Home, Moving

Moving House With Pets – Do’s & Don’ts

Comment

Moving house can be difficult even with just your human family. It’s even more challenging for pets. They don’t understand why everything in their home is suddenly changing and being moved around, which can cause them a lot of stress and anxiety.

In some cases moving home actually causes pets to go missing. They escape and try to return to their previous home. Also, it can cause behavioural problems or even cause them to have health problems.

During moving time, pets need a lot of extra attention to reassure them everything is ok. Cats and Dogs especially become very territorial and find moving house very disorientating and disruptive to their normal behaviour.

Luckily, there are many ways to make moving easier on your beloved pets and family!

These do’s and don’ts will help your pets settle into their new environment, and quickly feel at home.

 

DO’S When Moving With Pets

✔️ DO Ask a friend or relative to look after your pet on moving day. This will allow your pet to be out of the way, and allow you to have space and time needed for a move without worrying your pet will be in the way and a distraction. It also ensures your pet is away from any stressful situations and loud noises while being with someone they are familiar with.

✔️ DO Would you would rather keep your pet with you while you move? Have one room in your old house set aside for your pet. Keep the door shut to help reduce any noise or constant action. To help calm your pet be sure to also have their toys, food, water, and bedding in the room. Regularly check on your pet throughout the process too, and let them know they aren’t being punished.

✔️ DO Pack your pet’s items lastly, right before you move. Being around familiar blankets, bedding, and toys will help provide comfort.

✔️ DO Make sure your pet’s microchip and ID tag have been updated to include your new home address. In case your pet manages to escape your new house and try to make their way back home. It’s critical they can be identified should they become lost, so that they can be returned to you safely.

✔️ DO Give your pet plenty of attention and reassurance throughout the move – on moving day, and immediately after moving to your new home. Make them feel safe and comfortable throughout the process which will help them to adjust quicker.

✔️ DO Unpack all of the essential items first before your pet is introduced to the new house, if possible. Try to place furniture and other items in a similar layout to the old home. Seeing familiar things in a new environment will help your pet feel more comfortable and ease the transition.

✔️ DO make regular water and toilet breaks on the drive to your new home if it’s a long distance. Also, be sure that your pet is secure in the vehicle, and take into consideration the heat. Never leave your pet alone in a parked car, as the temperature can rapidly rise and have tragic consequences.

DON’TS When Moving With Pets

Make sure not to do any of the following when moving with pets or you can make them extra stressed, disoriented and scared.

X DON’T feed your pet right before you put them in the car to move. If they have just eaten, they are more likely to get sick. Pets, just like humans also can suffer from motion sickness.

X DON’T let your pet explore your new backyard before you’ve thoroughly checked it first. There is a chance it may not be secure. Inspect the fencing around the perimeter and walls. Also, check for any gaps in the fence or broken panels. When you let your pet outside for the first time to explore, go outside with them so that they feel more confident venturing out to explore their new surroundings.

X DON’T assume your pet will adjust right away to their new environment. It often may talk a while for them to settle in to feel at home. Pets are creatures of comfort. Give them plenty of time to relax and feel comfortable in their new surroundings. When you first move, try not to leave your pet alone as much as possible until they have comfortably settled in. Otherwise, it can cause a lot of anxiety.

X DON’T tell them off in the first few days if they start to chew on things or have an “accident”. It takes time for pets to adjust to change. In particular, for dogs, it causes them to become very stressed and anxious. At first, be sure to monitor the way your pet behaves, and also keep them in an area which has minimal furniture.

X DON’T change your regular feeding or walking routine if possible. By following your pet’s daily routine both in the days leading up to the move and also once you are in your new home, it will help to ease the transition and make it more manageable. It will also help your pet feel comfortable and more relaxed.

X DON’T wash their bedding until a few weeks after the move. This is so that they have something familiar to smell in the new house to help them settle in and feel at home.

By following these do’s and don’ts, you will help make the move to a new home more comfortable for your pet. For more advice on how to reduce stress for your pet and how to keep them relaxed and calm, it’s advisable to consult your vet.

Moving home is challenging enough on its own. With a pet, even more, planning and preparation are required. Are you looking for a removalist who make it easy to move with pets?

Next Level Removals are professional and experienced removalists, as well as animal lovers!

