What if I told you could save 20% of your moving costs, just by following our guidelines? Would you give it a shot?

Hundreds of our customers already have, and have had a 10 out of 10 move! Say hello to our 5 Phase Plan!

We introduced our 5 Phase Plan because every day, all of you out there moving asked us, “What can I do to make this easier for myself?” and we wanted to give you the best possible answers!

Just to break it down for you, here are the 5 phases!

• 1. Plan your move with one of our professional moving consultants

When you pick up the phone, you will first meet your personal Move Consultant, here to answer all your questions and find out all about your move! We can make any special    arrangements for the move with your body corporate, work with any tricky settlement times, help you with long or short term storage or arrange a senior Move Consultant to come to your home for a comprehensive, in house quote. You’ll know that we are different from ‘hello’!.

• 2. Pre-order boxes and get started

Your personal Move Consultant will help you decide what packing materials you’ll need, and if you don’t use all your boxes they’re simply taken off your final bill.                 Alternativly,  our packing service is perfect if you’re short of time, or find packing overwhelming. Arrange this for a day or two before the move, and let our experts take care of it.

You will now receive your copy of our moving guide with all the packing tips you need, and to help you plan for the day. We’ll also give you a call a few days before your move to make sure you’re going well and to see if we can help you in any way before the big day.

• 3. Moving team arrives for your move – packing the truck

On your moving day, we’re here for you. If you’re not satisfied, then neither are we. We’ll call 30 minutes before we arrive for any bookings made after 7am and give you a two hour arrival window so you’ll know when to be ready. We can take apart most things for you, including disassembley of beds or disconnecting the TV.  We can even walk the dog and mow the lawn! Just let us know. The first thing your team leader will do once they arrive is go through your moving plan with you and plan the fastest way to load your truck. If you have any questions or if something is concerning you, we want to know! Please ask your team leader and we will iron out any wrinkles.

You can get involved if you like! This will reduce the time dramically, and along with packing your things properly, is the biggest way you can save money on your move. On the other hand, no doubt you have many other tasks to be doing, and once the original brief is complete, you are free to go on with them.  And if you have to be elsewhere, we’ll keep in touch by phone. 

• 4. All items placed where you want them- unpacking the truck
  

If you’ve already pre-labeled your boxes and furniture with their new location in your new home or premises, it saves us time and you money! This way, we won’t have to keep   asking you where to put everything. Because you will have worked with our team through the planning phases in steps 1, 2 and 3, the unpacking process should be easy.  Our experts always pack the truck systematically, so unloading will be seamless and planned to suit the layout of the destination.

It’s your home, so we want you to be happy with the location of each of your possessions before we leave.   Our movers are mindful of the importance of your moving day and will do everything they can to make sure you’re completely happy with your move and our service, if this means moving entire rooms around for the best effect, we’re happy to help.

• 5. Your final approval and payment

Your Team Leader will cross check the placement and treatment of your possessions with you and confirm you are happy before we leave.  You don’t want to be left with a cabinet on the wrong side of the room or beds still in pieces after a long day.

Your Team Leader will then ask for your signature to confirm your job is complete.   Only when you are satisfied with the placement of your furniture and goods will you be invoiced for the day. We have eftpos machines on every vehicle to save you even more time.

And you are now moved in to your new home!

For full details on each step, please click on ‘Home Moves’ at the top of our home page, or call our team on 1800 004 065 from 7:30 am until 6:30 pm, Monday to Saturday.

Amoungst these happy faces in Queensland will be the Your Local Movers team, who are all a little canine crazy!

This annual event raises much needed funds to help injured, abused, neglected, stray and surrendered animals that fall into the hands of the RSPCA all around Australia everyday. The RSPCA advocates for the 5 Freedoms for Animals, and the Million Paws Walk aims to specifically promote awareness of responsible dog ownership and the plight of dogs that do not have the life they should have.

