Free
Advice
Here
are some hints to help make your next move easier.
They should save you some time and money.
Preparing
to move
1
You
usually get what you pay for, and that is no different in the removal
industry. So if you decide to employ the cheapest removalists you
can find, you will possibly expect a few problems on moving day,
and maybe a few broken pieces. Is it worth it?
An
inexperienced removalist will be slower, so we can't understand
why so many people phone us up just to ask what our hourly rate
is.
We
hear horror stories about some other movers almost every day so
please be careful when selecting a removalist.
2
Pull apart any furniture if you know how,
and consider it necessary. Basic tools are usually all that is required,
and some considerable time can be saved on moving day. Place
any screws, bolts etc. in a bag and put them somewhere safe.
3
Leave the shelves in the fridge, but it's best to empty the food
out. No milk carton surprise please.

4
Small mirrors and pictures, food, lampshades, stereo equipment should
be boxed up, or left for your car.
5
BBQ gas bottles, cans of petrol and other flammables should
not be packed in the removal van.
6
Don't water the pot plants for a few days before your move,
so they don't leak.
7
Give the BBQ a quick clean.
8
Use up as much food as possible before the move. Canned
food gets heavy, and frozen food doesn't travel at all well.
9
Pianos
and billiard tables are best left to a specialist removalist. Check
with your movers prior to moving day.
10
Warn your removalists about limited driveway access especially
if there will be a long walk involved, narrow doors, tight staircases.

|

Packing
up
1
Look around for some sturdy boxes. We can deliver boxes to you,
if you need.
2
Heavy boxes are harder to move than light boxes. If you have
heavy things such as books, use smaller boxes and pack half books
and half light items into each box.
3
Pack the boxes up to the top, and make sure all of the boxes are
closed and taped up.
4
Write on the top of the box what person, or room it's from,
for example KITCHEN.
5
Any boxes containing fragile items should be clearly marked with
'FRAGILE'.
6
Use white butchers paper to pack crockery and fine china. Newspaper
is ok for general packing, but the newsprint can mark your crockery.
7
Plates, saucers should be separated with paper and stacked vertically
in boxes. Glasses should be packed in the boxes standing up, not
on their side. Add a bit of scrunched-up paper in the top of the
box.
8
Books are best packed flat in boxes, not stacked vertically on
their spine.
On
the
day
1
Try to save the removal truck a parking space outside your house.
2
If possible, make arrangements for small children to be out
of the way on moving day.
3
Make sure that furniture to be moved is cleared off and empty.
If the bed is being moved, remove the sheets. If the fridge is
being moved, empty the food out.
4
Get the movers to do a last minute check with you, before they
drive to your destination, to make sure nothing has been left
behind.
5
Give the lads a beer at the end of the job.
After
1
Don't switch the fridge/freezer back on for two hours after
it has been moved. This allows the machine to settle.
2
Advise everyone of your new address: friends, family. phone
company, electricity supplier, bank, Medicare, electoral office,
gas supplier, insurance company, RTA etc.
|
Moving
interstate
1
Make sure the removalist knows exactly how much you need to move.
You want to be sure all of your items fit in the truck.
2
If you're having things moved a long distance, make extra sure
that boxes of fragile things are well packed with ample padding.
3
A front-loading washing machine is best moved with it's transit
bolts fitted to the rear, because of the bumpy roads in the country.
This is not difficult but can take quite some time fiddling, so
it's best to do before the movers arrive.

Storage
1
When comparing storage options, consider all the charges. Some places
charge to establish your account, fees to access your possessions
while in storage, even fees to close your account. Other places
add on huge fees if you are even a day late with your monthly payment.
Have
some idea how long you intend to store for, as this may affect the
storage rates. Don't be sold a space that is far too large for what
you need.
2
Perishable
food, flammables, and potplants should not be stored in your storage
space.
3
If you have a fridge, make sure the doors are kept open. Fridges
usually smell a bit after they have been stored for a while, but
if you make sure the doors can not be closed, the smell will not
be as bad. The bowl in a front-loading washing machine can rust
if stored, so it's a good idea to tape up a bit of cardboard on
it's door too, to make sure it can't be closed.
4
If you pack the storage unit yourself, a good way to maximise
the space is to put the big items on the walls first, like the mattresses,
bookshelves, wardrobes. Don't hide mirrors and pieces of glass in
the pile. Stack them vertically near the door in an obvious place,
so you can't forget where they are.
5
For long-term storage, consider putting plastic protector bags
over mattresses and couches. This keeps them dust-free. Most storage
places have these bags available for just a few dollars.
6
If space allows, it is handy to keep a small path up the middle
of the unit, so you can get to things if you need to before you
move out.
7
Be careful what goes near leather couches, as almost anything
resting up against them will leave a mark in the leather. We usually
store couches up tall on their end, but this isn't always possible
if your leather lounge has soft ends. It is usually better to get
a bigger storage space than to risk damage to special furniture.
|