We have helped thousands of people move to a new home with their family and precious pets. We help to keep your animals as calm as possible during the move to keep the anxiety and stress to a minimum.

Get in touch with us today on 1300 005 400 or via our online contact form for an obligation free quote.

Home, Moving, Packaging, Preparation

Taking care of valuable items when moving

Comment

When getting ready for a move, your primary concern is to ensure a secure packing for everything. And when you are looking for a good removalist company online, the thought of how you are going to move your valuable items stays topmost in your mind. Packing and moving valuables is distinctly different from packing & moving standard furniture and belongings. Here is a guide that will help ensure that taking care of valuable items when moving doesn’t have to be too much of a stress point.

moving valuable items

Some valuable items that you should move yourself

When moving any valuables with a relocation company, there is a list of things that should ideally be with you, including:

  • Documentation such as employment contracts, stock certificates, contracts with financial institutions, ID’s, chequebooks, credit cards, securities, bonds, doctor & other vital records
  • Jewels and furs
  • Dollars and foreign currencies
  • Stamp or coin collections
  • Soft copies of data on your computer

Hire a professional removalist company with experience

Aside from these valuable items, there could be things like precious china, antique furniture and other valuables such as expensive décor or artwork, pianos and other costly musical instruments that have. Many people also have belongings that have sentimental value, and these too have to be moved securely.

Whether you are moving office or home, the one way to rest assured that all these things are moved safely is to hire the services of an experienced and expert removalist company for the job. These professionals have the training to handle all your valuable items with care. They will pack these items securely and carefully.

They will also affix “fragile” stickers or “this side up” etc. stickers to indicate that these are valuable or delicate items and need special care during the move. It is essential to inform the company that you are transporting these things, so their personnel will handle them with care and mark them accordingly as well.

Have Insurance

If you have some valuables like very expensive artwork, a grand piano or even any antique furniture etc. it’s a good idea to have these insured before the move. While a good removalist company will make sure that it transport these things correctly, its best to have insurance cover just in case something untoward occurs, and these pieces suffer damage.

Hire the experts

If you want to know more about packing and moving, or need to book a service, don’t hesitate to contact us at Next Level Removalists Sydney or all 1300 005 400. We have been operating in this space for many years and focus on providing customised, cost-effective solutions for our customers. Next Level Removals have highly trained and experienced technicians on our team who can handle even the most complex removals with expertise and care. We are fully licensed and insured, and you can be sure that the experts are handling your furniture move with the utmost care.

Home, Moving, Preparation

Minimize the downtime in your business while moving

Comment

An office removal can be very stressful for everyone involved; the entire office workings get topsy-turvy and things are all out of place. You worry about who is going to field phone calls from customers and clients, deal with emails and manage all the other functions. In addition, there is a lot of work that needs to be done on a  daily basis and no commercial establishment (office or any other business) can  afford to lose working  days even  if it is for something as important as a move. While most of these things are unavoidable, there are some things that you can do to minimise the downtime in your business while moving. Here are a few useful tips:

  1. Seek out a company that offers weekend /night relocations

This is a very simple solution that most credible removals companies offer. You can easily plan the move over a weekend or overnight (based on where your new office premises are located). You would only need a couple of staff members to supervise the removal so your normal work week activities aren’t affected in any way.

Most companies have the equipment & tools to get the job efficiently done during the day; this means they will be even more efficient if they are able to pack and move everything after office hours when there is no one around, getting in the way  of the technicians.

  1. Find a removalist who can offer you additional labour to get the job done quicker

A well-established removal company would be able to accommodate requests for an expedited move and can deploy additional technicians on request. While these additional services increase the cost of the overall move, it reduces your downtime significantly and you are able to start regular operations within a shorter timeframe. This means the impact on productivity and profitability is minimal. Some removals companies can also assign professional planners/coordinators who can help execute and monitor the process.

  1. Pack right!

Most removal companies provide labels that you can use on the boxes and items you pack. To ensure that every item is properly placed at the new location, the movers give you numbered color-coded labels that properly correspond with the floor plan at the new office location. You should encourage you employees to use bold markers to indicate the proper room numbers of everything that needs to be moved including floor mats, chairs, removable shelves, keyboards, glass desktops, and lamps. Place all the labels where they can be easily seen.

