RSA Removals
Tailored Solutions
Whether you are moving next door, or to the other end of the country, whether you are moving from a city apartment to a country house or from the countryside to the centre of Johannesburg, Britannia Movers International can offer a simple, stress-free moving experience. Britannia has been moving homes for decades, and we know that all our customers have different needs.
Storage
Do you need a secure place to store your belongings before you move into your new home? Are you stuck for space? You can choose from Britannia’s range of storage options.
Packing
Would you like to just sit back and let our professional removal team do the work? Do you have fragile, valuable or bulky items? Our highly trained removers will pack your goods professionally . Our packing service can significantly reduce wear to your household goods during your move.
Moving Cover
Britannia offers a range of insurance options. You can thus rest assured that all your valued items will be safe in our hands.
Moving Tips
Moving House
Moving house is an important and potentially exciting event in your life. At Britannia Movers International, we will do everything to make it a hassle-free experience, offering additional packing and storage services and advice, whenever necessary.We hope that this list of Moving Tips we have compiled will help you prepare for the move.
- Prepare Ahead: When moving house, you will have to organise many things ahead of time. Make a list of the things you have to do. Get plenty of packing material, think about the furniture and other belongings that you want to move, and the items you need to leave behind. If you have small children, or pets, for example, you will also have to organise care for them. Use Britannia’s Moving Checklist to have an overview of the things you need to take care of.
- Moving Boxes: You may have already bought your new home, but to get the moving process going, it is essential to get moving boxes and other packing material. You can choose from a wide range of quality boxes and other packaging when you contact your nearest Britannia office, or you may decide to get hold of moving boxes from shops in your neighborhood for example.
- Communicate with your moving company: It is essential to choose a moving company that is willing to help you whenever you need advice, and with whom you can communicate effectively. Establish the date of moving well ahead, do not be afraid to discuss anything you need to know, and confirm the removal again a few days before the moving day as well, to avoid any misunderstandings. At Britannia Movers International, we always aim to provide advice and information our customers need, so do not hesitate to contact us.
- Access for the removal van: Think about how the removal van can access your current and future home, advise your neighbors that the van will be parking outside your house, and get any necessary permits.
- Decide what to take & what to leave behind: You will not necessarily want to take everything with you, especially if you are moving abroad. Make a list of the things you are definitely taking with you – It is also useful to have an inventory when you are unpacking, and it is a requirement at customs when you are moving abroad. Don’t just throw away the items you are leaving behind. Ask your relatives and friends if they want anything, give the things to charities, or organise a garage sale.
- Think about your new home: Draw up a map of your new home. If it is considerably smaller than your current home for example, you definitely need to leave some things behind. If you start packing based on how you are planning to unpack in your new home, moving in will be much easier.
- Packing: You can either order a professional packing service from your removal company, which is highly recommended if you are moving abroad, or if you have many fragile and valuable items, or you can decide to pack yourself. If you will be packing yourself, you should start packing your items a few weeks before the moving day, and go through everything systematically. Label moving boxes clearly, and pack essential items only in the last few days. Don’t put too many or too few items into one box.
- Notify gas, electric & water companies in advance: As you are changing address, you will have to notify these companies, banks, friends and relatives to send your mail to your new address. Notify your employer, and if you have any children, you will have to take care of changing schools as well.
- Do not pack personal documents, jewelry and money: You might need these items during the removal, or while they are in storage. Don’t pack items that you will need right after you move in, or always keep track of where you are putting them.
- Research the area where you are moving to: If you are moving to Europe or overseas, it is very important to get to know as much about the new country as you can, before moving there. This way, the transition will hopefully not be stressful for you and your family. Even if you are moving within South Africa, it is advisable to get to know as much about the new area and the neighborhood as you can.
- Be present on the moving day: To ensure that everything goes as planned with the removal team, it is important to be present on the moving day.
- Check your old home once more: Check that you have not left any items behind. Also turn off gas, electricity and close all the windows.
House Moving Checklist
5-6 Weeks Before Your Move
- Think about the exact date you want to move.
- Start planning your move
- You might need furniture for your new home. Start ordering them now.
- If you think you’ll need extra storage space, book it now. Britannia Movers International has a wide variety of national and international storage facilities.
- Decide if you are packing yourself or ordering a packing service and plan accordingly.
- Decide if you are packing yourself or ordering a packing service and plan accordingly.
3-4 Weeks Before Your Move
- Confirm the date of the move with your moving company.
- Arrange childcare for the moving day – Although older children may well want to be involved in your move, and even help you pack and organise some things, you may decide that it will be less stressful for younger children, if you arrange them to go to relatives or friends on the moving day.
- Make arrangements for moving your pets – Moving can be very disruptive for pets so you may want to ask a vet for specialist advice on taking care of your animals during the move.
- Take a full inventory and start sorting out your belongings.
- Clear out unwanted belongings – Planning a fresh start in your new home is an ideal time to clear out any unwanted belongings. You can give these items to friends and family, or hold a garage sale. Local charity shops will also welcome smaller items such as books, ornaments, some furniture or clothing.
- Get the essential moving supplies.
- Start packing items you don’t use very often and start emptying your freezer.
