Our Strapping Helps Protect Your Household Items

We were recently asked by a potential customer, why we stressed that our vehicles come equipped with strapping.

It doesn’t matter whether you are talking about furniture removals or any other sort of carriage of goods by road, one of the biggest potential nightmares for the driver and the owner of goods is what’s called movement-in-transit or ‘shifting’.

In principle, this is no different to the challenges we all face sometimes when placing items in the boot of our car. A good example is that bag of shopping from the supermarket which, however carefully we try and wedge it into place, often has a habit of falling over and spilling its contents all over the boot the moment we turn a corner.

In the context of your precious household possessions, boxes and items of furniture moving around inside our vehicle would be a potential disaster. 

In the case of boxes, assuming that the vehicle is relatively full, the challenges are manageable. That’s because boxes can be stacked against each other to provide a degree of structural strength which prevents movement.

The position though is made much more challenging by items of furniture which, due to their odd angles and shapes, cannot always be completely firmly and immovably stacked against each other. That’s particularly an issue when items are heavy or on wheels, such as a piano.

So, that is why Total Care Removals uses strapping and webbing extensively in our vehicles. It may be either elasticated or fibre equipped with tensioners. In either case, the objective is to place it around certain awkward items to secure it and the items concerned to the internal framework of the vehicle.

This should prevent your items from moving around and potentially damaging themselves and any of your other possessions.

We have a total commitment to protecting your possessions to the maximum of our capabilities and strapping is just one part of that.

Checklist-2 for the Day before Your Office or Household Removal

Over the years our blog and other checklists have proven to be very popular with our customers. In fact, so much so that we had been asked to help by adding a few things we might not have previously mentioned.

Always keen to respond to customer demand, here are a few other things you might be advised to think about in the day or two before your removal is due. 

1. Keys. You may be surprised to know just how many removals are delayed because house owners or office managers can’t find one key or another. Lost keys to outside padlocks and gates are classic examples but there are many other examples as well. Get all the keys you’ll need out and nicely lined up on a shelf somewhere before your removals day.

2. Business closure notices. Incredible as it sounds, this one is sometimes overlooked by business owners. The result of having customers turn up to do business at the same time as you are trying to move is likely to be, at best, chaotic!

3. Fuel and oil. If you are moving things such as garden machinery or perhaps even things such as scooters, they should be thoroughly drained down of oil and fuel beforehand.

4. Freezers. Another classic, it’s not entirely unknown for us to start to move a freezer only to discover that it is still full of frozen food due to it having been overlooked. If the removal is local you might get away with it but it’s highly risky!

5. Mail re-direction. Check to make sure that this is all attended to and that the Post Office hasn’t lost your re-direction notice.

Of course, you’ve probably already attended to all of these things and don’t need to worry about them.

Even so, just in case ……………………! 

For more detail visit http://www.totalcareremovals.co.nz/office-and-commercial-moving/

Win your very Own iPhone6

This Spring, Total Care Removals is Giving Away a FREE iPhone 6. Simply Fill in your details below to go in the draw to WIN a Brand new Apple iPhone 6.

The draw closes on 25th November 2014 at 11pm Auckland time. The winner will be announced on 28th November 2014.
For more detail visit http://www.totalcareremovals.co.nz/iphone-6-competition/ 

Avoiding Unpleasant Odours

When we are moving into a new office or domestic premises, what we don’t want to be greeted by are unpleasant whiffs and odours.

Now this is always a sensitive subject because not everybody has the same standards and sometimes the question of basic hygiene can come to the fore!

Of course, if the property has stood unoccupied for a period of time then a certain degree of staleness in the air might be unavoidable. If it’s an older property and the heating has been off, it might also smell a little bit cold and possibly damp – though you’ll want to get that latter smell checked out as soon as possible.

However, when leaving a property it’s also incumbent on the owner or occupier to take a few steps to try to minimise the problems arising for the new residents. 

