Tag: Moving house

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Real estate & moving

What to do before selling your house

Putting your home on the market isn’t just as simple as packing up your things and letting the real estate agents take over. You also don’t have to go to extremes and spend tens of thousands in renovations either.

There’s a lot of little to-dos around the home and garden that can be ticked off, so you not only attract potential buyers but have them pay the best price for your property as well.

1. Professional cleaning

We don’t mean a good once-over with a dusting cloth, we mean getting in there and cleaning it from top to toe. Oven cleaners will remove all the grime that you’d never be able to remove yourself, while house cleaners will have all other areas of the property sparkling clean.

Source: LT & Associates

Get professional carpet cleaning, and let a grout cleaner take care of the tiled areas. Don’t forget the window cleaner for glass and sills. If you’ve got a pool, that’ll need cleaning too. It sounds like a lot, but if there’s ever a time to get the professionals in, it’s now. The return on investment could be well worth your while.

2. Gardens and outdoor areas

Start at the bottom and work your way up. Get a pressure cleaner for the tiles and pavers to clear off any mould or discolouration that’s built up on them. Polish and waterproof any wooden areas like decks or pergolas. Next, remove weeds and dead plants. Add more mulch to the garden beds and trim the hedges and bushes.

Spend some time sprucing up your outdoor areas / Source: Start2Finish Interiors Design Management

If you have overhanging branches or dead trees, now is the time to have a tree lopper come in. We’ve got all the gardening help you need, and if you have the budget to really do up your outdoor area, we’ve got landscapers and decking specialists as well.

3. Address maintenance issues

Address any small issues that you’ve been ignoring, such as having a painter come in to cover chipped paint and marks on the walls. Stained carpets and cracked tiles will need addressing as well. If you have loose or rusty fences, have them replaced by a fencing expert. If your gutters are in a state of disrepair, get a guttering professional to clean and repaint them.

Contact local real estate experts

4. Banish pet smells

We know you love your pets but potential buyers might not love the smell of them that lingers in the carpets and curtains. Even more smells will come from your furniture like couches if you choose to leave it inside the property. It’s a good idea to air the house well before inspections and to use smell-absorbing products like room sprays. If you decide to remove your furniture and leave the property empty for inspections, we’ve got removalists near you to help.

5. Furnishings

When selling, your home should feel cosy, but neutral / Source: Mo Mo Concepts

Furnish your home in an appealing way, but make sure it isn’t cluttered or overly personal. Neutral décor with the basic furnishings will work best. Potential buyers want to see as much of the floors as possible and they want to be able to image how their furniture will look in the room, so keep things simple but stylish. It’s worthwhile getting home staging to come in with props and expert interiors knowledge to have your home looking its best during showings.

6. Professional photos and marketing

Source: Start2Finish Interiors Design Management

There are a lot of photographers who specialise in taking professional photos of your property. Usually, the real estate agent you work with will organise this for you or will at least recommend someone to you. Agent In A Box recommends getting professional photos taken to maximise your chances of getting attention from potential buyers.

Wrap up

Once you’ve completed all of these, you’ll be ready to put your property on the market. We’ve got top real estate agents to help you throughout the whole selling process.

Categories
Real estate & moving

New home essentials

Are you moving into your first home or apartment? Firstly, congratulations. You are officially entering the most exciting phase of your independent life. But as you may already know, moving into your first place isn’t all rosy and merry. It involves lots of planning and hard work. It is a time when you start thinking about new furniture and accessories, lighting, kitchen essentials, and many things that you’ve never really cared about before.

Owning a new home or apartment means involves making the living space comfortable and welcoming for you. But don’t freak out. We understand that pulling that off isn’t the easiest thing to do and for that, we have prepared a shortlist of your first-home needs. This list will help you inject some class and functionality to your new home. Be our guest:

1. Bedding

Home is where you lay your head. That is why a bed, a mattress, a pillow, and some bedsheets should be the first items you acquire for your new apartment. You will also need a mattress topper and any other bedding that will make your place feel like home. Just don’t entertain the thought of sleeping on the floor even for a day.