2 Weeks Before Your Move
- Notify your essential service providers, banks and any other financial institutions, about your move. You will need to arrange for water, gas and electricity meter readings on the day of your move. Make sure that all services are connected in your new home the day you move in.
- Transfer your phone number – Have your telephone number transferred or changed.
- Arrange for your post to be redirected
- Organise the disconnection and reconnection of domestic appliances, like your washing machine, cooker, and gas fires.
- Plan the moving day in detail.
- Decide how you are going to transport your valuable items, like jewellery, money and antiques and your plants and pets.
- Finalise everything with your moving company. Confirm arrival dates, addresses, and think about parking facilities for the removal van.
1 Week Before Your Move
- Finish packing all non-essential items and clean the house thoroughly.
- Finish packing all non-essential items and clean the house thoroughly.
- Put all important documents in one box or bag which you will move yourself – this should include passports, driving licenses, wills, birth certificates, insurance papers, cash and jewellery.
- Defrost and clean your fridge and freezer.
- Cancel any regular deliveries you have to your present home, like milk or newspapers.
The Day Before Your Move
- If you have ordered our professional packing service, you have to prepare some things to make the packing as fast as possible – You can usually leave drawers and trunks with their contents intact, provided there are no breakable items inside. If you do this however, it is your responsibility to point out to the crew drawers, wardrobes, cupboards and other containers that have ‘out of sight’ items within.
- Liquids, oils and paints must be placed into sealed containers. We cannot transport inflammable material, so dispose of these safely.
- Empty all bins; it is your responsibility to ensure that all bins are emptied of contents. Removal crew will not carry any type of receptical containing refuse. This is particularly important when your goods are due to go into storage for a period of time.
- Put together a ‘do not remove pile’ – Essential things that you do not want us to remove, such as snacks, handbags, or cleaning materials.
The Moving Day
- You can now leave the hard work to us, but there are a few essential things you will need to take care of.
- Be present when the movers arrive and answer their questions when necessary.
- Check the condition of your belongings as they are being loaded.
- Make sure that you are not leaving anything behind. Walk around your property, ideally with the foreman of our removal crew to check that nothing has been overlooked.
- Drop keys at the estate agents if you need to.
- Make sure that you have exchanged contact numbers with our removal team, and arrange a time to meet them at your new home.
- If you have requested an unpacking service, please assist the crew to ensure that items are placed in the appropriate rooms. You will need to place items such as clothes into wardrobes and cupboards.
- Our removal crew will remove the majority of debris from packing materials, however if there are any left behind or you have asked to complete the unpacking, please contact Britannia via the number on side of the box from your home number. We will then arrange for a convenient day to collect the materials so they can be recycled.
Moving With Children
Making the most of moving with children
Whether you are moving in RSA, moving with children doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. Depending on your children’s age, you can involve them in the moving process, and by emphasizing the exciting side of the move, you will help them embrace the adventure.
- Tell your children about the move as soon as possible: As soon as you have any definite plans, tell your older children about the move. Give many details, and do not wait until the last minute – they shouldn’t hear it from someone else. This way, they’ll have time to adjust to the new circumstances, and say goodbye to their friends.
- Think about your childrens school: If you have school-aged children, you should ideally move in the summer, as changing schools during the year can be an unnecessarily stressful experience. It is also important to look for suitable schools in the area where you are going, and to involve your children in choosing a new school. Starting the new school year in a school that your children like will be a much more positive experience for them rather than rushing the move.
- Pay attention to your children and talk to them: When organising the move, you might have less time to spend with your children. But they are also going through a potentially upsetting change, so it’s always important to answer any of their questions and concerns patiently.
- Involve your children in choosing the new house: If your children are old enough, you can easily involve them in choosing the new home, which will make them feel as part of the process, and will definitely get them excited. Once you’ve narrowed the choices down, take your kids to the potential houses if possible, where they’ll be able to familiarise themselves with the new area, and contribute to the family discussions about the move, and the choice.
- Involve children in the packing and moving process: Creating a sense of team-work and giving your children age-specific tasks will get them more excited about the move. Allow them to arrange and pack their own rooms, and if they are older, participate in the actual planning as well. You should also let them make plans about their new rooms, think about the decoration, colour of the walls, curtains, and new furniture.
- Encourage your children to say goodbye and keep in touch: While teenagers won’t need much assistance to keep in touch with their old friends, younger children might need encouragement and reassurance when saying goodbye. Try to organise a leaving party for your smaller children and their friends, and keep in touch with their parents. Your children might also need reassurance that they will see their old friends again.
- Moving day: Younger children should stay with relatives or friends. This will make the transition smoother and create less confusion for the children. Always pack the kids’ toys and personal items in separate boxes and somewhere immediately accessible after arriving in the new house. Older children can provide help and assistance on the moving day.
- Arriving in your new home: Relax and don’t start unpacking everything right away. If you look excited and happy, your children will also feel much more positive and confident about the move. When unpacking, arrange the children’s rooms first, especially if they are smaller.
- Help them adjust: Once you’ve settled in to the new house, you can start truly exploring your new neighbourhood. Encourage your children, depending on their age, to join clubs, societies, and keep them excited about the new school and about the prospect of making new friends. Always take the time to listen to any concerns, and help your children if they seem upset or withdrawn after the move.