Here are a few basic tips:

• Make sure the premises are thoroughly cleaned once your items are packed and have been removed. Total Care Removals has excellent property cleaning services which can help. 
• If you are doing things yourself, pay particular attention to WC’s, bathrooms and kitchen areas. Leave some environmentally-friendly cleaning and de-odourising liquids in the pipes. Think about dehumidifiers and deodorisers on shelves as well. 
• Remove all traces of foodstuffs from any kitchen areas. These can not only get mouldy and smelly when residues are left behind but they may also attract pests and infestations. 
• Make sure all carpets have been thoroughly vacuumed and possibly cleaned, particularly if you have had pets in the property. 
• Subject to security and weather proofing assurances, make sure that the property remains ventilated while unoccupied.
• If you are leaving behind furniture, ensure that the cushions of armchairs and couches have been removed and the base thoroughly vacuumed to remove crumbs and so on.

If you take the above steps and leave a property in generally clean condition, there shouldn’t be any odour problems for the new occupants upon their arrival.

Commercial Moving Services – Reducing the Downtime

There are many things that differentiate a commercial moving requirement from the typical residential household move.

One of the most important though is the avoidance of what might be termed ‘downtime’ – in other words, eliminating or reducing as far as possible, the amount of time that your business can’t function because it happens to be in transit.

As specialist providers of commercial moving services, here at Total Care Removals we understand just about all of the things that can be done to help achieve that. Of course, the specifics may vary from one case to another but there are a few points that we would normally recommend to our commercial customers.

Where possible, try to set up and configure your new location’s furniture and facilities before you shut down your old one. That way the only things to be moved are the people and perhaps files etc.

· As part of the above, make sure that your new target technology installation is also fully up and running before you shut your old one down. Technology mishaps are one of the commonest causes of commercial disruption when relocation is underway.

· Make sure you test your communication changeover before you make the final and irreversible switch. Theoretically, finding yourself in your new office while your phones are still ringing out in the old one should be impossible but better safe than sorry.

· Where your removal is essentially an everything-in-one-go affair, try to schedule it for a Friday. This gives you the weekend to get over anything you hadn’t anticipated.

· Try to make sure that you avoid situations where you’re moving over the weekend but with key personnel taking their annual holiday starting on the Monday (it really does happen). It sometimes takes a lot of in-house experience to overcome removal glitches, irrespective of the professionalism of your commercial moving services.

· Prioritise your unpacking. It may sound obvious but having your historical paperwork from five years ago available in the filing cabinets might not be of much use to you if the critical papers you need from last week are still buried at the back of your ‘box mountain’ on the Monday morning!

Of course, we have a host of other commercial moving services tips and a lot more detail. Why not give us a call? We’ll be glad to share them with you.

National Relocation Services – What Do They Do?

Very often employment opportunities, health or education facilities cause us to move to another part of the country – sometimes permanently, sometimes not. How much we need to take with us depends on our requirements. Often, the employer will pay for the expense of relocation which means that there should be no hesitation in engaging the services of a good national relocation services company. Such a company can be invaluable in arranging a secure and expedient move for you.

A temporary move to a different country will not involve the need to transfer legal documents, but a permanent move does. Like any other move, the careful planning and execution of legal formalities is essential. Again, this can be a great worry, but it is a process that the national relocation services provider can ease you through if you give them all the details they need.

There are many things to remember when relocating to another country. You will need to do such things as inform your bank and utility providers and have your mail redirected for a period of time relocation specialists will remind you about all those troublesome details. No more do you need to worry about the move itself. The company will calculate what is needed to move your belongings your belongings and supply an estimate for the cost of the relocation. They would then arrive on the arranged day with a variety of boxes into which trained movers will carefully pack and label your belongings, ensuring that everything arrives safely and is easily located at the new house. The packing suitably completed, everything is loaded into the vehicle the relocation company has provided. If moving to a different country, your goods will be taken to the airport or harbour and the company will ensure that everything is shipped to your new home. Don’t forget to check the relocation company’s insurance covers the whole move.

This process can be extremely stressful but, having hired the professional services of a relocation services company; you can remain relaxed and worry-free. All you have to do is spend a little time researching the companies and then make sure that you give the chosen company that provides the best package for you plenty of advance notice. In this way that they can plan carefully and arrange a problem-free move for you.

