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When two blessed events collide—namely, the arrival of a new baby and a promotion that involves a move—you first feel thankful. And then you panic. What if we have to move before the baby arrives? What if he has to move now? Do I stay, have the baby here, and then move after he or she arrives? If all goes well and we don’t have to move until the baby arrives, how in the world will we manage a move with a newborn in tow?

A thousand questions begin to cloud your initial happy thoughts. No worries. The experienced removalists at Zoom Removals have you covered. Having thousands of successful removals under their belt, they have handled everything, including moves that involve families with newborns. With their experience and advice, moving with your newborn will be an adventure, not a chore.

Moving before Baby Arrives

Advanced pregnancy or high-risk pregnancies: If you’re almost due and your partner has to move now—it might be a good idea to stay behind and have the baby first. If you have friends or family that can help out—or if your partner can fly back in for the blessed event itself—it’s best to have your baby with the healthcare providers who are already familiar with your medical history during the pregnancy. This goes double if you have a condition placing you in the high-risk category.

Early or middle pregnancy: We would strongly advise you to get some help with packing and unpacking. Lifting heavy boxes isn’t the same as doing exercises to tone your muscles. Instead of heavy lifting, pitch in to help by labelling boxes, sorting through belongings, and driving unwanted goods to charity centres for donation. Make sure that you interview potential healthcare providers at your new location to ensure they are in line with your wishes concerning birthing arrangements and healthcare philosophy. Have your current providers send all your records to your new ones so they will have all the pertinent information about your pregnancy to help you during your later pregnancy, birth, and recovery.

Moving after Baby Arrives

Moving can be a hectic time. Make sure you give Baby plenty of attention. Try to keep the little one away from the hustle, bustle, and noise as the removalists pack and unpack your things.

Baby’s ‘first week’ box: Just as you would for the adult members of the family, pack a ‘first week’ box or boxes for the new arrival. Include plenty of nappies, formula (if bottle-fed), breast pump (if breastfed), bottles, and sterilisation equipment. Pack plenty of clothing. With new babies, spit-ups and ‘accidents’ happen often. Be prepared with plenty of extras so you won’t have to worry about doing laundry for the first week.

Consider a packing service: Spend more time with the little one instead of packing up your belongings. The extra fee you’ll pay is well worth it—because the time spent with your new baby is priceless. You’ll treasure those days for the rest of your lives.

Pack Baby’s things last: Instruct the removalists to pack the new baby’s things after everything else is loaded. That way, his or her crib, pram, and other equipment will be the first things off the truck.

Above all, provide plenty of cuddles to welcome that new one into her or his new home. Celebrate your new arrival—and your new home, knowing you’ve made a great move for his or her future.

To book your move, contact the caring team of removalists at Zoom Removals today.

Having passed your exams with flying colours, you’re a top student—ready for your next academic adventure. Though you would never fail in the classroom, you might not fare so well at moving into your new flat or boarding house unless you heed a few never-fail tips from the professors of the moving industry—the expert removalists at Zoom Removals. Here’s their sage advice:

1. Set a Budget for Your New Digs

If you choose to rent a flat, you’ll have other expenses besides the monthly rent. Electric, gas, furniture, food—and the all-important Internet service so you can do most of your studies at home—must all enter into the equation. If you need to buy new furniture or move your old furniture into your flat, you’ll need to figure that into your budget as well.

If you have some mates from your hometown who will attend the same university, see if you can become flatmates to share expenses. Don’t forget—you’ll need to pay a bond—usually four weeks’ rent—to your landlord before you get the key to the flat. If you plan to share the flat with flatmates from your hometown, see if you can work out an arrangement to move your furniture from your home to your new flat on the same day to save on expenses.

2. Hunt for a Suitable Flat or Another Housing Solution

Many universities, the University of Sydney included, provide house-hunting workshops for their students from out of town. Take advantage of these opportunities to learn about available housing that might be under-advertised on the open market—or even other housing solutions, such as boarding houses or on-campus housing, if your university has housing available.

Start searching online, but don’t hesitate to call friends or family living near your new university. They may know of a place that would be perfect for you.

3. Prepare for Your Move

After you find a flat or other housing solution, you’ll need to start packing. Don’t forget about other arrangements you’ll need to make before you set off for your course of study.

