From times immemorial, people have been on the move. We are nomads by nature, of course, and the vast Australian land provides much opportunity. Various cities in Australia are much more habitable by people than others with parameters ranging from quality of utilities to economic standards.
The city of Perth witnessed a rate of 36.2% migrations from elsewhere in Australia while 947 people settled in the city from abroad (in 2011 to 2016). Figures during the pandemic are scattered but general trends suggest that Perth is one of the most habitable cities in the country – one of the many reasons why removalists tend to prefer it over other places.
Moving houses in Australia is challenging for many reasons and long distance is one of them. Being a sparsely populated country, urban areas are spread across this giant island. Of course, many people hire removalists to do the heavy lifting for them. Others prefer to take on the challenge and do the job themselves.
Whether you hire a removalist or go for it alone, there are certain things that should be kept into consideration while moving or before moving. So, we did the ‘heavy lifting’ for you in this regard, at least, and curated 12 well-thought pointers that will help you cover up ground before you begin the move.
Categorise your possessions according to your new house
The house you’ll be moving into will surely have a different floor plan than the one you’re currently residing in. It is important to categorise everything according to that floor plan. It’s simple – divide your items into which room they’ll be going to go into. By divide, we don’t mean physically divide. The planning phase is also super important. Keep a mental note of everything you have and how they’ll fit into your new house.
Removalists would often categorise your items into the kind of packaging they’ll go into and what kind of equipment will be required to carry them around. Fragile items may go together or may be transported safely tucked into blankets and mattresses. Every removalist has a different style and if you’re planning to move on your own, you may call up a removalist agency just for the advice.
Make an inventory
Write down what needs to be moved and how much of the items you currently have in possession. Categorising the inventory into things like electronics, appliances, bedroom stuff, etc. is also very helpful. If you are moving with a removalist, you may also hand them this inventory to make things easier for them. Several movers also give a free estimate based on your requirements.
It is paramount for you to communicate these requirements to your removalist so that you get a realistic idea of the expenses. Movers usually charge on an hourly basis or based on your requirements. If your house can be moved with a ‘man with a van’ package, or if it would require more resources, can only be decided once you have a thorough idea of everything you own.
Throw away unnecessary stuff
We all hoard items if we stay in a place long enough. It is, again, human nature to do so. A minority of us are organised enough to keep a place spick and span at all times. After executing the previous step of making a detailed inventory, you’d come across many things that you don’t need anymore. The solution is simple – throw them away or plan a garage sale. You’ll end up with a few extra bucks and a less cluttered list of items to move to your new apartment or house. The cost of moving would also decrease in some cases. Although Perth removalists charge on an hourly basis or the amount of resources they’ll end up using, you’ll definitely save up on packaging material and work time.
Choose a moving date
Moving is no joke. You wouldn’t want to miss anything – trust us! It is imperative to plan things ahead of the main moving day. Choose a date that is convenient for you. If you are a working professional, you can fit it in on a weekend. Moving with kids or spouses also poses significant challenges. All of these factors weigh in when planning a moving date. If you are moving on your own without professional help from removalists, make sure that everything is planned even more meticulously.
The cost of moving with professional packers and movers also depends on the time of the month. Removal costs tend to rise during the end of the month and the beginning of the month. Do your research well and keep your removalists in the loop for proper and honest advice on choosing a particular day to move.
Know your expenses
Another very important factor, or maybe the most important one, is the expense of moving houses. From minor things such as moving essentials in your own car to things such as moving antiques and heavy furniture, everything affects the final cost you incur. Again, moving with a removalist has its tradeoffs – it may be more expensive at times but the experience and the time saving certainly has its own perks.
Make sure that the packaging material you procure or your movers procure is cheap yet durable. You can also reuse old boxes and cartons. Some things may require moving equipment such as sliders, dollies, ramps, and ropes. Check in with your movers to understand how much cost these additional items incur.
Make a schedule
Although your moving date is set, there are many things to do beforehand. You may want to move a few essentials on your own as well. Keep items such as documents, utility bills, electronics, etc. separately – things that can be transported in your car. If you are moving intrastate, or just round the corner, bring over a mattress and a few water bottles for the first night at your new place. You wouldn’t want to start unpacking everything on the first day, perhaps and a soft place to lie down isn’t that bad, right? A to-do list helps to keep track of everything that needs to be done before you actually begin moving to your new house.
