Moving day has a particular talent for finding the one thing nobody discussed beforehand.

The van arrives.

The boxes are ready.

The kettle has disappeared into one of them.

And somebody says:

“Where are we supposed to park?”

This is why choosing a removals company shouldn't begin and end with asking how much the van costs.

Before paying a deposit, get a few things nailed down.

“What exactly does that price include?”

Get the quote in writing.

Then look beyond the total.

How many people are coming?

How many vehicles?

Is the price fixed or hourly?

Are boxes included?

What about packing?

Will they dismantle the bed and put it back together?

What happens if the sofa requires considerably more persuasion than expected to get through the front door?

Peterborough Removals, for example, advertises prices starting from £55 an hour. That's one company's advertised starting point, not a standard Peterborough rate.

The important question is what your quoted price buys.

Also tell them what you're actually moving.

The contents of the shed count.

So does the enormous wardrobe in the spare bedroom that everybody has been pretending doesn't exist.

If the inventory changes, ask how the price changes with it.

“What happens if something gets broken?”

Don't settle for:

“Don't worry, we're insured.”

Ask what the insurance actually covers.

What's the maximum claim?

Is there an excess?

Are there different rules for boxes you've packed yourself?

What about fragile items, jewellery, valuable electronics or furniture the company didn't pack?

And how quickly must damage be reported?

Keep irreplaceable possessions, medication, important documents and anything you'll need immediately with you where possible.

The wedding album probably doesn't need to spend moving day underneath the lawnmower.

“What happens to my deposit if the date changes?”

Property chains don't always respect diaries.

You can have Friday circled in red for six weeks and still discover on Thursday afternoon that something has moved.

Ask when payment is due and what happens if you need to postpone or rearrange.

If a firm belongs to the British Association of Removers, ask what protection applies to money you've paid in advance.

Don't simply rely on a logo on a website. Find out what applies to your actual booking.

“What if we don't get the keys on time?”

This is the question to ask before you're sitting outside the new house with your entire life in a van.

Completion day can involve waiting for money to move between solicitors before the keys are released.

Ask the removals company:

How much waiting time is included?

What happens after that?

Is there an hourly waiting charge?

How late will the crew work?

What happens if access slips to the following day?

If overnight storage becomes necessary, find out where your belongings go, what it costs and whether the insurance arrangements change.

You may never need the answer.

That's precisely why it's much nicer to know it beforehand.

“Have we actually checked where the van can stop?”

This is where the Peterborough part of the move becomes very real.

Peterborough City Council says a resident parking permit doesn't guarantee that a particular space will be available.

So if either property sits somewhere with restricted parking, don't assume the van can simply pull up outside.

Tell the removals company about permit areas, narrow streets, one-way roads, shared drives, height restrictions, steps and long distances between the road and the front door.

And check both addresses.

Getting everything out of the old house beautifully is only half a successful move.

“Do you know about the awkward bit?”

Every house has one.

The loft room.

The piano.

The enormous American-style fridge.

The staircase with a corner apparently designed by somebody who hated furniture.

Mention it.

A quick video walk-through or photographs can save a surprisingly unpleasant discussion on moving day.

Put the whole plan in one email

Before the move, you want one written record covering:

Price.
Crew and vehicle.
Arrival time.
Packing arrangements.
Insurance.
Parking and access.
Waiting charges.
Payment dates.
What happens if the move is delayed.
Who you call on the day.

It's not exciting.

Neither is standing beside a fully loaded removals van at 4.30pm arguing about an extra charge nobody remembers discussing.

Moving house will probably provide enough surprises without deliberately leaving room for another one.

Property Speak — Translated

Completion — The day the purchase money is transferred and ownership of the property changes hands. Normally, it's also when the buyer gets the keys.

Goods-in-transit insurance — Insurance covering belongings while they're being transported, subject to the particular policy's limits and conditions.

Excess — The amount you may have to pay towards an insurance claim yourself.

If you've moved house in Peterborough, what caught you out on moving day parking, late keys, too many boxes, awkward furniture or something completely different?

Tell us in the comments.