Planning for your move
Moving house requires planning and preparation, but it doesn't have to be unmanageable. By creating a plan early in the process and recognising where you need to enlist outside help, you can cut down on the stress and lost time of moving.
Finding a moving firm
Choosing a removal company should begin as early as possible in your moving process. The earlier you begin, the more availability your mover will have and the more flexible you'll be able to be about your move date. Starting early can therefore help you save money on your move. If you're moving a long distance, make sure your mover has the necessary experience in interstate furniture removals.
Reduce your moving mass
The more you need to move, the longer your packing process will take and the more it will cost. In some cases, shipping items such as inexpensive chairs or bookcases can be more expensive than just selling them and buying new ones when you arrive. You can do the same with books, clothes and other belongings; moving is a good time to be realistic about which of your books you're going to read again and which are just taking up shelf space. As with contacting a moving company, reducing the amount you need to move is best started early. You can even do this before you know where you're going to be moving to.
Make a plan
As early as you can, get a copy of your new home's floor plan to help decide where furniture will go. If your movers will be unloading into your new home, share the floor plan with them. It will also give you a sense of how much room you have for furniture. Having a floor plan helps to take some of the uncertainty out of your move day.
Pack securely
Your moving firm can give you some advice on how they want you to pack your furniture for transport; they may even be able to sell you appropriate packing materials. Take furniture apart wherever you can, removing legs from tables and shelves from bookcases. Wrap surfaces like tabletops in padded covers or spare blankets to protect them from scratches. Store removed screws or small parts in plastic bags and keep them near the furniture item they come from; if it won't damage the surface, you can even tape the bag to part of the item of furniture.
An interstate move can be a big challenge, but with some advance planning and the help of a qualified mover you can make it an efficient and manageable process.