Work backwards from the handover date
The landlord's handover date is non-negotiable. Build your plan backwards from it, leaving at least 5 working days for final cleaning and dilapidations works after the last pallet leaves.
If you're clearing 10,000+ sq ft of stock, plan for 2–3 collections rather than one — it's easier to load, cheaper to ship, and gives you a buffer if access windows slip.
Get a single buyer rather than ten
SKU-by-SKU negotiation eats time you don't have. A single buyer offering one number on the full lot is usually faster and nets out better once you factor in the management time saved.
What to send for an accurate quote
A WMS export with SKU, description, quantity, condition and location codes is ideal. If you don't have that, a category-level pallet list with photos is enough for an indicative number.
Don't forget dilapidations
Empty pallets, broken racking and damaged flooring all show up at handover. Build a small budget into your plan for putting these right — and tell the stock buyer if they'll be removing racking too, as some will buy that as part of the same transaction.