How to prepare your home for removalists

Prepare the house around the services you have actually booked. A transport-only move, a move with professional packing and a move involving storage need different preparation. Confirm who will pack, dismantle, disconnect and load each group of belongings before the moving day, so neither the household nor the crew is left guessing.

Fragile Removals describes local and interstate services and reports handling more than 6,000 relocations annually across Australia. That company-wide figure does not establish the crew, time or service scope for your booking. Use your written quote and agreed preparation instructions as the working plan.

Organise and declutter before packing

Go through belongings room by room and decide what to keep, donate, sell or dispose of. Identify anything that belongs to the property or is subject to an agreed handover, and resolve uncertainty before putting it on the removal inventory. Use the leave-behind guide to organise those checks.

Arrange collection of unwanted goods before the removal appointment where possible. Donation acceptance and collection availability vary, so keep an alternative plan if an item is refused. Do not leave uncollected furniture mixed with the goods the moving team is supposed to take.

Update the inventory after decluttering. Tell the mover about a substantial change in contents so it can reassess the booking. Fewer belongings can change the work involved, but do not assume the quoted price automatically changes without agreement.

Create a packing plan that matches the booking

Confirm whether professional packing is included, which rooms or items it covers and when it will happen. If you are packing yourself, aim to complete the agreed preparation before the team arrives. If packers are booked, follow their instructions about what should remain accessible for them.

Keep immediate essentials such as clothes, toiletries and required medication separate and accessible. Protect personal documents and valuables according to the arrangements you have chosen. Make the distinction between goods travelling with you and goods going on the truck obvious to everyone helping.

Label each packed box with its destination room and enough description to locate the contents. Select protection for the actual item: bubble wrap, packing paper and foam are examples of materials, not a universal prescription for every finish or fragile object. Use the house-moving guides for the next packing decision.

Agree how large and sensitive items will be prepared

Identify furniture that may need dismantling because of its size, construction or the access route. Check manufacturer instructions and agree who will do the work. Do not assume every large item can be safely dismantled or that reassembly is included in transport.

Keep fittings and instructions identifiable if dismantling is agreed. Tell the crew about loose parts, existing damage or delicate surfaces before handling starts. Photographs can record visible condition and help explain the preparation needed.

Point out antiques, artwork, unusually heavy objects and anything requiring specialist attention during the quote process. A general description such as furniture may not give the mover enough information to plan those items. Confirm the accepted method and any separate appointment before moving day.

Prepare appliances according to their instructions

Find the instructions for the fridge, freezer, washing machine and other appliances early. Defrosting, draining, transport restraints and restarting requirements vary. Do not apply a fixed 24-hour rule to every fridge or treat securing a cord as the whole preparation process.

Arrange any required qualified disconnection or installation with the appropriate provider. Confirm which tasks the removal team accepts. Keep hoses, cords and removable parts organised as directed by the maker, without using adhesive on finishes that may be damaged.

Empty and clean appliances as appropriate and allow preparation time before collection. If an appliance is still wet, connected or otherwise not ready, tell the mover before loading. Use the fridge guide for the questions to resolve for that item.

Make access usable at both addresses

Clear doorways, paths and the working areas needed by the crew. Tell the mover about stairs, narrow turns, gates, lift bookings and parking arrangements. Check access at the destination as carefully as access at the current home.

Discuss property protection with the team. Mats, drop cloths and corner guards need to suit the surfaces and must not introduce a trip or slipping hazard. Do not attach an untested adhesive or place loose coverings in a carrying route simply because they are sold as protective materials.

Keep pets and children away from active carrying routes through a suitable supervised arrangement. Explain which doors or gates must remain secured and who is responsible for them. Plan this before the team needs the doorway for moving furniture.

Coordinate utilities and the handover

Arrange utility transfers or disconnections for the appropriate dates, allowing for the access and services needed while packing, cleaning and handing over. Check provider lead times rather than assuming all changes occur immediately on request.

Confirm key collection and property access at the destination. If a handover delay could prevent delivery, discuss the alternative and any storage arrangement before dispatch. The storage page describes options to ask about; it does not reserve space for your move.

Keep the booking details, addresses and contact numbers accessible. Nominate someone who can answer questions on moving day if you cannot be present throughout. Tell the mover about changes using the agreed contact channel.

Walk through the home before loading and before leaving

At the start, show the crew what is going, what stays and what needs particular attention. Point out the essentials and personal items travelling separately. Check that the agreed inventory and visible goods still match.

Before leaving, check cupboards, drawers and cabinets, the dishwasher, safely accessible storage areas and sockets exposed after furniture has moved. Use the often-forgotten items guide as a prompt. Do not enter an unsafe attic or crawlspace to complete the check; arrange suitable assistance.

If preparation is incomplete or access has changed, pause the affected part of the plan and speak with the team. Confirm any revised work, timing or charges before assuming it can be absorbed into the booking. Call 1800 500 584 or use the quote form to discuss the preparation required for your move.