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Moving Find a reliable removalist that you can rely on. The most expensive removalists don’t always equate to the best removalists. Unfortunately in the world of movers paying a premium doesn’t mean anything. Sure you might get a team of well-dressed guys turning up in matching crisp white uniforms but they are still capable of skimping on the stuff that counts. Care, care and more care A good removalist should treat everything with care. This includes expertly wrapping items with bubble wrap and packing them tightly into the back of the truck. Whether it’s your LED TV or your luxury cupboard, every last item should be handled with gloves. Cost counting It’s good to know the exact fee for removalist service before your removalist puts out their hand and asks for a big wad of cash. Prior to moving day you should be provided with a breakdown of costs, including any additional extras. Most removalists quote an hourly fee, charged in 15 minute or half hour time slots. Many different factors can affect the price include the volume of contents, the size of the truck (hence number of trips required), the distance between the pick-up and drop off locations and even the amount of traffic on the road. There may also be extra fees incurred if your property is difficult to access e.g. it’s up five flights of stairs or located down a narrow laneway. A 'back to base' charge and small fuel levy are also pretty standard. Tips for a smooth move
	•	Phone to confirm your booking the day before.

	•	Book the early timeslot – removalists are notoriously late so this will ensure they turn up on time.

	•	Pre-pack your items to save time.

	•	Assist where possible to speed up the process

The smart way of Moving house You’ll have to dedicate stacks of time and energy to packing boxes, then there’s the hassle of trying to organise a removalist and the final kicker of the moving house process involves a lot of unpacking, arranging and re-arranging. Engage a removalist to prevent the broken item and the stress. As your moving day looms, put together a checklist and find a really good removalist to ensure minimise your pain and cost. Cash saver To reduce the time spent moving and therefore costs involved, you should consider booking a removalist outside of peak hours (first thing on a weekend morning or in the middle of a week day are typically the quietest periods). Rather than standing around with your arms folded you can volunteer to help out by shifting smaller items – after all “many hands make light work.” There's no denying that moving house is an expensive, painful process, but knowing where to spend and where to save will help ease some of this stress. Moving checklist Establish the date you need to move and then go backwards in time to set yourself milestones.
	•	Set the actual date of your move.

	•	Decide whether you will use professional movers, or do the move yourself – remember this could still be costly (eg, hiring trucks) and will definitely take more time than you initially think.

	•	Obtain quotes from at least two removal companies.

	•	Think about the floor plan of the place you’re moving to and start allocating your furniture.

	•	Start thinking about placing food in freezers etc for your move.

	•	Discussing the moving details with the moving company.

	•	Arrange for the telephone to be working at your new and old residence – to allow for communications if things go wrong.
	•	Contact other utilities such as gas and electricity to ensure they’re connected at the right time.

	•	Ready all packaging materials eg. String, Tape, Labels, boxes.

	•	Changing your bank account details to new branches.

	•	Storing valuable stuff like jewellery and legal documents at the bank while you move.

	•	One week to go defrost the freezer at your current residence.

	•	Ensure all utilities and appliances are working at your new home.

	•	After finalise all the packing pack bags of clothing and toiletries to take with you rather than send with the mover.

	•	Think about steam cleaning your carpet.

	•	On the moving day, turn off all services, mains switch and taps, double check each room in the house before you leave.

	•	Check off each box as it comes off the moving truck.

Home Insurance Why need homeowners insurance? Homeowners insurance covers both damage to your property and your liability or legal responsibility for any injuries and property damage you or members of your family cause to other people and additional living expenses in the case of a claim. It is basically designed to bring your home and possessions back to the same condition they were in before a loss occurred. Some insurance companies offer an endorsement to homeowners, condo or renters policy for Identity Theft Protection that reimburses expenses incurred in efforts to restore identity and financial reputation. It also offers assistance with the process of clearing the Insured's name and restoring their financial records. Homeowners insurance provides financial protection against disasters. Almost anyone who owns or leases property should have this type of insurance. Often, homeowners insurance is required by lenders as a requirement to obtain a mortgage. Building and renovating The cost of fixing problems often exceeds the cost of the original work – so it’s important to get things right from the beginning. Choose the right builder or contractor Research the builder’s reputation, ask them for referees and check examples of their work. Get at least three written quotes – remember, quotes are a guide only and the final price is the one written into the contract. To help you compare quotes, you can pay an independent quantity surveyor to assess your plans and give you a cost estimate. Check the contract
	•	price

	•	details of plans and specifications

	•	checklist

	•	implied warranties

	•	five-day cooling-off notice.

	•	Include all details as shown in the plans and specifications to ensure the builder is clear about what you want. This will help to avoid delays and variations to the contract, saving you time and money.

	•	Seek advice from professionals, such as a lawyer specialising in building contracts, architects or building surveyors, so you fully understand the contract and building details before you sign. If there are any unfair terms in the contract, you can dispute these.

	•	Make sure all changes to the contract are in writing before you finally sign.

Know what’s covered All building contracts include ‘implied warranties’ – that is, you have the right to good workmanship, suitable materials and work that is fit for the purpose for which it was built. If it is shown there are defects or the work is not done to a reasonable standard or skill, or the building is not suitable for occupation, the builder is responsible for fixing the problem. Know when and what to pay The deposit should be no more than 10% for works costing, no more than 5% if the work costing amount is huge. Don’t make your final payment until you have thoroughly checked that all of your contract requirements have been met. Communicate with your builder Maintain a good working relationship with your builder. Use your legal right to visit the site regularly. Make a list of any work that you believe is faulty or incomplete, and voice your concerns to your builder immediately.