MoVING TIPS - A CHECKLIST
Read this helpful list here or download and print
MOVING TIPS FROM BRISBANE REMOVALISTS
A well organised, itemised list of tasks to complete at moving time
Brisbane Removalists have been in the industry for over 12 years. We have seen it all and know all about the stress that moving house can be. That is why we have compiled a list of Moving Tips for you as a reminder of what not to forget!
moving tips stated clearly
Never underestimate the value of good planning
As Benjamin Franklin wisely said, ‘By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.’
The dos and don’ts for an efficient move
We have a list of Dos and Don’ts to help you to curb costs and make the most of your move. These tips are informative but not only that, they serve to help you not make errors that others have made. Mistakes can be costly.
Quick tip
Did you know that moving in a small truck with 2 loads can sometimes be cheaper and faster than using a larger truck with one load?
If your two properties are under 5 km away from each other and you have a lot of unstackables (pot plants, lawnmowers, treadmills, bikes, canoes, BBQs etc.) then it is advisable to take two loads in our 20 m3 truck instead of a 40m3.
Why? Because we can do two quick floor loads and not have to spend an inordinate amount of time playing TETRIS with your goods to fit them under the legs of furniture and secure things safely.
Having 2 loads is a far more streamlined approach.
First load – furniture. Place these items unstacked in the truck and zip them around into the new property. Place them exactly where you want them, unhindered by boxes.
Second load, all the boxes, unstackables and small items. This means they can go directly to the rooms where they should, and the furniture is already in place.
The alternative is – lost time stacking and securing items, and everything arrives at once. Boxes are in the way of furniture as you bring them in, and have to be moved out of the way. How much easier would it be, to have the furniture in place and ready and bring the rest in after?
MOVING TIPS - a HELPFUL CHECKLIST
Prepare for your move
- Book your removal company.
- Check for any special moving instructions for appliances.
- Transfer your phone & internet.
- Redirect your mail.
- Organise any school or day care transfers.
- Organise final power reading.
- Book bond clean if applicable.
Moving day
- Empty fish tanks and terrariums.
- Have your moving day box handy.
- Place perishable foods into an esky or cooler for the move.
If You Are self packing
- Order boxes and packing materials. We can help with this.
- Label boxes with room locations and contents .
- Make a separate box with items you will need straight after the move.
Final checks
- Make sure nothing has been forgotten in your home.
- Check the tops of any built ins.
- Turn off power at the main switch.
If we are packing for you
- Confirm your pack size for boxes according to your move size.
At your new home
- Ensure power and phone have been connected.
- Stand near the entrance to direct the removalists to locate furniture etc.
- Check which day is rubbish collection.
Just before your move
- Plan where to place furniture at your new home.
- Arrange to collect the keys for your new property.
- Ensure no fuel remains in your lawnmower etc.
- Ensure your power & gas have been Read and landlines disconnected.
Other services we offer
- Full Packing Service
- Full Unpacking Service
- Partial Packing Service
- Storage Options
The following items can not be transported or put into storage
- Ammunition
- Cans of paint
- Petrol, Diesel or Oil
- Aerosol cans
- Turpentine & Kerosene
- Other Flammable Items
Fully licensed & insured
We are fully licensed and insured to move your
belongings. This means that you can have peace of mind knowing that your items are in safe hands.
DOS AND DON'TS
Like most things in life, there are wrong and right ways to complete a move
Here, at Brisbane Removalists we have made use of our 12+ years of experience in the industry to collect as much information as we could. We enjoy helping people prepare and complete their moves. So following that principle we have put together some helpful information below.
Let’s call them the “Dos and Don’ts”
Move preparation
Do
Book in advance to ensure your move goes smoothly. It is difficult to get a last-minute space, especially during the busy season and on Fridays (and Mondays), which are typically settlement days.
Don’t
Do not leave booking to the last minute – this means poor preparation, unfinished packing and no time to sort out important details. It can also mean not having the right-sized truck for your move or the right move time which can result in you being squeezed in somewhere on the day – this can be very disruptive if you have children and other responsibilities.