Source: Helicrete Pty Ltd

2. Cleaning essentials

Stock up on cleaning essentials in advance. These include:

  • Cleaning products

Of course, you do have your preferred cleaning products. Purchasing your cleaning products before moving in will take another thing off your list. Ensure that you buy enough paper towels, disinfectants, glass cleaner, and a multi-surface cleaner of your choice.

  • Vacuum cleaner

A vacuum cleaner is essential, but don’t buy one before you know the type of flooring in your new home. Choose the vacuum cleaner that is suitable for your new floor, and that is efficient for the size of your home. A robotic cleaner, for example, would be more ideal for a big house than a handheld vacuum cleaner.

  • Broom and dustpan

You will be sweeping around the compound, in the backyard, and sometimes indoors. A vacuum cleaner might not be very ideal for the job. Get a handheld broom and a dustpan for that. The size of either of these tools will depend on the size of your new home.

  • Mop

You will need to polish your new home occasionally, so ensure that you have a sponge or string mop for this.

3. Kitchen essentials

If your kitchen isn’t as modern as you would want it to be, you may have to invest in kitchen remodelling. Kitchen renovations can improve the functionality or feel of your kitchen. Remember that the kitchen is the heart of every home, regardless of its size. This is the place where you will be making your meals, where your family will be gathering at least twice every day, and where most of your fond memories will be made. You need this particular space within your home to function smoothly and operate with ease. Inclusive to kitchen renovations, it’s recommended that you also look for other kitchen essentials during your move. Some of these include the kitchen’s use, design and feel, including a coffee maker, a stove, a toaster, a microwave, some pots, a blender, a mixer, among other cookware. A fridge and some dishes will be important as well.

Your kitchen is the heart of the home / Source: Modern Living Constructions

If your budget allows, it will be best to purchase a complete kitchen tools set. All the items you need for the kitchen will be included in the set so you will not have to worry about forgetting anything essential. While at it, ensure that your dishes are stylish and beautiful. The last thing you want is to serve guests with horrible-looking dinner plates or cups during the home warming party.

4. Living room essentials

If you are tight on budget, you can leave the living room for later. You will survive comfortably with nothing in the living room, or even without a living room all together. But if you have the money, or if you have a dream of one day living in a cozy and welcoming space, then you will need to budget for a few items. Some wall décor, a couple of couches, a TV, a small TV cabinet, a coasters table, some table lamps, a few tables, and a carpet will be great for a start.

5. Bathroom essentials

A shower curtain is a must if you don’t want to damage the new home’s floor. Self-care items such as toiletries and oral hygiene products are also essential. Other bathroom items include soap, a bath mat, a showerhead, and rings. Believe it or not, the bathroom could be the first room you use as soon as you move in.

Wrap up

There are many new home essentials that we could not cover in a single article. The important thing is that with the items we have discussed, you will be good to go. You will later need to shop for lesser essential items such as house plants, décor items, and a home theatre system, among others.

Categories
Real estate & moving

Where to find free or cheap moving boxes

Moving house can be not only a stressful time, but also an expensive one. Thankfully, there are ways to cut down on your moving expenses. You can choose to backload instead of requesting a full truck transport service, pack your own items instead of asking the movers to do it, and find free moving boxes instead of purchasing them.

Free or used cardboard packing boxes can not only save you money, but also reduce your environmental impact. Second-hand boxes are usually in good condition and able to transport your possessions just as safely as new ones. You just need to spend some time researching where to find good strong boxes for your move.

Source: Ozziee Movers

Where to get free moving boxes?

