A Comprehensive Guide to Moving House – What you Should Know

Sooner or later, you will come to a decision to relocate; it might be due to work or you might simply fancy a change of environment; many couples sell up and relocate to sunny Brisbane when their children have grown up and have families of their own and who could blame them? Most people move at least 4-5 times in their lifetime and packing up all your belongings and relocating to a new dwelling can be a stressful experience.

Essential preparation

Once you have confirmed the move, you can start to prepare things; you can arrange for a house cleaning contractor to carry out an end-of-tenancy clean the day after you leave. Whether a rental property or freehold, etiquette demands that you have the house deep cleaned, ready for the next occupants. Make contact with all utility providers and inform them that you wish to terminate the service, confirming the date you leave. Some removalists also offer house cleaning services and they can clean the old house and also prepare the new dwelling.

Create lists

Not everything in the home is going to the new abode, so it makes sense to create a few lists; one for items to be included, one for things that are not part of the relocation and one for items you plan to discard. If you have a lot of stuff to sell, social media is free and hopefully, those unwanted items can be exchanged for some much-needed cash!

Magazine subscriptions & domestic services

Contact all ongoing subscription providers and either terminate the service or inform them of your new address. If you have a working relationship with local companies, you might like to let them know you are moving out so they can cross you off their list. 

Sourcing a local removalist

A leading Sydney-based company such as Ashfield Removals offer a comprehensive service that includes packing. It is important to choose a removalist with adequate resources to carry out the move on the confirmed date. The removalist would prefer to pay you a visit rather than giving a quote over the phone; they need to know exactly what items are to be included in the move, plus details of the new dwelling. You should insist on an all-inclusive quote, so there are no nasty shocks when you get the invoice. An established provider would have a rating from an independent review organisation; Google Reviews are one way to find out about a company’s service; 4.5 stars means excellent service. Check whether or not they are accredited to any federations or associations, which is always a good sign.

Comprehensive insurance

It is essential that the removalist provides comprehensive insurance; even the most careful of workers can slip and fall, while the truck could be involved in a collision, there are many ways that your possessions might be damaged. An established company would have a premium policy for their customers and that is all included in the price.

Pre-packing

You would be alarmed at what can be found in a family-size house; hiring a skip would be a good move, as you are bound to fill that up. The removalist can deliver a sea container and you can start packing items that are not in use, which makes it easier on the big day. Using sea containers is a great way to move house; the truck simply lifts it onto the flat bed and away you go! Containers come in two sizes, 20ft and 40ft, both of which are ideal for moving house. Most people prefer to let the professionals handle the packing, with maybe a few high value items on your person; if you have a concealed safe at home, don’t forget to remove the contents and leave the keys with the new owner, unless, of course, you plan to have the safe installed in the new home, which is probably the best solution. Click here if you are looking for study design tips.

Preparing the new dwelling

In a perfect world, you can walk right in and start unpacking your stuff, however, in the real world, you need a team of cleaners before you start unloading. Ideally, arrange for the house to be cleaned the day before you move and everything is ready for occupation. Don’t forget to have the utilities turned on and call to confirm a few days ahead of the move. If you labelled boxes correctly, unpacking should be straightforward, simply put each box in the right room and the work can begin. This is when a good team of removalists come in handy, they will happily place heavy furniture in the precise spot, saving you from backache. Talk to the removal company, as they might offer house cleaning as a service, which saves you having to call in another contractor.

Interstate removals

If you have decided to take up that managerial position and it means moving to another state, this is a job for a nationwide outfit; using containers is the best way to handle a long-distance project. There are several transport avenues you can take; air, road or rail; it is most likely the removalist would take the road option, as they would have a network of depots spread across Australia. Start with an online search to connect with some of the top interstate removalists and when you find one that looks good, make an enquiry. Google can help you to compare quotes and a little research on a provider is always a good idea.

One important aspect of relocating is planning, use the time efficiently and make sure you haven’t overlooked anything. We think we’ve covered everything in this article to help you plan a stress-free move and you can start the next chapter of your exciting life.