Moving Advice

Advice on Furniture Removals

 

SIX WEEKS BEFORE MOVING

  • Discard the items you no longer need or want. Tour your house from top to bottom, including your garage and the backyard.  Get rid of things you really don’t need (there’s no point in paying to move them).
  • Ring Kiwimove to check availability for the final move and ask for an information email to be sent to you.
  • Arrange for Kiwimove to uplift and deliver donated furniture you don’t want to second hand shops like Hospice, RSPCA or other volunteer organizations.

FOUR WEEKS BEFORE MOVING

  • Book the final pack and move with Kiwimove.
  •  If you have bought a house and are moving on settlement day, please let us know.  Friday is always the worst day for settlements being held up.
  • Travelling long distance by car to your new home? Have your vehicle comprehensively checked.
  • Contact insurance companies, doctors and dentists about forwarding your records.

TWO TO THREE WEEKS BEFORE MOVING

  • Plan to do some or all of the packing your self? Start now. Make sure you identify the contents of each box and nominate the room in which it should be placed.
  • Fill out a NZ Post change of address notification online: http://www.nzpost.co.nz/receiving-mail/change-address
  • Return any library books so they don’t get lost for weeks in the pack or move.
  • Start eating the items in your pantry, fridge and freezer.  Buy only the minimum groceries you need for the next two weeks.

ONE WEEK BEFORE MOVING

  • Arrange electricity and gas final readings.
  • If you live down a R.O.W, let the neighbours know the driveway may be occupied by the moving truck for a short time.

TWO DAYS BEFORE MOVING

  • Safely dispose of flammables or toxic wastes such as cleaning fluids, paints and oils (removalists are not permitted to transport these, and they’re not permitted in storage).  Auckland City Council can advise you on how to properly dispose of these items.
  • Drain the fuel from the lawn mower and other such equipment.
  • Wash and dry your laundry.
  • Take down your curtains, Venetians and blinds – unless they’ve been sold with the house.
  • If you are moving from a unit or townhouse, make sure the garbage will be removed before you leave.

THE DAY BEFORE MOVING

  • Defrost the refrigerator and remove all the food. Wipe out the interior with a few drops on vanilla essence to make sure it smells fresh on arrival.
  • Place the everyday things you want packed together in separate groups: linens, toiletries, toys.
  • Make sure the gas and electricity meters have been read, if taking the TV antenna, make sure it is dismantled ready for moving day.
  • Water the pot plants you’re taking with you and place them in a foil-lined cardboard box that’s a little higher and wider than the plants. Smaller pot plants can be rolled in a tube of newspaper that is a little taller than the plant. Leave the top of the tube open and pack the plants snugly in the box so they’ll keep each other upright.

ON THE BIG DAY

  • Drop young children and pets off with a friend or babysitter, or have someone over to supervise them if possible.
  • Organize an emergency kit you can take with you in the car, pack a small box with some snack food, tea, coffee, sugar, mugs, soap, towel, sponge, can opener, glasses and a corkscrew.
  • Make sure all packing is done before the movers arrive. If you want to speed up your move, dismantle beds, remove shelves, seal boxes and bags, and have all items placed in one area of your house ready to go.Make sure your boxes are not too heavy – while our movers are big and strong and are fed on a diet of porridge, spinach and taro, they do have their limitations.
  • Leave the vacuum cleaner out for one last clean of the house, and a quick once-over before you move furniture into the new place.
  • If you want your ‘emergency kit’ (see above), vacuum cleaner or any other items immediately on arrival to travel with the removalist, be sure they are marked ‘LOAD LAST’ so they are first off.
  • Before you go: check the electricity, gas and telephone have been disconnected and all switched turned off. Turn off and drain the water heater. Tighten all taps. Lock all windows and doors.
  • Don’t leave the premises till everything has been loaded. Remember it is YOUR responsibility to make sure everything is removed.
  • Send a scout on ahead so that there is someone on hand when the removalist arrives. This allows extra time to ensure that the real estate agent and keys will be there when you need them.
  • Be sure the removalists have a clear idea of where everything is to go. Label your boxes clearly or colour-code them (and tape a colour swatch to the door of the room where the matching articles are to be placed). Because the removalists may not know which empty room is which, you may want to supply them with a sketch of the house layout with rooms marked. It’s fine to leave drawers in, but if they slide or roll out easily or contain small bit’s and bob’s, empty them before the move.
  • Try to ensure there is a parking space free for our truck: try using traffic cones, bins, chairs with a sign on (eg: please keep clear for furniture trucks) to keep a space free.
  • Please be bear with us if we are running late: We will call you to let you know if we are behind schedule.

Free advice about Furniture Removals from Kiwimove. Call us now for a free quote on your furniture removals.