Used cardboard packing boxes are usually recycled or thrown away, which is why they are available for free or at a very low cost from several sources. If you are looking to save some money on packing materials, consider the options listed below:

Your removalist

Some movers offer a limited amount of packing material free of charge to their confirmed clients. Often, they also offer other materials like packing paper, plastic wrap, or even tape. Before you start hunting for materials from other sources, ask the mover if they provide packing materials free of cost, or if removing the materials from the list of services has any impact on the overall cost of the move. If the packing materials are truly free, the overall cost will be unaffected; but if they aren’t, you will pay less for the move when you choose to use your own packing materials.

Online marketplaces

When searching for free or cheap boxes, you should check out online marketplaces in your local area like Facebook and Gumtree. You might be lucky and snag some free boxes from a charitable neighbour, or more likely pay a very low fee, often around $0.50 to $1.00 each. Even if you require a dozen boxes, you won’t need to spend more than $6.00 to $12.00. These boxes are usually in great condition and will withstand the rigours of transport.

Retailers

Local retailers receive a number of cardboard boxes of different sizes on a regular basis. They’re forced to throw these boxes away or send them to the recycling plant. You can visit your local retailer and ask them to set some aside for you. You just need to inform them a few days before the move so they have time to collect the boxes. Most retailers will be happy to hand these boxes over to you free of charge, sparing them the effort of tearing the boxes up for recycling.

People who have moved

If someone in your network – a friend or family member – has moved recently, they might have cardboard packing boxes lying around their home. Ask them if you can take these boxes off their hands, you could help them unpack those boxes in exchange. Most homeowners would love to have a garage free of spare cardboard boxes.

Recycling centres  

Unwanted cardboard boxes are sent to the recycling centre for disposal. You can visit your local centre and ask to look in their used cardboard bin. Most recycling centres might be willing to part with a few boxes. Unfortunately, most boxes in these centres are in a broken-down and poor condition. You will need to sort through the pile to find the strongest and most intact boxes. You can fix the damage with packing tape, glue, and some paper. So don’t worry if they are a little worn down because you will be discarding them after the move is complete.

Garage sales  

Visit local garage sales and see if they have any empty boxes. You might not find many options here, but it’s likely that the owner would have a few boxes lying around that they want to get rid of. You might even find some suitable, inexpensive decor to deck out your new home!

Local schools

Local schools and universities will have ample boxes lying around because they order supplies regularly. These institutions will use the cardboard and plastic moving boxes repeatedly until they’ve become worn and useless, but they will still have several boxes that they don’t need. Ask if they have a few of them lying around and if you can take them off their hands.

As you can see, there are many sources of free and cheap moving boxes so you don’t need to spend your money on new packing materials. However, sometimes you might have heavy or fragile items that require special attention. You can also ask your local removalist or storage solution companies they have any recommendations.

Source: Truck4U Removals

Types of free moving boxes

The best way to ensure your possessions are safe is to choose the right kind of moving box. Here are some of the options available to you:

  1. Television box – Your expensive flat-screen television should be stored in a box that is the right size to ensure it fits securely and can be transported safely.
  2. Glassware box – If you have a large collection of wine or beer glasses, you should consider moving them in a glassware box. It stores all the glasses in individual pockets so they don’t knock against one another and can be transported securely.
  3. Dishware box – This box is perfect for your ceramic plates and dinnerware. All plates are stored in separate sections so they don’t get damaged during the move.
  4. Box for pictures and mirrors – Pictures and mirrors have a large flat surface that can be easily broken or damaged during the move. The box for pictures and mirrors can keep them secure.
  5. Large boxes – These boxes are usually around 45 x 45 x 60 cm in size and can be used to pack large items like kitchen appliances, blankets, cushions, lamps, etc.
  6. Medium-sized boxes – These are 45 x 45 x 40 cm in size and are ideal for books, bags, shoes, and other such items.
  7. Small boxes – They are ideal for smaller items like kitchen utensils, cables, and chargers of various appliances, headphones, decorative ornaments, etc.

Other options available to you are extra large boxes, wardrobe boxes, and mattress cartons. The moving boxes should hold your possessions securely and be able to withstand the bumps and movements that can happen on the road during transportation.