• Clothing: First, look at your wardrobe. Make sure you have enough seasonal and all-season clothing to get you through the university year.
• Paperwork: If you live in another country, you’ll need to make sure that all your paperwork is in order. Your visa, any letters of recommendation you may need for your new landlord, any medical records and prescriptions, and your transcripts from your previous schools—all will be helpful in getting settled in. Get an international driver’s licence if you plan to drive here. Make sure you forward mail from your previous address to your new one. If you live in Australia, you’ll still need to notify Australia Post and get your medical records transferred if your university is in another city or state.
• Moving Arrangements: If you plan to move furnishings from your current home to your new place—or if you plan to buy furniture in your new city, you’ll need to arrange to move your belongings. Many removalists will give discounts or provide extra services if you move during the week or at other non-peak times. Make sure to take advantage of free boxes they provide. Using their boxes will save you from running back and forth from supermarket to supermarket to find boxes. Also, professional-grade boxes will be sturdier than those you get at your local market.

For more information about moving to a new home during your university years or to book your move to nearly anywhere in Australia, contact the professional removalists at Zoom Removals today.

Did you realise that moving house is nearly as stressful as getting a divorce? A study reported by the Daily Telegraph revealed that is indeed the case. One-third of all Australians, the paper reported, look at the moving process as one of life’s biggest stressors.

It doesn’t have to be that way, say the team of expert removalists at Zoom Removals, one of Sydney’s best-known removal companies. People who need to move house can take a few easy steps to ease the burden of moving.

It’s all in the way people usually approach the moving process that causes stress, the removalists advise. Reframe the approach, they say, and moving house can become an adventure—not a dreaded chore. Here are some of their top tips to deal with the stress of moving house.

1. Reframe Your Move as a Holiday

Every year, you look forward to holidaying on the beach or another favourite spot. How many times have you fantasised about actually moving there? So, instead of looking at your upcoming move as a scary venture, look at it as a holiday.

Before you move, research the area’s attractions and plan to visit them, just as you would on holiday. You’ll find that instead of dread, you’ll feel a sense of anticipation.

2. Don’t Leave It All up to Her

According to the study, two-thirds of the women surveyed considered moving to be stressful, compared to one-half of the men. That’s because a lot of men fail to share the work of paring down the couple’s belongings, packing, and choosing a removalist. It’s not the 20^th century—so start sharing the load.

Grab some takeaway and a bottle of your favourite beverage and set a clutter-clearing date. Going through your belongings can bring back a lot of memories as you sort through photos and mementoes.

Once you’ve pared down your collection, have the removalists pack it for you. Use the time you save to go out on the town or treat yourselves to a couples’ spa day.

3. Hire Removalists That Provide Special Care for Valuables

One of the top stressors respondents cited in the study was worry about damage to their most treasured belongings. Again, that needn’t be on your worry list if you hire a removalist that offers a special service for your most delicate and valuable items.

4. Make It a Point to Revisit Your Former Neighbourhood Often

One of the worst things about moving house is leaving friends and loved ones behind. If you mark your calendar for a few return trips, you won’t feel like your move is a permanent separation from these treasured friends.

5. Hire a Removalist to Take Care of the Major Tasks

It’s no surprise that Australians dread moving day—and the preparations that go into it. The Telegraph study reported that only one out of twenty Australians hire someone to take care of the move. Yes, it will cost you. But if you add up all the hours and expenses you put into a DIY move, you’ll be shocked at what you can save by hiring a professional.

With these five tips, moving house can become something you look forward to—your next adventure in life. To book your move with a removalist that will take the stress out of the moving equation, contact the booking team at Zoom Removals today.

Rainy, cool days are the hallmark of winter. If you’re planning to move to, say, the High Country near Melbourne, Canberra, or Tasmania, though, you might even see a stray snowflake or two. Cooler, wetter temperatures can affect your moving plans, so learn how you can make your winter move a success with these tips from the expert removalists at Zoom Removals.

Take Extra Precaution against Dampness While Loading

The timber parts of furniture and musical instruments can warp or spot when exposed to excessive dampness or rain. You’ll want to protect wooden items with a tarp or other waterproof cover if it’s raining or drizzling outside when the removalists arrive or when you arrive at your new home.

Protect Timber Floors from Wet Feet

Though your removalists will take extra care to keep your floors from contact with wet shoes or boots, you can take extra precaution by laying down plastic on the floor, especially near the entrance. Keep rugs and doormats in front of the entrance, as well as a few extra cleaning rags to keep things extra clean.

Lay Down Protection in Slippery Spots

Rain can make smooth surfaces slick. Your removalists won’t be able to work as quickly if they have to watch out for slipping. Use old, cut-up cardboard boxes, rags, rugs, mats, or other non-slip items to reduce slipperiness so the removalists can get their job done in good time.

Be Aware of the Weather

If the weather report predicts torrential rains, be aware that low-lying areas might be susceptible to flooding. Plan your route to avoid areas where flooding might be a factor.

