What’s the Weirdest Thing You’ve Ever Moved House With?
When you think about moving house, you probably picture cardboard boxes, sofas, beds, wardrobes and the usual collection of household furniture.
But what about the giant teddy bear collection? The enormous grandfather clock? The full-size pool table in the games room? Or that rather unusual garden statue you’ve been promising your partner you’ll get rid of for the last ten years?
Moving house isn’t always as straightforward as loading a few boxes into a van.
Over the years, removal companies come across all sorts of unusual, oversized, delicate and downright interesting possessions. And sometimes, it’s the things people least expect that need the most careful planning.
At A&M Removals, we’ve been helping people move home for more than 36 years. As a family-run removal company serving York, East Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and throughout the UK, we understand that not everything you own can simply be thrown into a box.
So, we thought we’d take a look at some of the more unusual things people might need to move when changing homes.
How many of these have you got hiding in your house?
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Grandfather Clocks – A Family Heirloom That Needs Special Care
There’s something rather special about a grandfather clock.
Perhaps it’s been passed down through three generations, perhaps it belonged to your grandparents, or maybe it’s an expensive antique you’ve spent years restoring.
Whatever the story, it’s not something you want bouncing around in the back of a removal van.
Grandfather clocks can be tall, heavy and surprisingly delicate. Their internal mechanisms, pendulums and weights need particular attention during a move.
Some clocks also have valuable wooden cases that can be scratched or damaged if they’re not properly protected.
Our advice: Tell your removal company about the clock before moving day. Depending on its design, it may need specialist preparation, careful packing and separate handling of its internal components.
And if it’s a particularly valuable antique, consider asking a clock specialist about preparing it for transport.
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Giant Teddy Bear Collections – How Many Is Too Many?
We all know someone who has a soft spot for teddy bears.
But what happens when that collection takes over an entire bedroom?
Some people have a handful of childhood favourites, while others have hundreds of bears collected over many years.
You might even have one of those enormous teddy bears that takes up more room than a small sofa!
The good news is that most teddy bears are relatively straightforward to move, provided they’re kept clean, dry and protected.
Our advice: Use large, clean bags or suitably sized boxes to keep collections together. Make sure particularly valuable or sentimental bears are packed carefully.
And don’t forget to label everything. You don’t want to arrive at your new home and spend three hours trying to find your favourite teddy!
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Pool Tables – Not Quite a Flat-Pack Job!
A full-size pool table might look fantastic in your games room, but moving one is another matter entirely.
They’re extremely heavy, awkward to manoeuvre and can contain delicate playing surfaces that need protecting.
Some tables have slate beds, which can be exceptionally heavy and require careful handling. They may also need to be dismantled and professionally reassembled.
Trying to move one without understanding how it’s constructed can cause expensive damage.
Our advice: Don’t attempt to move a pool table without understanding what’s involved. Speak to a specialist who can advise on dismantling, transportation and reassembly.
Make sure you also measure the doorways, staircases and access routes at your new property.
That beautiful new games room won’t be quite so appealing if the pool table won’t fit through the door!
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Pianos and Organs – Big, Heavy and Surprisingly Delicate
Pianos are among the more challenging household items to move.
Whether you’ve got a small upright piano, a traditional family instrument or a large grand piano, they can be extremely heavy and awkward to manoeuvre.
And despite their size, they’re also delicate instruments containing thousands of moving components.
Organs can present similar challenges, particularly larger instruments with multiple keyboards, pedals and complex components.
Our advice: Always tell your removal company about a piano or organ when requesting a quotation.
The type of instrument, its weight, the access arrangements and the distance involved all need to be considered.
At A&M Removals, we understand that pianos and other specialist items require additional care and attention. We can discuss your requirements and the arrangements needed to help protect your instrument during the move.
If you’ve spent years learning to play, the last thing you want is your piano arriving at the new house with a few unexpected extra notes!
A piano being removed from Beverley Minster by A&M Removals
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Antique Wardrobes – When Furniture Has a History
Some modern wardrobes are relatively easy to dismantle and move.
