Question 1

COVID-19 Protocols

Accepted Answer

COVID-19 update
We are operating a modified socially distanced service. This involves some extra steps for movers and customers, to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

Question 2

Travel Time

Accepted Answer

This is the time it takes for us to drive to you and back to our headquarters. It&#x27;s a separate cost to the actual working and transportation time. &#x27;Travel Time&#x27; is a fixed charge for each suburb, based on its distance from central Melbourne.

Question 3

What truck size do I need?

Accepted Answer

The simplest way to work this out is to fill in the form and let us know what you have to move, and we&#x27;ll recommend a vehicle. If you want to see what vehicle sizes we have available, check out the link below.

Question 4

Where can I get boxes?

Accepted Answer

Naturally, we recommend using The Man’s Box Shop (hit the link at top of page) - you can order all your packing materials, including tape, sharpies and packing paper, right now. We&#x27;ll even deliver to your door, free of charge (for orders over $20 in Melbourne metro area).

Alternatively, you can visit a storage centre in your area, or put a call out to your network of family and friends to see if anyone has spares lying around.

Question 5

Can you move my gas bottle?

Accepted Answer

No, for safety reasons we cannot take gas bottles in the trucks. With that in mind, please disconnect them from barbecues or outdoor heaters. Other fire-risk items such as petrols, oils and paints should also be transported separately or disposed of before The Man arrives.

Question 6

Could soil or water from pot plants get on my furniture?

Accepted Answer

Our trucks come equipped with a giant stack of moving blankets to protect your goods. We’ll use the blankets to pad the space between the pot plants, and this should help to catch any loose trickles of water and soil spillage that could occur in transit.

That said, there are a number of steps it pays to take before the movers arrive - hit the link to find out more.

Question 7

Should I use proper moving boxes?

Accepted Answer

You really should. Other box types, like supermarket boxes, are thinner than packing boxes and don’t have the strength to protect your stuff. If you need to do the move on the cheap, put a call out to your friends and family for moving boxes - you’d be surprised how many people have them hanging around in their garage. As a last resort, non-moving boxes and packaging are certainly better than nothing.

Question 8

Diversity

Accepted Answer

Melbourne is full of diverse stories. As the crew that moves Melbourne, we hear them all. That’s why we&#x27;re committed to inclusivity. Our crew are a diverse bunch too — of all genders, races, religions, sexualities and identities. And every last one of them is highly-trained and capable. We welcome difference, and we ask that you do too.

Moving can be very difficult — it&#x27;s recognised as one of the most stressful times in life. As your house becomes our workplace for the day, we ask that you help us make it a safe and enjoyable environment. We know it can be stressful letting strangers into your house, and we&#x27;ll work hard to reduce your stress on the day. Let&#x27;s work together to get you moving, with respect and care.

Question 9

Do I need to empty drawers and cabinets before moving them?

Accepted Answer

It is a good idea to empty all cabinets and drawers in advance, as items may need to be turned on their side or upside down during handling. If you haven&#x27;t got around to it, we can manage - it just may take a little longer, as the drawers may need to be removed or emptied out, depending on the weight and fragility of the items inside.

Question 10

Do I need to use transit bolts when moving my front loader washing machine?

Accepted Answer

If you have a front-loading washing machine, you should check the manual for directions on installing the transit rods or bolts yourself, or have an appliance tech do it for you. This is important, because the washing machine can be damaged if transported without the rods in place. Our staff cannot generally do this for you as the requirements vary between models.

Question 11

Do I really need to use boxes when moving?

Accepted Answer

Boxes, when packed properly, are stackable on trolleys, protect your stuff, and allow for everything to end up where it needs to go, in perfect nick, at your new place. From a mover’s perspective, uniformly sized and sealed boxes mean we can move quickly, pack them in the truck safely, and save you money with a speedier service.

So yes, you really should use boxes for moving. This little bit of organisation will save you a lot of worry further down the track. It’s the right thing to do for future-you.

Question 12

How do I move my flat-pack furniture?

Accepted Answer

All pre-fabricated, flat-pack furniture (including IKEA) should be dismantled before the move. These items are made to be moved flat, and as such the joints and locking mechanisms are not designed to tolerate the strain of transport.

Question 13

How do I pack my boxes properly?

Accepted Answer

It&#x27;s a bit of an art form, but we&#x27;ve got your back. We’ve put together our top tips on how to pack boxes and keep all your precious goods safe. Click through for all our tips on reaching box-packing nirvana.

Question 14

How do I prep my washing machine for moving?

Accepted Answer

You want to disconnect your washing machine&#x27;s hoses and drain them of all water, to prevent leakage in the truck. If it&#x27;s a front loader, check the manual that came with the machine to see if you need to insert transit bolts. Then you&#x27;re good to go.

Question 15

How do I prepare my fridge for moving?

