10 tips for an easy move

For first-timers, moving house can be an exciting and daunting task. There is a lot of preparation involved and it is not easy to know when to do what or even how to do it.

To help make your move a little less stressful, Selwyn Rautenbach, manager of Able Removers CC , offers guidance on what to expect when moving your assets.

Some helpful guidelines:

• Think about the contents of your home. The small items like pictures, suitcases, boxes and rugs add up and will cause you to need a larger moving vehicle. A stocktake will enable you to receive the correct truck.
• New model, silver appliances such as silver fridges, freezers, microwaves, are not as durable as older models and need to be wrapped in plastic. Make sure you budget for the wrapping as it will be an additional cost to the actual move. Couches and mattresses will also need to be covered in plastic as they are moved through doorways. TV sets will need to be wrapped in bubble wrap which you can do yourself.
• Be aware of the number of pot plants you decide to move. They can take up an entire truck on their own as you cannot stack plants.
• Think about the area you are moving to. Estates in particular have paved roads instead of tar. No truck over three tons can drive on paved roads. The truck will have to make many small loads or a shuttle will have to be arranged to transport your assets from the truck to your door. Both options can be very expensive.
• If you decide to do it yourself and hire a trailer, be aware that hired labour may not have experience with furniture and may handle assets incorrectly.
• Make sure you or the moving company use blankets to act as a buffer between assets loaded into a truck or trailer.
• Time your move so that you are not inconvenienced by those moving in to your previous home or by those moving out of your new home.
• Keep in mind, a small move can take the whole morning, a large move will take all day and a very large move might take two days.
• Start packing at least a week before the date you plan on moving
• Have a ‘security box’ with your kettle, coffee, sugar and other essentials that is always accessible. Mark this box with a red line for easy identification so that it does not get lost.

Most moving companies want you to pay before the move so remember to budget accordingly.

Details: Able Removers CC, 011 475 5035.

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