Questions about a DIY move

Empty all drawers.

As long as everything is secure.

If it makes them easier to move.. yes.

In the car, with plenty of blankets.

It's all about organisation. And depending on how much stuff you have and how far you will have to travel will determine your strategy. But definitely get at least 1-2 other 'muscle'. I've done a few self moves with my partner the last few years. And no matter my organisational skills - I just don't have the 'muscle' to help him load/unload those big things like fridges and couches.

If the new house isn't that far away then i'd suggest do two trips. First load with all the furniture and big bulky items that you can't flatten or dismantle like couches and mattresses etc. Then next load is all the boxes and things you have taken apart.

If you're going to do one load - then fridges etc to the side so you can secure them to the metal bar thingies. Then everything else on the other side but also leave a narrow walkway down the middle so you can get to things if you need to for whatever reason.

With computer and tv stuff we put it in the back seat of the car along with all the pillows, doonas and soft furnishing stuff.

Couple of tips, dependant on the distances involved:

If you hire a truck, pick it up at 4pm.The reason is that you can then take it home, load it up, perhaps do a load at night (less trffic to worry about). Then come back, pack the truck and go to bed.

This will give you the whole day to finish moving, plus the inevitable tip trips. We moved from one side of Melb to another, plus trips to collect new furniture. We got the truck back at 2pm.

As for packing the truck, think of it like a big game of Tetris. The more you get in, the more secure things will be, the less trips.

Remember to get plenty of ropes and blankets to tie things to walls inside the truck. I would put large items up the back, like fridges (turn it off 24 hrs b4), wahing machines and dryers, bookcases up the front of the truck, because you can tie them to the wall, and then build up boes arount them (supject to blankets). Tie them of, and start the next "row"

I second the idea of more hired "muscle"

I strongly recommend purchasing standard sized boxes from somewhere like Homewrap. It makes it so much easier to load/unload the truck when every box is the same size (or two sizes - we had book boxes & tea chest cartons)

Our removalist sold the boxes to us for $3.50 large tea chest, $1.50 small book box. As a guide - we moved a 3 bedroom apartment in 60 cartons (30 tea chest, 30 book)

All of the above, and seeing as I moved loads of antique furniture four times in one year, including a piano, I'd also add the following.

Do what you happy to move yourself, and contract in the heavy stuff to the experts.

get them in and ask them to quote for a small truck load of the really ugg stuff. Fridge, bed, lounge, and the big wardrobes etc.

Then you can get to the new place with your fourth truck load for the day, sit back with some - needed items, relax - and say - huh - I'll unload the rest tomorrow

Steve

PS make sure you know when the local shop, deli, pub or whatever, will be open when you are ready to eat.

I did a big move in darwin as per above, plus lots of friends, and luckily they have 24 hour trading up there, so off the pizza bar at midnight wasn't an issue.

Move that to few years later and I asked at 8pm in a local pub for a meal for 3 of us - and the chef said - sorry - kitchen closed
We wrangled a couple of bowls of chips - and a bottle of wine