Tag: preparing for your move

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The Essentials Moving List

The Essentials Moving List

Hi all, here are some more helpful hints for the big move day – the essentials moving list will ensure that you have the necessities at hand to make your move day and first night in your new home a little more easy.

  • Pack an overnight bag for you and/or your family – include pajamas, toiletries, toilet paper, change of clothes, bath towels.
  • Pack a last minute box which can include kettle, tea, coffee, water, snacks and lunch for the move day. Consider what you will be having for dinner that night and breakfast in the morning.  Cups, plates and utensils, just enough for one each per person is enough.
  • You will also need a box cutter handy if you want to access your boxes, inventory list if you have completed one.
  • Keep your cleaning kit and vacuum handy.
  • If you feel tired by the end of the day make sure that the beds have been assembled, we can help you with this if required.  Make them sooner rather than later at least you have somewhere comfortable to sleep that night.
  • On waking up on your move day you may want to fold all your bedding into the bottom sheet, transport in your car so that you can just lay out onto your bed (no need to go hunting through boxes to find your sheets!)
  • Organise a sitter or family to look after the kids and/or pets on move day.

The Essentials Moving List

  • Read and record your water & power meters at both addresses.
  • When you arrive at your new house make sure that the hot water cylinder is on, there is nothing worse than hopping in the shower at the end of a long day to find no hot water.
  • Seal any immediate boxes that you may require over the next few days with a coloured tape so they are easily found.

If anyone else has some handy ideas or can tell us what works for them please email your suggestions.

You may like to ready more tips for your move day here.

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Storage Packing Tips

Hi all, here are some great storage packing tips if you are planning on storing your household items, these tips will maximise your space and prevent damage to your belongings.

A lot of these tips are used by the Smooth Mover as standard practices and also from personal experience of storing household items.

  • Make sure that all your white linen, clothes etc are washed before storing.  After a period of time any trace of sweat or grease will turn your whites yellow.
  • Use sturdy boxes so they can be stacked on top of each to maximise the height of the storage unit.
  • If you are storing wine, check out storage facilities that offer climate control.
  • Make sure that you number all your boxes and keep an inventory of what is in those boxes, you may need to find something whilst everything is in storage. When you move to your new place an inventory will help in telling our guys where each box needs to go.
  • Don’t cover furniture with plastic, this can lead to condensation and mildew issues.
  • Remove petrol from lawnmowers and clean all your garden implements.
  • If able pack all your electronic equipment such as computers, tv, stereo’s in their original packing.
  • Roll your rugs rather than fold, folding may cause permanent damage to the pile.
  • You can not store food, pot plans and hazardous materials in storage lockers for obvious reasons.
  • Hazardous materials include: Gas bottles, paint thinners, petrol and cleaning fluids.
  • Leave your fridge doors open, if closed you will have mold issues.
  • Disassemble furniture to save space.

    Above all remember “If it fits in a box, put it in a box”

If you are stuck on where to start for your storage needs please contact us via our website or phone 09 415 4222 for our unit sizes and prices.

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Apartment Moving

APARTMENT MOVING

Apartment moving certainly has its own set of challenges. The overall moving logistics are a lot more technical than moving into a plain ground level townhouse, you have a lot more to think about such as elevators, stairwells, access to apartment building for your removal truck and so forth.

Here are some helpful tips to help you and The Smooth Mover, to complete a seamless transition to your new home.

Access into the Apartment

  • Make sure that you talk with the apartment manager about how other moves have gone in the past.  What have others done?
  • Find out whether there is a service elevator in the building rather than just the resident elevators, sometimes these elevators are larger and can take more weight.
  • Book an elevator key – this will ensure a faster load and unload time.

Measure

  • Make sure that your furniture will fit, measure any existing furniture and visit your new apartment, measuring things such as the elevator door opening, corridors, apartment door etc.  Take note of any stair or tight corridor corners that may cause a problem – photograph if need be.
  • If you are downsizing to an apartment you will either have to be ruthless when packing, gift or donate away items that you really just don’t need anymore.  Alternatively organise for a storage unit until you have time to sort out.  Advise us if you plan to do this so we can book a 2nd drop off location for your current booking.
  • If you are buying furniture, consider going with styles that can be disassembled and reassemble each time you move.  Our guys can help you with this on the day.

Parking

  • Again talk with the apartment manager, as to the standard protocol for moving trucks.
  • If underground parking is available, make sure you advise us as to Maximum height allowed, so that we can allocate the correct truck on your move day.

Above all make sure you pass on all this information to us prior to your move date, this will ensure a SMOOTH! move on the day. (you are welcome to email photos of anything you may think will become a problem) or contact us to make a booking 0800 36 36 10 or office@thesmoothmover.co.nz

Apartment Moving

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What to do on your moving day

What to do on your moving day, time saved equals money saved !.  Once again we will be adding to this list, we would like to include customer experiences such as what they found hard prior to our arrival or tips that they may want to share with others. Email us your suggestions

What to do on your moving day

  • Have a good breakfast!
  • Ensure that your driveway is clear of vehicles prior to our truck and staff arriving.  If you share a driveway make sure that your neighbours are notified well before your move day.
  • Either take your pets to kennels or friends, or ensure they are in a locked room during the removal.

What to do on your moving day

  • Be on hand when The Smooth Mover arrives, and throughout both the loading and unloading process.  If you can’t be there, make sure someone ca be there to direct the movers – or otherwise leave clear instructions.
  • Disconnect your washing machine (though we can do this for you if you don’t know how)
  • Fridges generally need to be emptied into chilly bins of all but lettuce and light/non-fragile items.  they will be tipped backwards diagonally for carrying.  Freezers ideally need to be emptied – though can often remain full, subject to weight and access – it may be required to remove baskets and replace in the truck, repeating at unload address.
  • Identify items that you will not be taking with you to our staff when they arrive.
  • Identify your ‘last minute box’ to our staff who will pack this last.
  • If you are moving from a storage unit we will need to meet you there.  Please bring access codes and keys.  If you prefer we can empty on your behalf.  These could be left with the storage facility or ideally dropped or posted to us in Albany.
  • Either take your pets to kennels or friends, or ensure they are in a locked room during the removal.
  • If you have time to do so, dismantle your bed(s) in advance of the move (but no problem if you can’t – we always come fully equipped with tools).
  • Wherever possible, make sure plant pots and holders are drained of excess water.  Plants cannot be stored in storage units, so may need to go elsewhere.
  • Once the load has been completed, make a final tour of your home.  See that nothing has been overlooked.