accrued in interest. Read more on BBC Finance.

The Quirky Side Of Removals

There's lots to say about house removals - from packing advice to mortgage strategy. However, while we like to help and advise customers, we also like to entertain. Occasionally we'll write about the quirkier side of things. Many of these can be found on our sister site - myhouseremovals.uk. Take this story, for instance, about a farmer's fight for his castle. Interested? We sure are!

What's In Your Basement?

This guy has created an entire bouldering course in his basement. If you've got the space, why not? Not only does it keep you fit, but it doesn't really stop you from using parts of the floor as storage. Imagine the look of surprise on the estate agent's face when he gets to selling!

(Mind you, I'm sure he won't find moving heavy boxes a problem after a daily boulder routine).

View the full gallery on imgur.

Rental Properties Flood The Market: Some Advice

In the news that rental properties are flooding the market, we thought it's time to take stock and compile all the resources we've written so far on the topic.

Help, My Landlord Is Selling Up! - Read Article
The Danger Of Ripoff Rents - Read Article
Getting Your Deposit Back From The Landlord - Read Article
Viewing A Rental Property - Read Article
Decorating Your Rental Home - Read Article

Outside our blog, we'd recommend bookmarking the ever-convenient Money Saving Expert. Their website holds a swathe of information for tenants. This one, 55 tips for renters, is particularly inspirational.

Happy tenancy all!

Bank Of Mum & Dad Lend £5bn A Year

According to the data firm Legal & General, the so-called 'Bank Of Mum & Dad' will lend approximately five billion pounds in mortgage transactions this year. Such a bank would statistically be in the top 10 mortgage lenders across the country. Is this a sure sign that house prices are well and truly at unaffordable levels for young people?

Read more about this on the BBC Business website here.

Hats Off To The Packaging Maestros

Being in the removals industry, we're fans of good packaging. Every day we see cardboard boxes, carriers, duct tape mummies and all forms of creative baggage. None of those quite meet the standards of these everyday goods. As the article suggests, it's packaging that sells itself!

Check out the full gallery here.

Advice For Expats

With the EU referendum a hot topic in the news, we thought it useful to flag some of the details in moving abroad for UK citizens. Experts For Expats - a brilliant resource on such things - covers the issue extensively including tax arrangements, medical bills and what to do with your pets. Unlike Johnny Depp, you want to make the right decisions when moving dogs to another country!

Read more below:

http://www.expertsforexpats.com/relocation/moving-abroad-checklist/

Simple Storage For Bikes

You won't be surprised to hear that as removal men, we love a good use of space. DIY projects such as this hanging bike rack are right up our street! If your shed looks like this during the house move - kudos to you!

Full gallery here.

A Treasure Trove Of Moving Advice

We've found a goldmine of moving advice on Reddit. While it's written for an American audience, the same basic rules apply for UK movers. It covers everything from towing, freights, seasonal advice and how to vet a removal company. We hope you find it useful!

https://www.reddit.com/r/Frugal/comments/4ckj1t/best_moving_advice_from_reddit/

Fancy a Camping Trip?

Take a little home with you! It beats lugging round a massive rucksack.

http://imgur.com/a/A4yye

More Monumental Moving

We've posted about the art of physically moving a building before, but nothing on this scale. Just look at the size of it! 123 years old, 6,200 tonnes. Quite a feat!

A Yorkshire Home Blog

Local couple Heather & Paul keep a great blog about their home renovation in Yorkshire. Looks like a real labour of love - we wish them the best of luck!

http://www.ayorkshirehome.com/

A Fairytale Ending? We Hope So

Though not the inspiration for the Pixar film, this property has become known as the 'Up' house on account of its appearance and being dwarfed by surrounding buildings. The real life story behind it is almost as fascinating as the film counterpart. Read more below:

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jul/09/up-house-seattle-pixar-edith-macefield

Stairwell Renovation

One thing about removals is seeing past the empty house, and forward a few months after you've worked your DIY magic. A classic example below of a stairway renovation. This is the before/after effect you want to envisage when you step through the front door.

Full album here:
http://imgur.com/a/DdYBQ

Pinspiration

We were browsing Pinterest for home decor inspiration on one of our blog posts and ran down a rabbit hole. Here's one of my favourites from the search - games room galore!

https://uk.pinterest.com/sgmacke/~entertainmentgame-rooms~/

How They Do Things In Venice

No need for removal vans in Venice! Simply dock up to the customer's home and begin loading.

Removals For Chickens

Have a look at this guy's craftsmanship, creating a brand new stained glass chicken coop for his happy hens. The full gallery can be found here. We're impressed!

Wise Words from Winnie

You tell it Pooh!

Homeward Bound

A frequent - and appropriate - favourite on the 1 Van 1 Man playlist!

Removal Planning in GIFs

The Metro are all doom and gloom - many of our customers approach moving day with a smile and optimism! Needless to say that speaks great volumes about the Yorkshire spirit. Nonetheless, here is their bitesize take on removal planning from last year.

http://metro.co.uk/2015/03/19/all-the-ways-you-will-fail-when-you-try-to-move-house-5110383/

Millie's Moving Day: Kids' Entertainment When You're Packing

Need to placate the children on moving day? Why not go meta and have them enjoy a removal-related comedy classic? Presenting Millie Inbetween on moving day, courtesy of CBBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/cbbc/episode/b04nw2pz/millie-inbetween-series-1-6-moving-day