Carefully or very carefully is the short answer, but moving home in Cairns brings its own set of challenges. In addition, there are different considerations to be made when moving a bulky piano, to something more delicate, like your great auntie’s crockery.
With four decades under our belt, we know a thing or two about moving furniture, antiques, and fragile items. In this blog, we’ll share some key considerations and help you avoid your precious family heirlooms being damaged in transit.
Why moving in Cairns needs extra care
Anyone who has lived through a wet season or two will know that our tropical climate equals humidity and heavy downpours of torrential rain. This alone will make moving day a logistical headache and sweat-a-thon, which isn’t an ideal situation. Add to the mix large furniture pieces, antiques, or fragile items, alongside steep driveways and bumpy roads, and what you have is your own makeshift Ninja Warrior course.
Instead of dealing with obstacles, hurdles, and changing weather conditions, a professional Cairns removals company has the expertise, equipment, and packing materials that minimise the risk of damage, reduce headaches, and shift the stress to trained removalists.
Not convinced? Let us break it down for you…
Challenges in moving furniture and antiques in Cairns
The intense humidity and heat can cause wood to swell, warp, and finishes to melt. Regardless of whether you’re moving or not, finding solutions to combat damage caused by humidity to any precious items (we can include clothes in this too) is crucial.
If you’re brave enough to move in the rain, beware of water damage. Soft furnishings may never look the same again. Wood may warp. But worst of all, everything gets extra slippery from the ground to the table legs to the picture frame. One slip and anything your carrying, your back and even your pride may take a dent.
Once everything is packed and loaded, it’s time to move everything to the new home. For rural and remote relocations, there are additional challenges to navigate. From driving on winding (or downhill) roads, unsealed or narrow paths, steep driveways, and long distances, the risk of damage increases, and that’s a risk all year round. Add in wet weather and you’re in for a tense drive.
Packing Tips for Fragile Items
If you’ve ever unwrapped a moving box only to find your “well-protected” wine glasses have suddenly turned into modern art, you’ll realise that packing fragile items requires more than just stuffing newspaper and hoping for the best.
The golden rules? Wrap, cushion, and label. Each item deserves its own cocoon, think bubble wrap for plates, foam for glassware, and plenty of soft padding for ceramics. When in doubt, double box it: one box inside another with a cushy barrier in between. This extra layer can mean the difference between “cheers!” and “tears.”
Now, it may sound obvious, but we need to spell it out. Don’t be tempted to cram every delicate item into one giant box. Spread the risk, but also keep the boxes easier to handle, by keeping them in small boxes. Labelling them with ‘Fragile’ and ‘This Way Up’ will quickly identify them to you and your removalist, plus reduce the chances of you juggling the boxes on your driveway.
Transporting Antiques and Valuable Items
The best way to transport antiques and valuable items is with a professional removals team who have the specialist equipment to handle these items with care.
If it’s irreplaceable, don’t risk it. Even a short sit on a wet driveway can leave a permanent mark on your antiques.
Movement is the enemy. Our custom-fitted trucks and straps ensure that everything stays securely in place during transit. However, it also takes experience and training to know how to handle these often delicate pieces. Too much pressure from straps or stacking other furniture can also leave unwanted marks on your antique furniture.
To tackle our tropical climate and protect your fragile or antique items, waterproof covers and breathable wraps can prevent humidity from causing damage. A professional removalist will have no shortage of these to use for your move, but we often see DIYers getting very creative with their attempts. If you don’t have the right gear, though, the chances are you will increase the risk of damage.
And finally, don’t skip insurance. Even the steadiest hands and strongest straps can’t control a sudden downpour or pothole.
How Professional Cairns Removalists Can Help
Ok. Here’s the truth. Rather than run the risk of your partner or mother forever carrying a grudge for that time you chipped grandmother’s finest china when moving home, wouldn’t it be better to hand it over to someone who’s done this thousands of times before?
Professionally trained removalists, bring more than just muscle – although you do get that too. They also bring specialised gear, such as lifting straps, trolleys, wraps and covers, alongside the experience to manoeuvre your precious belongings through tight hallways, steep staircases and driveways without drama.
Worried about packing things properly? We can take care of that, too.
In short, professional removalists don’t just move your stuff, they safeguard your memories (and relationships). And that’s worth far more than the cost of the truck.
