Prior to moving house people tend to focus their attentions on electronics, decorative, fragile and glassware items and while it’s true that thought needs to be given to how they’re going to be packed, many people forget that their furniture also requires careful handling.

The trouble is that unlike many of the items listed above furniture obviously can’t be boxed and in most cases will be an awkward and uneven shape. There’s also a good chance that your favourite designer couch or Chippendale sideboard is going to be extremely heavy too. So if you’re planning on moving it yourself, then great care needs to be taken.

The first thing you’ll need to invest in is a quilted blanket. Okay so you probably don’t want to go paying a lot of money as it isn’t going to take pride of place on your bed. Instead it’s going to come in very handy when moving your heavy piece of furniture. Alternatively if you have some relatively thick, but old blankets that are gathering dust in your cupboards, then even better.

When you’re ready to move your bulky piece of furniture, manoeuvre the furniture so that you have a clear run from the house to the truck. This will probably entail twisting the furniture on its end so that it’s able to fit through the doors. If this is the case then don’t forget to protect the corners with furniture pads, or even good old fashioned bubble wrap.

Next lay the blanket on the floor then place the furniture down on top. All you do now is simply slide it across the floor. Not only is it relatively easy to move, but there’s absolutely no chance of dropping it. To get over the front steps, cushion them with more quilted blankets and let the furniture glide over the top. Obviously you don’t want to be doing this if you’re three flights up in an apartment block as the consequences could be catastrophic!! However it certainly works on one or two steps.

Once outside and on the flat, continue to drag it on the blanket towards the truck. It’s better over grass but if you have to travel over concrete, then put another blanket underneath for added protection. Finally when you get to the truck if you have a tail-lift, then it’s a piece of cake. If you don’t then place more blankets on the edge of the truck and leverage it up.

It may seem like a lot of hassle, but doing it this way you’ve not only protected your furniture, but also your back.

If you really don’t want the hassle of shifting your own furniture then contact On The Move Removals. We’ve been serving the people of Brisbane for many years and our promise to you is that we’ll take good care of your furniture as if it were our own. Why not call us today on 044 993 26 03 for a seriously competitive quote.

If you visit any removalist sites, whether they’re local specialists or large national companies, they’ll offer a variety of truck sizes for you to choose from. The trouble is, choose one that’s too big and it can end up costing you more money that you need to spend, Conversely if you decide take the smaller option and discover it just isn’t all going to fit, it can be a real problem, especially if the company you’re using has no larger trucks available because they’re all out on other jobs. With this in mind, just how do you make sure that you choose the right sized removal truck for the job in hand?

Cubic Metres
Most trucks are measured in cubic metres. This is determined by the amount of storage space inside the truck from floor to ceiling height. However be aware that unless you’re an expert packer and everything is either perfectly square or in boxes, you probably won’t be able to utilise every available centimetre of that space. Therefore always err on the side of caution and calculate your belongings to be of more cubic meterage than you actually need.

So how do you roughly calculate cubic meterage?

Unfortunately there’s no quick way of doing it and you’ll need a tape measure and some basic maths skills. You’ll first need to measure the height, width and depth of each item. (be sure to measure them at their highest, deepest and widest points) then multiply these figures by each other. Here’s a quick example.

Take a common or garden washing machine – after measuring you discover it’s 850mm x500mm x 400mm. Therefore the equation should be as follows:

0.85 x 0.5 x 0.4 = 0.17m3

This needs to be done for each item that isn’t boxed. For items that are boxed up, then it’s a little easier as they should be a standard cubic metered size. If it doesn’t already say the m3 amount on the box, then ask your removalist as they’ll know. When you have your final list of cubic metered items then all you’ve got to do is to ‘tot’ all the figures up to give you one finalised, overall figure.

Making it easy
Many removalist websites will make it easier by applying real life numbers to your furniture. For example a removal company may state that a typical 3 bedroomed house will be around 45 cubic metres. However this is really an estimate as the figure given clearly can’t account for how much ‘stuff’ you’re likely to have accumulated. Therefore it’s advisable to approach this figure with a touch of caution.

At On The Move Removals we’re a Brisbane based company serving the people of the Sunshine and Gold Coasts as well as the city of Brisbane and the suburbs. We have three sizes of trucks to choose from ranging from small vans to medium and large trucks. Why not contact us on 044 9932 603 for the lowest prices around guaranteed! Alternatively visit our website at www.onthemoveremovals.com.au to see our great prices first hand,

Let’s face it, moving house is a stressful situation yet one in which we happily put ourselves through several times throughout the course of our lives. However in many cases this stress can often be compounded by making rash or wrong decisions which may affect the outcome of the move. So if you don’t want to be telling your very own moving horror-story in years to come, then here are 5 top moving mistakes that you can and should avoid.

Finding a removalist at the last minute
Quality removalist companies by their very nature are popular and as such are often booked up weeks (if not months) in advance. If you leave it to the last minute to arrange removals then there’s a good chance that you won’t get the company you really want.

Hire the first company you come across
Unless you’re acting from word-of-mouth it’s always advisable to speak to several removalist companies before you make a choice. This way you can ask all the right questions and get a real feel for how the company operate and work. Often people will hire a company based on price alone and sometimes this is the only way that less-than-experienced companies can compete. Conversely if you do speak to several representatives and you opt for the cheapest, at least you’ll have a ‘gut feeling’ about them so that you can make an informed choice rather than a price-led one.

Failing to tell the company about the access to your new home
Understandably removalist companies will charge more if they have difficult access to a property So if your new home is two floors up or your property is accessed via a steep slope and you’ve failed to mention it, then chances are that the company will take this into account when presenting you with the final bill. So if you want to avoid any unnecessary shocks, then be up-front and honest in your assessment of the job in hand.

Not getting a written contract
If you don’t ask for a written contract then you’re simply asking for trouble. A contract normally outlines the agreed price as well as what the company are responsible for. You’ll need to know if they’re covered for any breakages, whether the agreed price is in fact the final price, and what the company are contracted to do. It should also detail time scales for your move. By getting all this information in writing it may save any problems later on down the line.

Being a less than stellar customer
Yes moving can be stressful, but try not to take it out on your removalists. After all they’re the ones who hold the key to your move. There may well be delays and glitches that are beyond anyone’s control but ranting and raving could cause more issues than you might have bargained for. So if you feel yourself getting a little hot under the collar, then it’s always best to step away for a few minutes and assess the situation.

At On The Move Removals we’ve been helping the people of Brisbane and the surrounding areas too for many years. As such we have experience and the staff that you can rely on. Contact us today on 044 993 2603 for a seriously competitive quote.