How To Move Interstate (On A Tight Budget)

The process of moving takes time, planning, and energy. Looking for a removalist in Sydney? We’ve got you covered. The right removalist can ensure a smooth move. While the help of friends and family is invaluable when you’re moving, trained and skilled removalists know that the aim of the game is to get in and out, and make sure nothing is damaged in the process.

To help make your moving journey as easy as possible, we’ve compiled a list of our top tips for hiring a Sydneyside removalist.

1. Look around: No matter your budget, if you’re looking for the best removalists in Sydney, it’s always a good idea to compare prices. Many removalist services offer different packages, and can offer packing and storage help and advice. It’s a good idea to make sure you’ve done your homework to ensure you’re getting the best service at the best price for your budget, and your moving situation.
2. Know the rules: Check out Fair Trading NSW to get your head around NSW and Sydney’s rules, regulations, and removalist accreditation bodies (AFRA – Australian Furniture Removalist Association). Knowing these rules helps protect you against dodgy providers, but we recommend picking a company that is aligned with the AFRA.
3. Get a written quote: Getting a quote in writing before you book is really important. This will protect you from hidden additional fees, so make sure you have a copy sent to you, and check through the price list to ensure everything needed has been itemised.
4. Check your contract: Your moving contract needs to include a few things, including insurance for damages incurred, or items lost in transit. While all reputable moving companies will take the utmost care when it comes to your possessions, accidents and acts of god can occur during this confusing time.
5. Extra services: For most reputable removalist companies will include services such as packing and van or truck rental. Some companies will offer box provisions and unpacking as an additional service. In the busy city of Sydney, finding a removalist company that can offer something like unpacking can save you time and hassle as you adjust to a new job or home life.
6. Update your Insurance: When you’re preparing for a move, especially in a busy city like Sydney, it’s best to check your home and contents insurance agreement and make sure that your possessions are protected during transit. Don’t forget to call them and make arrangements for any new coverage you might need.

Sydney is a large city with a lot to offer in apartment living. However it can be a tricky place for removalists getting furniture up and down tall buildings. That’s why doing your homework and making sure you hire a removalist company with lots of urban experience is necessary. Removalists that offer balcony lifts, and are well-trained, or accredited through AFRA will take a load of stress out of your moving experience. Make sure to do your homework, check the NSW rules for removalists, read your contract, get a written quote, and look for specialised services with experienced sydneyside removalists.

Ah, the humble garage sale. It’s a staple of Saturday afternoons, particularly when you’re on the hunt for an affordable and dining table to match your millenial aesthetic. The worst part of a garage sale is when no-one shows up. Luckily we’ve got a foolproof marketing plan for your garage sale to ensure success.

1. Make sure you’ve advertised properly: These days the old sign on the side of the road isn’t enough. You need to set your date a minimum of two weeks in advance, put your sign up (trendy, hipster areas are a goldmine), and then get digital. Post about your garage sale on buy, swap, and sell pages, and across private rent pages on Facebook. Take well-lit photos of some of the best items you’re selling too.
2. Check the weather: Nothing puts a faster stop to a garage sale than an impromptu hurricane, or even a mild drizzle. Spring and summer are the best months for garage sales.
3. Make sure you’ve picked up some petty cash, and don’t say no to taking paypal payments! Paypal payments can be sent directly to your phone if some cashless jogger running past notices your mums chic vintage lamp from the 70’s that you’re um, totally not throwing out. Prepare to accept those online payments!
4. Price low, sell out – A garage sale isn’t like luxury marketing. The idea is to make a small profit off things one might find in a thrift store, or to pass on things that no longer suit your style. Set realistic prices and be open to bargaining with prospective buyers.As a rule of thumb, used books should be no more than $1-$2 each, clothing under $5, and toys, games and other bric-a-brac around this same price. Remember, people are here to buy things with pocket change.
5. Make sure everything is clean and well-presented: Lint roll clothing, dust and wipe down furniture and toys, and wash out crockery. Set out a couple of tables – fold out camping tables or desks are fine – and lay a clean tablecloth, sheet, or curtain over them. You can arrange your items on shelves, clothes racks, or in plastic tubs and clearly label the cost by pinning a sticker to the table next to them.
6. Bundle items – don’t be afraid to play auctioneer and bundle a few items together, especially as the day winds down. Someone looking at one book for $1 might happily take an offer of three books for $2.
7. Head to depop – Once the day is over, if you have items remaining that can still be sold, head to online marketplaces like depop, etsy, eBay and marketplaces to see if there are any online takers.

