Gosford Removals and Storage
THE STRESS-LESS MOVING GUIDE - HOW TO CREATE A SUCCESSFUL MOVE
PACKING
Time to Pack – Handy Hints
Packing Materials
Cartons should be strong, and of uniform size. This allows them to be stacked on top of each other and ‘tied off’ tightly in the truck. There are two main sizes of removalist boxes – ‘standard’ and ‘book’ cartons (bookies).
Many people try to economise by using supermarket cartons, fruit boxes or packing cartons from electrical stores. These are not “purpose built” for removing a variety of goods and often ‘cave in’ when stacked.
It also makes stacking and ‘tying off’ much easier when they are all the same dimensions – otherwise they can slip around because they are not uniform sizes.
The only exception to this is if you still have the original boxes for larger electrical goods (eg plasma TV’’s) The original plasma carton is excellent for removals.
Smaller electrical items can also be placed in their original cartons and then placed inside a conventional sized removal carton.
Packing Supplies
Gosford Furniture Removals and Karis Removals will supply you with butcher’s paper at $28.00 per half-ream, or you can have as much crushed butcher’s paper as you want for free, simply by collecting it from our Erina (Gosford) depot.
All cartons need to be taped down – top and bottom. Packing tape 3-4cm wide is preferable to masking or gummed tape. Gosford Furniture Removals and Karis Reomvals and Storage can supply this at $5.50 per roll; or you’ll find quality packaging tape at most good hardware stores.
How to pack cartons
Pack heavier items in the base of the carton, with lighter items on top. A per-box weight of 16 kilos will make the move faster and easier. Many people believe that they can put lots of heavy items in the larger cartons and try to economize on boxes.
This causes the removalists to take longer as the cartons are heavier. If they can’t be trollied, then the extra weight can slow down the removalist and therefore the removal. Many times the removalist has to struggle with a larger standard carton stacked with books, when 2 smaller ‘book’ cartons are much easier to handle and carry.
Also please place heavy items such as tools and books in the smaller ‘bookie’ cartons. If you only have larger cartons, place heavy items in the base of the larger carton and fill it with lighter items.
Label the boxes
Many people think they will remember what is in each carton by writing one word on the tape, but with so much to think about, it doesn’t take long to lose track. Label and number each box and note the box number and main contents in your ‘Moving House removal book’ which is an invaluable reference tool. . A brief description of the contents can help too. For example: ‘Books – Reference Library’ or ‘Children Books’ is a good idea.
Items no longer wanted
For those items you no longer want or need or the things you find that belong to someone else, we suggest the five boxes:
·
Charity
Tip
Garage Sale
Goods to be returned
Pass along to friends/ relatives
As you go through each room, put those items in to the appropriate boxes.
Packing Up
We suggest you do the ‘least used’ areas first and pack up the ‘most used’ areas as it gets closer to the moving date.
It is best to start with the easier and less cluttered rooms such as the bathroom, then do the linen and laundry cupboards. As you pack, ask yourself the 2 year rule – “Have I used it in the past 2 years?” and if you’re still uncertain about keeping it, ask yourself “Do I really think I’ll use it again?”. You may think of someone else who could use it. Remember to use the boxes for the ‘tip’, ‘charity’, ‘return to owner’, ‘give to friends/relatives’.
The rest of the house
Now that you have cleared out the garage, laundry, linen cupboards and spare rooms – start on the main rooms in the house
1) clear out anything you won’t be needing in your next house.
2) Start packing those items not needed in the immediate future. For example, rarely used cookery pots, trays, toys, books, out of season clothing, Christmas decorations and tree.
3) Tick off the room as you complete it.
..Garage
..Garden shed/Toolshed
..Bathroom/s
..Linen Cupboard/s
..Laundry
..Kitchen – least used items
..Bedroom 4
..Bedroom 2
..Main Bedroom
..Bathroom
..Lounge room
..Study
..Rumpus room
..Kitchen cupboards
..Kitchen pantry
Children’s rooms
When packing the children’s rooms, they should be the last to be emptied and the first to be put back together. With older children, enlist their assistance in discarding unwanted items.
If they are unenthusiastic about participating, and you decide to go it alone, be sure to show them the piles of items you feel they don’t need to go to the next house. There’s nothing worse than finding out you discarded their prize collection of something you didn’t know was valuable to them. You can also entice them with getting money back at a garage sale if they don’t use some things but don’t want to let them go.
SPECIAL ITEMS
Hints & Tips for moving your special items
China and Glassware
..Start off each box with a generous base of ‘crushed’ clean butcher’s paper, and use it between each ‘layer’ you pack. Butcher’s paper is also a great filler between individual items or groups of items.
..Dinner plates are best stacked, standing up on their edge (as if in a dish rack) on top of the base of crushed paper, after being wrapped in butcher’s paper.
