Office & House Moving Tips
Preparation and tips for your move
Handy hints to help prepare for your move
These handy hints will help make the process run smoothly on your moving day, ensure your precious items are well protected to travel well, and that you’re prepared enough for us to come in and do our bit (saving time and saving you from the need to pay more than you have to).
Before the move: packing tips
Use packing boxes
Everything that can fit into a box should go into a box – this will speed up the loading of your job.
Pack boxes full, but not too heavy
Pack boxes full to the top of the box – this makes it easier to stack boxes and reduces the risk of boxes crushing when stacked.
However, while we recommend packing the boxes full, it’s important to ensure they’re not too heavy.
Mark your boxes for your own reference
It’s always handy to write what is in each box in an inconspicuous place on that box, for your reference later when it comes to unpacking — so you can unpack items in order of importance and find them when you need to.
Protect fragile items and mark the box as fragile
Fragile Items should be wrapped with butcher’s paper. Newspaper is not ideal, as it can leave ink marks on items. Bubble wrap any glass, marble or artwork.
Once packed, the box should be clearly marked with fragile stickers, this will become a top-load box.
Disassemble items that can be taken apart
If possible, anything that needs disassembly should be pulled apart. This is something we can do, however, it saves considerable time if you’re able to do this beforehand. This, in turn, saves time on moving day and saves you more in the overall cost of the move.
Top tip: place any screws or bolts for each item (and any special tools like an allen key for that item) into a zip lock bag, and mark the bag with what the bolts belong to — this will make things much easier for you on the other end.
Use the right size and type box for each item
Use generic removal boxes. Trucks are much faster to load and pack when correct furniture removal cartons are used. Many people use shoe boxes and fruit boxes, or a variety of different-sized cartons. This makes the load harder and slower to pack, and also puts unnecessary risk to your belongings.
There are suitable boxes for all items. For example, books go into smaller size cartons, and larger items go into larger boxes.
Opt for heavy-duty boxes if given the chance, as they hold their shape and protect your belongings.
Protect your mattresses
Mattresses should be placed in plastic mattress wraps for their protection.
Prepare your appliances
Be sure to first empty, turn off, and then un-plumb (fully disconnect) your washing machine, dishwasher, and any other similar appliances. Install the transit bolts (if available). It’s also important to check they’re not leaking any water after disconnecting them and to mop up any liquid with a towel — as this could leak onto other items during the move, causing damage, or could cause slip hazards that put your items, you and our movers at risk.
Disconnect all television and sound system cables. It’s a good idea to place these in a bag with labels telling you what they belong to, for later.
Label box contents for our mover’s safety
Clearly label what packed items are. For example, glass, boxes with cutlery in them, anything that could be highly flammable, and other potentially sharp or hazardous items, for our staff members’ safety (and for your own). These items should be marked with what they are, and what they could be (eg ‘glass cups, glasses and crockery, cutlery — sharp’). Fragile items should always also be marked as fragile.
Disconnect all television and sound system cables. It’s a good idea to place these in a bag with labels telling you what they belong to, for later.
Before the move: stuff to let us know
Let us know about any special items before moving day
Let the team at Ben Moves Brisbane know about any special or extraordinary items before your move day. For example, a pool table or a piano. There are different handling techniques and technologies for all special items, which will need to be organised before the day.
Let us know about any access difficulties before moving day
Make sure you highlight any access difficulties with us before your move day. For example, anything like low-hanging branches that cannot be removed, tight points in long driveways, low-hanging overhead cables, narrow or tight staircases and more. This is a very common problem, and truck sizes can be discussed prior to moving day, to ensure your removalists have the heads up beforehand — and so that we can ensure the right truck is assigned out to your move, with these difficulties in mind.
A note on plants before your move
If moving pot plants, be sure not to water the plants on the days leading up to the job. Plants leak in the truck risking your belongings, they are also much heavier when damp. If you are concerned about your plants, or the logistics of this,(for example, if they need more frequent watering), be sure to ask us with enough time before your move day.
During the move: on moving day
Ensure our moving trucks have access
Reserve car parks for the trucks. In some instances you’ll need to organise this before moving day, so be sure to plan this out accordingly.
If moving apartment, unit or office, ensure you have spoken to the necessary people to book lifts or loading docks.
Lock away animals
As much as we love all animals, they get over-excited on moving day, and can cause accidents or run away. It’s best if they’re locked away where they can’t get in the way, escape, or get hurt underfoot.
Clear your driveway and access
Clear the driveway and/or pathway from your house from low-hanging branches or any other obstacles that the truck will have to deal with. The closer the truck can get to your home, the quicker the job. If you can do this before moving day, that’s even better.
Clear internal access
Clear all hallways and pathways inside your home.
Place your boxes close to the entry (while keeping clear access)
If possible, move as many of your belongings to the front of the property as possible. When doing this, try not to stack items on top of each other and keep the boxes separate from the furniture. This will save time when loading the truck.
Place all important items (that are not to be moved) somewhere obvious
Put all important items (car keys, important documents, handbags/purses) in the bathtub (or shower if you don’t have a bath). These items will not be accidentally picked up and moved.
Highlight any worries you have about your move
Let our team know again on the day about any worries you have about your move. For example, you may be concerned about a particular piece of furniture, or be worried about new floors and walls or a newly painted interior. Be sure to highlight any valuable items that may not be obvious as being valuable, such as artwork or wine.
After the move: unpacking
If your move was packed professionally and you are unpacking, unravel all pieces of butcher’s paper slowly and carefully, as fragile pieces are usually packed into the top of boxes and wrapped tightly in the paper.
Reviews from some of our business clients
Highly recommend the team from Ben Moves Brisbane. Jennie was an absolute pleasure to deal with when making the booking.
My movers Nick and Yuri were absolute gentlemen. Polite, very hard working, efficient and super positive. They really did take the stress out of moving house. I will definitely be using Ben Moves Brisbane in the future.
Ben Moves Brisbane are true professionals. They turned up on time and made our move seriously worry free and hassle free.
I was nervous moving to a three level property and when they needed to they provided extra team members for the balcony lift and made it all possible. I’m so impressed at the level of energy this team displayed, our move took almost 12 hours and even at the last minute when I needed some extra assistance they were patient and helpful. Credit to Michael, Steve and the team. You guys deserve an award. Thank you again.
Get a quote today & tick your move off your to-do list
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