Our Professional Cleaning Services can include gardening, organising the removal of rubbish from you property and even cleaning your future home or office if this is required. Call us today 0800 367 668 or, Visit http://www.totalcareremovals.co.nz/

The Simple Solution for Business Relocation

Most people have moved house at one time or another and will remember with horror the logistical nightmare it entailed. Consider, then, the preparation involved in relocating your office; it will need to be planned to the tiniest detail to ensure that not one document, not one file goes missing. Imagine the impact that could have on your business. Not only that, office relocation requires a great deal of time and expertise. For that reason it makes excellent sense to hire professional business moving services experts to relocate your office. 

Business moving experts can guide you through the entire procedure, ensuring that you are not bogged down in the details or miss out any of the many tasks that need to be carried out. Experienced in relocation, they are able to give full attention to your move, reminding you of such things as the need to notify service providers, mail redirection, etc. They will treat your belongings as their own, taking care to avoid accidents because they are aware of the possible hazards involved.

Even though you may well have moved house, the chances are you may not be able to see the various problems ahead of you when relocating an office. Companies that deal only in Business moving services know what’s coming and are able to prepare ahead of time. One of the main things they handle is the packing and unpacking - critical for any kind of move but even more so when relocating your office. They can ensure that all office items, including important documents, are treated with absolute security and are protected from all unfortunate eventualities. They will pack important documents in clearly labelled boxes so that you can locate them with ease.

Choosing a Business Moving Service

Try to Find References: Ask friends, family or colleagues if they know which is the best relocation service. This is the most useful way to find the appropriate moving service as these people will be aware of your needs and will recommend based on personal experience.

Request Site Visit: The service providers should always want to visit the office that is to be relocated to check all that is to be moved so that they can give you a true estimate of costs. If they don’t suggest it, you must; their ignorance may increase your expenditure.
 
Sign a Contract: Before starting the actual move, it is a good idea to visit the service provider’s office. This will ensure that the company actually exists. Having satisfied yourself that the company is legal, ask for a contract and ensure that insurance against damage, delay, loss of items, etc are covered.

Office moving doesn't have to be terribly traumatic if you have planned and built in some ‘what if’ contingencies. To book your Home or office removal call us on 0800 367 668

Common Mistakes When Preparing for Long Distance Movers

When you are moving home or office, it’s imperative to prepare thoroughly in advance of the removal day itself.

Here at Total Care Removals we do occasionally encounter people who are not entirely ready for that big event!

Here are a few scenarios that might be well worth avoiding in such situations:

 

• Doing your own packing and not being ready. It’s not unusual to encounter people who are understandably trying to save money and who have decided to do their own packing.  Fair enough but don’t underestimate how long that will take.  Having lots of your items unpacked at the time of vehicle arrives could involve you in delays and therefore extra charges.

• Inadequate packing. This is something else that long distance movers occasionally encounter, though in fairness it can be as much of a problem on short-distance moves. Perhaps the most commonly found problem arises from boxes that are too weak to be stacked on top of each other without collapsing and furniture that is inadequately padded and protected. Once again, severe delays can be caused and some of your items may be put at risk. If in doubt, let us arrange the packing for you.  

• A failure to arrange disconnection and cleaning services. Frantically ringing around on the morning of your departure trying to get final readings and the property cleaned because you forgot to do so earlier is simply a recipe for stress and tension.

• Disruption due to young children. Needing to provide lots of hands-on attention and care to young children, babies and toddlers, whilst at the same time trying to get your household contents packed and loaded onto the vehicle, might be something like one of the labours of Hercules. If at all possible, it might be better to get other family members to give you a hand with looking after the kids whilst you are in the thick of things.

• Not arranging for removal vehicle access. Clearly, in most circumstances your removal vehicle will need to be able to park reasonably close to your property.  If it cannot do so, for whatever reason, your long distance movers may be unable to continue. So, take whatever steps are necessary with your neighbours and the local authorities to make sure that the vehicle can reach you when it needs to!  

Top Myths – Household Movers

We occasionally encounter some myths relating to household relocation.

In what follows below we will try to set right some of the more common examples.

  All household movers will pack for you

No they won’t.

Some household movers will only provide transport services, including the loading of your already packed items on to the vehicle.

Others, if you ask them, may simply start ringing around packing companies to get their own quotations for someone to do the job for them.  They will then typically add their percentage profit to the packer’s quotation.
At Total Care Removals we will provide a professional packing service as an integrated part of our quotation and service delivery.

Removal companies are fully insured

If only it were that simple!

