Moving into Melbourne’s inner suburbs means checking more than the moving date. Access to the property, parking, stairs, lifts, narrow entrances and the time available at each address can all affect how the move is organised.
Before moving day, confirm when you can access both properties, check where the truck can load and unload, finish packing and tell your removalist about anything that could make access difficult. If you are moving an office, also consider staff schedules and access to the new premises.
Planning these details early gives you a clearer idea of what needs to happen on moving day and what information your removalist needs before providing a quote.
Confirm Your Moving Date and Property Access
Start by confirming when you can leave your current property and when you can enter the new one.
For a house move, this may depend on settlement, lease dates, key collection or handover arrangements. If you are moving on the same day you leave the old property, check that the timing works at both ends.
Office relocations need the same attention. Confirm when the old office can be cleared, when the new premises can be accessed and whether building management has any requirements for moving furniture.
Do not plan the day around travel time alone. Loading and unloading also take time, and access at either property can affect the schedule.
Check Property Access Before Moving Day
Walk through both properties before the move and look at the route your furniture will take.
Check:
- Where the moving truck can stop
- Distance between the truck and entrance
- Stairs and narrow hallways
- Lift access in apartment buildings
- Driveway access
- Doorways and corridors
- Shared entrances and building areas
- Any tight points that could affect furniture movement
Apartment moves need particular attention to building access. Check whether you need to arrange lift access or follow any building procedures before the removalist arrives.
Also look at the full route from the truck to the room where each item needs to go. A clear entrance does not help much if furniture then has to pass through a narrow hallway or up several flights of stairs.
Check Parking and Loading Arrangements
Work out where the moving vehicle can load and unload before the day arrives.
If parking is limited or access is restricted, tell the removalist when you request a quote. You should also check any relevant council or building requirements rather than assuming that parking outside the property is available.
Keep the removalist informed if the arrangements change after the quote. A different loading location can affect how the move needs to be organised.
Finish Packing Before the Movers Arrive
Have your belongings packed and ready to load before the removalist arrives.
Label boxes according to the rooms they belong in and keep items from the same room together. Set aside the belongings you want to keep with you, such as keys, documents, chargers and other essentials.
Use the packing stage as an opportunity to remove things you no longer need. Donate usable items and arrange disposal for unwanted rubbish before the move. There is no point packing and transporting belongings that you already plan to throw away.
Prepare Furniture for the Move
Check your furniture before moving day, particularly pieces that may not fit through doorways, stairs or narrow corridors in one piece.
Beds, wardrobes, dining tables and other furniture may need preparation or disassembly depending on their design and the access available at the property.
Keep screws and fittings together in labelled bags. If you are unsure about a difficult access point, mention it when discussing your move rather than waiting until the furniture is ready to leave.
Give Your Removalist the Right Information
A useful quote starts with accurate information about the move.
When requesting a quote, explain:
- Both property addresses
- Moving date
- Property type
- Approximate amount of furniture
- Number of packed boxes
- Stairs or lift access
- Parking and loading arrangements
- Any restricted access
- Packing status
- Furniture that may need preparation
The distance between two properties is only one part of the relocation. A house move into an apartment, for example, may involve different access arrangements from a house-to-house move.
If you are comparing South Yarra house removalists, give each company the same relevant information. This makes it easier to compare what each quote covers and whether the proposed arrangements suit your move.
Look at Both Properties, Not Just the New One
It is easy to focus on the destination and forget about the property you are leaving.
Before moving day, check both addresses for access, parking, stairs, lifts and the route your furniture will take. A problem at either end can affect the moving process.
Ask yourself:
Can the moving vehicle access the property?
Where will loading and unloading happen?
Is there a clear route from the vehicle to the entrance?
Will furniture fit through the available access points?
Can the new property receive your belongings when you arrive?
These checks give you a more realistic picture of what needs to be organised.
If You Are Moving From Melbourne Interstate
Some Melbourne moves continue to another city, such as Adelaide, Canberra, Brisbane or Sydney.
In this situation, coordinate the Melbourne departure with access to the destination property. Make sure the removalist has the relevant details for both ends of the relocation.
Packing, furniture preparation and access still need attention at the Melbourne property. The longer journey does not remove the need to prepare the collection address properly.
What to Check Before Booking a Removalist
Before confirming your move, make sure you have discussed the details that could affect the work.
Ask whether the removalist has the correct addresses and understands the access at both properties. Tell them about stairs, lifts, parking restrictions or difficult entrances. Confirm the moving date and explain whether packing is complete.
Also check that the quote reflects the information you have provided. Moving requirements vary between properties, so the information used to assess your relocation matters.
Harry The Mover focuses on complete residential house relocations and office relocations, so the discussion should centre on the requirements of the full move rather than unrelated transport jobs.
Final Checks Before Move Day
A few days before the move, review the arrangements again.
Confirm the moving date, access times, keys, parking and loading arrangements. Make sure your packing is finished and any furniture requiring preparation is ready.
Keep essential belongings separate and make sure the removalist has the latest information about both properties.
If something changes, communicate it before moving day. A change to property access, parking or the time you can enter the destination can affect the plan.
For an inner-Melbourne move, the most useful preparation is simple: know how the move works at both properties before the truck arrives. Once the access, timing, packing and furniture requirements are clear, you can approach the booking and quoting process with much better information.