In Snowy or Icy Areas, Drive Slower

Although our team of removalists are used to driving in all conditions, you may never have encountered the frost and snow on the roads you may experience in areas like the High Country, Canberra, Tasmania, and other parts south. Take your time as you drive to your new home. Pack plenty of warm clothing, so if your car breaks down, you’re prepared to wait it out until help arrives. Make sure you have the heat turned on in your new home before you arrive so you’ll have a warm house to come home to.

Invest in Insurance

Even though Zoom’s teams of removalists take great care as they load, transport, and unload your belongings, accidents can happen that are out of the realm of their control. We advise all our customers to purchase insurance for their move, particularly during winter, when wet or cold weather conditions become a factor.

Follow these tips and your winter removal will go smoothly. To book your move, contact Zoom’s friendly team of removalists today.

If you’ve never moved to another state, you may be in for a shock at its cost—unless you take careful steps to save money. Here are some tips from the experienced, budget-friendly interstate removalists at Zoom Removals.

Declutter and Pare Down Your Belongings

The more you have to move, the more you’ll have to pay. That’s because travel expenses for your removalists rise with every kilometre. Here’s what you can do:

Most Australians simply have too much stuff. Go through yours—and we can almost guarantee you that there will be more than a few items you can safely donate or sell. You’ll probably never miss them. Keep only those that will be of value to you in your new home.

Separate those with sentimental value into two categories: those you want to keep no matter what, and those you can give away to family and friends. Some of them (like Junior’s accumulated maths tests that mark him as a budding genius) you can pare down to just a few. You’ll be surprised at the sheer volume you can reduce when you shed the extras.

Once you’ve pared down your belongings, pack the remaining items carefully—yet safely—to save on space. Getting everything into a smaller van means less work for the removalist, who won’t have to foot the expense for extra employees and a larger vehicle for the move.

Choose a Dependable Interstate Removalist

Don’t go flat-out bargain basement when it comes to choosing a removalist. Some removalists won’t offer insurance on your move, while others are complete thieves. Choose a removalist that both offers insurance and is a member of the Australian Furniture Removers’ Association (AFRA), the industry watchdog that makes sure its members are both reputable and competent.

Take Advantage of Special Deals

Many removalists offer special discounts when you move during off-peak times. Schedule your move for one of those times to save even more.

Consider Professional Packing Services

At first, this might seem counterintuitive, but remember: time is money. If you lose a couple days’ work to pack, it makes better sense for you to hire your removalist to pack the items for you, says Erin Delahunty, writing for RealEstate.com.au.

Additionally, a professional removalist will have the experience and expertise to condense your goods into a smaller space, saving money in the process. Remember, too, the risks of breakage. Amateur packers almost always have a few items that break due to improper packing and handling.

With all these tips, you can reduce your interstate moving expenses quite a bit. If you have an upcoming interstate move, book your moving date with AFRA member Zoom Removals today.

The kids have all moved out and moved on to their own homes. You’re spending way too much time dusting, mowing, and sweeping. You and your partner agree—it’s time to downsize.

But what about all your stuff? ‘How in the world can we move into a smaller home when we can barely fit all our stuff in this one’? you say.

Hang on to Your Treasures

Glad you asked. Your stuff might be part of the problem. Do this: Go through all your belongings. Put aside the keepsakes, the heirlooms, and your expensive furniture.

Separate Out the Stuff You Rarely Use

Next, the stuff you really don’t need—or want—but have been hanging on to for a rainy day. Or something. That feeling? It’s a relic left over from your mum’s grandmother, who survived the Great Depression and pounded into your mum’s head (and she into yours) that every bit of scrap is worth saving. Donate or recycle them. They may just be someone’s treasure.

Finally, put the belongings you rarely—if ever—use in another corner. Call your removalist and put them in storage for a couple of months. If you don’t miss them after that, separate those you don’t miss into two categories: ‘Donate’ and ‘Sell’. Take the ‘Donate’ ones to your favourite charities and sell the others at a garage sale or on Gumtree.

Go on the Hunt for Your New Home

Now that you have cleared out the clutter, you’re ready to hunt for a smaller home. While you look, enquire with several real estate professionals about selling your current house.

The bonus of clearing out the clutter first? A clutter-free home usually fetches more dollars on the market than one that’s crammed full of stuff, all other things being equal.

Look for homes that will not only hold all your remaining belongings, but also for ones that will accommodate a more downsized lifestyle. Low-maintenance materials, clean, smooth surfaces that won’t hold dust—all can help keep your household chores to a minimum.

