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

Interstellar Removals

In honour of Major Tim Peake's successful launch yesterday, I took a look at what life would be like aboard the International Space Station. Among many facts - including the bathroom and cleaning habits of astronauts - I learned that Mr. Peake will experience a sunrise every 45 minutes! Quite something.

It will be some time before the 1 Van 1 Man removal shuttle comes into action, but a man can hope. In the meantime, read more about life aboard the ISS here.

Only In Yorkshire: The Teddy Bear House

Stories like this lift your heart on a stormy Monday such as this.

Known as 'The Teddy Bear House', a property in Leven has had the same teddies looking out of the front window for over 40 years. When the time came to sell, the previous owners were delighted to hear that the new occupants will carry on the tradition. The Teddy Bear House is a staple part of Leven, and it goes to demonstrate the small part each house can play in the wider community.

http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Leven-Teddy-Bear-House-New-owners-carry-tradition/story-25775362-detail/story.html

Noah's Ark

Continuing the current series of odd and creative houses, we look at a 'floating house boat' in Silicon Valley. The owner wished to create a survival home that could save his family in the event of a tsunami. In doing so he's pushed the creative envelope of architecture, woodwork and engineering. Good on him.

DIY Done Right

Forgive me for boring you with this one, but I can't resist sharing good old fashioned bit of DIY (especially when it comes to houses). This lucrative man fixed and replaced a 22' section of his run-down basement wall into a brand new bedroom - for under $3000. In Sterling that's just short of £2,000. Not only is he saving a great deal of money with this renovation, he's also feeding the primal urge to fix things with bare hands - something I recommend we all do once in a while. See the full image gallery with his comments here.

Home Removals or House Movers?

A slight change in wording, but very different work! Wolfe House Building Movers in the US are in the business of moving entire properties from A to B - walls, foundations and all. Below is a photo of them in action, transporting a Victorian house just 1000 yards down the road. The lucky owners (pictured) were told by the landowners they could have the house for free, so long as they could move it. That's a bargain if I ever saw one.

Turning Autumn Leaves Into Gold (Almost)

Leaf mould is a valuable gardening resource that bolsters your compost, mulch or winter soil cover. With all the leaves scattered around at this time of year - it would be rude not to! Yorkshire's own Alan Titchmarsh explains:

http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/garden/356910/Alan-Titchmarsh-How-to-turn-fallen-leaves-into-gold

Pure Craftsmanship

My passion isn't just the removals of large furniture, it's also admiring them. None more so than this beautiful bespoke Capstan table, which combines functionality with stunning craftsmanship. How much will this set you back, I hear you ask? Between $25,000 - $75,000! To say 'handle with care' would be an understatement!

Cleaning a House : Muppet Style

We aren't muppets, but we do endorse this go-getter, positive attitude when cleaning a home for a removal! Teamwork, creativity and quirky humour go a long way!

Vintage Removal Humour

Some vintage removal humour to see you through Monday - an exasperated Yorkshire resident tries everything she can to meet our 'Erbert.

A Change Of Affairs In Beverley.

Well, what do you know? After 42 traffic lights from Beverley's infamous 'red light junction' switched off, traffic flowed smoother than before! Now, local residents are rallying to have them switched off permanently. Having crossed the Grovehill junction many times we can't say we're fond of that many stops in close quarters, but is it safe to be rid of them entirely? The people of Beverley seem to think so.

http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Switch-permanently-Residents-traffic-lights/story-27933475-detail/story.html

Man Cave Conversion

Following the theme of unusual house conversions and creations - here is a person who created his own man cave in the basement!

http://imgur.com/a/TvTca#0

Need a new house? Why not build one?

I've been fixated on this YouTube channel these past few weeks. The creator builds houses and everyday tools out of the fat of the land - carving, sculpting and forging every last element. The question is, will he settle here? It would be a creative removal request, but I dare say the vans might have trouble parking nearby...

Shed Removals...ish

We offer shed removals, but this might be taking things too far - a bed, in a shed, in the lounge. The logistics alone are baffling. Whatever hardy person lives here, we commend them and hope they're able to upsize soon.

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2015/sep/02/london-housing-crisis-480-a-month-for-a-bed-in-a-shed-in-the-lounge

Howl's Moving House

We'd like to know who made this, and welcome them aboard our team! A 'bigiature' replica of Howl's Moving Castle. It's just as well that the trend hasn't caught on; we'd be hard pushed to administer removals if everybody lived like this!

   Have you ever had a #MovingDay nightmare? We want to know what’s the worst thing that has ever happened while you’re already stressed with moving everything you own.

Don’t forget to look after your doggy during #MovingDay. They don’t understand what is going on! 

 #FactOfTheDay: The average Brit will move home 8 times in their life. Where are you in your moving timeline?

What’s your favourite place in #Yorkshire?

Harrogate is yet again voted the best place to live in the UK! 

Exercise Caution When Moving Sofas

Unlike these adventurers:

But seriously, just because it's comfy doesn't mean it won't hurt you. If you're unsure about - or need help with - large item removals, consult the experts first.

Here's Something You Don't See Every Day!

Nor would you! Moving a house with horses, circa 1908. I regret to say this isn't a service we'll be offering anytime soon. Never say never though, eh?

Moving into Student Accommodation?

Are you moving into student accommodation soon? Let us help you get all your stuff there so you can enjoy being a fresher right away. #students  https://www.1van1man.com/removal-services/student-removals-york.html 

Moving House Without The Mouse

I came across this article (see below) relating the stress of moving home with staying on the internet, frantically tracking Gumtree orders and forums for item giveaways. I'm a big proponent of organising things online, but now and again it's important to take a step back and do things the old fashioned way. Need to get rid of a sofa? A quick phone call to your local British Heart Foundation will deal with the problem ten times faster than Craigslist could.