But what about a huge Victorian wardrobe that’s been in the family for generations?
Antique wardrobes can be heavy, awkward and surprisingly fragile. They may have delicate decorative features, mirrors, intricate carvings and wooden joints that need careful handling.
Some older wardrobes are also too large to fit through modern doorways without being dismantled.
Our advice: Let your removal company know about particularly large or valuable furniture.
Take measurements of the wardrobe and the access routes at both properties. If dismantling is necessary, check whether it can be done safely without damaging the original construction.
And don’t forget to remove loose shelves, drawers and other detachable components before transport. Here at A&M Removals we also offer a furniture dismantling service…
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Garden Statues – Not Your Average Garden Ornament!
Garden ornaments come in all shapes and sizes.
Some are small enough to fit into a cardboard box, while others are enormous stone statues that weigh considerably more than you might expect.
You might have a concrete garden angel, a large stone lion, a traditional sundial or a rather unusual sculpture that has been sitting in the garden for years.
Some are extremely heavy, while others are delicate and can be easily damaged if dropped or knocked.
Our advice: Make a list of any large garden ornaments that need moving.
Don’t assume they can simply be picked up and loaded into the van. Heavy stone or concrete objects may need specialist lifting equipment and suitable transport arrangements.
It’s also worth checking whether the item is fixed to a base or needs to be separated before moving.
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Model Railway Collections – A Hobby That Can Take Over the House!
For some people, model railways are much more than a hobby.
They can involve years of collecting locomotives, carriages, buildings, scenery and incredibly detailed miniature landscapes.
Some enthusiasts have entire rooms dedicated to their railway layouts, complete with tunnels, bridges, stations and working signals.
Moving a collection like this can be quite an undertaking.
While individual models can be packed into protective containers, larger layouts may need to be dismantled carefully.
Our advice: Separate valuable locomotives and delicate models from the larger scenery. Use suitable protective packaging and keep an inventory of particularly valuable pieces.
If you’ve spent years building a detailed railway layout, take photographs before dismantling it. You’ll be glad you did when you start rebuilding it in your new home!
Photo – Hornby: hornby.com
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Oversized Furniture – When Bigger Isn’t Always Better!
We’ve all seen those enormous sofas, dining tables and wardrobes that look fantastic in a large room.
But moving them can be a different story.
Large corner sofas, extra-wide American-style refrigerators, enormous dining tables and oversized beds can create problems when navigating narrow hallways and staircases.
This is particularly worth considering if you’re moving into an older Yorkshire property with small doorways and awkward corners.
Our advice: Measure everything before moving day.
Check the width and height of doorways, hallways, staircases and any tight turns. Don’t forget to consider ceiling height and access through external doors.
Some items may need dismantling before they can be moved safely.
It’s much better to discover a problem during the planning stage than when your sofa is stuck halfway up the stairs!
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Valuable Collections and Unusual Hobbies
People collect all sorts of things.
From vintage records and antique books to football memorabilia, signed photographs, rare toys, musical instruments and model cars, collections can represent years of dedication and considerable financial value.
Some people even have entire rooms devoted to their hobbies.
The challenge is making sure everything arrives safely at the new property.
Small valuable items can easily get mixed up with ordinary household belongings, while larger collections may require specialist packing.
Our advice: Make an inventory of valuable possessions before moving.
Keep particularly valuable jewellery, cash, important documents and small personal valuables with you rather than placing them in the removal van.
For larger collections, discuss suitable packing and protection arrangements with your removal company.
If something has taken you 30 years to collect, it’s worth spending a little extra time making sure it arrives in one piece!
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The Things You Never Expected to Move!
Sometimes the strangest items aren’t particularly expensive or valuable.
They simply have sentimental meaning or are too unusual to leave behind.
Perhaps it’s an enormous collection of garden gnomes, a life-size statue, an old-fashioned jukebox, a vintage arcade machine or a rather questionable piece of furniture inherited from a relative!
People have all sorts of interests, hobbies and possessions, and that’s part of what makes every house move different.
