Most houses and apartments are dressed by professional property stylists to make the property look as desirable as possible, this isn’t exactly shocking in and of itself but, there are a few tricks to look out for!

1. Check the size of the beds.

In smaller rooms stylists will use smaller beds that make the room look bigger than it really is. If the property has more than one story check to see if the stylist has used a split base. If they have it generally  means that the staircase was too narrow to have a bed base moved in. As we move into more and more apartments and sub divisions, houses will become smaller and staircases narrower so if you already own a California King that you love a quick check can save you a huge headache.

2. Rugs cover stains and marks in the floors

Just by lifting a few corners of rugs you’ll be able to avoid or at least know about sun bleached floors and dirty carpets. This is especially common in older homes with hardwood floors. They might look beautiful but for the entire life of the floor it has been getting the same sun through the window each day leaving a big beached section of floor. This isn’t always a deal breaker, but it is a surprise you don’t want to find out about on settlement day. Pay attention to where each rug is placed and if one looks like its a little off centre or just looks a little odd, have a look because chances are it’s hiding something.

3. Check behind Art and mirrors!

Much like the rugs art is also used to hide marks and holes in walls. Again, it isn’t shocking that stylists do this its just their job. So why wouldn’t you do your job as a buyer and make sure you cover all of your bases? It is just due diligence.

4. Take a look at the lounges

If they have only used 3 seater lounges but the property is quite spacious, chances are that anything bigger won’t get through the door. Couches are generally the biggest bulkiest item that has to be moved into a house and they are also pretty essential. If you already have a large expensive lounge suite and the property is styled with two seaters and armchairs you might want to take another look at the doorway. If the doorway has a turn as soon as you enter or has a strange landing outside the door, Removalists won’t be able to manoeuvre your furniture inside. Plus if you don’t check you won’t find out until its too late!   

5. Have a seat at the table.

Take a look where they put the dining table and try to have a seat. By doing this you can make sure that the dining room is actually big enough to hold a dining table or if the stylist is just trying to maximise the appeal of the property, as in, their job. Stylists will make the most efficient use of the space but they won’t necessarily make the most liveable use of space. So if you struggle to fit behind a small dining table chances are once you move in you won’t have room for a dining table at all, or if you do it’ll be a bit of a squish.

Property stylists do a great job of helping property buyers imagine and see what their new home could become. They offer customers a vision and some inspiration of what the property could be, but they are trying to maximise the potential profit that the seller can make. So just pay attention and try not to get too caught up in the beautiful dream that you’re presented, because that dream may be hiding a nightmare!

Moving all of your furniture and possessions can be stressful but it doesn’t have to be that way! A well organised and well planned move will save you both time, money and most importantly stress. This list is designed to offer a great starting point for planning your move and down the bottom of the list you’ll be able to find a moving checklists that is indispensable, when it comes to planning your move!

1. All the boxes to the front!

Boxes are the first thing that gets packed on to the truck, save yourself time and money by putting the boxes at the front of your house and all in one place. This way the removalists won’t have to hunt through your home to get all of the boxes out.

2. Keep walkways clear of clutter

Moving is a stressful time so it can be easy to overlook this important step.This can mean moving hall tables and anything hanging on walls to ensure good access. This saves the movers time because if they arrive and the access isn’t clear the first thing they’ll do is spend time clearing the access. So to save yourself some time and money and be sure to keep those walkways clear.

3. Clearly label what you do and don’t want taken.

For various different reasons sometimes specific items aren’t coming and need to be left behind. Rather than having to answer questions about what is going every few minutes, use stickers to label what is to be taken. This gives your movers a clear idea of what is and isn’t going and will make the day run much smoother. Even if everything in your house is being taken by the movers it can also be handy to label any items or boxes that you will need sooner rather than later. Things such as tv remotes and chargers are regularly forgotten about and the last thing you want to do is hunt through boxes to find your phone charger!

4. Have a plan for the new house!

Have a clear idea of where you will want all of your boxes and furniture. Regularly we hear customers say

“wow, I didn’t realise this place was so much smaller!”

Just by having a clear idea of where your furniture will sit you can avoid this headache. This is even more important if you’re downsizing or moving into a new apartment.

5. Be prepared.

If you’re reading this it means you’re probably already pretty organised and thats a sure fire way to make sure that you have the most efficient move possible. A little bit of preparation can make a big difference to the hip pocket at the end of the day, not only that but it’ll also save on the stress and frustration that moving house can bring. If you want more helpful tips check out our homemove-moving-checklist!

