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Knowing how stressful and expensive moving can be, Malcolm and Lorraine will do their best to answer any questions you may have, and try and offer helpful hints on how to make the move as smooth and cost -effective as possible. Some examples might be:

• The best way to pack and protect valuables, and the best way to save on the purchase of boxes by sensible packing
• To make the move much more cost effective, we advise to have as much packed in boxes as possible, to have things dismantled where needed, food already taken from the fridge, washing machine, tvs, video players and sound systems etc disconnected. Removalists are happy to do this, but it obviously adds to the time taken, therefore it also adds to the cost if you are booking removalists on an hourly rate. Click on the Checklist link for a handy, printable list of the things you need to do to make your move quicker and easier.
• Reminding customers to ring solicitors and agents regarding settlement times, so the removalists turn up at the right time to start and you are not paying for unnecessary waiting times. Have a look at our Move Calculator, which you can customise to see what should happen when before you move.
• Planning ahead! Don't leave everything till the last minute - click here to view our Move Countdown suggestions.
• Who do you have to tell you are moving? Government departments, insurance companies, schools.... to make your life easier, we have created a list for you to use - click here to download it as a pdf file

When you're caught up in moving, a lot of the things that have to happen before you move can slip your mind. On this page is a handy, printable checklist of pre-packing actions that you can do yourself or which we will do as part of our full packing service if you have requested it.

Whitegoods and Appliances

• Food removed from fridge and freezer
• Appliances defrosted, interiors wiped dry and doors left ajar
• Fridge shelving, crispers and fridge magnets packed separately from body of fridge
• Microwave oven cleaned and wiped
• Oven and hot plates wiped over
• Toasters and grillers emptied and wiped over
• Filters removed from coffee makers
• Dishwasher emptied and dishes cleaned
• Washing machine and dryer checked for clothing and cleaned
• Steam iron emptied
• Batteries removed from cassettes, radios, clocks, toys etc
• Items that belong to the house separated from those that are moving

Your Pantry

• Perishables removed and food storage areas emptied
• All lids tightened - especially on liquids
• Items that are out of date discarded

Those Little Things You Can't Do Without

• Special moving carton prepared for small and valuable items, such as TV and video remote controls, bed legs, shelf supports, bolts, keys, special furniture brackets, manufacturers' instructions and so on

Your Personal Possessions

• We can help you sort and select your possessions for moving or storage, especially if, for example, you're moving overseas. What goes air cargo, what goes by ship? We can help. We can also arrange for long term storage.
• Don't forget to leave clothes out to wear for you and your family for the day of the move
• Items you may need for your car when you're moving, especially if it's a long journey: pillows, blankets, toys, food and drink, maps.

Things not to pack

• If you're moving interstate or overseas, remember to leave out for your hand luggage essentials such as your plane tickets, passports, car and hotel confirmations, credit cards, cash, travellers cheques and personal diaries.
• Your property settlement papers, other important business or personal papers such as insurance documents, jewellery, mobile phones, laptop computers, any power chargers you might need for your phone or laptop. We suggest you take these in the car with you.
• Check for any dangerous or flammable goods in your house or shed
• Drain fuels from the lawn mower and trimmer, heaters, lamps, primus stoves and BBQ gas bottles

Your "First Night" pack

• Have a special box put aside for the things you might need for the first night in your new house, such as: alarm clock, kettle, tea, coffee, sugar, mugs, spoons, basic cutlery, plates, can opener, large knife, scissors, rubbish bag.
• Bed linen for your first night in your new home
• Telephone and phone plugs
• Power extension leads and adapters
• Bathroom needs, medicines, prescriptions
• Your childrens' favourite toys and food, any baby supplies
• Your pets' needs such as leads, bowls, bed and food

6 - 4 Weeks to go

• Start a central file with all moving documents.
• Get quotes from removalists. Ryde Furniture Freighters offer a number of options to help with your move. Ask Malcolm or Lorraine
• Remember to check around the garden, sheds, under the house for goods that may have to go
• Create a floor plan of your new home if you do not have one and start thinking of where you would like your furniture to go – keep a 2nd copy for your removalist
• Advise removalist of any access difficulties at either the pick up or delivery end and if required get council or RTA approval for the truck to be parked
• If there is lift access at the pick up or delivery end – advise the removalist and the body corporate, so the lift can be booked and covered if required
• Advise insurer of your home contents insurance of change of address and moving date
• Time to start sorting what you want and don’t want to take – WHY PAY THE REMOVALIST TO TAKE UNWANTED GOODS? Ryde Furniture Freighters is affiliated with a number of worthwhile charities that would be very grateful for your unwanted items
• There are a number of organizations that you will need to notify of your change of address and we have provided a checklist for your convenience

