You live on the third floor. It's 40 degrees. The cleaners are arriving in a couple of hours.
It's no wonder moving house sits high on the list of life's biggest stressors
Nobody likes doing it — and we're quick to point the finger at removalists when things go wrong.
Nobody likes doing it — and we're quick to point the finger at removalists when things go wrong.
Sometimes that's justified.
But not all moving headaches are created by the actions of those transporting your stuff.
Customer behaviour can make an already tough job that bit tricker — as we found out when speaking to removalists.
Customer behaviour can make an already tough job that bit tricker — as we found out when speaking to removalists.
The good news is there are things within your control to make a move run more smoothly (and the lives of you and the removers easier).
Respect your removalist
Above all things, respecting the removalist for the tough job he or she does will help the process, says Daniel Stewart, who manages a Melbourne-based moving company.
"It's an unskilled job, so it can attract a wide range of people, including some of the smartest I've known and some not so much — but everyone deserves respect," he says.
"It's a pretty dangerous job and they're expected to do things with their bodies that in any other industry would be considered not work safe.
"It's a pretty dangerous job and they're expected to do things with their bodies that in any other industry would be considered not work safe.
"It's hard on the body and a lot of people forget that."
He says some customers can have a sense of entitlement and treat removalists "like slaves".
"Just a level of respect from customers who are aware of how tough things are goes a long way."
Mr Stewart says most people he's known in the industry love what they do and aren't just there because "they can't do anything else".
"It can be a rewarding job and you learn a lot about other people from how they treat you and their stuff and their family," he says.
"You get a good insight into people's lives."
Remember these packing tips
There are several things you can do to make a move less stressful for everyone involved.
These tips from Mr Stewart can also be applied when moving your own things:
- Disassemble your flat-pack furniture. "Your flat-pack furniture isn't built to last — or be moved. It can fall apart at the slightest provocation," Mr Stewart says. Don't take the risk. Packing it down will hugely increase the odds of being able to use it again.
- Empty your drawers. "Empty your stuff — carrying a chest full of drawers that wasn't even made to be moved empty is dangerous."
- Don't water your pot plants the day before moving. "Plants are really heavy when they're full of water."
- Tape your boxes on both sides. "When you're trying to stack stuff in the truck, it helps."
- Use similar sized boxes where you can. It makes stacking easier.
- Don't recycle boxes that are too worn. "Sometimes you'll be on a move carrying someone's china in a shoebox and it just disintegrates in your hand."
- If you don't opt for a packing service — have everything packed. "If you rock up to someone's house and they haven't packed their stuff, and they expect you to, we are going to be there for double the time and we're going to charge you for that."
- Be nice. "The worst times aren't a matter of lifting something terrible, but instead lifting something terrible for a terrible person."
Move your own valuables, disassemble cots
Doing your research will also set you up for a successful move, says Joe Lopino, executive director of Australian Furniture Removers Association.
"Do your homework. The association can help with that — there are minimum standard requirements for a company to join — or speak to someone who has used those movers before," he says.
His other tips include:
His other tips include:
- Be clear about what needs to be moved. Often people have things they plan to throw out or sell online by the time they need to move, but it doesn't happen in time. "That can mean an increase in cost, or the removalists might not even have the right truck to move that amount of stuff," Mr Lopino says.
- Disassemble and assemble baby cots. "Things like baby cots shouldn't be touched by removalists because without instructions, it can cause problems later on."
- Highlight fragile goods. "If you have anything you want looked after carefully, tell the removalist about it when they do their walkaround."
- Don't give a removalist valuables. "That includes documents like passports — you don't want to be in situation where they get lost."
It's the simple things
Jessirose Streker from Melbourne says she really enjoys casual work as a packer, especially when it's helping people who really need it.
But "rude and demanding" clients can make getting her job done difficult, she says.
But "rude and demanding" clients can make getting her job done difficult, she says.
"We are also human beings, and professionals. Don't treat us like we're robots."
Her pet hate is when customers try to haggle regarding payment at the end of a job.
"Sometimes people don't want to pay when it's nothing to do with us. They try to get discounts after we've been packing their belongings into boxes for 10 hours."
Her simple tip for making life easier is offering a glass of water or coffee.
Her simple tip for making life easier is offering a glass of water or coffee.
"It's really nice when people do that," she says.
Mr Lopino says it's good to remember removalists are generally there to try to keep everybody happy.
"It is hard work … you're dealing with people's emotions and personal effects. But it can be very rewarding."
Originally published by the ABC here
Originally published by the ABC here