Warning: This is the story how NOT to change houses

Yep..the reason I asked was for maximising servicability reasons if you had just got new jobs.

Definately I do not recommend anyone to change jobs between houses. It could have put us to the extremely tricky situation, if we needed mortgage and banks refused due to the new jobs. Again did not even occur to our mind when we did it. :eek: However it turned out that we did not have any issues to obtain finance Both of us have been working in same industries for last 20 years. Like I said: We like living dangerously :D But not recommended for the people with low stress tolerance...
 
:) I'm actually quite shocked how people manage to buy/sell/clean/research new property/fix existing house and stay sane. It's so time consuming, I've barely had a break in months.

Tell me about it! Not sure how other people do it with the full time jobs as well. I feel like looser and unresourceful when struggling with process. :(

Hopefully you and your start to get back to normal. I do not know what would we do if something happens to my or my hubby's health.

I also forgot to mention that DO NOT start house moving process if you have a old vintage car in pieces in your garage... :eek:
 
There's the cost of your renos! Sue 'em all!
How do I choose a solicitor? Will have to also lodge a claim for poor puppy that hasn't been walked for 6 months :)




Tell me about it! Not sure how other people do it with the full time jobs as well. I feel like looser and unresourceful when struggling with process. :(

Hopefully you and your start to get back to normal. I do not know what would we do if something happens to my or my hubby's health.
Hope you are on the mend from your accident.




Thanks Tillie and Travelbug. -4 wks in Bali sounds good to relax after this! I have a good friend/cleaner on hand who has been a massive help throughout the process. I couldn't have done it without her. Hubby's at work 12 hours day plus half day Saturday compulsory overtime. Madness! Physio says it will take about a year to be close to full capacity so I'm at half-way mark. :)

Storage container is a great idea. Can even load a car in one! It's probably worth bubble wrapping your best furniture for peace of mind! A good company should then use blankets also.

I've already been through the huge cull in the past 4 yrs from having a large house I filled up with cr@p and a couple of interstate moves. I now have minimal furniture. Furniture removalists helped with that decision when the didn't cover furniture with blankets as they said they would on website and everything apart from washing machine got ruined. Didn't have enough insurance to cover damage.

The purchaser (FHB) of my home loved all the staging so much he has offered to purchase anything/everything in my home, even including pictures! I'm putting some prices on a few things I want to upgrade. I've discovered my almost white lounge suite isn't very dog/kid friendly! As others have pointed out to me also my furniture may not suit my new house. If the buyers of your property are cashed up maybe you could check with agent if they are interested in purchasing some excess furniture.
We will be using removalist and found a couple companies, that offers container storage solution. So we (read: they) will load everything to a container, store container and then bring it to the new house and unload.

Honestly we have so much c##p and we can not take everything with us and before even get to packing stage we have to go through everything and decide what to keep, sell, donate or throw
 
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+ It was a Melbourne based company that damaged all my furniture! There is a way to avoid the dodgy removalists, trying to remember! I think it was to check if they are accredited with removalist association. I got a list through consumer protection.
I think this could be the list. http://www.afra.com.au
 
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We will be using removalist and found a couple companies, that offers container storage solution. So we (read: they) will load everything to a container, store container and then bring it to the new house and unload.

Another tip: make a list of everything being stored, EVERYTHING! The removalist will do the same and have you sign off. Make sure you check your list against theirs before you sign off. It sounds obvious but take it from my, they're sneaky, *******s. I lost a TV, a video player, a tallboy & another box of stuff which didn't make it into storage. I was heading OS & didn't check well enough. There was absolutely nothing I could do when I got back a year later as i'd signed off.
 
+ It was a Melbourne based company that damaged all my furniture! There is a way to avoid the dodgy removalists, trying to remember! I think it was to check if they are accredited with removalist association. I got a list through consumer protection.
I think this could be the list. http://www.afra.com.au

AFRA is a bit of a con too.Some of the members will sub contract the work out to a lower priced removalist and pocket the difference.I have seen this bait and switch hundreds of times,then its pass the baton with problems.Accreditation........................hmmmmmmm,there is no such thing,in house maybe,but this is a fancy word to impress customers.
 
Another tip: make a list of everything being stored, EVERYTHING! The removalist will do the same and have you sign off. Make sure you check your list against theirs before you sign off. It sounds obvious but take it from my, they're sneaky, *******s. I lost a TV, a video player, a tallboy & another box of stuff which didn't make it into storage. I was heading OS & didn't check well enough. There was absolutely nothing I could do when I got back a year later as i'd signed off.

Yes, I didn't realise part of vacuum cleaner was missing. Replacement piece for wand and special attachments was worth $300. A guy I went to school with had same brand lying around that he donated to me although I couldn't use all the attachments with it.
 
AFRA is a bit of a con too.Some of the members will sub contract the work out to a lower priced removalist and pocket the difference.I have seen this bait and switch hundreds of times,then its pass the baton with problems.Accreditation........................hmmmmmmm,there is no such thing,in house maybe,but this is a fancy word to impress customers.

Interesting! I think the difference though is that I couldn't get consumer protection to help me since removalist wasn't accredited but they could have done something if they were?
 