Categories
Real estate & moving

Change of address checklist

Moving house can be a highly stressful experience, and it’s not easy to keep track of who to notify of your move. You need to arrange the packing of your possessions, find a removalist, manage your expenses, and many other things.

Changing your address is probably low on your list of priorities, but it’s an essential aspect of moving house and will help you settle into your new home. You need to contact several people and organisations about the change in address. To help, we’ve done the heavy lifting. Here’s our checklist of who to notify and when.

Removalist loading truck
Source: A2B Removals

Personal

It’s a good idea to inform your personal connections well before the move. You can simply send out an email or text message with your new address and the date of the move to all your contacts including:

  1. Parents
  2. Siblings
  3. Aunties, uncles and cousins
  4. Distant relatives
  5. Neighbours (they can forward mail if needed)
  6. Friends
  7. Friends of your children
  8. Any business associates and connections

A time effective way of doing this is to create a list of names, add the email addresses to the list and send a bulk email to all your personal connections.

Subscriptions

The next step is to either cancel or change the address on any subscriptions you may have. They can include:

  1. Magazines
  2. Store memberships
  3. Airline loyalty programs
  4. Newspapers
  5. Catalogues
  6. Any postal subscription services like DVDs, health boxes, beauty boxes, etc.

Vehicle

If you intend to take your car with you to your new location or even new state, all changes to vehicle-related documentation should occur a few weeks before you’re moving house. You’ll need to update your driver’s license, even if you don’t intend to take your vehicle with you.

  1. Driver’s license
  2. Car insurance
  3. Car registration
  4. Maintenance service contracts
  5. Car companies if your vehicle is still under warranty
  6. E-tag or toll membership

Healthcare

Your doctors and related medical practitioners will need to update your personal information and possibly transfer your medical records, so you’ll need to give them a head’s up about your move. Ensure you inform the following medical practitioners, where applicable, about your change of address:

  1. Dentist
  2. General practitioner
  3. Paediatrician
  4. Optometrist
  5. Specialist healthcare providers
  6. Vet

Utilities

You will need to cancel subscriptions to utilities, change your address, and transfer the services to the new owner. Make sure you settle all bills before you change the address.

  1. Subscription television, e.g. Foxtel
  2. Gas
  3. Electricity
  4. Phone (both landline and mobile)
  5. Internet
  6. Water
  7. Australia Post office (so they can redirect post if needed)

Finance

The next step is to contact all financial institutions and inform them about the change of address. Different institutions will have different requirements.

  1. Banks
  2. Bonds, stocks, and shares
  3. Pension
  4. Loan organisations and lenders
  5. Credit card companies
  6. Brokerage firms
  7. Superannuation funds
  8. Accountants, and anyone who helps you manage your finances

Education

If you or anyone in your family attends an educational institution, you need to inform the school/college/university about the change of address as well.

  1. Your child’s school so they can forward any paperwork or communication as needed
  2. College and universities
  3. Afterschool programs or early learning programs
  4. Extracurricular classes like art, music, dance, drama, etc.

Employment

Even if you resign from your job, it’s a good idea to give your previous employer a way to communicate with you. You should also think about informing these people about your change of address:

  1. Former employers
  2. Colleagues
  3. Business associates
  4. Long-term customers and clients
  5. Employees or subordinates
Moving to your dream home? Don’t forget to notify the correct people / Source: Start2Finish Interior Design Management

Government organisations

You need to inform the government about your change of address as well. You will need to download forms from relevant government websites and make the changes.