Accepted Answer

Firstly, empty out all the contents, transferring to eskies or boxes. Next, give the inside a good wipe down, and leave the fridge unplugged with the doors open, to dry out. This will help prevent any mould developing.

Question 16

How many boxes do I need?

Accepted Answer

Books, wine, crockery, cutlery, pantry items and any other small-but-heavy pieces should be considered while working out the number of small boxes. A good rule of thumb is that a regular-sized shelf requires one small box for packing.

As for big boxes, this time you’re looking at your doonas, sheets and towels, and other lightweight sundry items. Allow a big box for each doona, one for your towels and sheets, and at least one for pillows and cushions.

Question 17

How much space do pot plants take up in a truck?

Accepted Answer

A lot more than you&#x27;d expect. Plant pots are generally made from a heavy ceramic material, and can easily overbalance and topple. The risk of falling and breaking, or damaging other items, means that they’re not fit to be stacked on top of anything.

They also cannot have other items stacked on top of them, or their branches and foliage may be harmed. As a result, each pot plant takes up floor to ceiling space - we’ve done standard one-bedroom apartment moves where the furniture filled one half of the truck and pot plants the other!

Question 18

How should I dispose of of unwanted whitegoods?

Accepted Answer

‘Sustainability Victoria’ (Victoria State Government) publishes helpful online guides on correct disposal of fridges, washing machines and other appliances. They also have useful info on disposing of paints, lighting, batteries and excess garden waste.

Question 19

How should I pack my crockery and glassware?

Accepted Answer

When packing crockery, glassware and other fragile items in boxes, please wrap each piece with butcher’s paper or similar, and pad sufficiently. Scrawl “fragile” on the sides and top and point them out to your movers, so they know to take extra care.

Question 20

How should I prepare glass for moving?

Accepted Answer

Whether a picture frame or a glass tabletop, bubble-wrap is your friend for all large glass pieces. It provides much-needed extra protection for the fragile edges.

Question 21

How should I pack or protect my television for moving?

Accepted Answer

It’s best to pack televisions in their original boxes, with the foam inserts - they&#x27;re designed to protect your particular TV.  If you threw yours out, don’t fret, you can also find and purchase TV moving boxes from your local storage unit. Having all cables and accessories disconnected and packed before the move is also recommended, as it will save time on the job.

Question 22

Is there some kind of checklist for preparing to move house?

Accepted Answer

Yes there is. We&#x27;ve distilled our top pointers from more than 15 years in the moving industry. Hit the link to check out The Man&#x27;s Moving Checklist - you can even download it as a PDF and print it out, if that&#x27;s your thing.

Question 23

Should I box up my valuables for transport by the movers?

Accepted Answer

We recommend you grab all small valuables (e.g. wallets, phones, jewellery, keys, passports etc) and transport them yourself, to avoid any risk of misplacing them during the move. Of course, we will always take care of all your possessions, small valuables or large.

Question 24

What are the basics when it comes to packing boxes?

Accepted Answer

It helps to pack heavier items (such as books, magazines and records) into smaller boxes.** Use your larger boxes for lighter items (e.g. linens, toys, etc). Make sure all boxes are securely taped shut. Everything you need to know and more is after the link, in our Moving Boxes tips article.

Question 25

What happens if my furniture is damaged during the move?

Accepted Answer

While our movers come with industry-best training and all the right gear, occasionally accidents can still happen. Our damage guarantee means we&#x27;ll repair, replace or compensate you for any mishaps - either while the movers are handling your goods, or in transit in our vehicle.

Question 26

What if I have very large pot plants to move?

Accepted Answer

If you’re moving planter boxes or very large planter pots, it’s a good idea to empty the soil into a few heavy duty bags or smaller pots in advance of the move. The plant should have the root-ball carefully placed into a heavy duty non-porous bag packed with moist soil, and be laid flat for transport. Once the planter or large pot is in position at the new address, the plant should be re-potted as soon as possible.

Question 27

What if my pot plant doesn&#x27;t survive the moving process?

Accepted Answer

As with furniture items, we will take responsibility for handling errors or damage in transit (all legit movers should provide a damage guarantee). If MWAV movers drop or otherwise mishandle your item, or it isn’t secured properly and gets damaged while in the truck, we’ll provide a suitable replacement or compensation. We can’t take responsibility for general plant health, or a plant that doesn’t adapt well to its new environment - it’s an unfortunate reality that due to changes in light, humidity and temperature, plants sometimes don’t take well to relocation and don’t survive.

Question 28

What size boxes should I get?

Accepted Answer

There are two essential box sizes to use when moving house. Small boxes (commonly known as book or wine boxes) and big boxes (often referred to as ‘tea chest’ boxes). A third type many people find useful is the port-a-robe - which is a tall box with a hanging rail inside, for easily transporting the clothing you keep on hangers.

FAQ

Don't wing it - check out The Man's tips