Do
Research to get the right company – check out the real Google reviews not pasted reviews on websites that cannot be linked back to Google.
Don’t
Do not base your research on paid for advertising which is always found at the top of the search page – rather refer to the organic listings that are based on under the map on the page. Many people can be caught out here. A lot of companies use the terms Brisbane and Removalists and if sometimes you think you are booking us – the genuine Brisbane Removalists – and you are not.
Do
Ask around – rely on friends and family networks who have moved recently – word of mouth is a reliable source.
Don’t
Do not choose a company on price alone rather on reputation. A reliable and efficient move is better than a cheap and nasty one which takes longer and causes you more stress.
Do
Be realistic. Factor in your access, what problem items you have, the weather and traffic into your move estimates. Poor access can be a move killer.
Don’t
Do not forget to book your lifts, check if there are time restrictions or rules in your apartment blocks. Most will not allow you to move before 9 or after 4 to allow for people getting to work and back. Some apartments do not allow Saturday moves!
Do
Book loading zone and lifts, check out height restrictions for the trucks, check if you have overhanging trees, rubbish day on a narrow street the day of your move, parking issues. narrow stairs, lifts or possible concerns re access such as school traffic before move day to be prepared.
Make sure you let us know!
Don’t
Do not forget to pack all loose items. A good removalist company will not take loose items as the risk of damage to the items and to other items when these move within the truck is too great. The time it takes to upload small items with multiple trips is not conducive to an efficient move and will cost you a lot more time and money.
Do
Let us know if you have a lot of unstackables items when you book. This means BBQs, pot plants, bikes, lawn mowers, treadmills, and canoes for example. These take up a lot of floor space and you cannot stack items on top of them. This will dictate what sized truck you will need.
Downsize donate or get rid of unnecessary items before you start packing. It is tempting to put them in the box rather than discard them in the moment.
Don’t
Don’t forget to tick off the following:
Change of internet provider. Change of addresses with all service providers – electricity, gas, rates, car licence, medicare, ATO, doctor, school, and work etc.
Do
Make sure you have thought out the logistics of large furniture and if it will fit in the new home, stairs or lifts. You do not wish to have to crane lift your item over a 5th floor balcony at the last minute. This can be very costly
Don’t
Don’t cancel last minute as you will leave the boys without work. They are the coalface of the business and do all the hard work. Cancelling last minute has a big impact on them given they are dependent on the daily income. Last minute cancellations mean we cannot refill a spot that we may have turned others down for and our boys are let down. We need a good 3-4 days’ notice.
Do
Read your meter!
Don’t
Don’t forget to go bed early the night before – moving is exhausting.
Packing
Do
Organise your packing material in advance. Best to start packing in advance and do a little every day. Start room by room with items that you know you will not need first. Place boxed items in one room – or where possible, in the garage – this will clear the house, ensure a quicker move when the team arrives and let you know you are making progress.
Get us to deliver your boxes in advance to your door.
Don’t
Do not leave booking to the last minute – this means poor preparation, unfinished packing and no time to sort out important details. It can also mean not having the right-sized truck for your move or the right move time which can result in you being squeezed in somewhere on the day – this can be very disruptive if you have children and other responsibilities.
Do
Do not leave booking to the last minute – this means poor preparation, unfinished packing and no time to sort out important details. It can also mean not having the right-sized truck for your move or the right move time which can result in you being squeezed in somewhere on the day – this can be very disruptive if you have children and other responsibilities.
Don’t
Don’t overload boxes – use small boxes for books for example. Heavy items in large boxes can break the seal of the tape and can be difficult to manoeuvre down stairs and sharp corners
Do
Label your boxes with colour coded stickers – orange for the kitchen, blue for your bedroom etc. and print a colour page to pin to each room for easy and reliable delivery. This way, the right box will find its way into the right room every time. No excuses!
Don’t
Do not leave your drawers full. Weight can be detrimental on the structural integrity of your furniture items when moving. Filing cabinet runners will snap under the weight and pressure as can wood items.
