How to pack for an interstate move from Sydney
Declutter before you pack anything
On a long-distance move, every carton travels the whole distance, so anything you would not buy again at the other end is worth a second look. Go room by room before a single box is built: sell it, donate it, or take it to the tip.
Do this early. A lighter, tidier load is easier to pack, easier to describe in a quote, and easier to unpack. If you are moving between Sydney and another capital, the interstate removals page explains how the job is quoted as one move rather than two.
Cartons, weight and gaps
Use strong, double-wall cartons and tape the bottoms properly. Put heavy items such as books, tools and tinned food in small cartons, and lighter things such as linen and cushions in large ones. A carton you can't lift comfortably is packed wrong.
Don't overfill, and don't leave air. Lids should close flat so cartons stack, and gaps should be filled with paper or soft items so nothing shifts over a long road trip. If you want to know whether cartons and packing materials can be supplied, ask your coordinator rather than assuming.
Fragile items and the kitchen
Wrap glasses, cups and ornaments individually, and pad the bottom of the carton before the first layer goes in. Stand plates and bowls on their edge, never flat, with paper between each one. Mark fragile cartons FRAGILE and THIS WAY UP on more than one side.
The kitchen, glassware and artwork are where packing takes longest and where mistakes cost most. Many of our clients pack clothes, books and paper themselves and leave kitchens, glass and art to the crew. Packing with BARI can be full or partial, so you can choose the split that suits your time and budget.
If you have high-value art, marble or instruments, name them when you book. They are flagged on the run sheet and wrapped to match, rather than discovered on the day.
Furniture and what to take apart
Empty drawers and wardrobes of anything loose, and remove glass shelves and mirrors you can lift out. Bed frames, shelving units and table legs often come apart in minutes, which saves space and reduces the risk of damage in transit.
Put every screw, bolt and fitting in a small bag and tape it to the piece it came from, so reassembly doesn't become a hunt. If you want the crew to dismantle or reassemble anything, ask your coordinator and put it in the written scope.
Label for both ends
Write the room at the new home on every carton, not just what is inside it, and give each carton a number. Keep a simple inventory list that matches the numbers. At delivery, that list lets you check things off and send each carton to the right room first time.
Our standard is protect, account, move, place: items are protected, accounted for against the run sheet, moved with the right handling, then placed where they belong. Good labels make the last step much quicker. You deal with one dedicated coordinator throughout, and access at both ends is set out in a written scope agreed before moving day. Our moving house checklist for Sydney covers the rest of the preparation, and a route page such as Sydney to Melbourne shows how a specific route works.
The essentials box, and what stays off the truck
Pack one box or bag that travels with you, not on the truck: documents, chargers, medication, keys, a kettle, a few mugs, toiletries and a change of clothes for each person. You will want these on the first night, and you won't want to dig for them.
Some things should never go on a removal truck. That includes flammables, gas bottles, aerosols, paints and cleaning chemicals, as well as perishables and anything that could leak. Carry irreplaceable documents, jewellery and other valuables you'd rather keep with you. BARI is insured for goods in transit and public liability, but a passport or a family heirloom is better in your own hands.
When you are ready, request a quote and tell us what you are moving, where it starts and where it ends. For the full process, see our interstate removals page.