COVID-19 has brought some big changes to our lives. Working, socialising and, thankfully, keeping a few extra metres away from that one bloke on the bus who really needs a Lynx Africa pack this Christmas.

But if you’re moving houses, then that brings a whole other range of questions to which you’re probably itching to know the answers. Are you able to get professional help with the move? Are there travel restrictions affecting you? Are you going to need to fill out a bazillion different forms in the process?

Well, here’s your essential checklist with 4 easy steps for moving and packing during COVID.

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1. Find out the your COVID guidelines

Every country has different COVID-safe rules to the next. In New Zealand the whole country is at Alert Level 1. This means you there are no additional restrictions on moving house, viewing properties, or maintenance and inspections. Whereas, if you’re moving to somewhere like France or England, then you maaaay have slightly more difficulty. Just a tad.

2. Call the experts

Getting in contact with your moving and packing company is a big one. Why? Because they’re the ones who know how the local COVID-safe laws affect their business. Yes, it’s super difficult to navigate each and every rule on your own, but ‘with a little help from your friends’, it gets way easier. You’ll find most businesses are across the COVID rules that specifically affect them. Movers and packers know their guidelines for moving and packing while florists, for example, know their guidelines for florist-ing… florist-izing? Whatever, you get it.

3. Keep up-to-date

The tough thing about moving restrictions during COVID is that the rules are changing constantly… Rapidly… All. The. Damn. Time. There’s not much point doing a week’s worth of research on COVID laws, if you’re moving in 6 months’ time. Heck, even 6 days is enough to change the landscape of your moving plans. The best way to keep on top of this is to find out the rules, and do daily checks and searches to see if they’ve changed for the better or the worse.

4. Breathe.

You know the old adage about the three most stressful life occurrences… death, divorce and moving houses. While it’s easy to lose your head over moving during COVID, hiring a great moving company will ensure the process is as smooth as possible. You can also seek help from a partner, lean on your friends for support, or just buy chocolate! That usually helps.

So, now it’s in your hands. It’ll be tricky: frustrating, even. But not impossible. Follow these guidelines and you’ll be finding yourself sitting in your new place with a flute of champagne with minimal hassle.

Moving house requires so much planning! Luckily, the right moving company really takes the hassle and the stress out of the whole drudgery. The best way to begin the process is by starting a list. Consider whether you need your movers to pack your furniture. Do you need them to unpack your furniture? Do you want your moving company to take your furniture apart and reassemble it? Disassembling furniture during your move is often overlooked, but it is essential if you are short on time and manpower.

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Ask About Furniture Disassembly First

Remember to ask the moving company first before assuming that they can take your furniture apart as they will need to bring additional equipment. If you don’t ask your movers ahead of time to take your furniture apart, you could incur additional costs for the extra time taken to disassemble it.

Some furniture is difficult to take apart and even more difficult to reassemble successfully. It could be said that there’s an art to it, but if your moving company is committed and happy to offer the service, it’s a service which is worth asking and paying for.

Why Disassemble Furniture?

Not all furniture can be taken apart, but what can be taken apart should be and there are several reasons for this. Other than potentially making your life easier, there are risks involved in not asking your moving company to take your furniture apart.

Why you need to take your furniture apart:

• If your furniture is not taken apart, it will take up additional space in the moving truck, potentially taking up space which could be used for other items.
• Disassembled furniture can more easily be packed into custom-sized boxes and crates which are reinforced, ultimately offering your beloved items better protection during your move.
• It makes loading easier and faster.

Will They Reassemble Your Furniture?

Taking your furniture apart may be simple enough, but will your moving company reassemble it? Just as you need to ask them to pack your belongings into boxes and unpack them, you also need to ask them to put your furniture back together again. If they provide the disassembly service, they are more than likely to put it all back together again for you. This saves you the confusion and stress of reassembling it, as movers are old hands at this, and they are far less likely to struggle.

If They Don’t Disassemble, What Are Your Other Options?

Some companies do not offer furniture disassembly and reassembly services; this isn’t a disaster though. Ask the moving company how they move and handle furniture which is not taken apart. They might wrap soft furnishings, tables and chairs in heavy gauge plastic and protective foam wrapping instead, along with offering custom crating for more delicate items. Your primary concerns will be whether they can easily move the furniture in and out of your home, how they will wrap it, how they will transport it, and what the effect will be on the total cost of your move.

To make moving house simpler and faster, give New Zealand Movers a call today. We can advise you regarding your move, give you a quote and book your move all in one call.

There are a heap of expenses involved in moving house. Before you book your mover, there is a lot to consider. Getting full and thorough quote(s) will help you plan your move and to make an informed decision. Finding out what movers charge takes a bit of time, but it’s essential if you want to find the best fit for your pocket and your requirements.

