Temporary New Year's Eve Storage

With Christmas over for another year, many people now turn their attention to New Year’s Eve. Supermarkets replace their shelves of tinsel and decorations for rows of snacks and drinks, aiming to entice those heading to or hosting a party.

Hosting a New Year’s Eve Party can take some planning. How many guests? Will they bring additional guests? Is there enough food and drink? What entertainment will be on offer? Something that also needs consideration is SPACE. Where will the food be set out? Where will drinks be stored? Will additional seating be required?

New Year’s Eve parties can also be occasions where additional people stay over, so creating space for “staying over guests” (some of whom can be very last minute!) also needs to be taken into consideration.

If you are planning a pre party declutter, but haven’t got time to sort through things and dispose of them, why not hire crates from Easycrate for temporary New Year’s Eve storage?

Our crates come in a range of sizes and are ideal for storing delicate items, DVDs and any other items you wish to store out of sight during your party. As each crate has an interlocking lid, they can be stacked during storage to help save space.

Why not contact us today to hire your temporary New Year’s Eve storage?

Crates: The Greener Christmas Packaging

Visit lots of homes over the Christmas period and rubbish bins will be full of packaging and wrapping paper, as well as the usual food waste that each household generates.

To help cut down the amount of waste in your home this Christmas, why not consider using our crates as the greener alternative to Christmas packaging?

Benefits of using our crates

Our crates come in a range of sizes to suit your Christmas present storing needs.

Each crate comes with an interlocking lid. Not only are our crates stackable and space saving, but they also keep your gifts out of sight before Christmas Day.

Our crates can be security sealed once filled – perfect for stopping prying eyes!

We can also supply labels for our crates – ideal if you are giving a crate of gifts per family member.

There is still time to hire our crates before Christmas – contact a member of the Easycrate team today on 0800 027 2665 to order yours! 

Moving Office At Christmas

Which words spring to mind when you think of Christmas? Family? Decorations? Food? Santa? Presents? How about “office moves?”

Believe it or not, moving office over the festive period can actually be a good idea. Not all moves run smoothly and issues such as network problems and delays often create business downtime – not what businesses want during busy times of the year. 

Many business close over Christmas, so companies often choose to move during this quieter period to avoid scheduling a move during busier business months.

If you are considering a Christmas office move – either to a new location or a different floor of your current building – why not let Easycrate help you?

Our range of hardwearing plastic packing crates are ideal for office moves. Whether you need to transport office files or electronic equipment, our crates will protect your belongings during your move.

At Easycrate we also offer security seals and crate labels to secure your office equipment during relocation and have a range of moving equipment to help your move run smoothly.

Contact a member of our team today and we will be happy to help with your Christmas office move. 

Storing Presents For Christmas

With December 25^th nearly a month away, our televisions are currently being filled with festive adverts: from the must –have toys to supermarkets tempting you with their delicious Christmas dinners. Many shops are also running promotions, keen to encourage you to buy your Christmas gifts from them.

When it comes to Christmas, finding the perfect presents are not the only challenge, it can also be tricky to work out where to store the presents in the run up to Christmas. Where can they be kept to avoid being damaged? Where can they be kept away from prying eyes?

At Easycrate we have the perfect solution: why not hire a Christmas crate to

store your gifts in? Our hardwearing plastic storage crates come in a range of sizes to suit your gift storing needs and each crate comes with an interlocking lid, meaning the crates are stackable and space saving. Our crates can also be sealed to keep your presents safe and a surprise for Christmas Day!

The Easycrate team can deliver your Christmas crates and collect from you once they are no longer required. Our flexible rental periods and unbeatable prices mean that we are the number one choice for all your Christmas storage needs.

If you are looking for Christmas storage, contact a member of our team on 0800 027 2665 or via our Online Contact Form and we will be happy to help you.

Christmas Office Relocations & Refurbishments

With the television channels littered with festive adverts and shopping centres beginning to be filled with the familiar tune of “..It’s the most wonderful time of the year...” it can only mean one thing – Christmas is almost here!

While the impending festive period often means festive coffee drinks and mad last minute dashes to the shops on Christmas Eve, it can also provide businesses with an ideal opportunity: a chance to move offices or give their current office space some TLC.

