Moving house tips for inner Melbourne

Planning your move for Melbourne's inner suburbs

While we have a page on general moving house advice, there are some things to consider when moving in Melbourne (especially the inner suburbs) that are given a bit more attention here.

It is great being close to the action, but Melbourne traffic can get busy, and there can be some narrow streets to navigate when you’re moving house. The back streets of Richmond, Carlton and Fitzroy can be hard to drive through at any time even in a small car, but become a real challenge if you want to get there with a truck full of furniture in peak hour.

On this page

• Starting your plan

• Operation Declutter - don't move junk

• Lean streets - navigating tight spaces

• Working with professional removalists

• Dedicated packing advice

• Choosing the right truck

Operation Declutter – don’t move junk

Taking the time to declutter can make a world of difference for your move. Fewer belongings will mean less packing, lower moving costs, and a likely a smoother process overall. It’ll mean less work on moving day and maybe even a smaller vehicle needed for the move. Plus, starting fresh in a new home feels so much better without the weight of stuff you no longer need.

Begin your decluttering journey by tackling one room at a time. Sort your belongings into four piles: keep, donate, sell, and toss. To be effective, you’ll need to think about what you truly need and use. Consider hosting a garage sale or using Facebook marketplace to find new homes for some of your things. Not only does this lighten your load, but it can also add some helpful cash to your moving budget. Happy decluttering.

Lean streets - navigating tight spaces

Navigating the narrow laneways and streets of inner suburbs, like Richmond, Collingwood, and Carlton, can pose unique challenges for moving. Especially if you’re thinking of renting a truck and doing the driving yourself. Many properties in these areas might have quite limited options in terms of convenient loading zones. If this is the case, it requires even more careful planning. Before the move, it’s important to check for any council restrictions regarding parking permits and loading zone availability to avoid fines. If you’re moving into an apartment they will probably want you to book a lift and there are likely other guidelines they want people to follow.

When scheduling your move, if you have the option, consider choosing off-peak hours to minimize traffic hassle. If you’re working with a professional moving service familiar with the inner suburbs, this can also be really helpful, as they often have experience manoeuvring larger vehicles in tight spaces. Lastly, communicate with your neighbours in advance to minimise disruptions and ensure support during your moving day. It’s always a good idea to be friendly terms with your neighbours.

Working with professional removalists

Hiring professional removalists can do a lot to make life easier. Not only do they bring expertise and efficiency to the table, but they can also save you money in the long run by preventing damage to your belongings and reducing the time spent on the move. With their experience in navigating tight spaces and tricky access points, you can rest easy knowing that your move will go smoothly.

In addition to having protective blankets and coverings to go around your furniture, they also use different kinds of trollies and furniture dollies (think skateboard that moves in all directions). Having this extra gear and knowing how and when to use it, helps get the moving job done more quickly and decreases the chances of something getting dropped, damaged or dented while getting your furniture and possessions into your new home.

When seeking quotes, be sure to ask about all the included services, from packing materials to insurance coverage. Understanding any additional charges—like fees for stairs or long carries—will help you avoid unexpected costs. To compare quotes effectively, look beyond just the price. Make sure you consider the company's reputation, customer reviews, and the services offered to find the best fit for your needs.

Dedicated packing advice

When it comes to packing, there isn't too much that is particular or specific to in a city packing that differs from general advice. In a previous post on Energy Insights there were dedicated tips devoted just to helping you pack in preparation for a move. While you can read that article in full, one main point was to not pay for boxes or bubble wrap as this is often something that you might be able to obtain from your own friends, Facebook marketplace or even Bunnings.

Choosing the right truck

Depending on which removalists you choose, you might have different truck sizes available.

When moving in the inner suburbs of Melbourne, there are a lot of smaller dwellings and apartments, which means you probably don't need an enormous vehicle to get your move done. Small vans are great in terms of being easier to get through narrow streets and small parking spaces, but might not have enough space if you need to move some particularly big bulky items. Another issue might be that you can't get it all done in a single journey, and there needs to be back-and-forth which will make your move time take longer.

A larger truck is likely to mean that you can get it all done in one move and won't have an issue if you have some bigger bulky furniture. However, the obvious trade-off there is that it will be more difficult to get through narrow streets and maybe more challenging for parking.

Moving house is always likely to throw up some unexpected challenges along the way, but hopefully with some of these strategies in place you’ll be able to tame the chaos and have your move be a smooth one.