1300 303 333Biggest Moving Mistakes You Don't Want to Make
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The biggest moving mistakes start with three bad guesses: how much you own, whether the truck can reach both doors, and how long packing will take. Replace those guesses with a room-by-room inventory, an access check at each address and cartons that one person can safely lift. Keep medication, keys and the first night’s essentials with you. Those steps prevent the usual late finish, second trip and frantic search through sealed boxes.
Do not estimate the load from memory
Walk through every room and open every cupboard, wardrobe, garage shelf and outdoor storage area. Count packed cartons, then list the furniture, appliances, pot plants and loose items still visible. A slow video gives a mover more information than “three-bedroom house”. Include anything unusually heavy, fragile or difficult to dismantle.
Decide what will not move before you buy cartons. Give donations and marketplace sales a firm cut-off date. An unsold sofa in the garage on moving morning has joined the load.
At Primove, we use that inventory to choose between a 4.5 tonne truck holding 20-25 cubic metres and a 10 tonne truck holding 50-60 cubic metres. A complete list matters because an extra trip costs time, while booking more truck than the load needs makes little sense.
A large carton is not a strong carton
Aim for about 15–20 kilograms per carton. Put books, tins, tools and records into small cartons; use larger cartons for linen, cushions and other light items. Fill empty space so contents cannot move. If the base bows or the hand holes tear, repack it.
Tape the bottom seam and both edges. Wrap crockery piece by piece and pack plates upright rather than flat, with padding underneath, between pieces and above them. Keep each carton square so we can stack it without crushing the one below.
Write the destination room and a useful description on two sides. “Kitchen” sends every carton to one corner. “Pantry, open first” tells us where it goes and tells you which one to open. Number the cartons and keep a simple list if you want to spot a missing one quickly.
Check the route from the truck to the door
The distance that matters on moving day often starts at the kerb. Check where a truck may stop at both addresses, how far the crew must carry items, and whether gates, stairs or tight turns break the path. In a unit building, confirm the loading area, lift booking, lift dimensions and the building manager’s access rules. A lift that residents may use does not automatically mean you can reserve it for a move.
Measure the front door, hallway turns and lift against the widest furniture, not just the room where it will sit. Remove legs or doors from bulky pieces when that creates safe clearance. Put the correct keys, fobs and garage remotes in one person’s pocket rather than a carton.
Clear a walking line through both homes before the truck arrives. Loose shoes, packing scraps and half-sealed boxes slow every carry and create avoidable hazards.
Keep a full day’s essentials off the truck
Pack one bag for the first 24 hours and carry it yourself. Include medication, documents, chargers, toiletries, a change of clothes, toilet paper, towels and bedding. Add food and familiar items for children or pets. Keep jewellery, passports, keys and portable computer backups with that bag, not in a box marked “bedroom”.
Moving traffic creates a poor place for a child or animal to wander. Arrange a supervised room away from the work path or ask someone they know to care for them elsewhere. Make sure every adult knows the plan before doors and gates start staying open.
Brisbane weather needs its own small kit. Keep drinking water, sunscreen and hats outside the load on a hot day. For rain, set aside towels, dry clothes and plastic protection for the walk through each doorway. Never leave cardboard standing in pooled water.
Do not treat an interstate move like a longer local job
For a local move, a forgotten box can mean an inconvenient return across Brisbane. On an interstate run, that mistake can leave the box hundreds of kilometres behind. Brisbane to Sydney is about 900 kilometres by road, and Brisbane to Melbourne is about 1,700 kilometres. Interstate work gets a job quote rather than a local hourly rate, so the inventory must cover everything before quoting and loading.
Separate what you need during the journey and on arrival. Carry identification, medication, valuables, chargers and enough clothing for the trip. Photograph furniture and electronics before packing, photograph cable connections, and label each bag of screws with the item it belongs to. Confirm the delivery access with the same care as the collection address.
Run the final check before loading starts
Walk through every room, balcony, garage and outdoor area once the loose packing finishes. Look inside cupboards and appliances, behind doors and under stairs. Check that you have disconnected only the appliances that need moving and that everyone knows which items stay with the property.
At the delivery address, put a room name on each doorway if the layout may confuse the crew. Decide where the largest pieces go before they enter the house. Changing your mind later can mean carrying a sofa back through a narrow hallway after cartons have filled it.
The mistakes that cost the most time rarely happen inside the truck. They happen when nobody counts the load, checks the access, controls carton weight or separates essentials. Finish those four jobs before moving morning and the crew can concentrate on the move itself.
More moving guides
- Basic Moving Essentials For an Easier MoveA working removalist's list of what actually makes moving day easier. Pack cartons to a sensible weight, keep three kits off the truck, sort the access plan before the truck arrives, and make the last carton the first one you open.
- Top 10 Things to Look for In a Removals CompanyLook for a written quote from a real inventory, then check how the company charges, which truck they send, who packs, and what the transit cover includes. Local Brisbane jobs run by the half hour and turn on access at both doors. Interstate jobs carry a single job price, plus storage if the dates split and a contact you can reach on moving day.
- When is the Best Time of the Year to Relocate?Cooler months from April to September usually suit Brisbane moves better than mid-summer, when heat and holiday demand stack up. School terms, lease end dates and whether you are moving locally or interstate matter as much as the calendar. We walk through what shifts season by season so you can pick a workable date.
- Handling Roof and Floor Repairs Before Moving InFix active roof leaks and unsafe floors before the truck arrives, then finish dusty overhead work before laying the final floor surface. Allow a two-day buffer for drying, cleaning and delays, and keep one clear route from the door to every room.
Moving can be an incredibly stressful experience, but Primove made it much more manageable. My family and I recently booked them to help us move to a new house; from the beginning, it felt like we had nothing to worry about. The customer service was excellent – the team responded quickly to our questions and requests, despite how busy they were. They also took great care to ensure all our items were transported safely and arrived in the exact condition we left them in. Highly recommend Primove to anyone looking for an efficient, reliable and stress-free move!
Natalie Herber
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