Planning your move with a professional removalist

Planning your move starts well before moving day. Badger Removals provides house removals, furniture removals, office relocations and business removals across Western Melbourne, Melton, Woodend, Kyneton, Bendigo and regional Victoria, as well as interstate removal services. Planning ahead helps you organise packing, property access, utilities, address changes and the other practical details that need to be completed before you relocate. Use this guide to work through the important tasks before, during and after your move.

How far in advance should you plan a move?

Start planning as soon as you know your moving date. Confirm what you are taking, identify anything requiring special handling and contact your removalist early, particularly if your dates are fixed. Create an inventory of furniture and belongings and check access at both properties. You can then start decluttering, organise packing materials or professional packing assistance and make a list of utilities and organisations that need your new address.

For interstate relocations, starting early also gives you time to discuss transport dates, delivery arrangements, storage and backloading options where appropriate.

What information does your removalist need?

Give your removalist accurate information about the move, including your collection and delivery addresses, preferred date and the approximate amount of furniture and boxes being transported. Tell them if you require packing, unpacking, storage, settlement cleaning or other services. Access should also be discussed before moving day, including stairs, lifts, narrow driveways, restricted parking, long carrying distances and difficult entrances.

Identify heavy, large, fragile or unusual items such as pianos, antiques and pool tables when requesting your quote. This allows your removalist to plan the vehicle, equipment, people and time required for the job. Whether you are comparing removalists in Woodend or arranging a move elsewhere in regional Victoria, an accurate inventory and clear access information will help you receive a quote based on the actual requirements of your move.

Declutter before you pack

Moving is a good opportunity to remove belongings you no longer use. Work through each room and decide what will be kept, sold, donated, recycled or disposed of. Start with garages, sheds, spare rooms, cupboards and other storage areas, then consider large furniture carefully. Measure pieces if necessary and check whether they will fit and suit the layout of your new property.

There is little benefit in paying to transport furniture or household items you intend to dispose of after moving. Decluttering first also gives you a more accurate idea of how much needs to be transported.

Create a moving checklist

A moving checklist gives you one place to keep track of outstanding jobs and important dates. Several weeks before the move, focus on booking your removalist, decluttering, gathering cartons and packing items you rarely use. Identify anything requiring special handling and confirm whether you need additional services such as packing or storage.

Closer to moving day, confirm property access, arrange utilities and start updating your address. During the final few days, finish packing, prepare appliances, separate valuables and important documents and confirm when you will receive access to the new property. Continue using your checklist after moving for outstanding address changes, unpacking, cleaning and other administrative tasks.

Pack room by room

Pack one room at a time and label cartons with both their contents and destination. A label such as “kitchen, plates and mugs” is more useful than simply writing “kitchen”. Start with books, decorations, spare linen, seasonal clothing and other items you will not need before moving, and leave everyday essentials until later.

Use suitable packing materials for glassware, artwork, electronics and other fragile belongings, and avoid overloading cartons with books or other heavy items. Badger Removals can supply cartons and provides packing and unpacking services if you need assistance preparing for your move.

Prepare an essentials box

Keep the things you will need immediately after moving separate from your general packing. Include medication, toiletries, chargers, towels, toilet paper, basic kitchen items, a change of clothes and anything required by children or pets. Keep identification, keys, settlement documents, passports and other important paperwork with you. Your essentials should cover what you need during your first evening and following morning without having to unpack multiple cartons.

Organise utilities and change your address

Arrange electricity, gas, water, internet and other essential services before moving. Confirm final readings or disconnections at your existing property and connection dates at your new address. Internet services can take time to establish, so arrange these early if you work from home or need an immediate connection.

You will also need to update organisations that hold your address. Depending on your circumstances, this can include banks, insurers, government agencies, driver’s licence and vehicle registration records, electoral enrolment, employers, schools, healthcare providers, phone and internet providers, subscriptions and memberships. Mail redirection can help catch correspondence while you complete your address changes, but important accounts and records should be updated directly.

Plan for children and pets

Moving day means open doors, people moving through the property and furniture being carried in and out. Where possible, arrange a safe place for young children and pets while loading and unloading are underway. Keep pet food, water, bedding, leads, carriers and medication accessible, and check fences and gates at the new property before allowing pets outside. For children, keep food, clothing, familiar toys and other essentials with you rather than packing everything into the removal truck.

Prepare appliances before moving

Check manufacturer instructions for appliances that need preparation before transport. Empty refrigerators and freezers and deal with remaining ice or moisture, disconnect appliances that need to be disconnected in advance and secure loose components. Washing machines and other appliances may have specific transport requirements. If you are unsure how something should be prepared, check before moving day rather than waiting until the removal truck arrives.

Check access at both properties

Tell your removalist about anything that could affect loading or unloading. This includes narrow driveways, gates, stairs, steep paths, lifts, loading zones, restricted parking and long distances between the property and where the truck can park. For apartments and managed buildings, check whether you need to book a lift or loading area and whether moving is restricted to certain hours.