• If you call in and have a chat to Dan, he loves to talk about his gorgeous Dobermann pups, Onyx and Khan! These dogs make amazing family pets and Dan knows all about how smart and loyal they are! Just ask him!

• If giving a dog a second chance is more of your thing, talk to Kate! She has a wonderful, affectionate and obedient rescued Greyhound called Coco! She will tell you that they run very fast, but loose steam quickly so they really only require a 15 minute walk each day! Perfect for small backyards and working people, a Greyhound is a big dog that loves cuddles on the couch!

• Amy is the expert on Border Collies AND Husky’s, as her little girl Dakota is a cross of both! You will notice straight away how intellegent and willing to please she is, how much she loves playing with other dogs and how fun she is! We are all looking forward to seeing all her medals and awards in Agility and obediance training this year!

• Zach has a dog that looks like a teddybear and acts like one too! Suki is a Shar-Pei, with lots of wringly skin and loves to try and give everyone slobbery kisses! Talk to him if you want to know more about these gorgeous dogs that just love to be around people.

• If a smaller dog suits your yard better, but you want something smart and sweet, a Toy Poodle will win your heart! Guy loves to talk about Bella, his chocolate Toy Poodle, and we love to see all the tricks she can do!

• While Ellie has grown up with all kinds of dogs, at the moment she only has enough attention for one pet- and that is her cat Possum! Ellie was dissapointed that Possum was not allowed to attend the Million Paws Walk, even though Possum is more like a dog than a cat, as she loves to ride in cars and in the basket on Ellie’s bike! Next year maybe…

If you want to know more about the Million Paws Walk, you can head to www.millionpawswalkfundraising.com.au. So far the funds raised are over $90,535.00

What an amazing difference that will make to thousands of lives! Get your leashes out this Sunday and get on board!

If you are an excited soccer fan moving house, we want to talk to you! Mention you love soccer nearly as much as we do and we will send you 10 packing cartons to your door, for free!

We always deliver the best, goal kicking service, and promise there will be no red cards to mess up your move day!

This year, Your Local Movers will:

• Continue to be carbon neutral through Climate Friendly- Ensuring we take responsibility for our offsets and keep our environment beautiful!
• Continue to support Be A Hero Australia, and all the vulnerable men, women and children that it supports around the world, and assisting them with vehicles, staff and transport needs for any donated goods and during Break The Cycle Australia.
• Continue to work with Churches of Christ, in their housing dept helping people with a genuine need move home
• Continue doing work for Mary and Marthas Womens Refuge, helping people with a genuine need move home
• Seek out more local community projects, including:
  • Working with the SES volunteering time and resources during emergencies
  • Participated in Movember! Raising awareness and funds to research and promote often ignored mens health issues.
  • Holding a RU OK? Day breakfast in September
  • Assisting our local Rotary Club in local projects around Brisbane.

Through environmental, charitable and employee activities, the company will actively work with and for our local and international community.

We appreciate interest from all the people of the community and welcome any suggestions for genuine causes we can help, so if you have any ideas, let us know!

As flood survivors look back in sorrow at the Queensland flood disaster, and forward in anticipation of the new year, residents of South East Queensland all take a moment to think about the events that occurred a year ago. Twenty thousand people were forced from their homes when the flooding struck 54 suburbs in Greater Brisbane, and 30,000 homes and business were flooded during the floods a year ago today.

”Ten days ago the world welcomed in 2012, but I know for many of you, January 1 is not that pivotal, the wounds are still too raw for that,” Ms Julia Gillard said at a memorial service held yesterday.

”It is perhaps this day, January 10, [that should be] your own New Year. A New Year without illusions about how deep the hurt remains, how far along the path of reconstruction we still have to go.”

Your Local Movers was one of the businesses affected by the floods, with the office and warehouse inundated with 11 meters of water.