Garage sales are a great way to earn back a little bit of cash for your old purchases, and they do especially well in trendy suburbs! If you’re not in a more hipster area, make sure you advertise your garage sale in the more hip areas of your city or town to bring in prospective vintage hunters.

It’s said that moving can be one of the most stressful experiences a person can go through. The uncertainty involved with moving is a major cause of anxiety, not to mention bickering between couples, families and housemates as they pack and prep for the big day.

Moving can also wreak havoc on your day to day routine. With real estate agents to call and removalists to finalise, you might find that you are getting less and less done, and have even less time to de-stress as you normally would.

Planning and Help

Two of the biggest keys to dealing with moving anxiety are planning and help. When it comes to planning, your Google Calendar is your best friend for keeping track of appointments, viewings, and removalists among other logistical issues. For help, lean on your support system. When it comes to more generalised anxiety, mindfulness, exercise, and deep breaths can work wonders on a hypersensitive amygdala. The amygdala processes events and then teaches the subconscious brain, and the body, how to respond to similar events in the future. So, if the amygdala identifies stress triggers within the moving process, it will send those signals to the brain and body. This creates a stressful situation, if you can identify some of your stress triggers, then outsourcing some of the more anxiety-inducing activities to friends, family, or your spouse might help.

Friends, family, partners, and even pets (they reduce stress!) can be an incredible help while you deal with the stress of packing, planning, viewing properties, and juggling work and other commitments.

Lease Overpalapping

Another thing you can do to reduce your moving stress is to try and work it out so that your old and new lease overlap by about one week. This allows for plenty of trips back and forth. You should also start purging – old, useless, broken possessions that are. Purge your closet, your cupboard full of containers missing their lids, useless saucepans you never use, and mismatched cutlery. Start the cleaning process early to avoid bringing your old junk to your new place. You can rehome, donate, or sell off items you decide not to bring and reduce the number of things you have to move.

Choose a Reliable Moving Company

Next, book a reliable removalist. A bad removalist will make your moving experience a living nightmare. A good removalist company will make it a breeze, with absolutely no losses or damage to your possessions. Picking the correct removalist is vital to reducing your stress levels, remember, the cheapest option isn’t always the best! A higher quote may denote a higher quality of training when it comes down to crunch time.

Once you’ve selected your removalist, sold off your unwanted stuff, asked your aunt Carol over to help you pack over the weekend, and used your cat as a security blanket against the night terrors that have taken over your sleep, it’s time to breathe, supervise the removalist company, and pick up the keys to your new property.

Contact Next Level Removals Now

If you are looking for a stress-free move, it’s time to get in touch with Next Level Removals. You can contact our furniture removal consultants in many different and convenient ways:

• Give us a call on 1300 005 400
• Send us an email on [email protected], or fill out the contact form on our contact us page
• Visit us at our office – 27/172-178 Milperra Road Revesby New South Wales 2212

Sometimes moving means putting some of your beloved possessions into long-term storage. This can be stressful, especially if you pick the wrong removalist or storage company and items get lost or damaged. We’ve put together the following handy strategy to ensure you don’t lose your head when it comes to long-term storage.

Create an Inventory:

Prior to putting your possessions into long-term storage, make sure that you list off and itemise all of your possessions. It’s also a good idea to keep a digital copy of your receipts and various warranties within your inventory just in case.

Be careful with your whitegoods:

Moving overseas and leaving the fridge? Make sure you’ve properly cleaned, disinfected and disconnected all whitegoods. Items such as dishwashers and fridges can be a breeding ground for bacteria and mould. Prep all your whitegoods before putting them into long-term storage by giving them a thorough clean.