Speaking very openly here,AFRA was formed by various removal companies Australia wide to corner the defence contracts,and government contracts to relocate employees.You pay to be a member,if your not in the club you don't get a pick at the work,and its BIG business,and getting in is near on impossible,the rules and regulations are all dictated in house,as is accreditation.
 
How do I choose a solicitor? Will have to also lodge a claim for poor puppy that hasn't been walked for 6 months :)

I suppose you could claim out of pocket expenses for liposuction and vet's fees for your dog as a consequential loss.

How do you pick a good solicitor for a personal injuries claim here in Qld?
Generally I would steer clear of the 3 big names (they run ads on TV) as the barrister I brief is also used by them and he tells me their fees are usually about 50% or more higher than what I or many suburban solicitors charge. Don't go with a firm that charges a fixed fee retainer for each step unless they are prepared to give you a breakdown of each step and estimated costs. They use this to get around the 50% rule- that is their fee can't exceed 50% of net amount recovered in "no win no fee" claims.
For a simple whiplash if you were hit from behind you don't need an Accredited Specialist- but make sure whoever is handling it has at least 4-5 years experience in the game.

PM me with your proposed choice and I'll give you my 2 cents worth on them.
 
I suppose you could claim out of pocket expenses for liposuction and vet's fees for your dog as a consequential loss.

How do you pick a good solicitor for a personal injuries claim here in Qld?
Generally I would steer clear of the 3 big names (they run ads on TV) as the barrister I brief is also used by them and he tells me their fees are usually about 50% or more higher than what I or many suburban solicitors charge. Don't go with a firm that charges a fixed fee retainer for each step unless they are prepared to give you a breakdown of each step and estimated costs. They use this to get around the 50% rule- that is their fee can't exceed 50% of net amount recovered in "no win no fee" claims.
For a simple whiplash if you were hit from behind you don't need an Accredited Specialist- but make sure whoever is handling it has at least 4-5 years experience in the game.

PM me with your proposed choice and I'll give you my 2 cents worth on them.
No the dog claim would be for him becoming a 'night chewer' due to not enough exercise/walks. :) So the claim would be for regular replacement of any dog bedding, garden ornaments, hammers and other tools with wood or rubber handles, hose attachments, $20 synthetic chew bones that are recommended to last 3 months but only last two nights, multiple packs of raw-hide Re-imbursement.
I'm back in Perth now so I guess I could take your general advice but you may not be familiar with Perth firms?
 
No the dog claim would be for him becoming a 'night chewer' due to not enough exercise/walks. :) So the claim would be for regular replacement of any dog bedding, garden ornaments, hammers and other tools with wood or rubber handles, hose attachments, $20 synthetic chew bones that are recommended to last 3 months but only last two nights, multiple packs of raw-hide Re-imbursement.
I'm back in Perth now so I guess I could take your general advice but you may not be familiar with Perth firms?

Couldn't help you with a Perth firm- if the accident happened in Qld though you would use a local solicitor (or I would anyway).
Your dog is suffering PTSD and has a solid claim for nervous shock!:D
 
Couldn't help you with a Perth firm- if the accident happened in Qld though you would use a local solicitor (or I would anyway).
Your dog is suffering PTSD and has a solid claim for nervous shock!:D

All happened in Perth but thanks for offer anyway!
Exactly the diagnosis I was thinking :D, poor deprived puppy, a dog bed or blanket only lasts one night before they are ripped or full of holes so he sleeps on a bunch of torn up blankets now.
 
Removalist Recommendation

Sorting out stuff has been distrubing my internet activities :D If there is anyone that has moved recently in Melbourne please feel free to add here recommendations or overall comments about your experience. I have been in contact with a couple firms that I found from www.womo.com.au but more recommendations are welcolme.

My criteria is thayt a removalist has to have container storage solution and appropriate insurances as well as they have to be a member of AFRA. Even if accordign to the previous posts it might not mean much, but maybe it gives a little bit more security than to go with the firm without.
 
Every 6 months or so, I find things to donate or recycle. I hate hoarding things. I find life is easier when you have less stuff! Same goes for my workplace. Makes changing desks, jobs or going on maternity leave very easy!
 
Funny - I just came across my daughter's old Barbie back pack with wheels. I was a bit horrified she still had it at 15! I asked her gently if she was ready to part with it.
Her reply, "mum, you were the one who wanted to keep it! I wanted to get rid of it years ago."
 
Homeless beachbum

Just an update. The first move is now over and we are officially homeless on the beach with a really healthy bank balance :D Luckily weather this week could not have been better and some relaxation is more than welcome after all the madness in our life recently. I still can not get over how much stuff we have and how much time it takes to sort and pack it all.

However not a dull moment in my life. I already mentioned in the other thread that my car is playing up and now between houses I have to start car hunting. Finance is already organised with a good 4.99% interest rate. Now just has to decide the type of car and negotiate the deal. All recommendations are more than welcome. Planning to buy either new or demo car. Also if anyone knows good negotiating tactics that works when dealing with car salespeople :D, please post them here...
 
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