Moving can be one of life’s most stressful events—but it doesn’t have to be. Follow the tips below for a smooth move.

Planning the move

• Reduce your load. The less you have to move, the easier it will be. Hold a garage sale for the stuff you don’t need.
• Establish a packing system. Write down everything important, and use a number system to keep track of what box is what.
• Think about storage. If you are moving into a smaller place, you will need to store what you can’t bring.

Packing for the move

• Pack in order. Pack up the stuff you use the least first. The less you use it, the earlier you should pack it.
• Keep your essentials at hand. Keep one box or drawer for the first day essentials like a tooth brush and a change of clothes. Pack this box last and unload it first. Don’t forget to keep cleaning supplies out if you have to clean the place you are leaving.
• Have more supplies then you think you need. People often underestimate how much moving supplies they will need—especially boxes. Gather up twice as many boxes as you think you will need. You won’t regret this!
• If you have pets, keep them at a friend or relatives place. Not only do they tend to get in the way, but the move is often quite stressful on pets.

Moving house is something that we all do at least once in our lifetimes and it can be an incredibly stressful task.  This is why we have put this list together to help make the process easier and save your sanity.

The First Things to Consider

As soon as you know that you will be moving, you need to decide if you will be using removalists or if you are going to do the move yourself.  Even if you are doing it yourself, you will still need help, and the sooner you enlist the help of friends and family, the better.

Also, consider how much the move will cost and how much time you will have for the move.  If you are time poor, or cannot get time off work, a removalist is your best option.  If you are on a budget, shop around to find a removalist that you are comfortable with that you can afford, or consider doing it yourself.  Remember, the DIY option will still require hiring a truck or trailer.

Changing your Address

Changing your address is one thing that is often put on the backburner or overlooked.  As a result, people rush to change their addresses with the relevant companies and run the risk of leaving some important companies out, creating problems down the track.  Four to six weeks before moving, begin the process of changing your address. Australia Post also offers a mail redirection service, which is a great idea if you have left it too late to notify bill providers and important contacts.

Packing

When packing, start early and pack one room at a time.  Start in the rooms you don’t use often, and as you are packing, create a list of each carton and what it contains.  Numbering the cartons will help you find the box you need in your new home and minimise the risk of anything getting lost in the move.

Four Weeks to Go

• select your furniture removal service, if you are using one
• collect dental, medical, and school records
• organise the connection of phone, internet, gas, and electricity at your new place
• create an inventory list of the things that you will be moving
• if moving to a new city, research the city – check out local supermarkets, schools, train stations, child care facilities etc
• if renting, formally notify the landlord of the date that you are leaving the premises
• arrange for a property inspection to recoup bond
• begin using up frozen food

Three Weeks to Go

• begin the change of address process (see above)
• update insurance coverage where relevant
• start the packing process, starting with items that are not often used
• arrange rubbish removal
• disassemble outdoor items
• disassemble all prefabricated furniture – a computer desk for example
• obtain pet records from the vet
• move valuables to a safety deposit box
• organise storage if necessary

Two Weeks to Go

• finalise any additional moving documentation such as transit insurance
• make arrangements for any pets to be moved to the new home 
• make accommodation and travel arrangements for the duration of the moving process
• return library books, DVDs etc

One Week to Go

• arrange mail redirection at the post office
• arrange final accounts for utilities – gas, water, phone, internet, electricity, etc
• ensure that the utilities will be connected to the new home ready to move in
• give any spare keys to the real estate agent or new tenant
• begin using any remaining food in the fridge
• take valuables out of safety deposit box
• pack personal luggage last – carry valuables yourself

Moving Day

• check cupboards before you leave
• make one final check of the home 
• ensure that taps are turned off
• check all switches, heaters, air conditioners, and lights
• lock doors and windows

Finding the right service while moving homes, is critical for anyone to have a smooth and successful move. One of the most stressful things that customers have to deal with is moving large and bulky furniture.
In Melbourne you should choose a furniture removal service that offers high quality and exceptional service.
You should choose a company that has professionals who are experienced and have the necessary knowledge to help you in your move. Therefore, finding the right service to do the job right should be important.
For a stress free move, you should choose a moving company that is well versed in the industry. They will provide all solutions for all your moving and relocation needs. A good moving company is one that is tailored to meet individual needs including bulky furniture removal services. This ensures a smooth and hassle free move.
A company that is not well established could still be experiencing start up problems and these problems may be passed on to you through unfulfilled promises and poor services.
In addition to good service, a well established moving company treats all jobs with equal importance. No job is too big or too small. Professionalism is maintained in all jobs and the rates offered will be very competitive regardless of the size of the move. Furthermore they will be able to answer all questions that you may have regarding a move.
Removalists Melbourne takes pride in providing customer satisfaction. They have ensured continued success by providing first class service to all its clients regardless of stature or size of move. In addition they use skilled and highly experienced movers at very competitive rates.
Before you hire any removal service it is important to enquire whether they provide inter-state moving. This is especially important if you are moving across territories and states within Australia.
If you are moving and looking for a Melbourne removalist firm, do some research before choosing any company. Choose one that has experience, offers a competitive price and provides professional service.
Give them a call and get a quote before deciding to hire them to help you in your move.