Use protective wraps:

When it comes to rips and tears, these look better in a Yeezy collection than on your furniture. Using packing blankets can prevent wear, tear, and damp and mildew growth on your belongings. Make sure you pre-treat leather furniture before storage to prevent cracking and seal wooden pieces. Plastic wraps and bags are typically not a good idea, as they can cause an increase in moisture in items.

Pack Your Electrical Items Properly:

When it doubt, keep the box. It’s best that electrical items being stored long-term are restored to their original packaging. This ensures maximum protection within packaging designed for that particular item. If this isn’t possible, try to ensure all items have been well-packed according to long-term storage standards, and that no batteries with the potential to cause leaks are trapped inside. Double-check those television remotes!

Vacuum seal all fabrics:

Nobody has time for dust mites! Or any other kind of creepy-crawly that might sneak into the folds of your favourite curtains, or childhood teddy bear collection. To ensure this doesn’t happen while your items are in long-term storage, make sure to vacuum seal all fabric items and soft furnishings, from cushions, curtains, and the rest. This will help to prevent the tell-tale dusty, musty storage scent and keep your items in tip-top condition while they wait.

Keep Your Items of the Floor!

The floor is lava, and you don’t want your sofa singed! When it comes to long-term storage for items big and small, stacking them up is the way to go. Storing items in shelving units, or on pallets allows for more air circulation, this means there’s a lesser likelihood of moisture or dampness buildup, keeping your big-ticket items mould-free and in great condition.

Pack and label your fragile items carefully:

Nobody wants to unpack a box labelled, ‘grandma’s vintage wine glasses’ and discover that they’ve inadvertently broken a treasured family possession! That’s why the same rules apply for fragile items in long-term storage, as they do when packing for a short trip on the removalist truck. Pack your fragile items carefully in tissue-paper, newspaper and bubble-wrap, label the box carefully and make sure to note which side should be facing up.

When it comes to keeping items in long-term storage, your best bet is to work with a trusted removalist to advise you on your best packing and storage solutions.

If having a next-level experience sounds like the type of experience you would like to have in your next furniture move, it’s time to get in touch with Next Level Removals. You can contact our furniture removal consultants in many different and convenient ways:

• Give us a call on 1300 005 400
• Send us an email on [email protected], or fill out the contact form on our contact us page
• Visit us at our office – 27/172-178 Milperra Road Revesby New South Wales 2212

How to move a piano.

Moving most things is as easy as packing it down and putting it in a box. Or wrap it in a blanket or bubble wrap for safekeeping in transport. There are a few things though that require a little more thought, time, and preparation. And muscle power! The team at Next Level Removals has literally encountered everything – big or small, from pets to pianos we find a solution that fits and keeps your possessions safe and sound throughout the moving process.

You may already have tried to shift your piano and are now sitting online looking at how to best approach this mammoth task. Did you know some pianos weigh a whopping 160kgs kilograms and grand pianos, almost unbelievably, up to 500 kilograms? Along with the weight of a piano, the sheer size and often the awkwardness can simply mean the task is impossible without the right knowledge and equipment.

Given this is something we do often, our team at Next Level Removals have put together some tips to assist in the process.

Step 1 Contact our team at Next Level Removals for a quote.

Step 2 If you are not using us or other professionals then gather a crew! Nobody in history has moved a piano on their own – it’s just not possible, believe us, we know. So put the call out to your friends and family and get as many people as you can onboard to help. At least 4 people (2 per side of the piano) is our minimum. Remember this is even more challenging if you are moving interstate or a far distance.

Step 3 Get your hands on the right moving equipment ahead of time to make sure you have everything you need. You’ll need straps, furniture blankets, tape and of course – transport.

Step 4 Prepare your piano before you start moving it. We suggest closing the lid and fastening it closed to protect the keys throughout the move. Wrap your piano in furniture blankets and use the tape to keep it in place to protect the exterior

Step 5 Think ahead of time and have the destination spot for your piano clean and clear ready for the arrival.

Step 6 Establish and clear a path to ensure there are no obstacles in the way. This will avoid having to stop and start and of course, any injuries or damage.

