Moving House

20 Helpful Tips To Make Moving House Less Daunting

1. Give your removalist as much notice as possible, especially for peak moving times such as the summer months and the last week of the month. Once the sale of your home has been finalised, confirm your moving date.

2. Be aware that if you are doing your own packing, your removalist’s transit insurance may not cover any damage.

3. When the removalist’s estimator arrives to quote the cost of your move, be sure to cover everything that has to be moved and advise them of any potential difficulties at the other end, including access problems, winding staircases and narrow streets. The more information you provide, the less chance of incurring additional charges.

4. Make sure you fully understand the terms of the contract. Go over the cost breakdown and check the hourly rate, when the charge commences and finishes, how you will be charged, how you will pay and the exact definition of ‘subject to increase’ clauses.

5. Check the insurance cover offered by your removalist. Is it ‘New for Old’ cover or is it reimbursement based on market value? Seek your removalist’s advice on any additional insurance you may need. Transit insurance, for example, bridges the gap between your household contents cover in the home you are leaving and your new home, providing uninterrupted security. If you are putting goods into storage you will need a separate insurance policy.

6. Organise for the electricity, gas and the phone to be switched off at your old home and turned on in your name for the day you arrive at your new home. Also go to your post office and fill in a ‘Change of Address Redirection’ form that is valid for at least one month. This way you will have time to let everyone know your new address.

7. Commence the clearing out process as soon as possible and dispose of any unwanted items before you move. Clean everything as you go – the last thing you need after moving is to have to wash and polish household goods as you unpack!

8. Empty out and defrost both your refrigerator and freezer in advance. Keeping a couple of esky’s handy with frozen ice packs will certainly help.

9. Arrange for the disposal of old paint, garden chemicals, fuel and other toxic items. Drain any fuel from the lawnmower, remove batteries from battery powered devices and empty gas cylinders. Your removalist can advise you of any items they are unable to transport and your local council can offer information of their safe disposal.

10. Pack a survival kit to be taken in your car, just in case you don’t get to unpack these items by bedtime. Include cups, plates, kettle, tea, coffee, sugar, milk, snacks, drinks, toilet paper, light bulbs, bin liners, cleaning materials, tools, a torch, sheets, blankets and a change of clothes for each member of the family.

11. Obtain packing cartons in various sizes from your removalist or of a company selling packing materials. You’ll also need packaging tape and a dispenser, marking pens and bubble wrap or tissue paper for delicate items. For a cleaner pack, use butcher’s paper instead of newspaper.

12. Pack by the room – it’s much quicker and you can instantly see the results of your labour.

13. Clearly label cartons on the top and at least one side with the room for which they are destined. Clearly mark ‘Fragile’ on cartons containing anything breakable, and use extra packing paper in between items.

14. Leave three to five centimetres at the top of each carton to provide cushioning. Don’t allow items to protrude above the top of the carton or bulge out at the sides, as this may cause the cartons to split.

15. Don’t make cartons too heavy, especially those packed with books. “And leave your mirrors and valuable paintings to the experts”.

16. If you are moving house plants, pack them in cardboard boxes the night before the move. Hold the plants in place with damp newspaper and transport them in your car rather than the removalist van. Unpack as soon as possible.

17. When the last box has been loaded onto the truck, secure the property and leave the keys in a pre-arranged location.

18. Upon arrival at your new destination, inspect the property closely to ensure that everything has been left exactly as agreed. Refer any omissions to your Solicitor.

19. Have an unpacking plan so that essential items are unpacked first. For instance, have toys or the television unpacked immediately so children are kept occupied as you start settling into your new home.

20. After arriving at your new home, renew your driver’s licence, update your home contents and car insurance, and revise your will and other legal papers as soon as possible.