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/mar/08/moving-house-step-away-from-the-mouse

52 Week Money Challenge

The thing about moving is there's often lots of time to prepare - some of our customers have been planning their move for a whole year! Saving is a big part of this, and we've found a nifty little method to help set aside money for deposits, furniture and decorating.

On week one, put £1 into your savings account or house fund. Week 2, add £2. Week 3...you get the picture. See what you think!

Tips For Moving With Your Kids

Are you moving with children? Take a look at these tips to make the process easier. http://www.wtxl.com/community/home-and-garden-tips-for-moving-with-kids/article_18677aa6-2ed1-11e5-be5c-47dd24ef9634.html

#Didyouknow that in 2013 nearly half of all moves took place from August – November? #FactFriday 

Local Shopping Benefits

Most people tend to move homes on a Friday, giving them the weekend to unpack. Even better if it is a bank holiday!Your new community could have a whole host of stores waiting for you. Take a look at our blog to discover the benefit of shopping locally. Do you use local retailers? We want to hear from you.  https://www.1van1man.com/blog/local-shopping-benefits.html      

 

#Didyouknow that the average between moving in and wanting to move out is 7 years and 4 months? 

Helping The Customer With a Good Online Presence

As hinted in my previous post, 1 Van 1 Man like to branch out into many territories - both offline in our trade, and online across our social networks. With Blogspot having circulated for over ten years, I thought it would be a good opportunity to reflect on the state of the internet and how it benefits our business. What’s changed, and what remains the same?

The principal benefit of having a good online presence is the ease in which customers reach us. Previously you had to call a removal firm, hope they weren’t busy, then begin a long discussion about your house move, number of rooms, inventory and all the rest of it. I love chatting with customers but for busy types this takes time, with little way besides fax of quickly receiving a written quote.

As websites get more and more sophisticated, customers are free to make enquiries in their own schedule; they simply visit the page, fill in the form, and await an email with all the information they need. Day or night, the customer is free to make enquiries at their leisure. Sure, we like to chat about the details, but that important first step is made entirely in comfort.

If the initial enquiry comes from change, the means of finding us doesn’t. With or without computers, a business’s reputation supersedes all other aspects of their brand - be that a website, shop floor or company logo. In a world of tablets, 3D films and smart refrigerators, your choice of removal firm still revolves around what other customers say. Don’t get me wrong - I’m proud of our brand, but nothing makes me beam as much as customers’ unedited reviews. It’s these independent testimonials, spread across three platforms for diversity, that puts trust in the customer and validates a business’s good reputation. Read them for yourself on Google+, Facebook or Freeindex.

1 Van 1 Man on Blogspot

Always on the lookout for new ways to communicate with our customers, 1 Van 1 Man have decided to revisit Blogspot and tidy up this little space in our network. While we regularly update our main blog page, this area will occasionally cover topics outside the categories of York removal services. Stay tuned, and don't forget to visit our main website for the latest removal offers, tips and services.

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1 Van 1 Man Removals | Removals That Remove The Stress

 

Local removal firm 1 Van 1 Man in York launch discounts for nurses, NUS students and members of the armed forces. Services include local, national and European delivery for both residential and commercial properties

Dateline: 12^th July 2015

York businessman Dale Gosine is driving up the quality of service on offer to residents and commercial industry in and around York, by offering a discount for NHS staff, students and members of the armed forces. 1 Van 1 Man, which provides light removals, courier service, local, national and European moves and many other services, is rewarding hard working public sector workers such as nurses and soldiers with a ten per cent, money off voucher to help cover the costs of their removal fees.

The people behind 1 Van 1 Man Removals in York, are fully appreciative of the stresses and pressures that everyone undergoes when faced with moving house. They recognize, that for those people who have to move frequently because of the job, or who are on shift work or restricted incomes, a little help goes a long way. This is why this removal firm, operating 24/7 with office hours from 9am till 7pm, came up with the idea of their discounted price.

“Times have never been more difficult for families,” said Dale Gosine,” but we just wanted to put something back into the community and help out where we can, and the first people we thought about were those in the NHS and the armed forces. We recognize the great job they do and we wanted to show our appreciation. We’ve also had a lot of experience in moving students to and from their lodgings and we know they have to struggle with student loans and fees, so we didn’t want them to lose out either.”

2013 has been a very busy year for the York removals firm and culminates with the launch of their new website redesign. Customer feedback is very important to these local removals services and they have teamed up with Google to provide authentic reviews for new customers who are looking for the five start removal treatment. This allows for independent reviews over which York based 1 Van 1 Man, have no control, so potential customers can be assured of a completely unbiased view. The latest reviews and feedback can be accessed here.

The York house removals firm like the immediate feedback that interacting on an online platform gives them, and they recognize the importance of instantaneous opinions which is why they have gone down the Google review route. As Dale Gosine notes,

“We need to know that we are getting it right first time and if people like what we do then they go online and tell people, if we are doing something wrong, then they can let us know just by a few clicks of a button, so Google and FreeIndex have been really useful.”

1 Van 1 Man, removals in York, offer a range of bespoke collections and pick-ups, everything from single to bulky items, motorbike deliveries, band and gig collections, office removals and much more. They are available at short notice, will help load and unload and are more than happy to discuss individual or group requirements depending on your particular needs.

So for the right move at the right price, give them a call or email via their new look customer friendly website: https://www.1van1man.com/