Another plus for buying a smaller home—it usually will cost less, allowing you to pocket the difference. That holiday on a remote island you’ve dreamed of? It may be possible when you downsize.

Finally, you’ll save money on the move itself once you’ve sold your old house. Most removalists will charge less for fewer belongings. Be sure to have them provide special care for the heirlooms and other valuables you want to keep with you.

When you’re ready to take the plunge into downsizing, give us a call at Zoom Removals. We’ll handle your storage while you get ready to sell and then help you get your belongings to your new home without a hitch.

After a breakup, there’s a good chance the last thing you’re thinking about is calling a removalist. One of you, however, or perhaps both, will need to move out. Here are some tips from the experienced removalists at Zoom Removals to help you keep from at least some of the stress of parting ways.

Allow Reason to Rule the Day

Though breaking up, admittedly, is one of the most emotional moments of one’s life, you need to keep a clear head when you decide who and what goes and stays. Married couples who have signed a prenuptial contract may have an easier time since the agreement spells out most of the important details.

Couples in a partnership arrangement or married couples without a prenuptial agreement need to come to an agreement on how the belongings are split. It may be a good idea to store the belongings that are in dispute at a neutral location until you can sort things out.

One of you might choose to live in temporary housing so both of you can process your emotions during this difficult time. Take only a few essential belongings with you—and none of those that are in dispute—until you have come to an agreement about your common belongings.

If you cannot come to an agreement—even after a cooling-off period, consider having a mediator step in to help you negotiate belongings and living arrangements.

Don’t Grieve Alone

You may think that it’s better if you process your emotions by yourself during the packing process, but in reality, that’s not the case. The worries, uncertainty, and even the physical challenges of splitting up can cause a downward spiral if you endure them on your own, says noted psychiatrist Edward Hallowell.

Instead, find a trusted friend to help you sort through your more emotionally laden belongings. Consider paying a little extra to your removalists to pack the rest of your belongings so you can separate yourself from the grief. Use the extra time to pamper yourself at your favourite spa or eatery.

If you’re still in the doldrums emotionally, consider therapy to help you get through this difficult time. Professional therapists can help you process your emotions better than you can on your own, particularly if the breakup was a difficult one.

Schedule Moving Day at a Time When Your Ex-Partner Is Away

If at all possible, book a date and time when your ex-partner won’t be around when the removalists arrive. It will be tough enough to see your belongings—or your partner’s—moved out of the house, let alone seeing him or her during the process.

Treat Yourself in Your New Home

• Find décor that lifts your spirits: Whether you’re the one moving out or your partner is, your home won’t be the same without your ex-partner’s presence and belongings. It will seem like a whole new beginning—and it is! Decorate it with symbols of new beginnings—plants, positive, inspirational art, and soothing colours.
• Spend quality time with your mates: To celebrate new beginnings and remember the good points about your former relationship, treat yourself to a movie or game night at home with your mates—complete with a splurge-worthy meal that has all your favourite foods.
• Take a vacation—or take a class: Always wanted to escape to a lush paradise? Craved taking a class in self-defence, art, or writing? Here’s your chance to enhance your new life with new experiences and new friends. Savour life in a new way.

If you’re in the throes of a breakup, don’t panic. Contact the understanding removalists at Zoom Removals for help with the practical aspects of moving out today.

Why pay someone to do something when you can do it yourself? We Australians, with our can-do attitude, love to do projects ourselves—without the help of a professional.

When it comes to moving, though, there are a few types of removals you should never try do without the help of professional removalists:

Long-Distance Moves

Unless you’re moving for the first time into a fully furnished flat, a DIY long-distance move just isn’t feasible. If you’re moving house from Sydney to one of the other major cities in the country, you can’t do it a little each day with your ute like you could if you were just moving a couple of streets away.

• You lack driving expertise: You’ll have to pack up all your belongings in a van and take them at one time. That takes specialised expertise—and that’s just the driving part. If you don’t drive large trucks for a living, you shouldn’t be on the road with a large van. Parking, blind-spot detection, and assured clear distance are way different for a large moving van than they are for your car—or even your ute.
• You lack packing expertise: To pack up all your things and expect them to make it to your new home without incident is wishful thinking at the least. Professional movers know how to pack a large van so their customers’ belongings don’t bump into each other during transit. You don’t have that expertise, and neither do your mates. Leave the packing to the professionals.
• You don’t have the money to throw away on expensive van rental: Professional removalists can get the job done quickly, eliminating the need to pay for a rental van for several days or a week while you get the stuff in and out on your own. That can run your costs way up, well beyond what you would have paid for a professional in the first place.
• You don’t have the manpower to move an entire van of furnishings: It takes strength and numbers to move a van full of belongings safely. Back injuries, pulled shoulder muscles, and other overuse problems may occur if you attempt to do a professional crew’s work yourself.

