SIX STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL RELOCATION

In continuing in our quest to provide our clients with assistance in all aspects of relocating, we have designed ‘6 steps to a successful relocation’ so that you are fully prepared for moving and can settle quickly into your new home.

1. PLAN AHEAD FOR YOUR RELOCATION

Don’t leave the arrangements until the last minute. Most removal companies require plenty of notice beforehand if you need their services. You need to make decisions on:

Which moving company
Packing requirements
Moving dates/times
Having a garage sale
Notifying relevant companies/utility services of your new address
Re-directing mail
Having your house cleaned

Please contact our office on 02 4961 0445 for a detailed Moving Guide

2. SELL IT, STORE IT OR TAKE IT

When you have decided that you are moving, the next step is to decide ‘do we sell it, store it, or take it with us’. By making these decisions early will enable you to be better organised and assist our relocation consultant when surveying your effects for removal.

3. PREPARATION FOR MOVING

You need to start preparing for your move roughly 4 to 6 weeks before your actual moving date, as this will enable your relocation to go smoothly. Contact our Britz office and set up a survey by one of our Relocation Consultants. Then go through your home and decide what you want moved, starting at one end of the house and working your way to the other so that you don’t forget anything. Make sure you look under the house, in the ceiling cavity and in any other storage areas you may have so you don’t forget anything you want moved.

Design a ‘Moving Plan’ and checklist, or ask your Britz consultant for a copy of our ‘Moving Guide’ for advice on preparation. The ‘Moving Plan’ needs to include a floor plan of your new house so that you know where your furniture is to be placed when it’s delivered. If you are moving into a smaller house, then it’s a good idea to know what will fit and what won’t, and what needs to go to storage.

If you are packing yourself, you need to get packing material delivered early and start packing room by room. Don’t leave the packing to the last minute as this only leads to disaster. Speak to one of our consultants on advice for ‘owner packed’ removals.

For more information on preparing for your move, please contact our local office on 02 4961 0446 for a copy of our free Moving Guide.

4. DATES & TIMING

Not all removals go to plan; the most common reason they don’t is ‘timing’. The time and date of your removal is not controlled by you entirely. When going through a property exchange, your solicitor determines when you can move into your new house and when you have to vacate your old one. Always make sure that you are fully aware of these times because they will also affect your removal company. On many occasions settlement time is late in the afternoon and the removal company has already loaded your household into the vehicle but can’t deliver until 4.00 pm. This may lead to extra charges from the removal company for workers’ overtime and often leads to a very late night for all parties concerned.

A solution to this problem is to pressurise your solicitor into giving you the settlement time as early as possible so you can avoid overtime/additional costs. Having this information, the removal company can decide what your best option will be. It may be a lot easier to load your household on one day and then deliver the next to avoid the late settlement time and excess costs.

5. MOVING DAY

When the removalists arrive, make sure they have ample room to position their truck for loading/unloading. Walk around the house with the removalists and show them what is to be moved, or where the items have to be positioned if being delivered.

Always ensure that your pets are confined and keep small children away from where the removalists are working. Small children and pets are difficult to see while carrying a carton or item of furniture.

Designate a room to put all the things into that you will personally be taking with you, such as an en suite, (or even your car boot) and inform the removalists.

Before vacating your old house, walk around the property making a final check in all cupboards and rooms to see that everything to be moved has been packed onto the vehicle.

Turn off the power and gas, and tighten all taps before locking all windows and doors.

6. YOUR NEW HOUSE

If renting, conduct a walk through before having your furniture delivered and document the state and condition of the house/apartment.

Our removalists will place the furniture and cartons in the position you require. Please ensure you are happy with the positioning of your furniture before the removalists leave.

If your goods are coming from storage, interstate or overseas, check the inventory carefully and sign off on it once you are satisfied that all items have been accounted for.