Moving Tips

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Planning

·        Book your Self storage unit.

·        Order supplies/boxes.

·        Book movers, if applicable.

·        Make a floor plan of your new home and determine where your furniture should be placed.

·        If possible, arrange to have any painting or maintenance work on your new home done prior to your move.

·        Consider having carpets or drapes cleaned prior to your move and arrange to have them delivered to your new address after your move.

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Paperwork and Other Arrangements

·        Keep all your paperwork for the move in one place.

·        Make a list of friends, relatives and businesses you need to notify of your move. Prepare a change of address notice and email or mail it to them. Include:

·        NZTA for driver’s license and vehicle registration

·        Banks, credit card issuers and other financial institutions

·        Insurance companies

·        Educational institutions and clubs

·        Doctors, dentists and other health care providers

·        Newspaper and magazine subscriptions

·        File a change of address with New Zealand Post.

·        Transfer prescriptions, if applicable.

·        Check with your insurance company to make sure your belongings are covered during transit and storage. If not, arrange for additional insurance.

·        Schedule the connection of utility services at your new home and disconnection of services at your old home including gas, water, sewage, cable, satellite, internet and telephone.

·        Make child and pet care arrangements for moving day.

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Advance Preparations

·        Sell, give or throw away items that you are not using.

·        Drain gasoline and oil from power equipment.

·        Take liquids and items that cannot be stored or thrown out in your regular garbage to a hazardous waste depot. (See the list of prohibited items in the Storage Tips.)

·        Start depleting food supplies so you minimize what needs to be moved.

·        Empty, defrost and clean your refrigerator and freezer at least 24 hours before moving.

·        Disconnect major appliances.

·        Prepare to take with you, a box with valuable paperwork including:

·        Medical records and prescriptions

·        Legal and financial documents

·        Birth certificates, passports and other government documents

·        Insurance papers

·        To load last or take with you in the car, pack a box with things you will need immediately, for example:

·        Cell phone chargers

·        Bathroom tissue and soap

·        Toiletries

·        Alarm clock

·        Medications

·        Your moving file

 

Moving Day

Try to avoid sliding heavy items such as appliances across the floor. Use a furniture pad or small carpet to manoeuvre the item to a spot where it can be placed on a dolly or carried out by hand.

·        Furniture is best carried by hand.

·        Use dollies for appliances or boxes. Make sure these items are evenly loaded and secure before transporting them.

·        Remove doors from doorways that are too narrow for moving furniture.

·        Protect high traffic areas on the floors with flattened cartons or heavy paper taped into place.

·        Know where you want items placed at your destination. Try to avoid placing boxes and other small items where you want to position larger pieces of furniture.

·        If possible, use masking tape to mark each piece of furniture with its destination. Do not use masking tape on fine furniture finishes or leave it on any furniture for extended periods of time.

·        Check to make sure everything is out of closets and cupboards and nothing is being left behind.

·        Make note of your utility readings on the day of your move.

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Storage Tips

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Plan Ahead

·        Make the most of your self-storage unit by planning the space carefully. Create a list of the items you will be storing and map out your storage space for efficient use.

·        Place moving blankets or sheets over concrete floors to protect mattresses, furniture or furnishings while in storage.

·        Keep heavy or bulky items at the back of your unit and use them as a base for stacking. Light and fragile items should be packed last to avoid damage.

·        Long items such as mattresses, beds, couches and tabletops should be stored along the walls of your storage unit to free up space.

·        Turn items on their ends when necessary in order to make the most of your space by using the full height of the unit.

·        Allow yourself access to all of your items by leaving enough room to move around the unit.

·        Place your most frequently accessed items near the door for convenient access.

Moving Into Storage

·        Pack items that you will need to access most often into the truck first as they will be unloaded and placed into the unit last.

·        Disassemble large items or items with legs to make for easier transportation and maximise storage space in your unit.

·        Empty wardrobes, cupboards and drawers while moving in order to protect furniture and make items lighter to move.

·        Cover furniture with moving blankets or soft furnishings to protect them during storage.

Artwork and Mirrors

·        Keep mirrors in an upright position and keep them protected by securing them between soft items such as mattresses.

Appliances

·        Ensure kitchen appliances and white goods are clean, dry and defrosted before placing them in storage to prevent mould or mildew. Store with doors slightly ajar and an air deodoriser inside for freshness.

·        Keep hoses, nuts, bolts and other extra parts in plastic bags attached to their appliance for convenience.

Machinery and Equipment

·        Drain oil to avoid leakage, spillage and damage to other goods.

·        All items should be dry, clean and wiped down with oil to prevent rust.

·        Metal items should be kept away from other items that may be damaged by rust.

What Not to Store

·        Combustible, perishable and harmful items must not be stored (petrol, paint and paint thinner, gasoline, solvents, living things, plants or food that spoils).

·        Mowers, hedge trimmer, chainsaws and other equipment must be emptied of petrol before storing.

·        Barbecues must be clean and gas bottles empty before storing.