Space doesn’t really permit a full discussion of the intricacies of professional indemnity and third party liability cover etc.

All we can say here is that you should make sure you understand exactly what insurance cover your household movers have by asking them about how it would protect you in any of a number of different potential problem scenarios.

All storage is pretty much the same

This is, unfortunately, not the case.

It’s still possible to occasionally find some instances where household removal items have been simply ‘chucked’ in the corner of a not particularly weatherproof and suitable warehouse while on-delivery is pending.
If you do need to ask your removers to store your items for you for a period of time, make sure you understand that the facilities they are using are modern, secure and environmentally protected.

The only thing you need to worry about is the price

This is probably one of the commonest and arguably most dangerous misconceptions we encounter. 

Sure, inevitably, your eyes will be drawn to the price on a quotation before anything else.  That is human nature.

Call 0800 367 668 to get a FREE fuel voucher valued $50 on every booking of home and office move or relocation. We want to make you move easy and stress free.
 

Asking Questions of Office Movers

We make no apologies for brandishing our own credentials in terms of office relocation.

Nevertheless, we know that you may be looking to take into account quotations and services from other organisations.  That’s fine and healthy – and at Total Care Removals we are more than confident in our ability to come out on top in any such comparison.

If you are looking at the capabilities of other office movers, you may wish to take into account some of the following questions:

• How extensive is their past experience in this domain?  If it’s limited or non-existent, are you really sure that you want your business to be something of a proof-of-concept trial for a novice office relocation company?

• Do they understand the totality of what is involved?  Office moves and relocation are fundamentally different to domestic household or furniture removals. For example, how competently will they be able to cope with the technical infrastructure side of your move? If they look hazy and unaware on these subjects then it should be seen as a warning sign.

• How flexible can they be in terms of working days and hours?  Sometimes losing a day’s work Monday-Friday may simply be unacceptable to you and if that’s the case then your office movers are going to need to work out of hours or over weekends.

• What is their insurance position?  Your office moves may involve highly expensive specialized equipment or technology kit and it will be advisable to ensure that their policy will cover such items in transit against all forms of damage.

• Can they offer packing services? If they can’t and you need to arrange those yourself, it’s perhaps not a showstopper but it will involve work and coordination that you may prefer to avoid given that you will presumably still be trying to run your daily business whilst your relocation is being planned and executed.

Above all, investigate their reputation.  Their own assurances are of course important but make certain that you have a look at two or three of their past customers who will be willing to confirm that they are competent office movers.

Get an exclusive free gift dinner voucher valued $100 to make your move easy and stress free. Call 0800 367 668 to book your home and office relocation.
 

Why Good Furniture Movers are Essential

Typically, someone who is careful in moving furniture will be so for one of three different reasons:

• Somebody has thoroughly trained them and they are determined to do a professional job;
• They are worried that they’ll get into trouble if they don’t do a good job;
• They have an instinctive love of and feeling for, furniture.

  In one sense, you could argue that it doesn’t really matter why someone is being careful with your furniture - only that they are being so.

Yet at Total Care Removals, we always value particularly highly those individuals who come into the third category.

That’s because for many families, their furniture is something precious.  It may be something that they struggled to buy in the early years of a marriage or partnership when money was tight.  It may be something that they’ve seen their children playing on happily as toddlers or perhaps it’s a family heirloom handed down by their ancestors.

Even if it’s a modern and relatively inexpensive piece, the chances are that some care was taken over its selection and seeing it damaged or even destroyed by careless handling would be extremely distressing.

In fairness, furniture isn’t one of the easiest things to move.  It can be heavy, awkwardly shaped and sometimes in spite of its size and weight, very fragile.
This is something good furniture movers know instinctively and why they will take that bit extra care.

Of course, not every individual is so gifted and it is still perfectly possible to do an exemplary furniture moving job because you have been extensively trained and developed in terms of customer property care and management.  We make no apologies whatsoever for investing heavily in that area and demanding the very highest standards of our personnel.

We don’t expect you to be anything other than a little nervous when seeing your prized furniture being packed, protected and loaded onto vehicles but we will do everything it takes in order to ensure that it arrives at its destination without trauma.

So, yes, we consider our company to be good furniture movers for a number of different reasons and we welcome the opportunity to prove that to you. 
 

