Moving Tips & Advice

To help lessen removals risks

A well prepared removal is a removal that will cause the least confusion and stress on the day of uplift and delivery. Regardless of whether your furniture and personal effects are being relocated to the other side of town or interstate, the better that your belongings are prepared, the better they will travel.

Furniture, in most cases, is built for one purpose, to take pride of position in your home, and NOT MOVE from that position. However, at some stage of all of our lives we are required to uproot and relocate for one reason or another, and it is this circumstance that the services of professional removalists are required to ensure that ALL of your belongings arrive at their destination in exactly the same condition as they were when they left your uplift address.

There are a number of things that you can do in preparedness for your relocation, these will assist in ensuring the damage free moving of furniture and personal effects, the ease and time efficiency of loading and unloading, and the safe transit of all items packed by both yourself and our qualified pre-packers.

1. Furniture to Empty

Furniture such as wardrobes, desk, wall units and dressers must be emptied, the structural integrity of these items will be compromised if the furniture is moved with loose weight inside.

Chests of drawers need to have breakables, loose, and heavy items removed. Light clothing may remain. Never tape drawers shut.

2. Use Quality Boxes

The type and quality of cartons that you use to pack your belongings will reflect directly as to how your goods will travel. The use of cartons sourced from your local supermarket, or small open cartons which cannot be stacked for transit, take a lot longer to load and unload than purpose built cartons.

Also remember the weight that one or two men can be reasonably expected to lift/move, cartons which are 'oversized' will only dramatically slow the moving process due to the awkwardness, and weight.

The use of purpose built removal cartons will speed the removal process and ensure the safe transit of breakables packed inside.

3. Reduce Distance

Ensure accesses are cleared prior to the arrival of our removalists, and where possible to save money have all items packed prior to day of uplift. Each trip to the truck takes time, so the closer to the where the vehicle will park, that you can ready your cartons and smaller items, the less time that the loading will take, and hence the lower the cost of your removal. Please ensure that small children and any pets are controlled at the time of uplift and/or delivery. At times these distractions can present a risk to all involved, and the last thing we would want to see is injury to your loved ones, your pets and/or our removalists.

4. Number of Items

Where possible reduce the number of items to be moved, bundle all small items together, such as mops and broom, and place all smaller items into cartons. They not only travel better in this state, but also reduce the time required to complete your relocation.

5. Dismantling

All items which can be dismantled, should be dismantled. The likes of beds, swing sets, mirrors off dressers, and items of furniture which were assembled after purchase, such as flat pack desks etc. These are not designed to be moved when assembled, and will most likely result in damage if they are not prepared for moving. We can complete this on your behalf, however this will reflect in the cost of your relocation.

When dismantling furniture, ensure that you keep all of your bolts, screws and keys in an easily identifiable place, and remember where you placed them. They are going to be required almost immediately when you arrive at your destination.

Ensure the hoses on your washing machine are disconnected and removed, and placed inside the machine, and all water is drained from them so as this same water doesn't leak onto your other furniture and or cartons during transit.

6. Fridges/Freezers

Do not defrost your fridges or freezers less than one week before moving. The water that gathers in the 'drip trays' creates problems when it comes to moving those items of furniture. Have ready for the day of moving sufficient esky's for your cold perishables, and freezer contents, and we will loads these items onto the truck last of all, and unload them first thing. This will ensure that you food spends as little time as possible out of the fridge, and the fridge/freezers will spend as little time as possible unplugged.

7. Neighbours

Arrange with your neighbours for sufficient parking space to be allowed at the front of your property for the parking of the removal truck on the day of uplift. ensure that there is no items belonging to your neighbours which may impede the access for the removalists. Most neighbours are understanding and are happy to assist in moving their cars, boats etc.

8. Unwanted Goods

Dispose of any unwanted goods prior to the day of uplift, this will ensure that minimal time is spent completing your removal, as the removalists will not be wasting time carrying boxes of rubbish. This will also assist with the positioning of furniture and cartons in your new home without the clutter of unnecessary items/cartons.

9. Important Items

Ensure that all of your important items, such as keys, remote controls, wallets, sunglasses, and any other important items that you may require on your person are placed in a safe place to ensure you know their whereabouts at the delivery location. A good idea is to create 1 carton which is last loaded, and first unloaded within which may be a good idea to keep the kettle, coffee/tea and other items which may be required earlier than when other cartons are unpacked. Items such as bags of screws, and nuts/bolts, from the dismantling of furniture etc, can easily be located if they are all placed in this one central location.

10. Furniture Placement

Have an advanced plan for the placement of furniture at your new address and ensure that you have a representative onsite at destination to direct the delivery of the furniture to ensure that it is placed correctly the first time. This will expedite the delivery process, and ensure a stress free completion to your removal, whilst also assisting in your unpacking.

11. Cleaning Items

Ensure that you have cleaned the BBQ, and items such as wheelbarrow, rubbish bins, wheelie bins, and garden furniture. This will ensure that your other furniture being loaded with these items does not become soiled as a result of contact with dirty items. It also ensures that dirt, mud and grease is not spread throughout the removal truck, to only be walked through your home as a result.

12. Brand New Premises

When moving into a premises which has only recently had building work completed, there is often a chance that the site has dirt, mud and debris in the yard, which may present a problem if near to the access to the property. Ensure that if dirt is prevalent on site, you have access to, or know where to source, sheets of plywood just in case of rain on the day of your removal. This will ensure that mud will not be tread through your new home. Unfortunately, Workplace Health & Safety prohibits the removal of shoes/boots from our removalists. The likely hood of injury to feet is increases considerably with the absence of footwear.

13. Plants

Some States prohibit the transportation of plants and fruits. If you have household plants and can’t take them with you, you need to dispose of them. Give them to a friend or relative before the day you are scheduled to move. If you can take plants with you, do not water them just prior to removal day. You may need to contact the DPI (Department of Primary Industries) to check on the area you are moving from and if any special requirements are in force; such as those for 'Red Fire Ants' in South East Queensland.

14. Washing Machine

To prepare your washing machine for removal, disconnect from the water supply, drain hoses and check with the manufacturer (or your removalist) for advice on travelling brackets etc.

15. Who to Notify

• Taxation office (within 7 days)
• Roads and Transport Authority (within 7 days)
• Government Departments - Family allowance, Superannuation,
• Pensions and Insurance
• Insurance companies - life assurance, cars, home and contents, and any other insured items.
• Employers - Group Certificates, Superannuation
• Australia Post - mail can be redirected for up to 12 months
• Telstra - phone and internet services
• Solicitor
• Schools
• Automobile associations such as NRMA, RACQ etc.
• Telephone, water, gas and electricity authorities
• Rental and hire purchase companies
• Bank and financial institutions - accounts and credit cards
• Doctor, Dentist and Private Health Funds
• Electoral Roles (within 4 weeks)

16. Finally

Should any questions arise, please, don't hesitate to contact our office. Friendly advice with regard to any part of the removal process is only a phone call away. Chances are we or our clients have experienced the same circumstances as your are in your move. Our advice is FREE, and without obligation. Again this is reflects our commitment to customer service. All of our staff care for your move, and want nothing more than for you to recommend our service to everyone that you speak with. We can only be sure of this by exceeding your expectations and making this move, your best move.