It was only because of the dedication of the team, and the decision to sacrifice the office furniture, computers and equipment that we were able to evacuate all of our customers belongings, saving them from the heartache that so many suffered when they lost their homes and personal possessions.

It was a tough year for a lot of people, but the light in the darkness was the overwhelming desire from the people of the community to help their neighbours in flood affected areas. By January 13th, 55,000 people had registered to help with the huge clean-up. Coined ‘the mud-army’ the volunteer effort was massive. Stories of strangers walking into homes and picking up a hose or broom were common in all different parts of Brisbane.

Ordinary people became super heroes, before the waters peaked sandbagging people homes, and during the clean-up driving around offering hungry volunteers, home and business owners sandwiches, cooked meals and cold water to keep them going.

Your Local Movers owner Zachary Rook said he will be forever grateful for all the help that Your Local Movers received.

“Without our amazing staff, family, friends and huge amount of volunteers we wouldn’t be here today.

“I would personally like to thank ALL their staff and volunteers who showed their dedication and swept, hosed, scrubbed and once the clean-up was over, tore down, built up and painted the Rocklea depot. Your emotional support and dedication has kept us going and kept us moving, and allowed us to be in operation again just under a week after the floods.

“Thank you to the anonymous church group who had a mini bus of people arrive, gloves and all, who picked up a broom and also set up a BBQ for the clean-up in Rocklea.

“Thank you to our customers who were not flood affected, but had to postpone their moves for a few days due to the rising waters. Thank you to the storage facilities who housed our storage temporarily for our clients, who were available on short notice and accommodating and ‘dry’!

“And a special thank you goes out to a very special couple, Alpha and Hazel, who despite both having lost their jobs just before Christmas, couldn’t stand to sit around and do nothing. They arrived at our warehouse and started cleaning up before we even noticed they were there. They continued to show up to help for two 7 day weeks after the flood. We have since been able to employ them both and remain indebted to them for their kindness and help during a challenging time.”

We have some tips to help you cope and make your move a successful event, even in the heat of this summer!

• Drink heaps of water! On a normal day you should be drinking 2 litres of water, so keep that in mind on a hot day when you are running around organising! Dehydration is more serious than we think, and once you are dehydrated, it is very hard to get hydrated again. If you start to have muscle cramps, feel dizzy or fatigued, or get hot skin flushes, use sports drinks to get yourself rehydrated. If it gets any worse, seek medical attention.

• Let us help you! Some of our clients like to help on the move day, making it quicker. In the middle of summer, leave the really hot work to the experts. Instead of carrying a box to the truck, why not just take it as far as the shady garage!

• Help us help you! Our guys get very hot and need to take more regular breaks when working in the middle of the day. You will not be charged for these of course, just expect that the movers will take a 6 minute break every 3 hours or so. It’s tough work!

• Although you need to drink lots of water, your plants don’t on moving day! Try and avoid watering  your plants on the morning of the move, as water could escape and damage your upholstered furniture during the truck ride to your new place. Once plants are unloaded, place them in a shady place and give them a small amount of water. For more on moving plants, see our article ‘Moving pot plants’ .

• Finally, be organised! The whole moving process is much easier when any goods that can fit in a box, are packed in a box and you have a clear idea of where the furniture and items will go in your new house. This means it is quicker, more efficient and you don’t have to lift a finger.

We know that while its not ideal, sometimes moving near Christmas in unavoidable. Below are some tips to make the whole thing much much more bearable!