Choose between hiring a removalist or doing it on your own
At a certain point, you’ll have to decide whether you want to go for professional help or not. To make things easier for you, here are some things that a removalist can help you with:
- Removalists are professional and experienced so they can help you to move quickly.
- They can help you with buying packaging materials – most movers also provide their own packaging supplies.
- Removalists also have equipment that are used to carry heavy items easily, such as a king sized bed or a heavy antique piano.
- Removalists have a fleet of vehicles of different sizes based on the customers’ requirements. They can help you move in a single trip to your new place.
- Some removalists also provide unpacking and cleaning services.
If you can manage your items on your own or have a pickup truck or a friend who owns one, you may choose to move on your own. People like students and bachelors may also choose to move without professional help since they don’t generally have many items to deal with.
Transfer utilities, inform relatives and friends
It goes without saying that you would need everything set up at your new place as soon as possible. Inform your friends, family, and coworkers that you are moving and what your new mailing address would be. You may also have to inform authorities about surrendering your old utilities and signing up for new ones. Look into what all needs to be done with your real estate agent regarding electric, water, and gas. There are several documents that need to be changed or updated after you move. Authorities like the DMV, and the Revenue Services also need a heads up if you change your address.
Do you need a temporary storage space?
There may be situations when you’d want to move into your new place after some time. Maybe you’d want to visit your folks back home before you settle in. In such cases, many removalists offer temporary storage spaces where you can safely keep some items. Also, if you have pets, you may give them to someone to take care of before you move in.
Pets and children need to be given special care and attention during a move. Any change is stressful for them. Make sure that your kids and your pets are fed and their demands taken care of. You may ask your parents to take care of them for a few days as well while you complete the removals properly.
It is also worth noting that you may need to check with the rules and regulations in your new area regarding pets. We also suggest taking your pets to a vet before moving just to ensure that the move goes smoothly. You may also have to choose how you wish to take your pets to the new place. There are pet transportation companies that offer such services as well – do check into that as well.
Keep an open-first box
While packing your items (or getting them packed), keep aside some essentials that are ready to use at all times. This is important because you might need them for the first few nights at your new place while you unpack your other items slowly. An essentials open-first box may contain toiletries, a first-aid kit, documents, etc.
This bag or box of essentials is certainly a ‘ray of hope’ after the move is done and you finally fin yourself in your new place.
What to do on moving day?
Make sure that you are well rested before you begin moving, especially if you are doing it without professional help. Chart out a plan in a notebook beforehand and follow it step by step. Keep ticking off small milestones as you load your vehicle. If you can borrow a few helping hands, do that as well. Contact relatives and friends and communicate the plan to them as well. Check that all gas stations and outlets are disconnected. Switch off all utilities before you actually head out.
If you have hired a moving company to help you with the move, make sure that you communicate your requirements properly with them. Stay clear of their way while they work so that the entire process goes along smoothly.
Clean your house after you move
Rented apartments or spaces usually have a security amount deposited before you move in. To get this bond money back, you are required to return the rented space in a good condition and that includes a well-cleaned space. Get your old house thoroughly cleaned and sanitised. There are companies out there that can help you with bond-back or end of lease cleaning services. On the contrary, you can do it on your own as well. It may be a tasking job but it is necessary. Therefore, it is important to clear your calendar before you move. Even if the move is completed in a day, there are things such as these that may take away a day or two more.
Conclusion
An average Australian move around 3-4 times in their life. Yes, we don’t do it as often and therefore, we don’t have much experience in doing it. This implies that the whole job requires a proper planning mechanism to execute it perfectly. Even if you went out there and got yourself a nice moving company, still, you’d need to consider a lot of things beforehand. After all, you are the one shelling out the big bucks to get the job done properly. It is for this reason and this reason alone that we compiled this 12-pointer – to help you with things that you probably missed out due to the stress of planning everything out. Take it step by step and in no time, you’d be enjoying a hot cup of coffee on your new porch with everything moved in snuggly and perfectly.