Get Exclusive free home or office cleaning service when we move or relocate your home and office. Call 0800 367 668 to book your next move and save $150.00

Household Shifting: Employ Household Movers or DIY?

Shifting from one home to another may seem simple, though those who attempt the DIY route often regret making that decision. There are things that a homeowner can do for themselves, though something as important as this isn't the best choice.

The lifting. When all of your possessions are in boxes, the physical lifting of items into whatever transport you choose takes its toll on your energy levels. At a stressful time like this, professional household movers with the right equipment can do this in half the time and you get to reap the benefit of knowing your move is in safe hands. With lowering tailgates on the removal vehicles, much of the strain is taken out of the move.

The expertise. The movers will be able to supply boxes and packing materials and give advice on the best way to pack. This advice is backed up by years of experience. They will even offer a packing service if required. That expertise may just mean the difference between broken crockery and heartbreak and starting afresh with everything arriving on time and without breakages.

The legwork. The difference between doing it yourself and letting the professionals do it is that they do it every day. They estimate the job and know what to look for. They discuss the move and go over your options with you. All of this passes the legwork on to someone else, leaving you to deal with other pressing items that home moving involves. It's important to make the move as stress free as possible for you and family members alike. Household movers take the weight off your shoulders.

The convenience. Professional household movers can offer insurance on your belongings from the time they leave your house to the time they arrive. They will schedule an arrival time and you can depend on it. The household movers may even offer clean up services so that the house and garden is left in great shape. That's one of the most disheartening of tasks for a home owner.

Keeping your DIY skills for decorating and settling into your new home is a wise move. Making your new home suit your family gives you much to plan. The household movers will even store your possessions if delays between moves are encountered. Imagine that case scenario if trying to take the DIY route. It is always a joint effort to move house and the home movers are there to listen to your concerns and come up with workable solutions. In the meantime, family life doesn't have to be disrupted at a time when life presents its own challenges of changing the old life for a brand new one in another house.

8 Clever Packing Tricks from Moving Specialists

Moving is definitely not the easiest thing to do and if you have never done it before you risk turning something that should be moving towards something bigger and better into a complete chaotic disaster that will haunt you into the new home or into the new office.

One of the most difficult part with moving is making sure that you pack all your things properly. If you have not hired any moving specialists, you will have to deal with the hassle of this task on your own. However, you should not despair because you can quickly learn some of the tricks these professionals use as well and which will definitely make your life easier. Read on and find out more about this. 

  1. Pack heavier items in smaller boxes. Books, for example, can turn out to be much heavier than you would imagine and it would be better for your own safety and for the safety of those helping you move out to put them in smaller boxes.

2. Light items, on the other hand, can go very well into large boxes. Summer clothing is one example but basically anything that can be “squeezed” and it is lightweight can be easily packed in larger boxes.

3. You do not have to actually empty out all the drawers. As a matter of fact, it may be better for you if you leave some towels, linen, pyjamas and some other basic necessity items in the drawers because this way you will know where to find them.

4. Be very careful about the small items such as remote controls, cables and so on. They can be very easily be lost during the transportation process and you will not be very happy about it. Tape them around larger items (preferably, the items they belong to – such as the remote control taped on the TV) or pack them in colourful paper so that you can spot them easily.

5. The best way to pack electronics is in their original casing and box. These boxes were built precisely to protect the electronics inside of them and if you have kept them (which is very likely you did, considering the fact that they are one of the main criteria for the product’s warranty), you will be more than OK with this part. For extra-protection, you can add the original boxes in another box.

6. Buffering between two boxes or pieces of furniture during the transportation process but sometimes you may not want to invest a lot in this. If you have any clothing items, linen or any other items made out of fabric that did not fit in the luggage and boxes, then you can use them as buffers.

7. Dishes can be extremely problematic to pack away. Although you may be tempted to believe that you should be stacking the dishes up, the truth is that moving specialists will advise them to put them on the side. The stuffing is still necessary though!

8. Make sure that things that are related to each other are packed together and that you label them. For instance, make sure that you write on the box what it contains, as well as the room in which it should go.

The packing team that we have at Total Care Removals is skilled and experience at dealing with expensive and fragile items. This includes china, glassware, mirrors, artwork and anything else that you have in your home.





