Moving Advice

FOUR TO SIX WEEKS BEFORE MOVING

  • Jettison the junk. Tour your house from top to bottom, including garage and yard and get rid of things you really don’t need (there’s no point in paying to move them).

TWO TO THREE WEEKS BEFORE MOVING

  • Traveling by car to your new home? Have your vehicle comprehensively checked.
  • 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.

ONE WEEK BEFORE MOVING

  • Finalise any outstanding accounts
  • Cancel the bread, newspaper and milk deliveries.
  • Arrange electricity and gas final readings

TWO DAYS BEFORE MOVING

  • Throw out inflammables such as cleaning fluids, paint and turps (removalists are not permitted to transport these, and they’re not permitted in storage).
  • 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.
  • 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.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.
  • 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.
  • If you have bought a house and are moving on settlement day, please let us know. It is recommended that your move starts a little later in the day as it causes frustration for all (and costs you more money) if we are waiting with a full truck at your new house but the settlement has not gone through. Friday is always the worst day for settlements being held up.
  • Please be bear with us if we are running late: We will call you to let you know if we are behind schedule.