So if you would prefer your family to look like the photo below on move day, make sure you go with a reputable removals company and that you are prepared!

Melbourne Movers – Calculating My Move Size.

When moving home its always an advantage to know the approximate volume of what you have to move. In this article we will outline: just why it’s so important to know your moving volume and some of the ways you can calculate the volume of your move. Now to start with volume for Melbourne Movers is calculated in cubic metres (m3). That is how much cubed space (length x width x height) your items will take up when safely loaded into the transporting vehicle. Keep in mind that internationally some countries (like the US) still work in cubic feet. If you need to convert just google it!

Why is it important.

Well for many reasons. If your move is an interstate, or international move, you will typically be charged by the cubic

metre so it is essential for both you the moving customer and the removalist to know the overall volume of you move to calculate and agree on the price. It also assists interstate removalists and international transporters with their logistics as they may transport several customers items in the same vehicle or container. With an accurate volume figure they can maximize efficient use of their load space.

For local movers, who work on an hourly rate, knowing the approximate size of your move, helps them to: recommend the right resources (eg. size of truck and number of men), give you an accurate estimate of the likely time it would take to complete your move and assist with their own scheduling and timing.

For the customer knowing the cubic volume of your move, and then ensuring you have the correct resources on the day: avoids the stress of unwanted surprises, helps to keep within your budget and allows you to better coordinate other matters on the day of your move, like settlement, dropping the kids off or taking care of the pets.

How to work out – how much I have?

There are many tried and true methods:

• Contact your removals experts and ask to do an online inventory over the phone.
• Ask for an onsite inspection by your trusted movers.
• Contact your old removalist, do they have information about the size of your last move?
• Do it yourself with handy online space calculators.

Remember to add items from every room in the house, plus the front & back yard, garage and any storage you may have.

We hope you have enjoyed this article, if you need a Melbourne mover you can trust to assist with giving open, friendly advice, be sure to call HomeMove on (03) 9077 3120.

Vlad Stoikovich,

Director – HomeMove Pty Ltd

Removals & Storage Tips:

So you need a removals and storage service. There are so many options out there these days that the choice and variety can be overwhelming. In this blog article we are going to examine the offerings and hopefully assist you to find the right match for your needs.

1. Self Storage:

   The largest and most popular for of storage. You get the advantage of your own, secure, self contained unit  in a larger building. Advantages include: good loading access, use of large storage trolleys,  a manned reception and sales area in case you have any queries or need to purchase consumables such as boxes, tape or furniture protectors. Perhaps the most convenient factor is the fact you can typically get 24 hour access to your goods with after hours pin numbers. On the other hand you may not feel comfortable with other people having access to the same building 24/7. Although Self Storage charge by the month costs are reasonable, you may end up paying more for the move in and move out costs when compared with mobile or on demand storage.

2. Mobile Storage:

   These are storage modules and containers that are delivered to your door and stay onsite at your property. A great option if you have the room, very popular with those renovating and builders. Conveniently you can load these units yourself, and save money on hiring removalists. However, considering the size of most front yards is shrinking these days, you may be limited by the size of storage module that can stay onsite and thereby how much you can store. In some circumstances it may not be suitable having an unsightly large container on your front lawn, eg. if you are de-cluttering and opening up your house for inspection.

3. On Demand Removals and Storage:

   This is when companies bring modules or containers to your home, load them onsite and then take them away again for safe storage. Many removalists will now offer this service this is a great removals and storage option. Some argue that this streamlined way of moving furniture is the most cost effective, because, it cuts down on double handling. So you get to save money both on the move into storage and the re-delivery out of storage. So what are the options. Shipping containers of 20 foot (33 cubic metres volume) or 40 foot(67 cubic metres volume) are great if you have large loads to store, however, these options can be rather bulky and access may be difficult in tight or narrow streets. Also you typically pay for a whole container, even though you might only take up half of the space. Timber storage modules of between 8 to 10 cubic metres are also a good option. Being timber these crates are breathable so you valuables wont get stuffy. Also because of their smaller size you only pay for what you need, so in some respects they are better value for money.

We hope that you have enjoyed our articles on the different Removals and Storage options out there in the Melbourne market. Be sure to call HomeMove if need guidance or a stress-free move and store. To learn more about how we move and store your valuables watch this video.