Removal teams reveal £30k hidden cash, family cats and £5k watch misplaced during house move

Home removers reveal £30k hidden cash, family cats and a watch worth £5,000 are just some of the things misplaced during the move

-Panel of experts share secrets and tips for a pain free house move-

• 39% of people found unexpected items in their new home after moving
• 20% of Brits confess to taking items from their old home that they should have left for the new occupants
• Removal team expert recalls finding £30,000 of cash hidden in a wardrobe
• A cat, aircraft chassis, bottles of expensive whiskey, children’s teeth and used nappies amongst more unusual items found by new homeowners

Admiral home insurance has teamed up with a panel of removal team experts with over 50 years of experience between them to share their stories, tips and tricks to help homeowners enjoy a hassle-free house move and reduce the risk of unnecessary mishaps1.

Admiral asked the panel of experts for their advice after its latest investigation revealed that almost half (47%) of homeowners in the UK have lost or misplaced something while moving home. More than one in five people (21%) admitted to losing something with a high price tag, with the average cost of items that go missing during the home moving process around £410, while some people have lost items worth more than £1,000 (3%).

Meanwhile, 12% of Brits say they have misplaced items with more sentimental value while moving home.

Most misplaced items during the move

While books (19%), photographs (19%), jewellery (18%), pictures (17%) and DIY equipment (16%) were the most common items to get lost during the home moving process, the panel of home removal experts highlighted some other commonly misplaced items for homeowners to keep an eye out for when moving home.

One Wolverhampton-based expert from removal company, Burke Bros, says: “From our experience, some of the most common things that people forget or leave behind during a move are mirrors, wall clocks or photographs. People often leave them behind because they’re so used to seeing them on their wall, it doesn’t occur to them to take them down!

“Documents are also often misplaced during the move. There’s been countless times when customers have packed their passports and driving licences into boxes that have gone into storage. This is a real problem when customers are moving internationally. We’ve had customers put their ID into boxes which have been packed into shipping containers and are on the water before the customer has realised what they’ve done.”

Another expert from Clockworks Removals, in Scotland, added: “Bolts and screws for flat pack furniture are easily the things that get lost most often, which can be tricky if furniture needs to be dismantled and assembled on the moving day – they’re very important. TV remotes and phone chargers are other items that often go walk-about during the move.”

Check the cupboards

Other more unusual items that have Brits confessed to losing while moving to a new house include: a barbecue, guitar, kite, an ornamental chimney pot, a sewing machine, and a sledge.

But the removal expert from Burke Bros shared some more unusual experiences altogether: “We were helping a lady whose husband had recently passed away to move. During the moving day, a member of our removal crew moved a wardrobe and found a box hidden behind it. When he handed it over to the customer, it transpired that there was around £30,000 in cash in the box and the customer had no idea it was there.

“On a separate occasion, a family couldn’t find their cat during the move. We’d loaded the furniture van, driven to the new property and started to unload it, only to find that the customer’s cat had travelled with us in the van. Cats associate with the smell and familiarity of the furniture which must have lured them into the vehicle. Thankfully, he was found safe and well.”

Meanwhile, an expert from Clockwork Removals reveals another hidden stash: “We once found a load of old whisky bottles under the floorboards. Our customer had been hiding them from his wife!”

Unexpected items in the house

When moving into their new home, 40% of people have found items left behind by the previous owner that they weren’t expecting to be there.

The expert from Clockwork Removals says food is commonly there waiting for new homeowners when they move in: “Sometimes it can be a whole fridge worth of food! Garden furniture, outdoor pots and plants are other items that are often left for new homeowners whether they were expecting them or not.”

Meanwhile, an expert from Bolt Removals, Cardiff adds: “We often find the previous owner will leave large items of furniture behind, especially when they’re downsizing and realise, at the last minute, they don’t have enough space in their new home for that particular item. This could be helpful for a first-time buyer who’s looking for furniture and appreciates the free donation. However, it could upset the new owner who wasn’t expecting to find the item and then has to pay to dispose of it.”

Admiral also found that some new homeowners have discovered even more unusual items in their new homes, courtesy of the previous occupants. These include: a cat, an aircraft chassis, expensive bottles of whiskey, children’s teeth, a pub sign, a train set, a crossbow, a microscope and for one unfortunate home mover, dirty nappies.