Step 7 Now it’s time to move your piano. Our number one pointer is that your piano must always remain upright, so make sure that everyone is aware of this and that the piano is not tilted or laid down at any stage. Place straps underneath the piano so there is room to hold them on each side, you’ll use these to lift the piano up to slide the dolly’s underneath. Take time to balance the piano well before you move it.

Step 8 When loading your piano on the ramp or lift into the truck – wheel it on the lighter side first.

Step 9 During the move your piano will likely be shifted out of tune so be sure to book it in for re-tuning when settled into its new location.

Given the possible injuries or damage to your piano – both can be incredibly costly, we recommend talking to our team at Next Level Removals about the best way to move your piano. Leave it to the experts – we treat your belongings like they are our own. Call us today on 1300 005 400 or fill in our simple online form for a free quote.

Don’t get caught out on moving day – create your moving day kit here.

Whether it is a house or office move, the last thing you want on your moving day is to be digging through things like a mad person trying to find that hammer, or charger, or bedsheet. Our team at Next Level Removals often get asked what the necessary items are to keep handing for both local and interstate moves.

Here are some things to get ready and have on hand for moving day.

• Tool kit
  There’s always something to be fixed or put together when you’re moving – have some essentials from your tool kit with you to avoid being caught out.
  • Hammer
  • Screwdriver
  • Tape
  • Scissors

   

• Cleaning supplies
  Whether it is wiping down furniture that has been in storage or a final clean as you vacate your home, you are bound to clean on moving day. At Next Level Removals our must haves include:
  • Gloves
  • Spray and wipe
  • Sponges, rags and paper towel
  • Disinfectant
  • Broom + vacuum
  • Bin liners

   

• Stuff for your belly
  Make sure you have food and drink on hand. Of course, by this point your fridge is probably turned off or very close to, so pack some things that don’t rely on being kept cool – or better yet, pack an esky!
  • Snacks/sandwiches
  • Water + other drinks as desired

   

• Medications and first aid
  The last thing you want to be digging for are pain tablets when you’ve got a terrible headache or back pain so keep it close and handy along with any other medication for the family for easy access.
  • Any prescribed medication you or your family require
  • Pain tablets
  • Band-Aids

   

• Electronics box
  There’ll be phones and laptops that need charging at some point – we guarantee it. Or the vacuum that doesn’t reach that last room. Pack the below bits and bobs in a box together so you know where they are always.
  • Phone, laptop and chargers
  • Extension cords
  • Double adapter

   

• Document folder
  You don’t want to misplace any paperwork for the move itself or points of identification should you need them – have these stored in a document folder and kept close to your other possessions at the ready.
  • Rental/property documents
  • Identification documents

   

• Kitchenware
  More than one person and only one bottle of drink? No worries, because you’ve kept some glassware handy for this reason exactly. Having a coffee might be nice throughout the day too and plates for snack time.
  • Plates
  • Cutlery
  • Glassware
  • Kettle
  • Toaster

   

• Music
  This is simply to keep you going
  • A stereo or speaker to keep the spirit alive!

   

• Kids entertainment
  If the kids are with you – you don’t want them to be upset because they can’t find things to keep occupied, have these things in the corner at the old and new place ready for them to delve into.
  • Toys
  • Games
  • Movies

   

• Pet supplies
  Keep the pet supplies at the old place until the very last minute with your pet (for comfort) and then pack them all together and move in the one hit.
  • Food, water + bowls
  • Bedding and blankets
  • Toys
  • Leashes + collars/harnesses and car buckles

   

• First night bag
  Think of the first night and following day in the new house, what will you need ready so you can fall into an exhausted heap?
  • Bedding (sheets, doona, pillows)
  • Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant facewash, soap etc)
  • PJ’s
  • Change of clothes for the next day

We’re sure there are some more things you can think of that matter personally to you – but this should be a great starting point for you to be organised and prepared for the big day. If you have any queries, contact the team at Next Level Removals as we are here to help through each stage of the moving process. Call us today on 1300 005 400 or click here to arrange a quote.