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What Services Do You Need?

Movers rates vary depending on your needs, so it’s not so simple to put your finger on an average cost to move house. Your best bet is to get a few quotes. This way you can compare both the total amount and the individual costs of hiring staff, paying for a truck, paying for people to pack your belongings, packing equipment and more.

Before you book a full-service move, you want to figure out where you can cut costs and what unavoidable aspect(s) of your move will be the most costly.

Consider the following:

• Do you need movers to pack your belongings or will you pack them yourself? Movers cannot take responsibility for boxes which they have not packed.
• How big is your house and do you have a lot of belongings? It may be worth your while to sell or donate some of your items and replace them later (if essential) to cut costs.
• Will you buy boxes and other essential packing materials? Remember, you are taking a chance if you use secondhand boxes as their integrity may have been compromised.
• Are you going to insure your belongings? If you need to insure your belongings the moving company may be required to pack them for you to qualify for moving insurance.
• Are you moving far? Moving long distances or to another country will cost more, while moving 15 minutes away will be cheaper. (Matt, isn’t this somewhat self explanatory?)
• Do you have a lot of valuable items? These items will require special care when packing, and the help of movers is highly recommended.
• Consider the cost of your time too. Is your time more valuable spent working or packing boxes?
• Movers will charge for the time taken to load and offload your belongings; some movers have a minimum amount of hours they have to charge for. Watch out for this hidden cost.

Moving Costs to Compare

Before you accept the first or the cheapest quote you receive from a moving company, make sure all the services you require are included. The total cost of the move may pleasantly surprise you, and you can likely negotiate the total moving fee (this doesn’t make sense to me). Some movers may charge more to pack your belongings, and others may charge more for their transport.

When comparing various companies quotes make sure thwey are all quoting on the same parameters and volume to be moved, the same number of man-hours and the same distance travelled (again, Matt this doesn’t make sense to me – surely all companies will quote to the same destination!) You also want to compare the cost of each line item so you know where you can save money and where you can spend more.

Potential Hidden Costs

There may be a few additional costs which you didn’t account for so make sure you ask about overtime rates, booking fees, freight services and storage.

The Cost of Not Using a Moving Company

If you’re thinking about moving your home without the help of a moving company, it’s important to remember that your costs could increase. If your items are damaged, replacing them could quickly cost as much as the movers.

Contact us to get a competitive quote now. We can help you decide which services you need and which you don’t need and where you can save money. Let us get you on track for moving day.

It’s tempting to just keep the difficult to wrap and pack items aside and forgo the boxes, but it’s unlikely to work out too well. If you want to know whether movers will move things that are not in boxes, the answer is not normally. Some moving companies have strict policies regarding the removal of loose items and others less so. There are several reasons for this, ranging from liability to damage.

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Why You Need Boxes

Some items are tricky, but often these are the items which require more care because they will be more difficult to load into the truck without the protection of a box. Boxes go a long way to mitigating the risk of damage to your goods because you can get custom size boxes which are reinforced, you can bubble wrap your items, and you can fill the space in the box with paper to prevent it from shifting.

Items that are not in boxes cannot be stacked in the moving truck, so they ultimately take up more space and they may put your other items at risk of shifting around and getting damaged. We train our movers to load boxes into their moving trucks in a way that ensures no space is wasted and the boxes fit together to ensure that they do not shift and move around.

Moving Etiquette

When your belongings aren’t packed in boxes, they take longer to load and move. The problem is that it affects your timeline and that of your moving company. They may be required to move out other bookings, and they will more than likely have to charge you for the extra time.

The single most compelling reason movers prefer to pack your belongings themselves is for the sake of insurance. Moving insurance is not as straightforward and most times not available for customers who opt to pack their own belongings. There is just too much that can go wrong without the experience and training of professional movers. This concern is even greater when items aren’t packed at all, insurance will not pay out—or at least it is highly unlikely to pay out in the event of damage or loss.

Moving Across Borders or Over Large Distances

Another reason to pack each item carefully is to speed up the processing and handling of your belongings when moving across borders. Your items will have to go through customs and potentially even quarantine, and they will probably be wrapped only in plastic film, which will offer little–if any–protection and may come at an additional cost.

Things That Cannot Be Boxed

There will always be items which cannot be boxed such as larger furniture, couches and beds. These items, however, still need to be wrapped in heavy-duty plastic so they are protected from dents, dust, and scuffs.

Your best option is to get your moving company to help you pack all of your belongings. This way you can mitigate any potential risk of damage or loss, insure your belongings, and have a less stressful move. For additional information or to book your move, contact us today.