Moving to Southend

[JackDanielsU]

From Gloucestershire

Whats the best option of getting my worldly belongings down there (I dont drive)

2 spring to mind

Hire a removal company to take the stuff down

Ask a mate if he can hire a small van, and drive me and my stuff down.

Option 2 sounds best to me, and probably cheaper? And Im sure it would be a bit of a laugh, and obv Id make sure he was compensated for his time - but is that the best route to take?

Advice please

[dmk]

In the past I have usually gone for your second option but when we moved six months ago we decided that we would get the professionals in, mainly because we are both now over 50, as are the friends who have helped us move in the past, and didn't really fancy all the manhandling of large items of furniture. By the time you take into account the cost of the van hire, compensation for your friend's time, etc, it really becomes worth looking at paying a bit more and getting the removal men in. Obviously you need to find a reliable firm - I used our local check-a-trade, you could try googling their website, or a personal recommendation is even better if you know someone who has recently used a removals firm. I would definitely do this again, it was all made so hassle-free for us and was well worth the cost. If anyone is looking for a reliable removals firm in West Sussex I would definitely recommend the one we used.

[naz_nomad]

Hope you're being forced to move because of work, and not because you want to ... Southend is a scumhole.

[Solarjunkie]

Good luck DJ (saw you in Tesco's recently!)
First option least hassle but surprisingly expensive
Second option more flexible.
Suggest you try & reduce what you have - it's very easy to replace stuff such as furniture cheaply, anywhere! Take the minimum - you'll need a smaller vehicle.
All the best.

[JackDanielsU]

Thanx all

Yep, I dont have that much stuff. no furniture part from a comfy office -style chair, (maybe my double bed, but that breaks down, so just the matress is the bulky item, and theres already a bed there, so it may not go down)

The rest of stuff will be my computer, telly, and then various boxes and bags, too much for a car, and probably just right for a small transit style van.

Removal companies seem to want - �500 to do the job. (320 miles round trip) which seems expensive to say the least, and something I cant afford

Renting a van for a day, cant be that expensive, but I guess its the fuel on top of that as well.
And my mate, I dont know how much would be enough..or too much to pay him for his time

Argh - thinking is needed

[JackDanielsU]

Ah Ive lived in worse places Naz


Stoke on Trent
Kettering (if you spot TheCorbyLoon, ask him about it)

+ my brother who im going to stay with at first runs a pub there.
Its a fresh start and all that.

[naz_nomad]

Which pub? ... I used to live in Basildon and have frequented most of the Southend boozers.

[Solarjunkie]

You don't have to take your mattress or your chair, both v easily replacable, join the local Freecycle & I'm sure one will come along.
The amount of stuff you really, really want should fit into 2 suitcases.
Also, if you rent a van, they generally want it back, so you could be crossing the country several times. Have you looked into the possiblity of palletising your stuff? Various companies advertise on ebay, for example, such as palletline, and may be �50-100.

Go for it D! Delighted to learn of your plans (have you sussed me out yet? ;-))

[JackDanielsU]

naz - I dont think this pub would have been on your list - and even though I'll be staying there, I'll be scouting out a new local - a decent sports bar or something (or at least something that has Carlsberg on tap!...and single women, one or t'other)

Its The Cliff, Hamlet Road, Southend. Quite popular place, and I did have a good time just before Xmas, but not what Im used to....any tips of ones you went to would be appreciated

And hello to you SJ...small world and all that. Was doing a lot of thinking NYE, and though Im going to miss Stroud and family 'n' friends, its got to be done really.

[naz_nomad]

Why are you going to live in a gay bar?


And yes, you're right ... it's definitely not on my list.

[JackDanielsU]

Not in it....above it...and I'll be using it as a stepping stone - move down there, get a job, get some dosh in the bank - find a flat somwhere in that region...and so on.

My younger brother runs it with his wife, but he took it on as hes always been the flamboyant one on the family.

By all accounts theres quite a good crowd of single women that go in, just so they dont get pestered by blokes!! - obviously they dont mind being pestered by other women then