Great Tips For Saving Money on Your Move
 

Wherever you are moving, whether its just around the corner, or across Australia, the cost of moving can quickly add up.

There are lots of simple ways to cut these costs:

Do Things Yourself
The simplest way to make your move as cheap as possible is to do as much of it yourself as possible:

1. Pack your boxes yourself rather than paying a specialist packing company or furniture removalists to do it for you.
2. Start the moving process in advance, well before the furniture removalists are scheduled to arrive.
3. Ask family and friends to help with the packing.

Using Free (or 2nd Hand) Packing Materials
This won’t be the most expensive part of moving, but the cost of packing materials can certainly chew into your budget. New specialist furniture removalist cartons can cost upwards of $6.50 each, so try purchasing some second hand removal boxes instead.

Instead of purchasing removalist packaging paper, use old newspapers to wrap plates and glassware. Please note that newsprint can stain crystal and fine china, so you may want to buy furniture removalists / butchers paper for packing these items (or better still, ask your local fish and chip store for a few sheets if you don’t have much to pack, to save buying a whole ream).

Using any old sheets, blankets and towels that you have as protective padding to cushion any delicate or fragile items can be a more affordable option.

For Local Furniture Removals
If moving locally the cost is usually dependent on how long the job takes, so take simple steps to reduce the time it takes for the furniture removalists to complete your move:

• Move boxes closer to the front door for quick loading by the furniture removalists
• Disassemble all large items like beds before the furniture removalists arrive
• Do a couple of car trips to reduce the amount of smaller items to load – letting the furniture removalists concentrate on moving fridges, beds and other large pieces of furniture.

Get Rid of Furniture You Don’t Want
Everyone has furniture and other items in their house they no longer use. There is no use in bringing them to your new home where they may just stay in boxes until the next time you move or eventually be thrown out. If you’re moving interstate or a great distance, your furniture removal quote is usually dependent on how much space you take up in the truck (rather than by how much time is taken) so why pay for space in the truck for items that you won’t use?

In addition to saving on your furniture removal costs, you can turn those unwanted items into cash:

• Have a garage sale
• Sell your goods to a 2^nd hand store
• Sell your goods on eBay or other auction sites

For furniture that you can’t sell you might consider donating them to charity.

If you’re moving interstate you might like to give your pot plants to friends – an interstate removal can be hard on your plants and they’re often expensive to move given the space they require (you can’t pack furniture on top of plants inside the removal truck!).

Moving cost across town or across Australia can be a shocking surprise. Moving costs can add up very quickly.

There are a few simple ways to cut these costs and save yourself some money.

The first suggestion would be to do things yourself. This is the simplest way to save yourself some money. How much you save is in direct ratio to how much work you are willing and able to do yourself.

You will save money by packing the boxes yourself rather than paying a company to pack them for you. When it comes to Furniture Removal, ask family and friends to help you arrange the furniture to save the time and labour of furniture removalists doing the work for you.

Start the moving process in advance before the Furniture Removal company arrives. Ask friends and family to help not only with the packing, but moving the furniture outside for the furniture removalists.

Use free and second hand packing materials. You would be surprised how much packing materials will cost. They can quickly destroy a tight budget. Furniture Removal boxes purchased from the furniture removalist companies can cost upwards of $6.50 each. You can usually find furniture removal cartons from a local storage facility that you can use. This will save you a couple of hundred dollars at least.

Using old newspapers to wrap plates and glassware will save you from purchasing removalist packaging paper. Be careful with crystal and fine china, though. Newsprint can stain these items. So wrap these items in butcher paper or purchase furniture removalists’ packing paper for these items.

Old sheets, blankets and towels will add as protective padding to cushion delicate and fragile items. This can be a more affordable and green option than purchasing things like bubble wrap.

When you pack for your move, make sure the materials you are using are up to the task. Make sure the boxes are sturdy enough to stand up to the rigorousness of a move whether it is short or long. Using boxes that cannot withstand the ardours of moving will cost you more money in damages and broken items than if you had spent a couple of more dollars to get proper materials.

When doing local Furniture Removal moves the cost is based on an hourly rate and depends how long the job is going to take. You can take very simple steps to reduce the time for furniture removalists to complete the job.

You can move boxes closer to the front door or on the porch for quick loading by the Furniture Removal service. It would be a good idea to disassemble large items such as beds and desks before the Furniture Removal agents arrive. Take the smaller items to the new house in your car, making several trips to have them out of the way for when the Furniture Removal agents come. This saves hours of work for the company and they can concentrate on the large items like fridges, beds, freezers and other items.

Get rid of the furniture you are not taking with you. You can hire donate them to a charity or a second hand store can purchase and remove them. Not taking them will save you time in man-hours and the cost of the size of the truck for less space.

If you are moving across town, a Furniture Removal service will most likely charge by the hour. If you move across the country or interstate, a Furniture Removal service will most likely charge you by the space your belongings will take. So save yourself time and space wherever possible.

Some ways you can get rid of items you no longer want through several ways. You can have a garage sale, sell your goods to a second hand store or sell your goods on eBay or other auction site. Anything you cannot sell, you might want to donate it to charity.

If you’re planning an interstate move there is one last consideration to be made. Your pot plants can be expensive to move and a move is hard on them. They have to be treated carefully by the Furniture Removal service and that can cause problems. Give your plants to friends or family.