Moving house? These are the prep jobs you must not forget
By Top Removals|October 09, 2024
Jeremy Records is dispatch manager for Australian moving company Top Removals.
Moving houses can be a hassle without proper planning. With over 1,900 monthly online searches for a ‘moving house checklist’ in Australia, the demand for efficient packing tips is evident.
Top Removals’ moving expert and dispatch manager, Jeremy Records shares his six essential tips before relocating, saying “items packed incorrectly can lead to further damage to personal belongings resulting in increased costs and unnecessary delays”.
“There are some key moving checklists that people often forget before a big move, such as defrosting the freezer at least 24 hours before or not prioritising decluttering storage spaces like the basement or garage.
“It’s important to prepare these in advance and take your time to plan and organise different areas of your home to ensure that all sections are packed securely and efficiently ahead of your move-in day.”
These are the essential prep steps before moving.
Use colour-coded stickers to label your boxes and number these by room.
Moving house can often lead to major decluttering challenges particularly if you leave things at the last minute.
Jeremy shares: “Start by organising your space into clear zones, for example, kitchen, living room, master bedroom and so on. This can help you tackle the most challenging areas first where you have accumulated the most things and strategically allocate items by categories.
“This will make it easier to label each moving box using colour-coded stickers assigned to corresponding rooms in the new house, helping movers to know the exact location to unload the boxes preventing any mishaps and keeping the moving process more organised and efficient.”
Don’t leave moving boxes half-full
Using extra-large cardboard boxes for heavy items like books will only leave you with unfilled spaces or can tempt you to overfill it with more things, leaving the box too heavy and not able to hold the weight.
“This can become a major problem when transporting the items into your new home as the boxes can get squashed making them unstackable when loading in the van, risking the boxes toppling over and damaging your belongings.
“Leaving boxes half-full will only take up more space in the vehicle, so ensure that you fill these up appropriately. But avoid using non-durable packaging materials that are not suitable for heavier items.”
“For example, opt for sturdier, small to medium-sized containers instead of cardboard boxes to store books as these will hold the weight better and make it easier to transport without overloading.”
Empty your drawers to avoid overloading
Customers often leave their drawers full of clothes to avoid packing these in boxes, however doing so can make it too heavy to carry and can risk damaging your furniture.
“When clients leave their drawers full of clothing, we have to ask them to pack these in a separate box, otherwise it will be too bulky and heavy to transport. This can consume more time and cause delay during move-in day,” Jeremy says.
“When moving your big furniture items like dining tables, I recommend disassembling the top from the legs and wrapping this up in shrink-wrap to avoid getting scratched in transport. For your bed, disassemble the base, headboard and legs then use blankets to wrap around and protect them during the move.”
Dispose of flammable items like paint and cleaning agents
Hazardous materials are best disposed of before moving and should not be included in your list of items to pack.
Jeremy warns: “Hazardous or flammable items like propane tanks, certain cleaning agents and paint can pose serious risks and should not be packed in the moving truck or vehicle. Always check the regulations to ensure these items are disposed of properly or transported safely according to local guidelines.”
Keep valuables and important documents separate
Sensitive or high-value items like cameras, computers, jewellery or personal documents should not be packed in the moving boxes.
“Valuable items like your passport, and legal or financial records are best transported with you during the moving day as it minimises the risk of damage or theft.
“Items with sentimental value or fragile collectables must be left with you to move personally and not with your hired movers to avoid the risk of breakage or loss.”
Place heavier items at the bottom of boxes
More fragile items can be put on top. This will prevent any damage and keep the load well-balanced during transport.
Jeremy adds: “Pack smaller items inside large ones to maximise the space. For example, place small kitchen gadgets inside pots and pans, or use a suitcase to pack clothes. Use port-a-robe boxes for clothes already on hangers to save time and space.
“For fragile items like artwork, glassware, lamps or houseplants, use household items like blankets, tea towels or cushions as padding to add additional protection during the move and avoid breakage. This can also cut back the cost of extra packaging materials.”