  1. Have all your items ready

If you leave all the sorting and packing for the last day, that can lead to chaos and the entire process will take much longer. This also means the technicians won’t be able to work efficiently which will increase the downtime as well. This is why it’s far better to ensure that all the items are packed and ready.

If you want to know more about packing and moving, or need to book a service, don’t hesitate to contact us at Next Level Removals or all 1300 005 400.

Home, Money, Moving, Preparation

How to budget for your office or commercial relocation

Comment

When moving office, it’s almost impossible to keep track of every little thing that might surface. But you can make the move as seamless as possible if you budget everything right. Here are a few pointers to follow:

  1. Create/download a template

It’s very easy to budget everything well when you use an online template. That will help you keep all your expense in one place, where they can be easily accessed as you would need to consult it often in the days leading up to the move.

  1. Be realistic about the removals cost

Some things you should do include:

  • It’s important to conduct a certain amount of research on different removal companies in your area and get quotes from multiple providers. While it may seem like adding the lowest amount to your budget is the best thing to do, you should add in the highest one so you have some buffer in case there are changes and you need some additional packing material or need to add some more items for removal etc.
  • Factor in extra services such as hiring the removalists for packing and unpacking, disconnecting and connecting PCs etc.
  • Include extra charges such as special transport arrangements (such as temperature-controlled trucks for transporting sensitive materials), on-site custom crating for expensive equipment, accommodating tight schedules, expediting the move or moving over a holiday.
  1. Include packing materials cost

Most removal companies will provide quotes with and without packing materials (as per your requirement) and many providers also include a certain amount of packaging in the quote as part of their standard services. If you plan to complete the entire packing project by yourself, the cost of all the required packing materials isn’t something you can ignore.

An office move involves a variety of packing materials such as bubble wrap, small/medium/large boxes, packing paper, furniture blankets, packing tape and stretch tape etc. All these supplies will cost a significant amount of money; but you might be able to get a very good deal and have them included in the quote and overall packing cost.

  1. Disconnecting and reconnecting your utilities

Aside from this, you need to ensure that all office repairs and cleaning is completed at the older premises; include the expense of disconnecting utilities at the existing office and reconnecting them at the new location.

All of these expenses can amount to a lot; the one way to reduce your stress is to examine your budget beforehand and allocate a little more than the estimated costs. In addition, look for a removal company that gives you packaging materials at the discounted rate. While some unexpected problems may arise, if you focus on budgeting for the move well, you will find that you have enough left over for contingencies and will be able to manage the move well.

If you want to know more about packing and moving, or need to book a service, don’t hesitate to contact us at Next Level Removals or all 1300 005 400.

Home, Misc

How You Can Donate to Charity When Moving

Comment

When moving home we generally de-clutter and discard a number of items that we no long have any use for. Kitchen items, toys and old clothing are a large percentage of the things we discard while moving. While it’s great to take the opportunity to de-clutter when moving home, we also tend to throw away a large number of perfectly good items in the bin. But it’s possible to put these to better use- why not donate them so someone less-fortunate than you   It’s a great feeling to know that you are helping others.

When you are moving house, you go through the process of sifting through heap loads of belongings. As we grow older and our family size increases, we end up collecting a lot of things and also have multiples of certain items. We often start cleaning our closets and find clothes that haven’t been touched for years; but we don’t throw them away and they just get put back in the closet again.

In addition we also end up collecting a number of things we don’t need such as books, old TV’s, shoes and more. Only when we start packing during a move do we realise that there are so many excessive things that are in perfectly good shape that we have no use for any longer. These are the things you should consider donating to charity when moving.