Why Move Office Over Christmas?

Although Christmas is renowned for generally being a busy time, for businesses it can be the perfect time to move. Relocating over the quieter period of the Christmas holidays enables companies to get the job done while their business is less busy. 

Moving later in the year when it may be harder to have some business “down time” may be tricky, less feasible and a likely factor in stalling a move altogether.

Why Refurbish Over Christmas?

If relocating your company isn’t an option, why not consider refurbishing your office ready for a fresh start in 2015?

A quick audit around your current workspace should give you an idea of what works and what needs improving.

• Is your decor looking tired and dated?
• Would your company benefit from a new colour scheme or rebranding?
• Could your layout be improved?
• Does new furniture need to be purchased to improve the layout?

It is always worth discussing with your work team about how they feel about their current working environment. Chances are they will have some fantastic improvement ideas (and potentially some contacts that could help out with repainting etc) and by asking for their opinions, they will feel even more valued.

If you are planning a Christmas move or refurbishment, why not contact the Easycrate team and find out how our crate hire services are ideal for office relocation and refurbishment projects. 

Our Removal Crates

Are you planning a house move? Relocating your office? Are you a removal company wanting to give your clients peace of mind when transporting their possessions?

At Easycrate, our packing crates are the perfect solution for your temporary storage and moving needs. Our crates are multipurpose, meaning they can be used for storing everything from crockery and cutlery to office files and electrical equipment. 

Our multipurpose crates can be used to transport kitchen items...

... as well as office files and documents.

Built from high quality plastic, each crate is hardwearing, offering maximum protection to the contents inside. Interlocking lids enable the crates to be stacked ready for removal. Our rental rates are flexible to suit the needs of each individual client and we offer a reliable Delivery and Collection Service. 

Interlocking lids can be sealed shut and enable the crates to be stacked.

Our packing crates come in a range of sizes to suit your removal needs. 

Contact a member of the Easycrate team today to find out how we can help you get moving!

Give Your Home Some TLC

Moving house can be a lengthy and costly process. If there is not a valid reason to sell your property and move elsewhere, why not consider an interior design project to give your current home some TLC?

Budget

Depending on your budget, there are many ways to boost your current home. Your interior design project can take as long as you need; it doesn’t need to all be done at once (unless that is your plan!) If you are going to revamp your property in small steps, work out an interior design plan – which rooms are urgent and which can be done at a later stage?

Shop Around

If you are planning on changing your kitchen or bathroom, shop around local stores – you may find that they are running “Interest Free” promotions and deals that will save you money. If you are in time for one of these offers, you may decide to alter your long term interior design plan and make the promoted room your starting point.

Paint

As with kitchen and bathroom promotions, look out for offers in stores on paint e.g. 3 for 2. It is always worth getting a tester pot if changing your colour scheme. You may find a colour you have chosen doesn’t look right once applied to your walls, and a tester size patch is easier (and quicker) to alter than a whole wall.

Furniture

When planning your project, think about your furniture. Sometimes our old furniture works with a new colour scheme, whereas new furniture may suit your new look rooms better. DIY stores also have some great paints for wood – perhaps your much loved wooden table and chairs could be given a new look too?

Furnishings

Many shops now display their furnishings e.g. curtains and cushions in colour themes – this not only helps when looking for cushions in a certain colour but can be a great way to get ideas for colours (and what works well together) before you commit the paint to your walls.

Ask An Expert

If you are planning a new look for your house and are not sure where to start, why not call in the expertise of an Interior Designer?

Storage During Your Project 

Easycrate’s range of hardwearing and stackable plastic storage crates are ideal for storing and protecting your possessions during your project. Ask a member of our team about our unbeatable and flexible rental rates. 

To Move Or Not To Move?

Deciding whether to move or not is a big decision to make. Sometimes we feel a fresh start is needed but is moving house our best option? Would it make sense to stay put? Here we consider some of the reasons behind both options.

Moving House

Location: Are you seeking a “better” location? This can be within the same town or area or a different county (or indeed country). What makes it a “better” location?