• Organisation is the key! Try to book the moving day as soon as you know when it is. This way you get your pick of time frames for arrival, like 7:00 am, which will ensure you get it over and done with quickly!
• Let us help you! We can do all your packing, and you would be surprized at how affordable it is! Think about what your time is worth to you, especially at this time of year, and let us take away the pain of packing.
• Think about the events going on in the area- We do our best to know what is happening on the streets over Christmas, but it never hurts to plan and know if there are any roads on route to your new home that are closed. Planning a detour in advance is always better!
• Distract the kids- We can work around the kids, so if they are colouring in at the kitchen table or watching tellie, we can wait til the last minute to pack up and move what is entertaining them- they can also help by carrying small things out or packing their own toys. You will be surprized how helpful they can be!
• For our moves in Melbourne and Brisbane especially- let us know what settlement times are happening on the day. We have found in Melbourne and Brisbane this Christmas period that settlement times have been a little tricky for our customers recently, so if you let us know we can do a whole range of things to make sure you are out of your old home and into your new home with as little down time as possible.
• If your having a BBQ in the weeks following your move, dont forget to label the box with your platter plates and entertaining kitchen wares! If your kids have special stockings, make sure you pack them in a box with all the other vital Christmas things that you would normally just pack anywhere.
• Finally, our experienced team are here to help you with any other queries and plan all the ins and outs of the move. Take advantage of us! Let us know what you need- 1800 004 065.

All the team here at Your Local Movers wish you the very best for Christmas and New Years, and for moving too! Happy Holidays!

Here are some events that will make this Christmas the best one ever, especially if you have just moved to Melbourne and are not quite sure what to do when you are out and about in Melbourne this holiday season…

Did you know? Melbournes hottest ever Christmas day was recorded in 1907 at a sweltering 41 Degrees! This year, they are predicting a day with a top of 22 degrees.

• Melbourne Christmas Lights Tour-  A tour run from dusk til dark that thrill the whole family! Some homes go all out with mist machines, electric moving displays and music displays to put a smile on your face. Look online for your nearest suburb, check out Brunswick, Fairfield and Greensbourough on the North side, and look online for more!
• What about a charity raceday? Western Health Community raceday supports vital health services for Melbournes Western Suburbs, and is coming up on Saturday the 10th Decemeber 2011 at Flemington. Get your fascinators out gals and get ready to back a horse for a gtreat cause this Christmas season!
• Time for Christmas shopping, head down on Sunday the 11th December 2011 to Akoonah Park Market in Berwick. Don’t fancy a long drive across Melbourne? Try Alliance Francaise Christmas Market – a french style market in St Kilda, boasting many unique and special finds. For a market you can get to know and go to regularily try Melbournes oldest market- celebrating its 35th year now, Ararat Trash ‘N’ Treasure Market on Collings st, Ararat.

• And finally who doesn’t want to really get into the spirit with Carols in the Cathedral- a spectacular and traditional performance by the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic at St Paul’s Cathedral (Cnr of Swanson st adn Flinder st, Melbourne) held on Monday the 19th December 2011. This is one of the biggest carol nights in Melbourne and promises bundles of joy and Christmas cheer!

So even if you have just begun living in Melbourne, and don’t quite feel like a tried and true local, get out and about and you will soon feel right at home in the city of Melbourne!

Melbourne and Southern Victoria should expect a drier outlook as persistant above average temperatures across the central to southeastern Indian Ocean from now until Christmas.

Your Local Movers have put together a couple of helpful suggestions for moving to minimise the worry if unexpected grey skies loom above Melbourne.

While moving home when its raining is not always fun, it does not have to be a disastrous experience.  Regardless of the weather, your moving team always reverse the truck as far as possible to the main entrance point into the house.  However there is always a chance of being a gap.  If there is not a clean path between the moving truck and the main entrance, consider laying down old blankets or a carpet cut-off.  Although we can’t help the wet shoes, this will help to avoid tracking in mud or debris into your home.  Avoid laying down plastic sheeting, as it is extremely slippery when wet.

If you have polished floorboards laying down cardboard, old blankets or carpet cut-offs will help to protect them.  If you use cardboard, you might need to replace it a few times during the day as it becomes wet and soggy.

On request, we can supply a range of plastic furniture covers such as mattress protectors, sofa covers and chair covers etc.  For the other furniture items we will cover them with removal pads (similar to thick blankets) for transporting to and from the truck when deemed safe.

