Category Archives: Packaging

Moving, Packaging

5 Tips for Moving in Hot Weather

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5 Tips for Moving in Hot Weather

Moving house can be hard work. Moving home in the middle of the summer heat not only makes the task harder, it can be dangerous to your health if you don’t take the right precautions.

Australia has had a record run of above average temperature days of late. And all predictions are saying it’s going to be a long, hot summer. In this case it’s well worth understanding how to manage the heat if the day you have set aside for moving turns out to reach temperatures that resemble the inside of your oven when it’s cooking your Sunday roast.

What are the top tips for moving house in hot weather?

Get started early in the day

Beat the heat by getting an early start. This will make sure the hard work is done before the heat takes hold and drains any energy you had left in your body. It also means that sensitive items prone to heat damage are likely to fare better than being moved in the middle of the day. But more on this later.

Look after yourself

  • Make sure you have enough water with you all day to keep hydrated
  • Keep a sports drink on hand to help replace the salts in your body that you lose through excessive sweating
  • Wear loose, light clothing to keep you cool
  • Stay in the shade as much as possible
  • Making sure you use sunscreen and wear a hat if you are out in the sun.

Look after you pets

If you have pets that are moving house with you, make sure you take special care with them in the heat. They will likely be stressed from the changes already and the heat won’t help them at all.

Make sure they have lots of water. Make sure they are always left in a well-ventilated area that is out of the sun. And most of all, give them a little bit extra attention and reassurance. They might just need it.

Heat sensitive items

There may be some items in your household that area heat sensitive, and you will need to take extra care when you move them.

Heat sensitive items might be electronics such as TVs, computers, phones and so on. Also keep in mind if you have some special photos printed out, they may need to be kept cool to prevent any damaged. Paintings can be the same as well. Treat them carefully. Don’t leave them in the car parked in the sun. Keep them in a cool place until you are ready to load the car and drive immediately to your new place. And then unload them straight away, keeping them out of the heat as much as possible.

Get the professionals do to it for you

If this is all sounding a little bit too much like hard work (it is very hard work!), then hire professional removalists to help you out.

Professional removalist teams will come with their own hot weather kits. They will know how to handle your heat sensitive items. They will be prepared for any situation that may occur relating to your move.

Next Level Removalists are your local Sydney removalist experts. We specialise in local house or office moves, as well as interstate moves to Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne and everywhere in between. Reach out to our friendly team today.

Moving, Packaging, Preparation

How To Help Seniors Pack For A Move

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How To Help Seniors Pack For A Move

Often senior citizens are settled and comfortable in their homes. For a variety of reasons, they may need to move. Perhaps it’s time to downsize, or the lease can no longer be renewed anymore. Whatever the reason, seniors tend to avoid change, and it can feel overwhelming and unsettling having to leave home and move to a new place.

At Next Level Removals, we understand. This is why we have prepared the following tips for how to help seniors pack for a move.

Make A Thorough Plan

Before jumping into such a life-altering decision, it’s best to make a thorough plan. How much of the moving process can your family and friends help with? Would you rather hire professional removalists? Do you need assistance with packing? Will you be putting any items in storage?

After working out what needs doing, next work backward from your moving date. This lets you create a timeline of everything that needs to happen before moving.

Start To Pack Early

It’s never too early to begin preparing for a move. If you are still unsure of the exact moving date, or your elderly parents do not know where they will be living, it’s always a good idea to start with the process.

Begin with any areas which tend to accumulate extra items over time. Spaces like a closet, or garage tend to fill up faster than we realise. Also, go through paper records and get rid of anything which is no longer needed.

Divide Things Into Smaller Tasks

Trying to accomplish a huge task like the entire moving process can be overwhelming if looking at it overall., But by breaking the task down into smaller pieces, it suddenly seems more manageable.

For seniors, it may have taken a lifetime to accumulate all the belongings they have. It’s going to take a lot of time and effort to sort through it all.

Help them start with one small area, perhaps a drawer, or a cabinet. Then select the next small area to move onto. By doing a small amount each day, it makes the end goal more achievable.

Save Memories

While sorting through belongings, you will find that some are easy to get rid of, but others have huge sentimental and personal value for seniors.

People keep possessions for their meaning and memories, but not for the value of the item itself.

When we see an item, it usually triggers such memories. It’s important to ask, is there another way to preserve the memory rather than the physical item? It may be difficult, but if there is limited space, it will be required to make some difficult decisions.

Also, factor in the cost of moving. The more things which need to be moved, or kept in storage, then the more expensive it will be.

Taking photos of items is a great way to remember them. Seeing the picture triggers the same memories and emotions that looking at the physical item does. Try this tactic with a few things which are not very important, and then gradually move up to more significant items.

Looking for a patient removalist who has helped many senior people through the difficult change process? Next Level Removals can help. Contact us on 1300 005 400 or online.

Moving, Packaging

How To Pack Electronic Devices When Moving Home

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How To Pack Electronic Devices When Moving Home

Electronic devices such as TVs, laptops, computers, tablets, video game consoles, and stereo systems, are all vital parts of modern homes. But, they are also usually very fragile and require special care when handling and packing them! Are you wondering how to pack electronic devices when moving home? We’ve got you covered.

