How to deal with Removal men with dirty feet? And marking items we won't need removing??

[Bakingnovice]

So, is it ok to ask removal people to remove shoes when unloading boxes at the new house? We will be moving in around oct so it's likely to be rainy and muddy outside and I want to protect the carpets at the new house.

Also, we are leaving some items of furniture behind in our old house. How do I mark these so the removal guys don't pack them? A label? A list provided to removals? A coloured sticker? Any advice much appreciated.

No, I don't think it would be OK to ask that. It will just slow the move down too much. Better to put down plastic sheeting/dustsheets to protect the floors.

Most removal firms have a system for marking furniture/boxes - best to ask the foreman on the day. IME a list is useless; there'll be stickers or notes.

Put an A5 or A4 size sign on items not to be moved saying "do not move". Also mention it to them when they arrive. I tried using lists too but they didn't take much notice of them. When I was moving in, I had some items which look like 'upstairs furniture' but needed to be downstairs as I was giving them away just after the move and some items which the removers were to dispose of for me, but I just talked to them about those items and when they got the items out of the removal van, they asked me again to make sure they were the right items. I also hovered close to the hall to try to tell them where furniture was to go as they brought it in the front door.

Don't ask them to remove shoes. They can't safely carry boxes and furniture in their socks. Maybe put a mat at the front and back doors or newspaper all the way down the hall if that's where they come in, so the dirt comes off there. You could also ask their advice about that in advance to see if you should put dustsheets down in each room.

I've just remembered. I think some removers carry protective shoe covers which they can put over their shoes to protect carpets. You could ask your removers about that.

Thanks everyone. Think I'm going to get some of that sticky plastic covering.

ask the removal firm if they provide floor coverings - many do. If not, buy some cheap decorating sheets.

do NOT ask them to remove their shoes - as others point out, it is unsafe for them both from lifting and risk to toes point of view.