The charities

Some of the charities many our clients donate their unwanted belongings to  are:

  • Red Cross Australia– Red Cross Shops rely on the local communities to donate items for them to sell. Some of the items you can donate to them include good quality summer and spring clothing and accessories and homewares. You can find a Red Cross Shop, closest to you via their site.
  • St Vincent De Paul– Donating to Vinnies as they are called is a great idea. You can donate good-quality books, clothes, music and any other bric-a-brac and it will get a new life, as it helps support Australians that are having a tough time and it helps reduce landfill. Most of these shops don’t accept electrical appliances for safety and legal reasons and they don’t accept mattresses either. You can find more information on their website.
  • Save the children– This organisation accepts a variety of items including school supplies, board games and crayons etc. If you have kids, there are bound to be a lot of extra things in a good condition that can be donated to a good cause.
  • Salvos– You can donate your quality used furniture, toys clothing & homewares to the Salvos. You’ll introduce far less waste into the environment and it’s a great way to help raise money for the organisation’s vital community projects. Don’t donate anything that is damaged, stained, ripped, torn or broken or faulty; if there’s something wrong the item, it can’t be sold.

If you want to know which other charities you can donate your old belongings to before moving, check the Give Now site and choose a charity you prefer.

If you want to know more about packing and moving, or need to book a service, don’t hesitate to contact us at Next Level Removals or all 1300 005 400.

Home, Packaging

Use Plastic Boxes

Comment

Why use Plastic Boxes For your Move? 

Most people use cardboard boxes during a move and they are considered the standard way to transport things; but are they really the safest way? While cardboard boxes are designed to offer some level of impact protection and support, they won’t keep your possessions completely safe. In fact, it’s not uncommon for delicate items to become damaged during the move because cardboard boxes didn’t offer the amount of protection the items needed. That’s one of the reasons why it’s a good idea to consider plastic boxes.

What are the benefits of plastic boxes? 

Plastic boxes offer a number of advantages over cardboard ones and can make the entire moving process easier for you. Here are some reasons why you should consider using them:

  • Resistant to impact – Plastic boxes have higher impact resistance than regular cardboard moving boxes. They can easily withstand the rattling and shaking during the transportation process so you don’t need to worry about the more fragile items that are being transported.
  • Stackable – These boxes are designed to be stackable so you can easily place them on top of one another, which allows you to utilise the space in the transport truck more efficiently.
  • Opening and closing boxes – Most plastic boxes come with a snap lock mechanism that can keep the lip in place. You don’t need to worry about tape and other such items to seal your possessions in. It’s also easier to open or close these boxes as you won’t need to peel away the tape.
  • No risk of falling open – There is no risk of these boxes falling open at the bottom as cardboard boxes are.

We offer plastic boxes on all moves if required. We can also provide advice on the number of boxes you will need in order to transport all of your possessions.  If you want to know more about packing and moving, or need to book a service, don’t hesitate to contact us at Next Level Removals or all 1300 005 400.

Home, Moving, Preparation

Tools Handy To Reassemble Items

Comment

Have Tools Handy To Reassemble Items

Large pieces of furniture like shelves, beds, and storage units are often disassembled and packed before they are moved. This ensures they’re less likely to become damaged and are easier to move. If you have hired an experienced removalist with a full-service move, they will handle disassembling the furniture and reassembling it at the location. However, if you haven’t engaged a full service, you will need to hire a professional to reassemble or handle the process yourself.

What kind of tools do you need? 

It’s a good idea to keep a number of essentials handy if you need to reassemble furniture at your new home. Make sure all of these tools are stored in a clearly marked box so you don’t need search for them through a large number of packed boxes. Here’s a list of tools you should have:

  • Scissors or a cutter to remove the packaging.
  • Pencil or marker to make notes and mark areas if needed.
  • Allen wrenches or hex keys to drive the screws and nails into the material and ensure they’re not visible from the top.
  • Phillips head screwdriver to drive the screws into the material.
  • A traditional hammer or a rubber mallet.
  • Furniture adhesive if needed.
  • Instruction manuals to reassemble furniture.
  • Spare screws and nails that fit into the furniture pieces to ensure you have something to use if your original screws go missing.
  • Power screwdriver if you need to assemble several pieces of furniture at the same time.

Furniture reassembly is best left to the professionals because you might damage the pieces while attempting to reassemble them. Professionals can also fix any minor scratches and cosmetic problems that might happen during the moving process and restore the appearance of your furniture.

If you want to know more about packing and moving, or need to book a service, don’t hesitate to contact us at Next Level Removals or all 1300 005 400.

Home, Moving, Preparation

Start Early

Comment

Start Early if You Want Your Move to Go Smoothly

Moving from one place to another can be a hectic process, especially if you’re on a tight deadline and need to get everything done quickly. When you rush through the moving process, you’re more likely to make mistakes and experience problems during the move. That’s one of the reasons why you should make sure you start early.

