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Planning Your Move - 5 Great Moving Tips
If you’re planning on moving house, whether it’s from a small apartment or a large family home, here a a few things to keep in mind when planning your move, and some things you can do to prepare for your move.
Be sure to check out our helpful packing tips, advice and checklist from the menu as well! These should all help you plan your move and make sure things run smoothly.
1. Book Your Rental Truck Well In Advance
Making sure you have the moving truck is probably one of the most important thing to remember when planning your move. To ensure the best availability for your van or truck rental, make your booking with you truck hire company as far in advance of your move date as possible.
This will mean you are able to request the exact vehicle you require and ensure an extras like moving blankets or hand trucks are also available when you need them.
2. Select The Right Rental Truck For Your Needs
Investigate the range of different size trucks for hire to select the most suitable van or truck rental for your needs. Pick a vehicle that is large enough to complete the entire job in one or two trips, but don’t try to squeeze too much in as your possessions may get damaged.
Remember to allow for tying items down and for awkward or oversized items that may take up more room than you think. If in doubt ask your rental company – they will be happy to help! Also, don’t forget, driving a van or truck is a lot different to driving a car, when fully loaded they are much heavier and more sluggish to control. Read our New Zealand rental trucks driving safety tips for more information.
3. Ask About Vehicle Insurance
Ensure your rental van or truck is covered by full comprehensive insurance with an excess payable. The excess may be considerable and vary between rental companies, be sure you understand the terms and conditions associated with this before leaving the yard.
If not immediately clear it also pays to ask about what to do in an accident and about safe accident procedures in New Zealand. As a general guide, if in a vehicle accident in New Zealand it is important to get the other drivers full details including name, address, phone number, car make and model and the vehicle registration before leaving the crash site. If anyone is injured always call 111.
4. Choose Your Packing Materials Carefully
Sourcing good quality boxes and packaging supplies is vital to protecting your belongings. Pack boxes with care and when loading the moving truck try to put the heaviest boxes at the bottom of the stack. Take a look here for more advice on packing your belongings.
If you have a lot of heavy items, ask your rental company if they have hand trucks available for use. Furniture blankets are also often very useful when loading up the truck as they prevent furniture rubbing against each other and causing damage while in transit.
5. Organise Some Help
Ask your friends and family to help if it’s a large move, and give them plenty of notice. Have everything packed and ready to load before helpers arrive, and keep everyone happy with snacks and refreshments. Read our moving day advice for more information on planning your big day, and why not print our moving checklist to help you plan your move.
9 Things You Can Do To Prepare For Your Move
When moving home yourself it’s best to carefully plan every aspect of the move to ensure you and any helpers are fully prepared. In addition to arranging your moving van hire, there are lots of things to consider when preparing for moving day.
1. Have a Big Clean Out
Arrange a garage sale, list your belongings on Trademe or go to a car boot sale with anything you don’t need/want or if you don’t have time, give unwanted items to your local charity. Getting rid of unwanted items before you move will make the relocation a lot easier and cheaper, plus you might even make some extra cash
2. Think Space.
Think about the available space in your new home before you move and start to imagine the best way to arrange your furniture. Make sketches, or if you have access to the property, take some paper cut-outs of your larger furniture to ensure they will fit in your new home.
3. Measure Measure Measure
Have a measure up of all your larger furniture and your new doorways, staircases and windows to make sure you can actually get your belongings into the house. Check to see if larger items such as sofas, tables, beds and cabinets etc come apart. If you have any very large or special furniture, you may need special equipment.
4. Think About Unloading
Plan where you can park to unload your belongings at your new home to save time and energy and to avoid disruption to your new neighbours.
5. Stop Cleaning
Avoid using wax or oils or special cleaning products on furniture for a couple of weeks before your move as they can weaken the wood and make damage more likely.
6. Unplug Electrical Items.
Unplug your TVs a day before your move to bring them back to room temperature, otherwise they will retain heat, which can cause internal damage.
7. Leave Behind Helpful Instructions
Leave instructions, brochures, guarantees, codes etc for systems in your home such as heating, air conditioning, alarms etc in an easily accessible place for the people moving into your old property.
8. Get The Alarm Code
If your new home has an alarm system, ask for the code before you move, plus the details and paperwork for any appliances or systems that come with the house.
9. Get Some Sleep!
Get a good night’s sleep before moving day. Your moving day is likely to be a long one and exhausting, especially if you also have to travel a long distance to your new home.