Wet weather can weaken the strength of moving boxes, so handle boxes at the bottom if you help transfer them from the truck to the house.  Cross-taping boxes across the bottom before the move will add strength.

Last but not least, even though moving in the rain can be a little extra stressful, with a positive outlook think of the story you can tell when it’s all over and you are comfortable and warm in your new home.

Your Local Movers are proud to announce that our very own Director Zachary Rook and Office Manager Kate Dillon will be participating in Break the Cycle (BTC) Cambodia from 28^th October – 4^th November 2011. Joining the support crew, Kate and Zachary will be helping out as 100 cyclists ride 144km, to raise funds for child focused projects whilst raising awareness for vulnerable children, families and communities in developing countries who are affected by extreme poverty. The event takes place from the historic 1300 year old Angkor Wat temples to Poipet, a town where children are suffering from poverty, neglect and abuse.

In three short years since BTC began, 16 cyclists and support crew has quintupled raising an incredible $215,000. The raised funds have gone towards school building projects, education programs to empower women and children through quality vocational training and life skills development, foster care and assisting local churches develop programs to assist vulnerable children within their own communities.

Partners of Break the Cycle include Be A HERO – a non-profit organisation who set up programs to help over a billion children at risk due to poverty, homelessness, child labour, slavery, plague and war etc.
Eagle Wings Australia – a Christian aid and development for non-profit organisation assisting orphans and vulnerable children within the region of Southern Africa.
Global Development Group – an Australian charity organisation carrying out humanitarian projects with approved partners, providing long term solutions and aid to relieve poverty.

Zachary Rook was honoured by becoming a member of Be A HERO Australia’s (BAHA) board of directors in 2010. Zachary feels that his mix of entrepreneurial skills and passion for others can be used to fight for those in desperate need. October 2010, Zachary spent two weeks in Cambodia, working on one of BAHA’s projects, Safe Haven Children’s Village, located in Poipet. The project focuses on building secure homes for children and single mothers who have been trafficking, or at at risk of being trafficked into Thailand. The project provides care, skills, training and counseling while they are in the safe haven and re-integrated back into the community which enables them to set up their own business using the Micro – Loan scheme.

“Its exciting how quickly our local Cambodian business’s are growing and we’re really looking forward to getting over there, supporting the riders and then pouring some bricks.”

This is the second time Kate has personally be involved with BTC. In 2009, she drove one of the smaller trucks from the Your Local Movers fleet, in aid of the riders, carrying food, supplies and equipment from Brisbane to Canberra and back.

“I’ve been itching to get involved again this year, being the first BTC in Cambodia. It is a very important and challenging event, not only for Be A HERO Australia, but the history of Cambodia to acknowledge the rights of women and children.”

In 1975 the Khmer Rouge regime seized power of Cambodia, forcing radical social reform process that was aimed at creating a purely agrarian-based Communist society. City-dwellers were deported to the countryside where they were combined with the local population and subjected to forced labour. Approximately 1/5 of Cambodian citizens died in waves of murder, torture and starvation, particularly targeting the educated and intellectual elite. The Khmer Rouge believed parents were tainted with capitalism, consequently, children were separated from parents and brainwashed to communism as well as taught torture methods with animals. Children were a dictatorial instrument of the regime and were given leadership in torture and executions.

Be A Hero work with communities in and around Poipet on Cambodia’s northwest border with Thailand. The local non-Government organisation targets the needs and opportunities presented in the community, projects include
– home and school vegetable gardening
– water sanitation
– animal husbandry
– vocational training (sewing, motorbike repair, computer training)
– HIV/AIDS education and home care
– financial assistance to disabled families
– restaurant management, food prep
– hygiene training
– awareness training regarding child trafficking and domestic violence.

To speak with Zachary personally about how you can Be A HERO in the lives of others, please call 1800 004 065.