Property Size: Are you looking to downsize after your children have moved out? Is a larger property too much to maintain? Perhaps you are looking to have more space, or are extending your family.

Property Features: Consider your property “needs” – what is essential and what is an “additional bonus”.  For example, do you need an en-suite or garage or are they bonus features of a potential new home?

Jobs: Many moves are linked to relocation of jobs. Are you considering a move due to this reason? If you are settled in a job how will moving affect this e.g. commute?

Staying Put

Home Improvements: Can your current home be improved? This can be as small as giving rooms a fresh coat of paint to larger projects such as new kitchens/bathrooms and new windows. Some home owners also take on projects such as extensions to adapt their current home to their needs.

Garden: As well as indoor home improvements, consider how altering your external space can improve your property.

Jobs: When people are settled in their current job, they often prefer to stay in their current property.

Schools: As with jobs, if your children are settled in their schools is moving the best idea? While some do move their children into new schools, other home owners often delay their house moves until their children are out of their key school years.

What decisions have you made when deciding whether to move or stay put? We’d love to hear from you!

Deliver and Collect

If you are planning an office or house move or a refurbishment project, it can take time to source enough boxes to store your belongings in. Although they can be handy, standard cardboard boxes can also cause problems during moves due to their limited strength. 

At Easycrate we not only stock hardwearing and secure plastic storage crates in a range of sizes, but we also offer a Delivery and Collection Service to make your moves and projects run smoothly.

By renting our crates we will deliver them to you, and when they are no longer required we will collect them again from a location of your choice. Our flexible rental rates are also unbeatable due to our Price Promise. 

Contact us today to discover how our Delivery and Collection Service can benefit you. 

Office Refurbishment - An Alternative To Relocation.

Is your business stuck in a rut? Is your office space lacking motivation? Are your fixtures and fittings looking a bit tired and dated?

Businesses in the UK are always looking for ways to improve, and believe it or not, improving our work environment can play an important part – not only for improving the look of a business but also morale.

A study from the World Green Building Council recently found:

" Workplaces with clean air, natural daylight and engaging and adaptable layouts all contribute to making healthier, happier and more motivated individuals who create stronger, more resilient and profitable companies."

While some businesses are turning to relocation for a boost, if finding a new location isn’t viable for your company, why not consider refurbishing your current space?

Refurbishment can be in many forms:

Colour: A simple fresh coat of paint can do wonders in our home, so why not treat your office too? Change of colour can often encourage companies to consider rebranding – would your company benefit from a revamp?

Layout: Is your current layout the most effective? Take time to think about the position of desks in your office – can they be moved to allow better flow in your workspace? Changing the layout can also include removing/adding walls. If this is a route you plan on taking, ensure your refurbishment budget covers any potential structural problems that could be encountered during the project.

Fixtures and Fittings: Are you drowning under paperwork? Create a clutter free zone by ensuring your new look office has suitable storage for documents and files. Not only will this create a professional looking work environment but will also appeal to any clients that visit your office. Your new office may also benefit from new furniture. Before rushing into buying “like for like” why not shop around – there may be different furniture that suits your new layout better.

While refurbishment is certainly a cheaper alternative to relocation, it should not be considered “the poor relation” in comparison. Refurbishments that are planned effectively and are well organised and managed can be just as effective as moving your office completely.  

Operation: Move House

Deciding to sell your house, for whatever reason, can be a daunting task. If you are at the beginning of the house move process, here are some tips and points to consider to help you on your house move journey.

Choosing an estate agent

With so many estate agents available, it can be easy to get overwhelmed. Ask friends and family for recommendations and look around your local area – who are other homeowners selling with? Which agents seem to be selling property quickly?

It is always worth having a few estate agents round to value your property, not only for valuation purposes but to also see which agent you feel will be the best for your house sale. Some agents can be very thorough with their valuation visit – taking the time to talk about your property and take measurements – while others seemingly whizz round your property and leave. Try to find out if your property will be marketed on online property websites as well as the agent’s own site – the more exposure your property gets the more likely it will attract a buyer. It is also worth deciding if you will market your property with one estate agent or multiple agents, and go with your instinct when choosing an estate agent.