While some people tend to worry about transporting their fine china or ornaments, most removalists Sydney to Brisbane understand the importance of moving your electronic items safely.

Besides some being heavy and bulky, it’s not the only thing to worry about. If you don’t pack items correctly, there is a risk mechanical failure may occur, due to a physical shock.

Most people believe that an idea must be dropped to be damaged, but that’s not the only way it can occur. There are other factors like shaking the device too much. Or environmental factors like rain, humidity, and freezing temperatures.

Here is a guide for how to pack electronic devices when moving home the right way.

Buy Packing Materials

The first thing you will need to do is to buy the packing materials so that you can properly pack your device.

It is important not to skimp or try and cut corners on packing materials. Trying to save a few dollars on some bubble wrap, can lead to a device worth thousands of dollars becoming broken or damaged.

You will need to buy:

  • Thick cardboard boxes
  • Bubble wrap
  • Packing peanuts
  • Strong Packaging Tape
  • Sealable Bags
  • Permanent Markers
  • Twist Ties
  • PVC Tape

Disconnect Your Electronic Devices

Make sure to switch off all of your devices and unplug them from the wall. Electronic devices need to be disconnected and sometimes dismantled before packing them. It’s recommended to go through the manufacturer’s manual first to check if there are any special instructions you need to follow before you disconnect, dismantle, and move your device.

If you’ve thrown out the manual (who hasn’t!), don’t worry, you can easily access most of them online now directly on the manufacturer’s website.

Take Photos

Before you start disconnecting all the cables, use your phone to take pictures of exactly how the cords connected to each device. Once you have, then disconnect all the cables, such as video, data, power, keyboards and any other devices.

When it comes time to set up the devices at your new home, you’ll be glad to have taken a few seconds to take the photos, as it makes it much easier to set everything up again!

Keep All The Accessories Together

Keep all the cables and wires for each device neatly together, Use twist ties to tie them, and then put them in sealable plastic bags. Also, be sure to label each bag, so you know which device the cables belong to. Place all the cables and wires into the same box as the electronic device which they belong with.

Don’t forget to remove any external storage devices or media like CDs, DVDs, and external hard drives from the electronic device. Keep them in their cases.
If you have any printers, remove the toners and ink cartridges and keep them in a sealable bag.

Protect Your Electronic Devices

Wrap each device carefully with bubble wrap or packing peanuts. Make sure you only use anti-static materials, and never use anything which can conduct electricity – this could damage your device.

Wrap each device individually. You should make sure that no two devices rub against each other. If they do, it may also lead to causing damage.

On the bottom of each box, place a thick layer or two of bubble wrap. If you no longer have the original box for the device, then instead you can use thick cardboard boxes. But be sure only to put one device into each box.

Carefully put your electronic device into the box. Use bubble wrap or packing peanuts to secure any gaps in the box. You should ensure that there is no empty space anywhere which would allow the device to move in transit.

This is a crucial step, and it’s often the main reason why electronic items get damaged in transit. It’s better to overfill each box not to have enough bubble wrap or packing peanuts.
Electronic Device Packing Tips:

  • Media such as CDs and DVDs are not able to handle hot temperatures. If you are moving during the extreme summer heat, then it’s a good idea to instead transport these items with you in your car
  • So you don’t lose remote controls, pack them with the device they belong to. To be super organised, put them in the plastic envelope which the owners manual came in.

Label Your Electronic Items

Next, make sure to seal the box using packaging tape. If the item is heavy, then reinforce the bottom of the box with a few layers of tape, to stop it breaking while being moved.

Label every box with a permanent marker what is inside, and also write FRAGILE and THIS SIDE UP. Do this on all sides of the box, and make sure also to draw a big arrow pointing upwards.

This will make sure that the removalists take extra special care when handling these boxes.

Moving Electronic Devices

It’s always recommended for professionals to take care of moving your electronics. They have been professionally trained to handle fragile and expensive items, as well any which are bulky and heavy.

Also, if it is raining outside,Removalists Sydney to Newcastle can wrap items such as large-screen TVs to give them protection from the elements.

If you are feeling nervous about packing your electronic devices, there are professional packing and unpacking services available. Next Level Removals have professional packing services at affordable prices. We take care of your items as if they were our own, and ensure they arrive safely at your new home. We also offer an unpacking service and can have them set up for you, without you ever having to worry if they will be damaged.

Electronics quickly become obsolete and upgraded. If you have any electronics you don’t wish to bring to your new home, the City of Sydney has tips for responsible rubbish disposal when moving house.

For packing and moving quotes, contact Next Level Removals today on 1300 005 400 or complete our online form.

Home, Moving, Packaging, Preparation

Taking care of valuable items when moving

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Taking care of valuable items when moving

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, Packaging

Use Plastic Boxes

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Use Plastic Boxes

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, Packaging, Preparation

Get a professional to help you pack

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Get a professional to help you pack

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.