To pack, or not to pack, that is the question.

So you’re moving soon and you start looking through your stuff, trying to make a packing plan. As you try to make some sort of sense out of it, you realise you’re coming up with more questions than answers: Will this fit in a box? Do I bubble wrap it? How many boxes will I need? What’s a port-a-robe? Why are these boxes at Bunnings so expensive?

Our best advice when any moving confusion arises: Call us. We have all the answers!

You have two options for packing your home, do it yourself or have us do it through our Pack & Wrap service. Even if you choose to do it yourself, we can provide heaps of advice on how to go about it. Here are a few pointers to get you started

Packaging: The first step to packing is to get the right supplies. Move On Removals offers a number of recommended packages, and we can deliver! Be sure to buy plenty of bubble wrap, the more the better. It’s the easiest way to protect your items!

Color coding: We have an easy trick for making sure all your items end up in the right rooms. Print or draw a floor plan of your new place. Assign a color to each room, and place stickers with the corresponding colors on each box or item that goes to that room. Then, on the day of your move, tape the floorplan to the front door so the removalist will know where to put everything and you won’t have to wander around trying to find things!

Boxes: Fill all the boxes as much as you can. Wrap fragile items and try to balance heavy and light weight items in each box so you can make the most of the space. More boxes means more trips for the removalists to take to and from the truck which makes your move take longer. When a box is full, close it up so it’s ready to be moved and stacked.

Remember, you always have the option to let us pack for you if you don’t have the time, are unsure how to pack your items safely, or just don’t feel like doing it because we all know packing is the worst.

 

I’m not a hoarder, I swear….

Challenge: You have more stuff in your house than you thought.

If you underestimated the amount of stuff you have to move, it’s important to understand that this will most likely slow down your move.

The best way to avoid this would be to carefully and accurately document the contents of your home, pack ahead of time, book a larger truck than you think you’ll need or have your removals company come to do an on-site assessment.

However, if this issue occurs on the day, figuring it out as soon as possible is important. Check with the removalists when they arrive to see if the amount of stuff you have will fit in the truck and if not, then consult with them for the best way to manage the situation. However, this will cost you time and money so do what you can to make sure you estimate the load correctly the first time.

A good way to make sure your move gets estimated correctly and stays on track is to provide an accurate inventory when making the booking. Ask your removalist if they have an inventory sheet you can fill out, or grab a piece of paper. Then walk through every room in your home and catalogue each item of furniture. While you’re doing that, make a note of drawers, cupboards and shelves containing additional items.

People tend to underestimate the amount of items in their homes and how many boxes it will take to fit everything. Leaving items off the inventory or not estimating appropriately is the easiest way to blow out your move. Communicating clearly and accurately with your removalists will ensure your move goes smoothly and efficiently.

Clutter accumulates in any living space. We throw mail in a pile on the counter, we keep our old torn up shoes in the back of our closet and every top drawer, whether in the kitchen, the bathroom or the nightstand contains a wide range of random items we swear we might one day use.

We don’t actually want this clutter – its really just organised mess—but still we find it hard to throw away. A move to a new home is the perfect opportunity to throw away the clutter in our lives and start fresh. You’ll feel lighter and so will your moving boxes!

 

Here are a few things we suggest throwing away as you’re packing:

1.The entire contents of that top drawer. Put the spare change in your wallet and throw out that junk mail. Unless you’re a scrapbook enthusiast, you don’t need to save those plane tickets or those movie stubs or that birthday card mum gave you in 2012. We hold on to these things for sentimental value, but at the end of the day they just sit in a drawer. Besides, it’s time to make new memories!

2.Old, broken, destroyed clothes & accessories. If you haven’t worn it in the past year, if it’s torn or if it’s missing its pair, throw it out. You already got new shoes to replace the old ones and honestly, when will you ever wear just the one earring?

3.Electronics & cables. Still holding on to that pink Razr flip phone? Any phone pre-iPhone 4 probably won’t get used again. We’re used to our technology and even if you do break your current phone and your old phone its very unlikely you’ll be willing to settle for the old old phone. While you’re at it you can also get rid of all those random, unidentified wires and cables.

4.Worn or stained linens, towels & rugs. Moving house is a great time to get fresh linens. All of these items won’t necessarily match your new place anyway. Plus, its just good to replace these for hygiene reasons as they get a lot of use. Particularly white linens get stained and dirty no matter how clean you keep them.

5.Mismatched Tupperware. When you pack your kitchen take the time to make sure each container still has a lid. No lid? Don’t pack it. You can also get rid of those bent takeaway containers and anything that’s been stained a weird colour.

Have you been feeling like your company has outgrown its current space? Are you tired of commuting to an inconvenient location that’s nowhere near your customers? Maybe you would like to be in Melbourne CBD or a specific suburb like Port Melbourne or Hawthorn? There are a number of reasons it might be time to relocate. Figuring out what your company will achieve by moving and how the move will support your business objectives can help you make a strategic decision.

1. Perception:The location of your office can affect the way your business is perceived. If your office is in an unappealing neighborhood or not visible to traffic, that will lead people to have a low opinion of your business. On the other hand, if you are in a nice location and easily visible from the street, then your location works to promote your business and attract customers.

2. Proximity to clients: If your office is hard to find or in an inconvenient location, it makes it hard for your clients to find you or for you to go out and see them. Being closer to your client base is more convenient for everyone and helps to grow that relationship.

3. Reach new markets:While your current customers are important, moving in order to reach a new market is a strategic way to grow. A new location, if planned properly, gives you access to a whole new group of clients. Just having the sign outside your office in a new location can spread awareness of your business.

4. Expansion:: A big challenge for growth is ensuring that you have room to grow. The office that fit 10 people isn’t going to fit 20 or 30 or 50. If you don’t move in to a space that is big enough for your team it will negatively impact workflows and processes with everyone working on top of one another.

Moving offices is a big decision. You have to take into account what is best for your team and for your business. However, it is important to remember all of the opportunities that a new location can offer.