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The next move is yours

30 NOV 1999 • By Phillip Tarrant • 2 min read • Hotspots

As celebrations of your recent property purchase start to die down, the next thing to consider is whether you should do the removals yourself or call in professional removalists.

Going the DIY route means you avoid removalists’ fees, but your move will almost certainly incur other costs and you should consider those before opting to do the job yourself.

Transport requirements: You will have to factor in the cost of hiring a removal van on the day – and possibly for subsequent days, depending on the size of the move. You should also check the legal requirements for your van as you may find a special licence is needed.

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Support on hand: Make sure your ‘support crew’ comprising friends or family is all available on the same day, and think carefully about whether your team will together be able to move your heavy and awkward household items without anyone injuring themself.

Safeguarding your gear: Protect your possessions when moving, bubble wrapping any breakable items and securing any loose items that might get damaged in transit. Where needed, boxes should be labelled as fragile so you know to take extra care when handling them.

Seek referrals: If you do decide to engage a removalist, ensure you hire the right person by asking friends and family for recommendations. Referrals can help you weed out the bad from the good – and avoid being overcharged.

Determine your needs: A professional removalist will offer you different levels of service for different prices. Some offer a complete service, including packing and unpacking; others only transfer your boxed belongings. Regardless of the service you select, a good moving company will make the effort to come to your home prior to your move to determine what type of equipment and labour will be required.

Your choice of removalist should not come down to who offers the cheapest service. If hiring someone you can trust means paying a little bit extra, it will be money well spent to ensure your assets are well looked after. Remember, however, that even the best companies can experience mishaps so it’s a very wise idea also to invest in insurance.

Moving house can be stressful, but if you are organised and realistic about what you can and cannot do yourself, you can maximise your chances of having a trouble-free move.

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Phillip Tarrant

Phillip Tarrant

AUTHOR

Phillip Tarrant is executive editor – Real Estate at Momentum Media. He is also an investor with a large property portfolio.

He leads the content strategy and corporate growth for a range of market and business intelligence platforms at Momentum Media, including Smart Property Investment – the authoritative voice for Australia’s property investment community.

As head of the Smart Property Investment Podcast Network, he also steers the largest network of property podcasts in Australia, which collectively generates nearly 2 million downloads every year.

There are over 2.6 million investment properties in Australia, with over 2.1 million Australians (or around 8 per cent of all Australians) owning one or more investment properties. A vibrant and critical sector for creating wealth for Australians, the property investment sector is expected to remain a pillar to the national economy.

For nearing a decade, under Phillip’s stewardship Smart Property Investment has been informing and educating property investors on the tactics and strategies to create wealth through property.

Trusted by over 100,000 Australians each month as the turn-to independent resource for property market insights and information, the brand supports the mantra of "for investors", by investors’, drawing on the unique position that Phillip and Smart Property Investment share, warts and all, its own journey through property.

The Smart Property Investment Show, part of the Smart Property Investment Podcast Network, is one of Australia’s most popular podcasts, forming the keystone of an integrated digital platform delivering daily property updates, live broadcasting, insights, opinion and data to property investors across the nation.

Underpinned by a content team universally recognised for their knowledge of the sector and approach for clear and concise communication, Smart Property Investment has become a central part of Australia’s property community.

About Momentum Media

Momentum Media is a leading media and market intelligence company, and the business behind Smart Property Investment, REB and RPM.

Guided by a strong sense of purpose to support our communities, Momentum Media has forged its place as one of Australia’s most influential media and professional development businesses.

We have been equipping Australia’s corporate, investor and SME sectors with market and business intelligence for over a decade.

Across an integrated business supported by digital, events, broadcast, research, print and social platforms, we are guided by the purpose: Be Better informed.

This passion for informing, educating and inspiring drives us to build more engaged communities, delivering greater leadership to the markets we connect to and forging closer relationships with our audiences.

Being at the forefront of media innovation, backed by a pioneering spirit, has been central to Momentum Media’s growth.

We’re an evolving, forward-thinking business based on a purpose that supports corporate Australia and the markets critical to our nation’s economic prosperity and security. We’re also focused on delivering exceptional value to our commercial partners.

We adapt on a daily basis to rapidly changing market places; we’re a fluid media business, unanchored to any particular technology, channel or tone of communication.

With a reach spanning nearly 2 million professionals, high-net-worth individuals and SME business owners, we’re connected to the rapidly changing preferences and attitudes of our communities – and we’re making a positive contribution for our communities to thrive.

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