Start planning your move

Once you have put your house on the market, it is essential you start to plan your move and get the wheels in motion. While some properties take a while to sell, others can sell fairly quickly (particularly if your agent has a list of potential buyers looking for property in your area).

Decluttering

Although it is not something to look forward to, decluttering and having a clear out is key to house moves. Not only will it help your property appeal to potential buyers if it is clutter free, but it also gives you a head start once a buyer is on the scene. Work out which things will be moving house with you and which things can be sold, donated to charity or thrown away. Try to do this as soon as possible, as it will make things much easier further down the line.

Paperwork

Keeping your important documents safe is vital. Once there is a buyer, their solicitors will often ask for any guarantees/certificates especially for any work you have had done at your property e.g. new windows, boilers, electrical work etc. If your documents are kept in one place, this should make it easier should such documents be requested. If you can’t find the original documents, it also gives you time to try and get duplicates.

Packing

Start packing your things as soon as possible, starting with the things you are not likely to need. This will save valuable packing time as Moving Day creeps closer. Box your things (and label the boxes) within each room – this will make unpacking at your new house easier as you will know the contents of each box and which room it is intended for (and can be put straight into!).

Saying Goodbye

It is amazing how easily we can get attached to our homes, especially if they hold lots of happy memories. Even though we know the move is for the best, there can be that “lump in throat” moment when the keys are handed over. Try to plan something exciting for your new property. This could be taking the children to a DIY store so they can choose colours for their new room, planning a housewarming party or taking cuttings from your favourite garden plants to plant in your new garden.

Additional Links:

Having a clearout: What to do with unwanted items 

Moving Yourself vs Removal Company 

Packing and Moving Tips 

Stress Free Moving with Pets 

Planning an office refurbishment

Are you a business planning a rebrand? Changing the layout of your office? Perhaps your office decor and furnishings are just looking a bit tired... 

Whatever the reason, office refurbishments can give businesses a new lease of life. When planning a refurbishment it is important to consider the following:

• Scale of refurbishment 
• Cost of refurbishment
• Time of refurbishment

Scale Of Refurbishment

The scale of refurbishment varies depending on each business. Some may simply be repainting their office, while others may be changing the layout completely. Having a clear idea of the scale of your project before commencing will help you plan your refurbishment effectively. 

Cost Of Refurbishment

When planning your refurbishment, try to keep your costing clear. While refurbishment is a cheaper option compared to relocation (read our blog post on Refurbishment vs Relocation for further details) there can be hidden costs - structural changes to buildings (particularly older buildings) can reveal problems that need additional funding to rectify, and some refurbishment plans change mid project e.g. when offices are repainted sometimes the "old" furniture doesn't suit the new look. If new furniture wasn't in your initial project budget, this will add additional costs. 

Time Of Refurbishment

When is the best time to undertake your refurbishment project? Businesses will not want projects to interfere with the daily running of their business, but sometimes this cannot be helped. To avoid as much business down time as possible, it is recommended that office refurbishments take place during "quieter" periods e.g. school holidays and Christmas holidays. If your refurbishment is on a much smaller scale, you may find that weekends or Bank Holiday Weekends are sufficient.   

If you are planning an office refurbishment, why not enquire about our Refurbishment and Relocation Services?

Interior Design And Easycrate

At Easycrate we are proud to support a wide range of businesses throughout the UK. If you are an Interior Designer - independent or part of a company - we would like to work with you!

Interior Design and Easycrate - the perfect partnership.

Our Products: Our packing crates are made of hardwearing, high quality plastic – ideal for transporting your supplies. Our crates even come in a range of sizes to suit your needs.

Space Saving: Due to their interlocking lids, each crate is stackable, space saving and will not get in your way during each project.

Security: Our crates can even be security sealed, offering added protection to each crate’s contents, particularly if they are being stored on site overnight.

Rental Rates: Our rental rates are not only great due to our Price Promise, but they are also flexible, and work round you. 

Service: Our packing crates can be delivered to and collected from the location(s) of your choice. No need to worry about storage space once a project has been completed!

Easycrate are with your interior design team every step of the way - from an initial meeting and conception until project completion. 

