Smart Moving - 9 ways to save money moving house.

Like any industry, furniture removals is full of little tips and tricks, insider knowledge, special terms and experience gathered over years of moving peoples valuable belongings from point A to point B. When you think about your move, chances are you are considering only the volume of stuff you have and more importantly, given that most removals companies charge by the hour, how long the move is going to take.

Though the title of this article is '9 ways to save money moving house', essentially what we are talking about here is organisation. So what do you need to organise?

1. A removals service. Obviously.

Generally speaking, the earlier you organise the removalists, the more likely you are to be able to secure both the vehicle you want and the time and date you want to move on. There are many things that need to be organised when moving a house such as cleaners, inspections, storage facilities, getting your brother to come and pick up his couch that’s been in the garage for 5 years, baby sitters et al and the earlier you book your move, the easier it is to co-ordinate all those other non-removal related aspects of your relocation. Everyone charges by the hour and you don’t want to be paying for the cleaners to stand around whilst the removalists finish. Of course, we understand that life throws the occasional curve-ball your way and sometimes you may not know you’re moving until a few days or even a day before hand. Don’t worry, removalists are a hardly lot who enjoy a challenge, but generally speaking, get in early to get what you want.

2. Access.

A home is not only the space between the walls but the distance from the street to the front door. If you live on a busy main road it is very much worth politely asking your neighbors if you can reserve a couple of parking spaces directly out the front. The shorter the distance we have to walk your belongings, the less time the move will take. If you live in an apartment complex, again, it is very much worth your while to ask the building supervisor or security if you can reserve the lift for the duration of the move. Nothing costs more than having to haul your couch up or down 30 flights of stairs, and believe me, it happens.

3. Boxes.

Boxes are a wonderful invention. You can load them full of all the little bits and peices you dont really think about. All the nicknacks and picture frames and other stuff youve gathered over the years. Removalists have only two arms; its better to fill those arms with boxes full of lots of little things, than the individual things themselves. Remember that lighter boxes probably means the removalists can carry 2 or more at once, again reducing the time it takes to move.

4. Dismantle Everything.

If your bookshelves can be flatpacked, take them apart. Ditto your bedframes, dining room table, t.v unit etc etc. The smaller and flatter you can make your possessions, the easier they are to pack, and yet again, the time it takes to pack and move is reduced. Take the feet off your couch. Remove all the cushions from chairs, tables etc etc (these are handy for packing later on). Remember, removalists look at flatpacked furniture the way dogs look at food; with love, reverence and respect.

5. Clear a path.

As a general rule, removalists like to pack boxes first and then concentrate on the larger items. Putting all your boxes in the hallway near the front door is fine as they will be quickly cleared making room for everything else to be moved. However, putting the couch halfway down the hall or loads of loose items may mean that the removalists have to move those things out the way whilst carrying larger items. The more space we have to move, the quicker the move.

6. Unplug everything and decable everything.

Washing machines will always have a little excess water in the pipes. It is worth disconnecting the water pipes as soon as you can and draining off the excess. Modern home entertainment units have a veritable loom of cabling. Uncable everything. Turn off and unplug fridges. You get the idea.

7. Do it Yourself (with your mates).

Anything that can be moved in your own vehicle will reduce the time taken and the vehicle space required for a move. If youve got a bike and youre only moving a few blocks away, go for a ride first thing in the morning (followed by a brisk walk back) to get the blood following and be ready for the big day. Of course, not everybody has thier own vehicle but most people have a few mates who do whose services can be bought for a few beers or a large pizza. Call in those favours; remember when you lent Johnno that $100 bucks? Nows the time to get it back.

8. Label Everything.

So, we’ve got your belongings wrapped and strapped in the truck and were just pulling into the driveway of your new abode. Where does all the stuff go now? If your belongings are clearly marked by room it is very easy for us to deliver you posessions as close to thier final destination as possible. If we have to stop and ask you for directions everytime a peice comes off the truck, you guessed it, it eats away at the time. Also, it is a good idea to clearly mark anything valuable as ‘fragile’, be as conservative as you like but be aware that removalists treat ‘fragile’, the way midwives treat newborns: with care, attention and slow movements so as not to startle. And rightly so.

9. Children and Animals.

Large boxes are avaliable...only joking. Most reputable removals firms train thier staff in the correct way to lift and transport furniture and household items, however, there are always risks involved when transporting and loading heavy and bulky items. Children can get quite excited by moving, especially at the new house, its best to arrange a baby sitter for the day of the move so that they are not 'in the way', or the removalists dont have to worry about little people under thier feet.

As you can see, the best way to save money moving house is not nessesarilly a lower hourly rate but rather being organised and thinking the way we do; about ease of access, the best ways to fill space and avoiding unessesary obstacles and delays. Happy Moving!