The important thing is not to assume that everything will fit into a standard removal van or that every item can be moved in the same way.
If you’ve got something particularly unusual, let your removal company know before moving day.
A little planning can make all the difference.
Photo: Northern Natal News – Ex-ter-min-ate!!!!
Moving Something Unusual? Here’s How to Prepare
Whether you’re moving a piano, a collection of antiques or a particularly large piece of furniture, there are a few simple things you can do to make the process easier.
Tell your removal company in advance. Don’t leave unusual or oversized items until moving day. The team needs to understand exactly what’s involved.
Take photographs. Pictures of unusual furniture and access routes can help your removal company assess the job.
Measure everything. Check doorways, staircases, hallways and any tight corners.
Consider specialist packing. Delicate antiques, fine art and valuable collections may need additional protection.
Check insurance arrangements. Make sure you understand what cover is available for valuable or unusual possessions.
Don’t attempt difficult lifts yourself. Particularly heavy or awkward items can be dangerous to move without suitable equipment and experience.
Specialist Removals in York and Yorkshire – How A&M Removals Can Help
Not every house move involves the same collection of belongings.
Some customers have a relatively straightforward move involving everyday household furniture, while others need help transporting valuable antiques, delicate artwork, pianos and other unusual possessions.
At A&M Removals, we’ve been helping people move home for more than 36 years.
We’re a family-run removal company based in the York area, serving customers throughout York, East Yorkshire and North Yorkshire, as well as undertaking moves nationwide.
We understand that your belongings aren’t just things. Some have financial value, some have sentimental value, and some are simply irreplaceable.
Our services include:
- Full house removals.
- Professional packing services.
- Piano and fine art removals.
- Free boxes with every house move.
- Storage solutions.
- House clearance and cleaning services.
Whether you’re moving a family home, a country cottage or a large property filled with unusual and valuable possessions, we’re happy to discuss your requirements.
We take pride in providing a friendly, reliable service and treating our customers’ belongings with care.
Got something unusual to move? We’d love to hear about it!
Contact A&M Removals today to discuss your move and arrange a free, no-obligation quotation.
Call us and tell us what you’ve got. We’ve probably heard stranger!
A&M Removals – Taking the stress out of moving home.
Frequently Asked Questions About Moving Unusual Household Items
Can a removal company move a piano?
Yes, some professional removal companies offer piano removal services. However, pianos are heavy and delicate instruments that require suitable handling and protection. Always tell your removal company what type of piano you have and discuss the access arrangements.
Do removal companies move antiques and valuable furniture?
Many removal companies can transport antiques and valuable furniture, provided the items are suitable for their services and appropriate arrangements are made. Additional packing and protection may be required.
Can A&M Removals move pianos in York?
A&M Removals can discuss piano removal requirements in York and the surrounding areas. Contact the team with details of your piano, its location and the access arrangements to discuss your move.
How do you move large or awkward furniture?
Large furniture may need to be dismantled, carefully protected and moved using appropriate handling techniques. Measuring doorways, staircases and access routes beforehand is particularly important.
Can removal companies move fine art and paintings?
Yes, specialist removal services can include fine art and paintings. Valuable or delicate artwork may need protective wrapping, suitable packaging and careful handling during transport.
Should I tell my removal company about unusual items?
Absolutely. Always mention unusual, oversized, particularly heavy or valuable possessions when arranging your quotation. This allows the removal company to assess what’s involved and plan accordingly.
Does A&M Removals cover areas outside York?
Yes. A&M Removals covers York, East Yorkshire and North Yorkshire, as well as undertaking house moves throughout the UK.
Does A&M Removals provide packing materials?
Yes. A&M Removals provides free boxes with every house move. Professional packing services are also available to help customers prepare their belongings.
What’s the Strangest Thing You’ve Ever Moved?
We’d love to hear about it!
Have you ever moved a giant teddy bear collection, a huge grandfather clock or something even more unusual?
Get in touch with A&M Removals and tell us about it. And if you’re planning a move yourself, we’ll be happy to help.
Contact A&M Removals today for your free, no-obligation quotation.