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7 Clever Packing Tips & Packing Services

Moving home is one of the most stressful experiences. Uprooting your belongings and getting them from A to B may seem like a nightmare. With so many other things to think about, employing a packing service may be the answer. These tips should help you to decide whether you want to pack yourself do it the easy and intelligent way.

1. Most homeowners find they own a lot of things. It isn't until packing up their home that they realise their possessions need suitable boxes. A reputable removal company will be able to supply boxes and packing materials to take the worry out of packing. A wise homeowner will look for a company who offer this service. Don't even consider a company that doesn't as professional movers with a reputation to uphold will certainly have this option.

2. Packing can be a chore. Professional packing services provided by a removal company are guaranteed. Staff are vetted for reliability and will pack everything. This choice is taken by those who don't want the worry of breakages as the service will include full insurance. That makes sense.

 

3. Think cleverly. If packing the items themselves, homeowners should mark each package with the room in the new house where the removal company should place those packages. This saves a tremendous amount of time. Label bedrooms as one, two, three etc., and make sure the movers know which is which. A small plan helps.



4. Ask for smaller packing boxes for books. These are heavy items and boxes can split if loaded with too much weight.


5. If there are items which are difficult to pack, leave these to the professionals. A good removal company leaves the choice in your hands and is happy to pack items found too difficult for owners to pack.

6. Make the removal company aware of special items of particular value to you. This could be artwork, woodworking machinery or things which not only need to be professionally packed, but need extra care during the moving process. This gives you peace of mind.

7. If packing your own items, be very careful to ensure that crockery and breakables are bubble wrapped. The boxes supplied should be taped firmly and nothing within the box should rattle around. Fill voids with bubble wrap to ensure that the removal will be a smooth one.

If given the choice between packing possessions yourself, or getting professional packing services to do the honours instead, weigh up the inconvenience factor. A professional will be able to work within a given schedule, giving the homeowner peace of mind and time to deal with all the other elements which come into moving from one home to another.

Moving to a new home may be one of the most stressful life events you’ll ever have to tackle. But in the chaos of cardboard boxes, packing tape and moving trucks, you might not realize how stressed your pets feel, too. Call 0800 357 668

5 Reasons why Hiring a Furniture Removals Specialist is totally Worth it!

When a home owner experiences moving heavy items, one after the other, into a new home, what they are doing is making the home move difficult for themselves. Why bother when there are professionals willing and able to take the load, at very reasonable prices? When reading the reasons give below, readers will begin to see the whole house moving experience in perspective and understand why professionals should be hired to do the job. It eases the burden on the home owner and makes perfect sense.

1. A furniture removals specialist has all the answers to the home owners house move problems. They will supply a packing service if required and packing boxes and materials if the home owner prefers to pack themselves. Either way, the experts can estimate the number of boxes required and deliver them. The initial visit will give the home owner confidence and peace of mind as experts in removals are there to assist.

2. Specialists have the home owner's worries in mind and vet all packing staff to ensure that their employees are reliable and honest. That matters when packing up the old life and embarking on the new. it takes the strain out of the move to know that the movers can provide this packing service if required.
3. Full insurance is provided giving the homeowner the assurance needed at a stressful time. Professional movers know how to get from A to B without damaging the valuable possessions which they are trusted with.

4. A good quality home removal service will not only offer peace of mind but will have the Equipment needed to move awkward items such as pianos or heavy furniture, taking extra care that these are always delicately handled.

5. Moving dates can cause terrible worries. With the professionals, storage facilities may be available so that homeowners don't have to worry about lapses between leaving one life behind them and starting the next.

Moving home, whether long distance or across town, takes its toll on the stress levels. The furniture removals specialist will list services on their website and will have thought of everything. Even giving refunds on unused boxes helps. On that last day in the old house, there may not be the time to clean up and tidy the garden. It's a nostalgic time and a very tiring experience. When you find a company who have even thought of offering this service to clients, it's a company that cares about making your move an easier experience. Taking the stress out of the move is vital, and you get value for money because of the guarantee given of first rate services. It's the only way to move with out added worry.

Call 0800 357 668 to get best moving experience. Our service includes planning meetings, health and safety requirements, packing, labeling, moving, storage, and unpacking.