Small and loose items can be damaged or damage other items with sustained movement if left to roll around inside the truck without being boxed.
Do
Label your boxes with fragile items clearly! Especially glass, wine, marble etc.
Don’t
Do not pack flammable liquids, gas bottles, lighters or pressurized cans. We do not take these. Empty fuel and oil from mowers, or garden equipment.
Do
Fill in gaps in boxes with packing peanuts, scrunched up butcher paper, or sheets, towels etc.
Don’t
Makes sure sharp objects are properly packed so they do not pierce through boxes and cause injury to our teams.
Do
Keep a box full of essentials aside that you will have easy access to – especially with children.
Place your necessary documents, daily essentials and must haves here for easy access. Label this as – DO NOT TAKE and take it in your car with you.
Don’t
Try to use proper double lined boxes over cheap supermarket quality ones. Cheap boxes collapse under the weight of other boxes and can cause a domino effect in the truck if one collapses as well as damage to your goods inside.
Do
Turn your fridge off and empty it 24 hours before the move and let it stand at least 6 hours before turning it back on at your new home. This allows the gases to settle.
Don’t
Do not forget to secure your washing machine with a stabiliser bolt found at the back of your machine. Drain all water from the hoses in advance if possible.
Do
Make sure that pot plants are not watered 2 days before the move and place the pot in a bin liner and tie it around the stem.
Don’t
Don’t forget that if you are moving interstate, you will need a special permit for taking plants over the border.
The move
Do
Look after your movers. Treat them with kindness and care. Get to know them a little. Being respected makes everyone on the team feel positive. Make sure they are able to take 5-minute pauses from time to time without making them feel pressured into always being on the move. It is a strenuous job and often in high heat here in Queensland. A few small breaks throughout the day for water and to give their muscles a break, will replenish their energy and will go a long way in keeping the boys at tempo.
Don’t
Do not stress your movers. They know what they are doing (if you have a reputable company). Let them go at the pace they need to ensure they pace themselves for the entire day and that they take the right precautions with your furniture and precious items. It is a stressful day for you, but they are there to make it better so enjoy them, their humour, their smiles and their work ethic and the day will go much faster.
Do
Help out where possible – bring boxes and items down to the bottom floor or take them to the truck. Make sure you are being safe.
Don’t
Do not get in the way of the movers, nor get in the truck. Do not allow children or pets to be in the way for health and safety issues. Do not carry heavy items or furniture – leave this to the experts.
Do
Take a break yourselves and focus on the excitement of a new home rather than on the potential stresses on the day.
Don’t
Do not make multiple trips with the car for weeks on end to take the little things if it means you are killing yourselves for no reason and what has taken you 2 weeks to move may have easily taken one load and 20 minutes for the boys.
Do
When the pickup is completed, go around the house and check with the team that they have collected everything. Check over the top of built ins, in drawer cavities – things slip behind.
When the drop off is completed at destination
check your furniture and boxes with the team to ensure you are happy and there is no damage. If something is damaged, then get this noted on the day by ringing the office directly and writing a note of if on the invoice before signing off. This is essential as there is always a clause of no responsibility if you come back 3 days later and say that we have damaged your TV or furniture. There is no way of confirming that this was us or if it was done after the move.
Don’t
Do not forget that we are not responsible for self-packed boxes unless we physically drop the box or there is damage to the box itself that was not there at uplift. Poor packing and poor packing material are often the cause of damage and for boxes to crumple when stacked.
find out more about the services we have to offer
Tailored packing solutions: introducing our specialized kits
We love to help our clients with not just our professional and reliable services, but with all the helpful moving tips.
In an effort to save you time and to filter out some of the rubbish information found on the web, we have spent some time researching the subject for you. We have also put together some “quick-pack” packaging kits that have a great selection of boxes, wraps etc. You can check these out here on our site.
So in that spirit, here are a couple of links to some helpful packing tips to make it easier for you.
Office Hours:
- Mon - Fri: - 7:30am - 5:30pm
- Saturday: - 8:00am - 4:00pm
- Sunday: - Closed
- Public Holidays: - Closed