..If wrapping fragile crystal, tissue paper is best. However, if you can budget for it, fragiles are best left to the professional removalist to pack.
..Make sure you mark all boxes which contain breakable items ‘Fragile’ on the tape.
Number each box
..Write number clearly on the tape and add a brief description. Note the box number on a Master list. Keep your list handy for Moving day.
Stack your boxes
..Stack each completed box in the corner of a room, the garage or some other spare space.
Order extra boxes and paper
..Notify us if you need additional packing boxes, tape or butchers paper.
We also supply boxes of crushed paper free- only pay for the carton.
Grandfather Clocks
..Grandfather clocks should only be prepared and moved by experienced removalists. This will be organized by our estimator.
Mirrors, Paintings and Pictures
..Small mirrors and pictures of all sizes should be carefully wrapped in butcher’s paper (never newspaper) and placed on their edge in conventional packing cartons on a base of crushed paper.
..Large mirrors should be left to the furniture removalists. We have special picture packs or may decide to wrap them in thick, protective removal blankets.
..Aluminium framed prints are often framed with a type of glass which sometimes breaks no matter how much care is taken. This can occur not matter how carefully wrapped the item is. When all care has been taken and there is still a breakage, only Full cover Transit Insurance will cover for this type of breakage. (LINK to Insurance question on breakage)
..Advise Gosford Furniture Removals well in advance if there are any valuable paintings to be moved so they can ensure the best method of carrying them is applied. We have carried art for numerous artists to their complete satisfaction.
Plants
There are a number of precautions you can take to ensure your plants transport well. As discussed earlier, it is best if you can take pot plants in a trailer as there is less movement compared to a large removal van and they also take up a large amount of space in the truck and can’t be ‘stacked on’, so they greatly diminish the space available for furniture.
They also pose a problem as they can’t be ‘tied off’. Many terracotta or plastic tubs can also fracture in a truck due to the inherent weaknesses caused by exposure to the weather over time.
Here are some ways you can prepare your plants for the move:
..Prune larger plants so they don’t straggle
..If you are transporting older terracotta pots or older plastic pots that have been exposed to the weather for a long time, if can help if you don’t want to risk the pots cracking, to re-pot your plants into some new flexible plastic containers. You can then repot the plants into your more valuable pots after you have settled in.
..Eliminate any pests or parasites manually and carefully. Do this at least a week before your move. Then check again, a few days in advance. The last thing you want is diseased plants in your new home contaminating the other foliage.
..Water for the last time two days before moving. Don’t be tempted to over- water.
..If the plants must be transported by the removal company, pack your plants into conventional moving cartons. The best way to do this is to fix each plant securely so that they can’t slip when boxes are moved during transit. Use crushed paper around the base of each plant to hold it firmly.
..Put some airholes in the sides of the box.
..Label clearly ‘Plants - This way up’.
..If you’re travelling interstate with your plants, it is worthwhile to carry a small bottle spray so you can freshen them up in the cool of the evening.
Drapes and Curtains
..Curtains- minus their rods – can be folded into cartons or large drawers.
Chests of Drawers
..Clothing and lighter, non breakable items can be left in chests of drawers on moving day. As long as it doesn’t rattle or is fragile and can break, you can leave it in. This saves time for you and space on the removal truck.
Medicines
..Often it is best if medications are carried in your vehicle. If you choose to have them carried by your removalist, follow the following precautions:
..Seal caps with tape, and pack upright into smaller carton. Wrap any glass bottles individually and place onto a base of crushed paper. Place the smaller carton in a larger ‘book’ carton. Surround with crushed butcher’s paper to ensure everything is stable. Clearly label the box – “Medications’ so you can access it readily.
Garden Equipment
..Ensure your garden tools are bundled together. Also have hoses emptied of water, coiled and placed in a box along with other items from the garage or garden.
Remember, Gosford Furniture Removals cannot carry flammables. This applies to gas bottles and lawn mowers with fuel as well. Lawn mowers must be emptied of fuel and gas bottles must be certified empty before we can carry them.
Aquariums
Fish hate travel. Even under ideal conditions, they tend to stress out. Sometimes, the wisest option is to sell off and re-stock.
If you can’t do this, these are the precautions you should take:
.. Feed your fish and after they have eaten, remove them from the tank and keep in a holding container.
..Drain and demount your tank. If you have a short move, save some of the water to preserve your unique bacteria colony.
.. Pack pumps, filters and other equipment as you would any fragile appliances.
..Pack plants into plastic bags with enough water to keep roots wet. Secure tightly.
.. Discard or clean your filter medium and pack in an airtight container.
.. Your fish tank is moved by our team. You are responsible for transporting your fish.
..On arrival in your new home, rehouse your fish according to directions from pet shop, as soon as can.