When should you start? 

This usually depends on the amount of personal possessions you have and how much you need to pack. However, as a general rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to start at least two weeks before you’re scheduled to move. You can start by packing things you won’t need during the two weeks leading up to the move. For example, if you’re moving during summer, you won’t need your winter clothes so you can pack them early.

Just create a list of priorities and start from the bottom so by the time you reach moving day, everything but the essentials you need on that day, will be packed. If you have to pack up a large home or office, it’s a good idea to start a month in advance just to ensure you don’t need to rush through the process.

The benefits of starting early

  • Your packing will be organized and you’ll have an easier time keeping track of everything.
  • You won’t be stressed or tired at the end of the day because you have time to pack at your own pace.
  • You won’t forget to pack something or leave items behind because you’ll have time to double check everything before you leave.
  • You will have ample time to focus on other personal and professional concerns before you need to move.

As you can see, starting to pack early has a number of advantages and can help you carry out a smooth move. If you want to know more about packing and moving, or need to book a service, don’t hesitate to contact us at Next Level Removals or all 1300 005 400.

Home, Moving, Preparation

House and Contents Insurance – Do You Need It?

Comment

Insurance helps protect your home and possessions from a variety of disasters, including theft and fire. But what happens to these items when they’re in transit, and you move them from one place to another? Most removalists have their insurance, but that isn’t enough to cover all of your possessions. The best way to handle this situation and avoid future problems is to get your insurance coverage.

House and Contents Insurance 

The House and Contents or Home and Contents insurance is an essential home insurance policy that covers your property and everything that’s stored inside it. Most companies will cover the move as well so you won’t have to take out another insurance policy right before you move. Before your move, check what’s included in your policy and call your insurance provider to get more information on the product. If your possessions don’t have insurance cover, look for alternative options and ask your insurance provider for recommendations.

It’s never a good idea to move without insurance, even if you hire a reliable and well-insured removalist company. If you don’t take this step, you might have to pay for some replacements and repairs out of your pocket if any items get damaged or lost during the move.

Getting insurance for your new home 

It’s best to arrange for insurance as soon as you purchase or rent a new house. This will help protect your investment and ensure you have some cover if something goes wrong. You can compare different insurance options available in the market on online platforms to determine which one is the best option for you before you make your choice. You can also ask your real estate agent to provide recommendations for good House and Contents insurance.

Housing professionals such as Adelaide Broker recommend all clients ensure they checked their insurance policies annually to ensure they’re covered – which can also be a requirement as a part of their rental or home mortgage requirement.

If you want to know more about packing and moving or need to book a service, don’t hesitate to contact us at Next Level Removals or all 1300 005 400.

Home, Moving, Packaging, Preparation

Get a professional to help you pack

Comment

Packing is one of the most tedious aspects of the moving process. It takes weeks, a lot of packing material, good planning, and a considerable amount of effort in order to pack up all personal possessions and organise the move. Why handle this yourself when you can hire a professional to do it for you at a reasonable rate? Most moving companies will provide packing services along with their moving services and often at a discounted rate.

Why hire a professional for the job? 

It’s tempting to save money and try to pack all items yourself because moving can be expensive, but hiring a professional for the job can offer a number of benefits including:

  • Saves time – Professionals have experience and will know how to employ time saving techniques in order to get the items packed quickly. You can focus your time and energy on other concerns and let experienced packers and movers handle the process.
  • Efficient – Packers will label and mark every package so you can keep track of all items that are packed easily. This makes the unpacking process easy and less time-consuming as well.
  • Packing materials – Most professional packers will provide packing material and know how much you need in order to store and transport all of your possessions. You don’t need to worry about buying or renting the right amount of packing material.
  • Unpacking – Most professional removalists will provide unpacking services at the destination as well so you can focus on getting used to your new home while the removalists unpack and organise everything.
  • Safety – Professionals will know how to safely and securely pack all items so they’re not damaged in transit. They will use the right materials and ensure all delicate items are wrapped securely before they’re transported.

If you want to know more about packing and moving, or need to book a service, don’t hesitate to contact us at Next Level Removals or all 1300 005 400.