|
SINGAPORE EXPAT'S CHOICE MOVING GUIDE
This moving guide is to provide you with helpful information about
relocating to Singapore. We'll explain the moving process step by step in order to
ease your transition and do our best to help you turn a potentially
stressful day into one that is more organised.
-
Decide on your budget.
How much do you want to spend on this move? Do you want to hire
professional movers? Rent a do-it-yourself van?
-
Plan ahead. Collect
boxes and packing materials months in advance if possible. It can't be
done all in one day.
-
Decide which rooms need
to be packed first. Which items you could do without. Give away or
sell any unwanted items.
-
Packing. Hire a mover to
pack your items if you can. They can do it professionally and
efficiently. Ensure there's a contract verifying their liability.
-
Label all boxes
including contents and room destination.
-
Call all relevant
companies to discontinue, gas supply, electricity, water, newspaper
delivery and phone services. At the same time arrange for these
services at your new place.
-
Arrange for your home
insurance for fire and theft. Make sure it includes the structure of
the building together with the contents.
-
Do your homework and
find a good mover. Ask around. Maybe your friends have a good mover to
suggest. WJ Lloyds will have a few suggestions for you.
-
Take a day off and stay
with the movers all the way if possible.
-
Call the movers to
reconfirm packing and pick up timing. This is critical when a new
family is moving into your home.
Examine all your
furnishings and take inventory of your boxes before signing a receipt of
goods after delivery to your new home. If there is anything lost or
damaged, document it on the receipt.
Useful Packing Tips
Whether you're packing for
yourself or letting others do it, it's always important to plan ahead!
In either case, you may want to see to fragile or valuable items. But
please note — movers are not responsible for damage to boxes
you've packed yourself.
Before you start...
You might want to create
an informal schedule of what things to pack when. Most importantly, plan
for a box of "Open First/Pack Last" essentials like:
-
Utility knife —
essential for the rest of the job!
-
Dishes, flatware,
especially glasses.
-
Pillows, bedding,
towels.
-
Cleaning products, paper
towels (which you can also use as packing material).
-
Medication and essential
toiletries (soap, toilet paper, shampoo).
-
First-aid kit.
-
Address book or PDA.
-
An alarm clock or clock
radio.
-
A small lamp or
flashlight.
-
Cellular phone with
charger or plug-in phone (for emergencies).
-
Important papers (bank
statements, prescriptions) or computer files.
Packing Supplies
If doing your own packing, here's a checklist of supplies you'll need:
-
Boxes, boxes, boxes!
Start collecting early—you'd be surprised how many you'll need. Copier
paper, computer and liquor boxes, as well as orange cartons, are your
best bet. The more you can collect beforehand, the better…they may
take up space but they're a great money-saver.\
-
For clothing, best to
purchase large garment boxes (about $15 each). They have sturdy
crossbars across the top so you can hang your suits, dresses, coats,
etc.
-
Clear plastic bags are
great for small stuff and you can easily identify their contents.
-
Packing tape—you can't
have too much. Don't forget to tape the box bottoms.
-
Masking tape is
excellent for labeling or securing covers around larger items.
-
Twine or sturdy cord for
tying up cords and boxes and framed items.
-
Labels help you and the
movers unload boxes to the right room. Use colored labels to instantly
identify each box. And don't forget the markers.
-
Foam peanuts, newspaper,
paper towels or bubble wrap.
-
Small tools, like hammer
or screwdriver, for disassembly.
-
A notepad to record and
color-code what you packed. Keep this with your important documents.
-
And remember—many moving
companies sell sturdy and/or custom boxes.
Packing Tips
Doing it yourself will save you money…but consider a moving service.
It'll cost but you'll definitely save a lot of time and receive a
professional packing job.
-
Label and/or code every
box! It'll streamline your unpacking if you identify and unpack room
by room.
-
Start early with a
couple of boxes each day. It helps to pack a room at a time.
-
Distribute with heavy
items—no box should be over 50 lbs..
-
Use smaller boxes for
heavier items (like books) for better manageability.
-
Heavy items go in first.
-
Cover clothing with
plastic against moisture or dust.
5
TOP
©
Copyright 2003 - 2008 Singapore Property Consultants Pte Ltd.
All rights reserved.
Best view on
Internet Explorer 1024 x 768 pixels.
Disclaimer
Privacy Statement
|