Tips On Moving from Expert Packers in Nowra
Expert Advice On Relocating Your Home
Having moved families across Australia for decades, our experts have seen all kinds of moving and packing scenarios. Take a look at their advice on what to do, starting from weeks before to the day of moving and also when you get to your new home
Relocation Timeline
- Start a central file for your move documents
- Is the removal company booked
- Create a floor plan of your new home and plan the placement of furniture
- Insurance - Transit, Home & Contents transfer
- Have you planned your packing
- Check inventory list, cross off everything you don't absolutely need and dispose of these items
- Check the garden
- Check the garage
- Check the shed
- Check under the house
- Newspaper and other subscriptions cancelled or redirected
- Arrange for disposal of garden chemicals, paint, fuel and similar items
- Frozen food - plan to eat it before you leave
- Travelling - have you arranged for passports, visa's, money and accommodation
- Arrange to have your mail held or redirected to the new address
- Arrange for school, day care and other transfers
- If you planned to do some packing yourself, start now
- If you need cartons and packing material, arrange delivery with your moving company
- Label every carton by content and room identification
- Contact all your relevant authorities including electoral office, post office, taxation office, insurance companies, motor vehicle associations, medical, dental, local council, banks, financial institutions, schools, clubs, library, solicitor, mains roads dept, real estate agent, landlord and social security dept's
- If you are driving long distance, get your car checked
- Begin to dismantle any furniture items that come apart
- Arrange to transfer your bank accounts
- Arrange a telephone, electricity and gas supply for your new home
- Arrange for pet vaccinations, if required
- If your boat or trailer is to be included with the load, ensure all loose items are packed away
- Return all borrowed items, such as library books or video rentals
- Establish cut-off dates for electricity, gas and phone
- Make a list of your requirements on moving day
- Get a street directory of your new town or city
- If you are transporting your car, make sure all arrangements are in place
- Cancel the newspaper, milk, soft drink and other deliveries
- Ensure travel arrangements for your pets have been confirmed
- Pets can often sense that changes are occurring and it's a good idea to arrange for your pets to be collected the day before you move
- Drain fuel from lawn mower, empty any gas cylinder / bottles (your local garage may be able to do this for you)
- Remove batteries from any battery-powered devices
- Arrange the necessary finances for payments on moving day
- If travelling by car check for oil, water, tyres, etc
- Pack luggage, those items you will need immediately after you move
- Check if you need to arrange for special parking or access for your removalist at your new home
- Do the laundry and collect dry cleaning
- Dispose of any remaining chemicals, flammables and garbage
- Pack the items that the professionals will not be packing
- Check if you have packing boxes, wrapping paper, sealing tape and marker pens for the packing that you will do
- If you are having your items professionally packed, this will happen today as per your instructions
- Separate the items that you have packed (to be taken with you) from the items to be packed by the removalists
- Defrost your fridge, clean it out and dry it
- Eat or dispose of any food remaining in the kitchen
- Leave your forwarding address and phone number for your current home's new occupants or landlord
- If your home will be vacant for awhile, notify the police and neighbours
- Pack yourself a survival kit. Things like toiletries, tea, coffee, clothing, personal items, travel documents, tickets, first aid kit, money, cheque book
- Leave the vacuum cleaner out, you might want to clean up after the furniture is moved out
- Collect all house keys, ensure electricity and gas meters have been read, the telephone has been disconnected and the car keys are in a safe place
- If renting leave keys with your real estate agent / landlord
- As the van is being loaded, walk around the house, garden, garage and shed from time to time and keep an eye for anything left out
- If you are moving interstate overseas or moving your possessions into storage, don't forget to read through and sign the inventory before leaving
- Tighten all taps, turn off the water heater and drain it
- Turn off power to the house
- Lock the house securely
Your New Home
- If renting, conduct a walk through inspection with an agent, documenting the state of the home and furniture
- In your new home, it's a lot easier to get the removalists to put everything where you want it rather than to rearrange heavy furniture once they are gone
- When unloading is complete, make sure that everything is in the right place
- For storage, interstate and international deliveries, check-off and sign the inventory
- Locate all keys to your home
- If you are concerned about security, arrange to have all locks changed
- Turn on the power and make sure the hot water system is turned on
- Introduce yourself to your neighbours, they can provide helpful information such as when the garbage is collected
- Ensure your pets will be safe while settling in
