What do removal men load first? A mover’s-eye view of a smooth, safe van pack

What do removal men load first? A mover’s-eye view of a smooth, safe van pack

If you’ve ever watched a professional moving crew glide through a home, it can look like choreography. There’s a reason for that. What goes onto the van first sets the tone for the whole day, how safe the load is, how quickly we can unload, and whether your sofa arrives looking like it’s been through a scrum.

Here’s exactly how pros decide the loading order, plus a few tips to help your move run like clockwork.

Why the loading order matters

• Safety and weight balance: Vans handle best when weight is low and forward. Pack it wrong and you risk items shifting or, worse, damage on the road.

• Speed at the new place: What we load last comes off first. If you need the kettle and the travel cot quickly, we plan for it.

• Protection: The right order lets us pad, strap and stack items so nothing rubs, crushes or tips.

What we load first (and why)

1. The big, heavy, and unyielding items - Think fridges, washing machines, range cookers, wardrobes, solid chests, large bookcases and sofas.

• Why first: They form the “foundation wall” at the front of the van, giving us a stable base.

• What we do: Protect with transit blankets, corner guards and stretch-wrap; strap to anchor rails. Appliances are kept upright. Sofas are wrapped and oriented to avoid pressure points.

2. Beds and dismantled furniture Bed frames, tables with legs removed, wardrobe panels and divan bases.

• Why now: Flat sections create strong layers and help lock heavier items in place.

• What we do: Bag and label fixings, wrap headboards, and load tabletops vertically with pads between.

3. Sturdy, medium-weight boxes Books, cookware, records—dense but stackable.

• Why now: These boxes fill gaps beneath and between furniture, building a tight, level stack.

• What we do: Heaviest boxes low and centred, lighter ones above. Clear “UP” arrows respected to avoid crushing contents.

4. Lighter, mixed and room-labelled boxes Linens, toys, decor, pantry bits.

• Why now: They cap the stack and travel safely above the heavier layers.

• What we do: Keep room groups together so unloading is fast and direct to the right rooms.

5. Awkward shapes and long items Lamps, garden tools, curtain poles, pictures, mirrors, guitars, skis—anything that doesn’t box neatly.

6. Essentials and “first-night” bits (last on, first off) Kettle, tea, mugs, cleaning kit, phone chargers, bedding, baby items, pet leads, medication, loo roll—life-savers at the new place.

• Why last: They come straight off at delivery so you can settle in immediately.

• What we do: Ask you to mark an “OPEN FIRST” box; it rides by the door of the van or in the cab if appropriate.

What you can do the day before to help

• Empty, defrost and towel-dry the fridge/freezer.

• Finish packing boxes to the top so they’re crush-resistant; no gappy lids.

• Keep box weights sensible—think “book box small, duvet box big.”

• Label each box on two sides with room and brief contents.

• Set aside your “OPEN FIRST” box and important documents so they don’t disappear into the depths.

A quick cheat-sheet order

• First: Appliances, wardrobes, chests, sofas

• Then: Dismantled beds/tables, flat panels

• Next: Heavy/sturdy boxes

• Then: Lighter boxes by room

• After: Long, awkward items and pictures

• Last on (first off): Fragiles, TV, plants, essentials

The Foundations Removals difference

• Quality, every step: We keep communication clear, listen to what matters to you, and treat your kit like it’s our own.

• The perfect pace: We’re efficient without the mad rush—steady, careful, and right on time, so your sofa doesn’t collect battle scars.

• No nonsense on the day: No grumbling about stairs, no drama, no games—just a smooth, honest move with proper protection and tidy straps.

Fancy that kind of move? We’ll load it right, bring the banter, and get you into your new place without a scratch.