2 weeks to go

• If you are doing your own packing start now. Ryde Furniture Freighters will supply and deliver all your packing requirements. Call for a quote
• Label every carton by content and room
• Return any borrowed items, eg library books, videos etc
• If you are taking paints and flammable liquids to the new house, you will need to make arrangements to have them moved as they are unable to go on the truck
• If you have decided that you do not want the hassle of coming back to the old house to do the cleaning or lawns, arrange a quote from RFF to help with that

1 week - 2 days to go

• Contact gas, electricity, water and phone to arrange meter readings, disconnection and reconnection dates
• Make a list of your requirements for moving day and contact your removalist with any questions you may have regarding the move
• Pets can sometimes be very unsettled and sense that change is occurring; it is a good idea to arrange for your pets to be collected if possible the day before the move
• Drain fuel from lawn mowers and garden tools, empty gas cylinders/bottles. (Your local garage may be able to assist with this)
• If you are moving from a home where the removal truck may obstruct or be in the way of other homeowners, it is always wise to notify them that a truck will be coming to pick your goods up and if they do need to have their car out of the way, they have plenty of notice. It does save stress and hassles on the day of your removal
• If you are doing your own pre pack, this is the time to pack all remaining items that are not needed for the final day /night
• High value items such as bonds, deeds, money, stamp collections or jewellery cannot be insured when moving, so it is best that these items be taken with you

1 day to go

• If Ryde Furniture Freighters are coming to do your packing this service will commence today
• Make sure you have designated areas for items that you DO NOT want packed and go through this when the packers arrive
• Have your own survival kit made up – keys, wallet, medications, travel documents if required, papers for the purchase of new house, personal items. Have this kit in the designated area so it is not packed
• Defrost fridge and dispose of any unwanted foods. Only keep what is going to be put in the esky the following day
• Finish any last minute washing and make sure washing machine and dryer are free of clothes

It's here - moving day!!!

• Firstly – make sure you have your breakfast as it will be a big day and you will need all your energy
• Make sure you have your Survival Kit put aside. It is also a good idea to have your old bed linen packed away and have new fresh linen and your pillows in a large box or bags, so it is readily available to make your beds in the new house. And finally, have a box of kitchen essentials for the first day, kettle, plates, cutlery, tea, coffee, snacks and maybe some wine or spirit glasses for that welcome to the new home drink!!
• Be ready when the removalist arrives. If you have done the packing yourself, our workers will come in first and see if you require porta robes for your hanging clothes and how many and set them up for you to be packing your hanging clothes while they start with the move
• Go through the house with the removalist in charge and let him know if there is anything that IS NOT GOING. He will advise the other workers
• When the truck is loaded, take one final walk through the house with the removalists to make sure everything that is to go is on the truck, is on the truck
• Make sure they have all your contact details and address of your new home and also a diagram of your new home if it is available
• Once the removalists have gone, make sure all taps are turned off, and all windows and doors are locked. If Ryde Furniture Freighters are coming back to do the cleaning, make sure you have arranged to either give the keys to the removalists when they have finished or made arrangements to get the keys to the office so the cleaning can begin
• Make sure someone is at the delivery end to show the removalists where to put the furniture

Handy hints to make your move that much smoother and cost-effective

Our team are happy to do everything, however if cost is a consideration then there are some simple things that you can do to help cut the time down.

• Always keep your keys in a safe place away from where they might mistakenly be packed
• Have all the boxes (that you can lift) in the one area
• Have the washing machine disconnected from the taps and the hose inside the machine.
• Have the food out of the fridge and freezer, and make sure it has been defrosted if not frost free. We will take the fridge near the end of the move and when it is put into place at the delivery end, leave it turned off for at least an hour to let the gas settle.
• Make sure all items are taken out of furniture that is to be moved
• Have beds unmade if mattress and base and dismantled if slats
• Make sure there is a clear run for the removalists to walk through. Not only is it dangerous to have things in the walkways, it also takes extra time for the removalist to stop, put down the item, move things out of the way, pick up the item and then start again. Also make sure children and pet are not in the way, not only for the removalist sake but for their safety.
• Make sure that all items are taken out of wardrobes and cupboards that are to be moved.
• If you want us to take pot plants (as long as we have been notified of this before the move) we would encourage you not to water them for a couple of days before the move and if it looks like rain and it is possible to move them under cover, this would be an advantage. If pots still have water coming from them and you still require us to move them, we will not take responsibility for water damage to any of your items
• Gas bottles and lawn mowers can be taken, however they have to be totally empty.