Moving in Brighton or Worthing? A simple checklist for a stress-free man & van move

9 Dec

Moving in Brighton or Worthing can feel like a bit of an assault course.

Narrow streets. Residents’ parking. Top-floor flats with no lift. Seafront weather that can’t decide what it’s doing. It’s no wonder a lot of people dread move day.

The good news? With a simple checklist and a reliable man & van, it doesn’t have to be chaos. Work through the steps below and you’ll know exactly what to do and when so moving day feels organised instead of overwhelming.

If you’re still deciding whether man & van is right for you at all, start with our guide on man & van vs full removals for 1–2 bed homes.

Who this checklist is for

This guide is designed for you if:

You’re in a 1–2 bed flat or house in Brighton, Hove, Worthing, Lancing, Shoreham or nearby
You’re planning to use a man & van rather than a big, full removals company
You’re a renter, first-time buyer or student doing a local move in Sussex
You want a simple, practical list, not a 20-page moving manual

If that sounds like you, use this as your go-to plan and adapt it to your own dates and details.

4–6 weeks before your move

This is where you set yourself up to win. A tiny bit of planning here saves a lot of stress later.

1. Confirm your dates

Check your tenancy end date or completion date
Confirm when you’ll get the keys for the new place
If there’s a gap, decide whether you’ll need short-term storage or a night with your belongings in the van

2. Decide on 1 man & van vs 2 men & van

Ask yourself:

How much stuff do I have?
Can I or a friend help with lifting?
Are there lots of stairs or tight corners?

Rough rule of thumb:

1 man & van – best for smaller loads where you can help a bit
2 men & van – best for 1–2 bed homes, heavier furniture or when you don’t want to lift anything

3. Start decluttering

There’s no point paying to move things you don’t even want.

Sort clothes, books, ornaments and kitchen bits
Donate, sell or recycle anything you’d rather not see in your new place
For bulky items (old sofas, wardrobes, appliances), decide whether to sell, donate or dispose of them before move day

4. Think about Brighton/Worthing parking and access

This is where local knowledge matters.

Check parking restrictions at both addresses
In residents’ zones, find out how visitor permits work
Make sure there’s space for a van as close as possible to your front door
If you’re in a block of flats:
- Check lift rules and times
- Let your neighbours know you’ll be moving big items through the building

If you’re moving specifically in Brighton or Worthing, this local moving checklist gives you a step-by-step plan that works with residents’ parking, flats and seafront quirks.

5. Make a simple inventory

You don’t need a spreadsheet unless you love them. A rough list is enough:

Big items: bed, sofa, wardrobes, chest of drawers, dining table, appliances
Approximate number of boxes you expect to have
Any awkward or very heavy items (e.g. big corner sofa, American fridge freezer)

Sharing this with your man & van company helps them quote accurately and plan properly.

1–2 weeks before your move

This is your main packing and planning window.

1. Get the right packing materials

You’ll thank yourself later for not relying on flimsy boxes.

Sturdy moving boxes (or good-quality supermarket/office boxes)
Tape and a tape gun
Bubble wrap or packing paper
Marker pens for labels
Stretch wrap or old blankets for protecting furniture

2. Start packing room by room

Begin with non-essential items – books, decorations, out-of-season clothes
Pack one room at a time to avoid spreading chaos everywhere
Keep heavy items in smaller boxes, lighter items in bigger boxes

3. Label everything clearly

Good labels save a lot of back-and-forth questions on move day.

On each box, write:

ROOM (e.g. “Bedroom”, “Kitchen”)
A quick note (e.g. “Plates & mugs”, “Bedding”, “Books”)
Mark FRAGILE on anything that needs extra care

4. Confirm details with your man & van

A quick check-in now means fewer surprises later. Make sure they know:

Full addresses for pick-up and drop-off
Floor numbers, lift access and any tight staircases
Rough inventory and box count
Whether you’ll need help with dismantling/assembly
Any time constraints (key releases, cleaners arriving, etc.)

2–3 days before moving day

You’re close now – this is about getting the last details sorted.

