Packed properly, room by room

Packing decides how well a move goes long before the truck arrives. Well-packed cartons stack squarely, load quickly and arrive intact. Badly packed ones slow the crew down and put your belongings at risk. As a packing service in Brisbane, our job is to get everything ready to travel, and to make sure you can find it again at the other end.

Brisbane Moving Company's packers work across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Logan, Ipswich, Redlands and Moreton Bay, on family homes, apartments and offices, for local, interstate and overseas moves.

Packing a home takes longer than most people plan for. The kitchen alone is dozens of plates, glasses, bowls and small appliances, each needing its own wrap, and the bookshelves, wardrobes and garage are not far behind. Handing that work to professional packers frees your time for the parts of a move only you can do: the paperwork, the keys, the family and the last walk-through.

Packing is not all or nothing. Choose the level that suits your time, your budget and how much you own.

Full-house packing

We pack every room, from the kitchen and wardrobes to the garage and shed, so the house is ready for the truck. You keep out only what you need for the last night.

Partial packing

You pack the easy rooms, and we take on the ones that take longest or break most easily. Good candidates are the kitchen, glassware, books and the study.

Fragile and high-care packing

Just the pieces you are nervous about: crystal, ceramics, framed art, mirrors, collections and heirlooms, packed with extra protection.

Furniture wrapping and protection

Quilted blankets, furniture pads and stretch wrap protect timber, glass and upholstery, and are included in our hourly moving rate.

Unpacking at the other end

Our unpacking service unpacks cartons into the rooms you choose, assembles basic furniture and takes the used cartons and packing materials away.

Partial packing runs smoothly when the boundary is clear. Before the packers arrive, mark the rooms, cupboards or items we are packing, and anything we should leave alone.

Each room carries its own risks, so each gets its own approach.

Kitchen

Plates are wrapped individually in packing paper and stood on edge, glasses are wrapped and packed upright, and heavy items go into small cartons. Small appliances travel in their original boxes where you still have them.

Bedrooms and wardrobes

Folded clothing and linen fill larger, lighter cartons. Bed frames are dismantled, and the bolts are bagged and labelled so reassembly is quick.

Living areas and study

Books go into small cartons so they stay liftable. Screens, speakers and lamps are wrapped and kept upright, and cables are bundled and labelled with the device they belong to. Files and paperwork are packed in order, so the study works on day one.

Bathroom and laundry

Opened liquids are sealed and packed upright. Flammable and hazardous products, such as fuel, solvents, pool chemicals and gas bottles, cannot be packed or transported, so use them up or dispose of them beforehand.

Garage and shed

Hand tools are boxed, sharp edges covered and long-handled tools bundled together. Check the garden before it is packed: fire ant biosecurity zones in South East Queensland restrict moving soil, mulch and outdoor pot plants. Pot plants kept indoors or on a hard surface can be moved without restriction.

Every carton is labelled with the room it is going to and a short description of what is inside, so the crew can place it and you can find it.

Some things can be replaced. Others cannot. Tell us about the second kind before packing day, so they get a plan of their own rather than a spot in the next carton.

• Glass and china. Crystal, fine china, ceramics and stemware are wrapped individually and cushioned on all sides, with bubble wrap and dish packing paper supplied on request.
• Art and mirrors. Framed art, mirrors and glass tabletops are wrapped and kept upright, and travel separately from heavy furniture.
• Collections and heirlooms. Tell us about collections, instruments and family pieces, including any existing damage or unusual dimensions, before the job is accepted.
• Heavy and specialist items. Pianos are moved as a piano removal, subject to an access assessment, and items over 90kg are assessed individually through our heavy items service.

A few things should stay out of the packing altogether. Jewellery, cash, passports, documents, hard drives, medication and the keys to both homes should stay with you. Set them aside in a clearly marked bag or box before the packers arrive, and tell us where it is so no one packs it by mistake.

When we move you, essential protective equipment is included in the hourly rate at no extra charge: quilted blankets and furniture pads, large stretch wrap, flat dollies and hand trolleys, ratchet straps, and bubble wrap and dish packing paper on request.

Cartons, additional packing supplies and packing labour are separate items, specified in your quote so you can see exactly what you are paying for. Already have some sturdy boxes? Tell us, and the quote can reflect what you are supplying yourself.

A simple guide to carton sizes:

• Small cartons for books, tins, tools and anything heavy
• Medium cartons for kitchenware, toys and the contents of drawers
• Large cartons for linen, pillows, cushions and other light, bulky items

The heavier the contents, the smaller the box. A carton that is easy to lift is a carton that is easy to load safely.

After the move, our unpacking service includes removing used cartons and packing materials. Doing it yourself? Brisbane City Council's resource recovery centres at Nudgee, Willawong, Chandler and Ferny Grove take residential quantities of recycling free of charge, for vehicles under 4.5 tonnes.

The further your belongings travel, the more the packing matters. A load on the road for hours has more time to settle and shift than one crossing town.

For interstate moves, cartons are packed full and firm so they hold their shape under the load. Outdoor items need attention too: some states have their own biosecurity rules, and Tasmania, for example, requires household items and garden tools to be washed free of soil, seeds and plant material. Clean mowers, outdoor furniture and garden tools before packing day.

For overseas moves, we pack and the international shipping is arranged separately with your chosen freight or shipping provider. Before packing day, ask them for their requirements: packing standards, the inventory format they need, any items they will not accept and how cartons should be marked. Share those with us, and we will pack and label to match.

Whichever way your belongings are travelling, keep your own copy of the carton inventory. If anything is queried at the other end, a clear list of what is in each carton is the fastest way to answer.

Packing time depends on how much you own, not how many bedrooms you have. A sparsely furnished three-bedroom home can be quicker to pack than a one-bedroom apartment full of books, glassware and collections. That is why we ask about your kitchen, wardrobes, bookshelves and garage when quoting, rather than estimating from a floor plan.

Packing can be scheduled ahead of moving day or on the day itself, depending on the size of the job and your timetable. After-hours, weekend and public holiday packing is available where required, subject to availability, and urgent or last-minute packing is considered on the same basis.

Packing labour and materials are specified in your quote, and every charge is confirmed before you book. For the move itself, our hourly rates are $125 to $169 per hour + GST, depending on the type of move and truck size, for a moving truck, two professional movers and all standard equipment. A deposit secures your booking, the balance is payable on completion, and changes need at least 48 hours' notice. See our pricing page for the full list of charges.

Packing pays off when it is part of a plan. Booked with a house move or an apartment move, it means the crew loads a home that is ready, with every carton labelled for the room it is going to. Add unpacking, and the same labels guide the unpack at the other end.

For businesses, our packers can take care of archives, kitchens and shared areas as part of office removals, so your staff can focus on their own desks.

When you request a quote, our sales team aims to call you back within five minutes during business hours (8am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday). Have your addresses and preferred dates ready, along with the rooms you want packed, any fragile or valuable items, and any boxes or materials you already have.