Moving day is organised chaos. Between directing the removalists, watching the kids, and ensuring the cat doesn't bolt out the open door, it is easy to lose track of the small things. Unfortunately, the "small things" are often the most valuable.

While professional removalists are experts at moving sofas and fridges, they cannot offer the security required for a diamond engagement ring or a birth certificate. Furthermore, if these items are lost inside a mountain of boxes, finding them can take weeks.

Here is your guide to managing valuables, protecting personal data, and knowing exactly what should—and shouldn’t—go on the truck.

1. The "Do Not Truck" List

There are certain items that simply should not be entrusted to a third party. Whether due to sentimental value, high financial risk, or immediate necessity, these items belong in your personal vehicle or carry-on luggage.

High-Value Small Items

Removalist insurance policies almost universally exclude liability for:

  • Cash and Bullion: There is no way to prove it was there.
  • Jewellery and Watches: Even if insured, the sentimental loss is irreplaceable.
  • Collections: Stamp collections, coins, or trading cards.

Critical Documents

Imagine arriving at your new home and needing to enrol your child in school, only to realise their birth certificate is in box #45 of 100. Keep these in a waterproof folder with you:

  • Passports and Birth Certificates.
  • Property deeds and lease agreements.
  • Insurance policies and medical records.
  • Spare car keys (losing these during a move is a common nightmare).

Medication

Keep a 1-week supply of any prescription medication in your handbag or car. Do not pack it in a bathroom box. Delays happen—trucks break down, or keys get lost—and you don't want to be without critical health supplies.

2. The "Essentials Box" (The First Night Survival Kit)

When you arrive at your new home at 7 pm, exhausted and hungry, you do not want to be slicing open random boxes to find a towel.

Pack a clear plastic tub (so you can see inside) with the essentials for the first 24 hours.

Your Checklist:

  • Toiletries: Toilet paper (crucial!), soap, hand towel, toothbrushes.
  • Kitchen: Kettle, mugs, tea/coffee, teaspoons, paper plates, and a sharp knife.
  • Sleeping: Pyjamas and fresh bed sheets for every bed.
  • Tools: A screwdriver (to reassemble beds), box cutter, and torch.
  • Tech: Phone chargers and power banks.

Pro Tip: If you are moving interstate, mark this box "LOAD LAST" or put it in your own car.

3. Packing High-Value Breakables

For valuables that are too big to carry (like artwork, antiques, or expensive electronics), you need a packing strategy that satisfies insurance requirements.

Electronics (TVs and Computers)

  • Original Box is Best: Nothing protects a computer monitor or OLED TV like the original styrofoam and box.
  • Data Backup: A removalist can replace a smashed laptop, but they cannot replace 10 years of family photos. Back up your hard drive to the cloud or an external drive (and take the drive with you).
  • Cable Management: Take a photo of the back of your TV/Stereo setup before unplugging it. Tape the cables to the device so they don't get lost.

Artwork and Mirrors

  • Don't skimp on bubble wrap: Use specialized "Picture Cartons" (telescopic boxes) available from box shops.
  • Glass Tape: Place a large 'X' of masking tape across the glass of large frames. If the glass shatters, the tape holds the shards in place, preventing them from slashing the canvas or print behind it.

4. Insurance: Read the Fine Print

When comparing removalist quotes, do not just look at the price—look at the insurance policy PDS (Product Disclosure Statement).

  • PBO (Packed by Owner): If you pack your own boxes, insurance typically covers you only if the box is crushed or wet. If you wrap a crystal vase in a t-shirt and it breaks inside an undamaged box, the insurer will likely reject the claim.
  • Valuables Limits: Many policies have a "per item" limit (e.g., $500). If you are moving a $5,000 painting, you must declare it specifically in writing before the move to get it covered.

5. Security on Moving Day

Moving day involves doors propped open and strangers walking in and out. It is a prime opportunity for "walk-in" theft.

Create a "No-Go" Zone:

Designate one room (usually a bathroom or the car boot) as the secure zone.

  1. Put your handbag, keys, laptop, and the "Do Not Truck" items in there.
  2. Lock the door or keep the car locked.
  3. Tell the movers: "The ensuite is off-limits; everything in there stays with me."