The 1800Backloads Adventures : Handy Moving Advice from 1800Backloads The Professional Removalists

Handy Moving Advice from 1800Backloads The Professional Removalists
Our first handy moving hint is don’t leave your packing preparation’s to the last minute. If you can start early you will finish in a more timely manner especially if you have a large house or apartment, If you are running behind ask us to assist you with your packing. If you have already provided us with your inventory list ask us for our suggested list of packing supplies, We can advise a recommended number of boxes of various sizes so you are not left short and can get everything packed on time. Its best to use proper heavy duty removalist cartons to ensure your goods arrive safely without any damage.

Moving Tips & Advice You Might Need To Know

LEAVE IT BEHIND. Avoid moving anything you don't really need. It’s expensive, time-consuming, and physically unnecessary to move things you won't be using. If you don't use it now, you most likely won't use it later.

GET RID OF CLUTTER. Dispose of broken tools, old toys, old clothing and other items that you no longer need before you move. Give usable items to charity or hold a garage sale.
DON’T SKIMP ON YOUR MOVING SERVICE. Choose an experienced moving firm with an established reputation for good service and reliability such as 1800Backloads. Choosing someone that is unreliable or inexperienced will cause unnecessary stress.
LABEL EVERYTHING.It is very possible that your goods will not be the only goods on the truck, and sometimes, depending on where you are moving from and to, your furniture might be delivered in a different removalist's truck to the one which picks up your goods. Therefore it is important that you clearly label every box that will be moved. Write your name and delivery suburb on the boxes, and also mark if the goods are fragile.

EMPTY DRAWERS, CUPBOARDS AND FILING CABINETS. Leaving items in the drawers, cupboards and filing cabinets not only make the item much heavier to move but could damage the drawer's glides. This is because the weight of the drawer will be bounced on its glides within the dresser, etc, by the movement of the truck on the road.

NEVER TRANSPORT HAZARDOUS GOODS.

BBQ gas bottles, fuel containers, oil, paint, fertilisers, flammables, corrosives, explosives & any hazardous items are considered a health & safety issue and as such cannot be transported.
Lawn mowers, whipper snipers, and other mechanical devices should not contain ANY fuel
Dispose of flammable, explosive or corrosive items in a safe, lawful and environmentally friendly manner.
Sharp objects should be wrapped appropriately and you should identify, remove and communicate all hazards with all people involved in your move.

FRIDGES AND FREEZERS

Shutdown the fridge and remove the plug from the power point, wrap the cord and let it sit for at-least a 6 hours to defrost before your move. Overnight shutdown is easiest and most recommended.
Leave the door open, so it can defrost quicker and so it does not have a foul smell.
This is also a good opportunity now to give the fridge a good clean in and out.
Remove all movable shelves and boxes out or use strong tape to secure them inside the fridge because movable items can easily get damaged in transit vibrations. A good tape is recommended as cheap packing tape can cause permanent stains in the fridge interiors.
Glad-wrap is also a cheap and quick protection against minor transit scratches.
Close the fridge door and secure it with a rope or tape, so it cannot open in transit.

BOX IT.

Get boxes in assorted sizes. Be sure they’re clean, in good condition and have covers so they can be closed and sealed with tape.
Use proper removalist cartons where possible. Supermarket boxes or flimsy cartons with no lids are far more susceptible to damage during your move.
Liquor boxes are excellent. They are sturdy and contain dividers making them ideal for packing glasses, goblets, vases, etc.--but make sure these boxes have lids.
Plastic storage boxes may appear sturdy but they often weaken or get cracked due to the weight inside them.
Ensure that you fill all empty spaces inside your cartons with an appropriate material so your items will have less room to move about and break. Crushed paper, foam pieces and towels are great for this.
If you are packing heavy items such as books, it is better to pack these in smaller cartons. If you pack books at the bottom of larger cartons they are likely to fall out or become difficulty to carry. If you find it difficult to judge the weight of boxes, keep your bathroom scales handy. Try not to exceed a total weight of 15-20kg for any box.
You may think that the most logical way to pack your plates is to place them bottoms-down into the box. But actually, plates are less likely to break if they're standing on edge inside the box. Of course you also need to wrap each plate in paper and include plenty of stuffing on the bottoms, sides and in the corners of the box. Put so much stuffing inside the box that the plates don't have any room to shift around at all.
When you're packing glass items, you should pack the largest glass items on the bottom of the box and the smaller, more delicate glass items on the top of the box
It’s important to use packing tape when sealing your boxes. Most other tapes won’t either stretch too much or won't adhere properly to your cartons.

USE THE A-B-C SYSTEM.Everything you pack does not have to be unpacked the first day in your new home. If it contains essential items, mark it PRIORITY A. If the contents are important, but not crucial, mark the box PRIORITY B. If the box contains out of season items, holiday items and other things you won’t need right away, mark the box PRIORITY C. Then, unpack in A, B, C order.

INSURANCEWhile all due care is taken towards your moving needs, accidents happen. 1800Backloads provide Transit Insurance, this covers the truck as a whole for fire, theft or involved in an accident. However, you may prefer Accidental Damage Coverage which covers your items if they are scratched or damaged. Some home and contents policies already offer this coverage or have it as an option or you can ask us for a quote.