1. Sort your fridge and freezer

Run down what’s in your fridge and freezer
Defrost if needed (especially if it’s being moved or replaced)
Put towels down to catch any water
Plan simple meals or takeaways so you’re not cooking a lot right before you move

2. Pack an essentials box

Think about what you’ll want in the first 24 hours:

Kettle, tea/coffee, mugs, spoons
A couple of plates and cutlery
Phone chargers, extension lead
Basic cleaning supplies (spray, cloths, bin bags)
Loo roll, hand soap, small towel
Painkillers, plasters, any regular medication
A change of clothes and toiletries

Label this box clearly and keep it separate so it doesn’t disappear behind ten boxes of books.

3. Keep important documents safe

Gather:

Passports and ID
Tenancy agreement / purchase paperwork
Moving paperwork and any storage agreements
Insurance details

Put these in a folder or bag that stays with you, not in the van.

4. Double-check parking and keys

Confirm how you’ll get keys for the new place (agent, landlord, seller)
Make sure you have any access fobs or codes you need
If you need visitor permits, get them in advance and have them ready for the van

Moving day morning

This is where everything comes together. A little calm preparation goes a long way.

1. Strip the beds and bag the bedding

Put bedding into clearly labelled bags
Keep the bed’s screws and fittings in a small, labelled bag and tape it to the frame or keep it in your essentials box

2. Keep pets and kids out of the way

Moving is stressful enough without worrying about someone darting out the door.

Arrange for pets to stay with a friend or in one closed room
If possible, have kids looked after for a few hours so you can focus

3. Do a last sweep of the property

Before the van arrives, check:

Cupboards and drawers
Loft space, under beds and on top of wardrobes
Sheds, garages and balconies

It’s amazing how many things hide in those last few corners.

While your man & van team are working

This is your chance to direct traffic and keep things flowing.

1. Walk them through what’s going

When your movers arrive:

Show them the main rooms and what is definitely going
Point out anything that’s staying behind
Flag fragile items, plants and awkward pieces straight away

2. Be clear about priorities

If certain items are more important to get set up quickly (like the bed, sofa or baby’s cot), say so. It helps the team load and unload in a helpful order.

3. Keep one “clear zone” for essentials

Pick a spot in the new place where you’ll put:

Your essentials box
Bed parts and bedding
Important tools and cables

That way you’re not hunting for the kettle or bed screws at 10pm.

After you arrive at the new place

You don’t have to unpack everything, but a few small actions make your first night much more comfortable.

1. Check the big stuff before movers leave

Have a quick look at:

The main furniture pieces
Any large appliances
Obvious marks on walls or stairwells

If something’s not quite right, it’s easier to sort it out while everyone’s still there.

2. Make sure things are in the right rooms

Before the van pulls away, check:

Bed, mattress and wardrobes are in the right bedroom
Sofa is where you want it in the living room
Heavy boxes are in the right rooms, not stacked in the hallway

Rearranging later on your own is possible, but it’s much easier while you’ve still got help.

3. Do the boring-but-important bits

Take meter readings (gas, electric, water if needed)
Check windows and doors close properly
Make a quick list of any immediate issues to flag with the landlord or agent

Common moving mistakes (and how to dodge them)

A smooth move is often about avoiding a few predictable traps.

Leaving packing until the night before
- Fix: start with one box a day a week or two out
Not measuring furniture vs doorways
- Fix: measure big items and tricky doorways/stairs in advance
Forgetting about residents’ parking
- Fix: check what permits or visitor passes are needed and sort them ahead of time
No plan for kids or pets
- Fix: organise a calmer space or childcare so you can focus on the move
No essentials box
- Fix: pack one box that lets you have a hot drink, a shower and a decent sleep without ripping open everything else

Want help with the heavy lifting?

If this checklist feels like a lot to juggle on your own, the right man & van makes a big difference.

Your Move Mate is a friendly, fully insured man & van removals service based in Sussex. We help people move around Brighton, Hove, Worthing, Lancing, Shoreham, Eastbourne and Chichester every week, and we’re used to:

Residents’ parking zones and tight streets
Top-floor flats and awkward staircases
Last-minute changes to key times and access

You can choose:

1 man & van – if you want to keep costs down and can help a bit
2 men & van – if you’d rather we handle all the lifting

If you’re comparing different companies, this checklist on what a good man & van service should include shows you exactly what to look for before you book.