  1. Australian Taxation Office
  2. Australian Electoral Commission
  3. Concession cards
  4. Department of Human Services, including Child Support, Medicare, Centrelink, etc.
  5. Seniors cards
  6. Department of Veterans’ Affairs
  7. Local councils
  8. DonateLife
  9. Local library

Insurance

Most people have several insurance policies in their name, including the vehicle insurance policy previously mentioned. You need to update your address on all of them, including:

  1. Health insurance
  2. Life insurance
  3. Home and contents insurance

Social

If you are a part of different institutions and organisations in a social capacity, you need to contact them and either cancel your membership, transfer it to a different branch, or change your address. These organisations include:

  1. Gyms or health clubs
  2. Charities
  3. Churches
  4. State Volunteer organisations
  5. Local clubs
  6. Sports club
  7. Unions and professional organisations

 Legal service providers

Your legal representatives should be able to contact you, even if you are no longer using their services.

  1. Personal lawyer
  2. Business or corporate lawyer related to work
  3. Property lawyer or conveyancer, who handled the sale and purchase of your homes

Miscellaneous

There are several other people and organisations that might need to contact you based on your lifestyle and responsibilities. They can include:

  1. Tenants or property managers of any rental properties
  2. Home maintenance services like lawn or garden maintenance
  3. Store loyalty cards from Coles, Woolworths, Qantas, David Jones, etc.
  4. Security systems like home alarms

It’s a good idea to start ticking items off the list a few weeks before you start moving house, as it can be stressful to change the address in so many places at once. Start with who to notify first, such as friends and family before you move on to organisations, government departments, schools, and other such institutions. You can add items to the list and print it out to make the process easier. Most private and state government institutions have the change of address instructions on their websites and provide appropriate forms for you to complete.

Categories
Real estate & moving

What does a removalist do?

A removalist, or moving company, will help store and transport your household furniture and goods. They can help save you time and effort, turning a stressful house move into a smooth process. Check out this cost guide to see the average price of a removalist.

Here, we’ll show you the steps to take when hiring a removalist, how to choose the right one for move.

Kinds of removalist services

Depending on your budget and the level of service you require, you can select from:

Back-loading

In this option, your possessions will share space with other people’s in the removalist’s truck or van. You only pay for the square metre area you use during the transport which can help you save a significant amount of money, particularly when moving long distances.

Moving only

Most moving companies will pack your possessions for you at an additional cost. If you’re on a tight budget, you can skip this service and pack your belongings yourself. You can source free packing materials from either your moving company, your local school or shops, or friends who have recently moved.

A full move

If you’re on a tight schedule and need to carry out the move as quickly as possible, you should consider hiring the complete service. The movers will handle everything – packing, loading, transporting, unloading, and unpacking. Some movers will also disassemble large furniture and reassemble it if required.

Source: A2B Removals

How to choose a removalist

Moving your home can be a stressful experience but with the help of a reliable business, your move can be easier and stress-free. Hiring a reliable removalist will ensure your household items are well looked after and guarantee a smooth and efficient move.

Know your requirements

Removalists can be involved in everything from the packing to the unloading, so knowing what services you require will help you choose the right business. Common services offered by a removalist company include:

  • Packing items
  • Storing items
  • Transporting items locally or interstate
  • Supplying furniture covers
  • Providing packing supplies
  • Disassembling and reassembling furniture
  • Unpacking items at the new destination

Choosing a business that provides the services you most require will save time, money and effort, especially if you are comfortable taking care of the majority of your home.

Source: Jake’s Fast Removals

Do they have insurance?

With large, heavy or fragile items, a professional removalist can make the move easier. Qualified removalists will have specialised tools and packing materials such as bubble wraps, loading equipment, lifting straps and trolleys to unload and transport safely. The potential risk of damaged goods should be enough to convince you to check a removalist’s insurance policy. Prior to hiring a removalist, ask the business what kind of coverage they offer and always keep a record of the insurance policy.

Check reviews & rates

With the wide range of removalists available, getting a free quote from your local professionals on Oneflare can help you choose a removalist that is the best value for your money. The cheapest quote isn’t always the most reliable, so aim to hire a business that is not only within your budget but one that you also can trust.

Look for previous testimonials and reviews that will give you an indication of the business’ past work and reliability.

If you’re planning a move, post a removalist job on Oneflare to connect with qualifiied professionals near you.