Moves that Involve Valuables

When you move valuables, you risk breakage. Whether they are antiques, fine art, or fine musical instruments, a professional removalist will be better equipped to care for them during the move. More importantly, you can insure your valuables through a professional removalist so if they do become damaged, you will receive compensation.

Office Moves

If you’re not moving your home, but rather your business, you need a professional. Today’s electronic office equipment is highly sensitive, with wires and other parts that need to stay with the equipment, lest they get lost. Furthermore, if you lose a piece of valuable office equipment due to amateur mistakes, it could shut down vital aspects of your business until you replace it. And—with a professional office removalist, you can buy insurance to help you replace these important tools that keep your business going, should any damage occur.

Though there are plenty of projects that are perfect for the DIYer, most types of moves aren’t. Don’t risk a week of lost work over a pulled muscle, your precious valuables, or days of lost business just because you wanted to save a few dollars on a move. Contact the expert removalists at Zoom Removals to book your move today.

You’ve tucked away all of Aunt Rosie’s china cats you inherited into bubble wrap, and put them into a box lined with blankets. You’ve packed up all your partner’s sports equipment. You’ve even set aside special boxes with all the extras you want to take with you, so your first few nights go easily. You’ve even remembered Junior’s nappies and that ratty-looking bear he pitches a fit without.

But that uneasy feeling is still there. Then you remember. Your garage.

Stacked with litres of every kind of goop you can pour into a car sits that shelving you bought. Garden tools hang by the five bags of potting soil you bought to save for next year’s plantings. And tools! Like rabbits, it seems as if every wrench, every hammer, has brought forth and multiplied.

And you panic. You booked the removalists weeks ago. They arrive in a week! What can you do?

Take it from the professional removalists here at Zoom Removals: you’re not alone. Everyone, it seems, lets the garage go until the last minute. Many just simply don’t even remember they need to pack that stuff, too.

Don’t freak out. Here’s what you do.

Start Sorting

Garage goop: Chances are, most of that car goop on that shelving’s past its prime. Be ruthless! A lot of garage chemicals you can’t move anyway. Hazardous chemicals and flammable materials are no-nos. Give the usable stuff to your neighbour and put the rest in the trash.

Tools: Sort all those tools. When you find duplicates, put them aside. Take the best one of each kind of tool, and plan to sell the rest at a garage sale or on Gumtree. Or if you’re out of time completely, donate them. Your generosity’s bound to return in karma of some type, right?

Children’s clothes and gear: If you’ve stored the clothes and equipment your kiddos have outgrown just in case one of them present you with a grandchild in oh, about twenty years, donate them. As safety requirements for children’s equipment get more stringent, they’ll be outdated well before your first grandchild arrives. And clothing? Forget it. If the clothes moths don’t get to them, they’ll be so outdated that your grandchild will roll his eyes, stuff them into the back of his drawer, and never wear them.

Garden stuff: Do you really want to pay your removalists to haul that potting soil and half-used bags of fertiliser? Thought not. Give it to your little-old-lady neighbour, who’ll put it to good use on her roses and pansies next year.

Holiday decorations: If you didn’t use it the last holiday, you probably won’t. Give it away, sell it, or donate it to someone who will use it.

Get More Supplies

After you’ve pared down your collection, you need to pack quickly. Don’t run all over town. Get your removalist to lend you some specially made boxes that will be tough enough to handle all those tools and garden equipment. Also, while you’re there, buy some moving supplies, such as:

• Packing paper
• Bubble cushions
• Packing tape

With everything you need at hand, packing should go quickly, once you’ve narrowed down what you really need to take along.

Pack It Up

Protect: Wrap sharp ends of tools in layers of sturdy bubble wrap. Tape blades together. If you have the original boxes for any of your tools, use those to pack them back up. Empty power tools of petrol before you move them.

Label: Dissemble what you can, but make sure you put small parts into labelled plastic zipper bags. Keep all the parts for each item together.

If You Run Short of Time, Call in the Reinforcements

If it looks like you can’t get it done on time, get help. Friends, family, neighbours — make it a party!

But if everyone has other plans (after all, you did let it go until the last minute), there’s hope. If you booked your move with Zoom, you’re in luck. For a small fee, our professional removalists can swoop to the rescue. They’ll pack everything for you, leaving you and yours to enjoy the adventure that awaits you in your new home.

For more helpful hints to help your move go smoothly — or to book your next move, contact the friendly team at Zoom Removals today.