Consider access at both ends of the move. Conditions at the destination are just as important as those at the collection address.

Plan where your furniture will go

Measure larger furniture and doorways where necessary and decide where beds, sofas, dining tables, desks and major appliances will be placed. A simple floor plan can help if you have a large home or several people directing the move. Combined with clearly labelled cartons, this allows furniture and boxes to go directly to the correct rooms.

Should you organise settlement cleaning?

If the property needs to be cleaned after your belongings have been removed, include cleaning in your moving schedule. Badger Removals offers settlement cleaning, allowing cleaning to be coordinated with your relocation. An empty property also gives cleaners easier access to floors, cupboards and areas previously covered by furniture.

If you are renting, check your lease and property manager’s requirements. If you are selling, confirm what needs to be completed before settlement and key handover.

Local moves across regional Victoria

Badger Removals handles local and regional moves across Western Melbourne, Melton, Woodend, Kyneton, Bendigo and surrounding areas. Services also extend to Sunbury, Macedon, Castlemaine, Gisborne, Bacchus Marsh, Romsey, Lancefield, Riddells Creek, Heathcote and other regional Victorian locations.

Local moves can involve anything from a few pieces of furniture to a complete household relocation. Regional moves can also involve longer travel times, country properties and different access conditions, so accurate information about both addresses is important. When comparing affordable removalists in Woodend or elsewhere in the region, make sure each quote is based on comparable information. A competitive removalist quote should reflect the volume being moved, access conditions, travel and any additional services required.

Planning an office or business relocation

Office relocations need to be planned around both the physical move and the operation of the business. Create an inventory of desks, chairs, filing cabinets, technology, equipment, stock and other items being relocated, then decide what will be moved, replaced, disposed of or stored.

Label furniture, equipment and cartons by employee, department or destination area. Back up important data before computers and other technology are disconnected and determine who will be responsible for reconnecting IT, phones and internet services. Tell your business removalists about large or unusual equipment in advance. Badger Removals provides office and business removal services for local, regional and interstate relocations.

Planning an interstate move

Interstate moving requires more coordination because there is a greater distance between collection and delivery. Declutter before packing and identify what you will need while your belongings are in transit. Confirm collection and delivery arrangements with your removalist and organise utilities, mail redirection and address changes before leaving.

Badger Removals provides interstate removal services throughout Australia, including regular services between Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. If your dates are flexible or you have a smaller load, ask whether backloading is suitable. Backloading uses available space on a truck already travelling along an appropriate interstate route and can be an option for some relocations.

What if your moving dates do not line up?

Storage may be useful if you need to leave your existing property before the new one is available, or if you want to renovate, paint or clean before your furniture arrives. Badger Removals provides short and long-term storage options at its Woodend storage facilities. If storage may be required, discuss it when booking so collection, storage and delivery can be incorporated into the moving plan.

Moving pianos, antiques and other difficult items

Tell your removalist about heavy, fragile or unusual belongings before moving day. Badger Removals handles furniture removals that can include pianos, antiques and pool tables. Provide details about the item and any stairs, narrow entrances or other access restrictions when requesting your quote. Advance notice allows the requirements of these items to be considered when planning the move.

Consider removal insurance

Check what insurance applies to your belongings before they are transported and understand what is and is not covered. Badger Removals works with Removals Insurance Australia, which provides insurance options for domestic and commercial relocations and goods being moved or stored. If you require cover, investigate the available options before moving day.

The day before your move

Most packing should be finished by the day before your move. Check that cartons are securely closed and labelled and separate anything travelling with you rather than in the removal truck. Prepare appliances, check cupboards, wardrobes, sheds, garages and outdoor areas and make sure important documents and valuables are accessible.

Charge your phone and confirm how and when you will receive access to your new property. Any parking, access or specialist moving requirements should already have been discussed with your removalist.

What to do on moving day

Keep entrances and pathways clear and show your removal team anything requiring particular attention. Clearly separate belongings that are not being moved. Before leaving, check every room, cupboard, wardrobe, garage, shed and outdoor area.

At the new property, direct furniture and cartons to the appropriate rooms. Focus first on getting essential areas functioning, including beds, bathrooms and basic kitchen items. The rest can be unpacked progressively.

Your moving checklist

Before moving day, confirm your date, addresses, inventory and property access. Make sure your removalist knows about large, fragile or unusual belongings and any packing, storage, cleaning or other services you require. Declutter, pack and label cartons, prepare appliances and keep valuables and important documents with you.

Organise utilities, address changes and mail redirection and make suitable arrangements for children and pets. For an interstate move, confirm collection and delivery arrangements and discuss transport options such as backloading where appropriate. If your property dates do not align, organise storage in advance.

Plan your move with Badger Removals

Badger Removals provides local and interstate moving services for homes, furniture, offices and businesses across Western Melbourne, Melton, Woodend, Kyneton, Bendigo and regional Victoria. Packing and unpacking, cartons, storage and settlement cleaning are also available to help coordinate the different stages of a move.

Learn more about our local removalists, or contact Badger Removals to discuss your move and request a quote.