Meanwhile, only 7% of people said that the previous owners or tenants had left a real welcome gift for them when they’d moved home, with wine and flowers being the most popular housewarming gift exchanged.

What’s mine, is mine

On the flip side, Admiral found that 39% of homeowners have moved into a new home to find that items they were expecting to be there had actually been taken by the previous owner.

Light bulbs and light fixtures (21%) were the most common items taken by the previous occupants, followed by curtains and blinds (10%), bathroom fixtures for towel rails and toilet roll holders (7%), and instruction manuals for boilers and other appliances (7%).

Other, more unusual items taken by the previous occupants include: the TV aerial, all the sink plugs, the doorbell, doorhandles, and the fitted kitchen (apart from the sink).

However, it works both ways as 20% of Brits confess to taking items from their old home that they should have left for the new occupants. 

Don’t get left behind

For those who realised they’d left something behind in their old home after moving, only 12% were able to get in touch with the new occupants who were helpful in reuniting them with their lost possessions. Meanwhile, 6% of people said they weren’t able to retrieve the items because the new occupants either refused to help or denied having the items altogether.

A removal team expert from Clockwork Removals says: “Once a customer accidentally packed the thermostat to their previous home. We had to help hunt for it in our storage facility, as the new owners were desperate to turn down the heating!”

“Many people forget where they packed their items,” explains the removal pro from Bolt Removals, Cardiff. “One customer couldn’t find a watch worth £5,000 that was a gift from her late husband. She thought it had been left in a sunglasses case in the bedside cabinet but forgot she carefully packed it in a bag before our team arrived to pack the house. The watch was found a week later after she moved into the new property.”

Making the move

When moving home two fifths (41%) of people admitted they didn’t create a plan to help with the packing and unpacking of their possessions and 6% of people wished they had made a plan, which is perhaps why it’s no surprise some things get lost in the process.

To help people who are looking to move home the removal team experts have shared their top tips to picking the right removal company:

• Look for the British Association of Removers badge. Movers who have this membership are regularly audited to ensure they maintain high levels of professional service and follow a strict code of conduct. They’re also financially protected, in the unlikely event that something goes wrong with the move.
• Always check the removal companies have insurance. Most reputable companies should offer insurance however, some only have liability for damage to your goods which only covers the remover and not the customer.
• Speak to family and friends. Ask them about their personal experiences to see who they used in the past and would recommend.
• Always ask for a quotation. Complete a house moving survey to obtain a realistic quote from the removal team. Don’t always go for the cheapest offer as it can sometimes cause problems further down the line.

Noel Summerfield, head of home at Admiral, said: “Moving home is an exciting but overwhelming experience, and even though we try our best to have a seamless move, things can unfortunately go missing and get broken.

“The stress of the move can often cause people to forget to pack the items that have sentimental value like photographs, jewellery and ornaments. Allowing plenty of time to pack up your valuables will help to reduce the risk of misplacing them during the home moving process.

“Our internal data shows that despite the ongoing pandemic, more people moved home last year in comparison to 2019, and with the recent extension of the stamp duty holiday even more homeowners may decide to move home. Using the advice from the removal team experts will give those who are looking to move some useful tips on how to properly pack and protect their valuables, and will also help them to choose the right removal company to ease some of the stress and worry on the day.”

To keep valuables and items protected during the home moving process, the removal team experts have shared their approach on how to pack for the move:

1. The earlier you can start packing the better. Always aim to give yourself two to three weeks to pack up your valuables before the move.
2. Always de-clutter first and then pack one room at a time. People are often surprised at how long it takes and how many possessions they have.
3. Good packaging is essential. Get your hand on carboard boxes, tissue paper, bubble wrap and good quality tape.
4. It’s important you pack things in the right way. Try and pack the heavier items in smaller boxes so they don’t become too heavy. Always make sure boxes are filled to the top so when they are stacked, the tops don’t collapse.
5. Make sure the kettle and cups are the last things to be packed so you can access them easily for a much-needed cup of tea in your new home.

Admiral has also created the ultimate checklist for moving home to help reduce some of the stress for homeowners. Admiral is also offering £10 Amazon e-voucher to new home insurance customers.