Why not call a member of our Easycrate team today on 0800 027 2665 or via our Online Contact Form to find out how we can benefit your interior design company? 

Refurbishment vs Relocation

Businesses are always looking for ways to grow and one way is looking at the building itself and making a decision- is it time to refurbish or relocate your company? 

Refurbishing Your Company

Change: Refurbishment is ideal if your company are changing their brand or design. Out with the old and in with the new! 

Layout: As well as decor, perhaps your office space needs a new layout. Sometimes re-positioning of furniture can make all the difference and create more "flow" to your workspace. 

Furnishings: Some companies decide to change their furnishings as well as redecorating, particularly if colour schemes have changed. Consider the cost factor for new furnishings, and try where possible to decide pre refurbishment. Will your newly improved office space look right with the old furniture put back? 

Cost Effective: Refurbishing tends to be the cheaper option compared to relocating, but keep cost in mind when refurbishing, particularly if structural work is required for your new layout. Sometimes hidden extra costs can be lurking behind our office walls!

Relocating Your Company

Premises: If your current premises doesn't allow room for extension, relocation offers the opportunity for your business to move into larger premises. 

Suitability: By relocating, you may find premises that better suit the needs of your company, giving your business room to flourish. 

Location: Finding a better location for your business can help attract new clients. If you are unsure whether to move or stay put, consider how effective your current location is. 

Rates: Often businesses "shut down" only to reappear elsewhere in a town (sometimes further along the same street). Could your business save money by relocating, if rental rates are better elsewhere? 

If you are considering refurbishing or relocating your office, contact the Easycrate team on 0800 027 2665 or via our Online Contact Form. 

Time For A Clearout

Whether you are moving house or your current home is bursting at the seams, having a good clearout can make things more manageable.

However a good clearout isn’t always a case of “just throwing things away”. Here we discuss the options involved when sorting your trash from treasure.

Pre Clearout

Take time to sort through your items. A clearout won’t be a 10 minute job, but spending time sorting will help you realise which things you genuinely want to keep and which items are just wasting space.

Unwanted Items

If your pile of unwanted items is increasing, there are a few options of what to do with the items you no longer require but are too good to throw away.

Sell on ebay: Many people use selling sites like ebay to sell their good quality items. You will need an account to sell but these are quite straight forward to set up. When selling you have the option to set your items as “buy now” or set a minimum selling price for the items and hold an auction in which potential buyers have time to bid.

Sell on Facebook: There are increasingly more “For Sale” sites on Facebook – often set to towns/cities e.g. “For Sale in Brighton”. You only need a Facebook account to sell via these groups although you may have to ask to join the selling group before you can post. No card details are stored on the group which may suit some people. Sellers in the Facebook groups simply upload photos of the items for sale and add prices and buyers either inbox the seller privately or comment underneath the photos. Money transfers take place upon collection.

Freegle: If you just want to get rid of your items, there are Freegle sites where sellers post the items they are “freegling” (giving away for free). As well as standalone Freegle sites there are also Freegle Facebook groups. As with the “For Sale In..” Facebook groups, these Freegle sites are often set to location.

Donate to Charity: Charity shops are always grateful for donations. Taking your items to a charity shop of your choice will not only give you space in your home, but will also raise money for a good cause. Some charity shops even have furniture shops for larger items and electrical goods and some may even be able to collect from your property.

Antique Auctions/Specialist Shops: If you have items that you don’t want anymore BUT they may be worth something, why not contact antique auctions and specialist shops to value your items? Although you want to get rid of things, it would be heartbreaking to give something away for a few pounds if it was worth much more.

Boot Sales: With lots of outdoor boot sales during good weather and indoor boot sales and table top sales available during bad weather/winter months, why not try and raise a few pounds selling at a boot sale? These can be a great opportunity for children to raise some money. Most boot sales charge to have a stall so bear this in mind when deciding whether a boot sale is the right choice for you. If you have time, visit a few boot sales prior to choosing a venue – some are very busy each week while others are much smaller and you risk not making money to cover your costs.

Upcycling: If you are creative, some of the things you may be getting rid of could actually be given a new lease of life. Read our blog post about Upcycling – Crate Inspiration.