By Nathan Hawes
A scratched floor, chipped doorway or broken dining table can turn a fresh start into an expensive headache. This moving damage prevention checklist helps Victorian households and businesses protect their belongings, their old property and their new place from the common knocks and mishaps that happen on moving day.
Most moving damage is preventable. It usually comes down to rushed packing, poor access planning, furniture that has not been protected properly, or trying to carry an awkward item without enough people. A little preparation makes the job safer, faster and far less stressful.
Start your damage prevention checklist early
Do not leave the hard jobs until the night before the truck arrives. Start sorting and packing at least a couple of weeks ahead where possible, especially if you have a full family home, a shed, garage or home office to move.
The first job is to reduce what needs to be carried. Donate, sell or dispose of items you no longer want, rather than paying to move them and creating more clutter at the other end. Less furniture and fewer boxes means less handling, less loading time and fewer chances for damage.
As you work through each room, make a simple note of anything that needs special care. This could include a glass cabinet, antique furniture, large television, piano, pool table, artwork, pot plants or a fridge that needs to stay upright. Tell your removalist about these items before moving day so the right equipment, vehicle space and number of hands can be arranged.
Take clear photos of valuable furniture and electronics before they are packed. This is useful for your own records and helps identify existing marks, dents or wear. It is particularly worthwhile for rental properties, office equipment and higher-value pieces.
Pack for the road, not just the room
A carton that looks full is not always safe to move. Overloaded boxes split from the bottom, are difficult to stack and put strain on the person carrying them. Keep books, tools and other heavy items in smaller cartons. Use larger cartons for lighter belongings such as linen, cushions, toys and clothing.
Every box should be closed securely and labelled on at least two sides. Write the destination room, a brief description of what is inside, and “fragile” where needed. Clear labelling does not replace proper packing, but it helps ensure boxes are stacked correctly and unloaded into the right room.
For fragile belongings, use clean packing paper, wrapping paper, towels or linen to fill gaps and stop movement inside the carton. Wrap plates individually, stand them on their edge, and use strong cartons that have not been weakened by old moisture or torn corners. Glassware, ceramics and picture frames need cushioning on all sides, not just across the top.
Avoid using rubbish bags for anything breakable or valuable. They tear easily, hide what is inside and can be mistaken for actual rubbish. Bags are fine for soft items such as doonas, pillows and clothing, but not for loose electrical gear, kitchenware or hardware.
Keep a separate essentials box or overnight bag with medications, chargers, keys, important documents, toiletries, a change of clothes, basic tools and anything the kids or pets will need straight away. This prevents last-minute searching through cartons and keeps essential items out of the moving truck.
Protect furniture before it leaves the house
Furniture protection is about more than keeping a couch clean. Blankets, pads and shrink wrap help protect surfaces from scuffs, dust and friction while items are carried and stacked. Timber furniture, whitegoods, mattresses and upholstered pieces all benefit from proper covers or wrapping.
Remove loose shelves, glass panels, detachable legs and knobs where practical. Place screws, bolts and fittings in a labelled bag, then tape that bag securely to the main item or keep it in your essentials box. Do not tape directly onto polished timber, painted surfaces or delicate finishes, as adhesive can leave marks.
Drawers should be emptied unless they are lightweight and secure. A chest of drawers loaded with books or heavy clothes can become unsafe to lift and may damage runners or joints. Emptying it takes longer at first, but it protects both the furniture and the people carrying it.
Appliances need their own preparation. Defrost and dry the fridge and freezer at least 24 hours before the move if possible. Drain washing machine hoses, secure the drum as recommended by the manufacturer and keep hoses with the machine. Fridges and freezers should generally travel upright, so flag this early if access or vehicle space could make that difficult.
Prepare both properties for safe access
A careful move starts outside. Check where the truck can park at both addresses, whether there are time limits, steep driveways, narrow streets, low branches or apartment loading rules. In Traralgon, across Gippsland and on Melbourne-bound moves, access conditions can vary a lot from one property to the next.
Measure tight points before moving day. Doorways, hallways, stairwells, lifts and turns are where bulky furniture often gets damaged. Measure the item as well as the opening. If a sofa will not clear a corner, it may need legs removed, another exit used, or a different plan altogether.
Before loading starts, clear paths through the house and remove loose mats, pot plants, toys, cords and other trip hazards. Protect vulnerable floors with clean covers or runners, particularly on polished timber, tiles and light-coloured carpet. Corner guards can be worthwhile where a narrow hallway or stairwell puts plaster walls at risk.
At the new property, make sure the paths are clear before the truck arrives. Reserve a parking spot if needed, unlock gates, check that the power is connected and decide where the largest items will go. Movers can place furniture efficiently when they have clear directions, rather than shifting it twice after it has already been carried in.
On moving day, slow down at the risky points
Rushing is one of the biggest causes of moving damage. A good crew will work steadily, but speed should never come ahead of safe lifting, secure loading and clear communication.
Walk through the property with the team before work begins. Point out fragile cartons, items that are not going, access concerns and furniture that needs dismantling or reassembly. If there is a loose gate, a low ceiling, a freshly painted wall or a tricky staircase, mention it straight away.
Use the right lifting approach for the item. Heavy, long or awkward furniture often needs two or more people, even when it appears manageable. Never drag timber furniture across flooring or try to balance a tall cabinet on a trolley without securing it. Trolleys, straps and furniture blankets are there to reduce risk, not slow the job down.
Inside the truck, heavier items should be loaded low and secured so they cannot shift in transit. Fragile cartons should not sit beneath heavy furniture or be left loose near the rear doors. Good loading is a balance: the truck needs to be packed efficiently, but each item also needs enough protection from rubbing, pressure and movement on the road.
Before the vehicle leaves, do one final check of cupboards, sheds, garages, wardrobes and outdoor areas. This catches forgotten items and avoids a rushed return trip later.
Check carefully as you unload
At the new place, guide furniture into its intended room before it is set down. This avoids unnecessary lifting and reduces the chance of knocking walls, door frames or other pieces while rearranging later. Keep cartons dry and away from doorways where they can be bumped or exposed to weather.
As key furniture and fragile items come off the truck, inspect them against the photos you took earlier. Check walls, floors and access points too. If you spot a concern, raise it with the removalist while the job is still underway, when the details are clear and easy to discuss.
Do not rush to unpack every carton on the first night. Start with essentials, then work room by room. A tired person carrying a heavy box after a long moving day is far more likely to drop it or damage a new floor.
A careful move is not about wrapping every spoon in bubble wrap or making the day take twice as long. It is about putting effort into the areas where damage is most likely: packing, access, protection, lifting and loading. If you are unsure about a difficult item or tight access, ask early. Hawes’s Removals can help plan the practical details so your belongings arrive safely and your new place gets the start it deserves.