Moving houses can be a hassle without proper planning. With over 1,900 monthly online searches for a ‘moving house checklist’ in Australia, the demand for efficient packing tips is evident.
Top Removals’ moving expert and dispatch manager, Jeremy Records shares his six essential tips before relocating, saying “items packed incorrectly can lead to further damage to personal belongings resulting in increased costs and unnecessary delays”.
“There are some key moving checklists that people often forget before a big move, such as defrosting the freezer at least 24 hours before or not prioritising decluttering storage spaces like the basement or garage.
“It’s important to prepare these in advance and take your time to plan and organise different areas of your home to ensure that all sections are packed securely and efficiently ahead of your move-in day.”
These are the essential prep steps before moving.
Use colour-coded stickers to label your boxes and number these by room.
Moving house can often lead to major decluttering challenges particularly if you leave things at the last minute.
Jeremy shares: “Start by organising your space into clear zones, for example, kitchen, living room, master bedroom and so on. This can help you tackle the most challenging areas first where you have accumulated the most things and strategically allocate items by categories.
“This will make it easier to label each moving box using colour-coded stickers assigned to corresponding rooms in the new house, helping movers to know the exact location to unload the boxes preventing any mishaps and keeping the moving process more organised and efficient.”
Don’t leave moving boxes half-full
Using extra-large cardboard boxes for heavy items like books will only leave you with unfilled spaces or can tempt you to overfill it with more things, leaving the box too heavy and not able to hold the weight.
“This can become a major problem when transporting the items into your new home as the boxes can get squashed making them unstackable when loading in the van, risking the boxes toppling over and damaging your belongings.
“Leaving boxes half-full will only take up more space in the vehicle, so ensure that you fill these up appropriately. But avoid using non-durable packaging materials that are not suitable for heavier items.”
“For example, opt for sturdier, small to medium-sized containers instead of cardboard boxes to store books as these will hold the weight better and make it easier to transport without overloading.”
Empty your drawers to avoid overloading
Customers often leave their drawers full of clothes to avoid packing these in boxes, however doing so can make it too heavy to carry and can risk damaging your furniture.
“When clients leave their drawers full of clothing, we have to ask them to pack these in a separate box, otherwise it will be too bulky and heavy to transport. This can consume more time and cause delay during move-in day,” Jeremy says.
“When moving your big furniture items like dining tables, I recommend disassembling the top from the legs and wrapping this up in shrink-wrap to avoid getting scratched in transport. For your bed, disassemble the base, headboard and legs then use blankets to wrap around and protect them during the move.”
Dispose of flammable items like paint and cleaning agents
Hazardous materials are best disposed of before moving and should not be included in your list of items to pack.
Jeremy warns: “Hazardous or flammable items like propane tanks, certain cleaning agents and paint can pose serious risks and should not be packed in the moving truck or vehicle. Always check the regulations to ensure these items are disposed of properly or transported safely according to local guidelines.”
Keep valuables and important documents separate
Sensitive or high-value items like cameras, computers, jewellery or personal documents should not be packed in the moving boxes.
“Valuable items like your passport, and legal or financial records are best transported with you during the moving day as it minimises the risk of damage or theft.
“Items with sentimental value or fragile collectables must be left with you to move personally and not with your hired movers to avoid the risk of breakage or loss.”
Place heavier items at the bottom of boxes
More fragile items can be put on top. This will prevent any damage and keep the load well-balanced during transport.
Jeremy adds: “Pack smaller items inside large ones to maximise the space. For example, place small kitchen gadgets inside pots and pans, or use a suitcase to pack clothes. Use port-a-robe boxes for clothes already on hangers to save time and space.
“For fragile items like artwork, glassware, lamps or houseplants, use household items like blankets, tea towels or cushions as padding to add additional protection during the move and avoid breakage. This can also cut back the cost of extra packaging materials.”
