How to organise a garage before moving house

Sort everything into keep, sell and dispose piles before you pack a single box. Deal with the dangerous stuff separately, because most removalists won't carry it. Then pack by category into sturdy boxes and label them. That order matters. People who start by packing end up moving rubbish. If you're pricing moving boxes perth suppliers for a garage full of tools and gear, count the clear out as step one, since every item you remove is a box you don't buy.

The short answer first

1. Sort first, pack second

A garage is where houses keep everything they couldn't decide about. Half-used paint, a bike nobody rides, a box marked "misc" from the last move. Packing all of it just moves the decision to the other end, where you'll make it in a worse mood.

So sort first. Decide what's worth moving, then pack only that.

2. Why the garage is the hardest room

It takes longer than you think

A kitchen has a clear edge: cupboards, drawers, done. A garage has no edges. Every shelf hides another box, and every box hides another smaller box. Give it more time than you'd give a bedroom, and start it first.

Heavy and awkward items

Tools are dense. Ladders, timber offcuts, bikes and garden gear don't fit in boxes. Some of it is greasy, sharp or leaking. Lifting it badly is how backs go. This is the room where you'll most want a second pair of hands.

Start with a clear out

1. Three piles

Mark out three areas on the floor, or use three lots of tape on the driveway. Keep. Sell or donate. Dispose. Move each item to a pile as you pick it up. If you've handled something twice and still can't decide, ask whether you've used it in the last year. If not, it goes.

2. Be hard on duplicates

Garages are full of doubles. Three hammers, four tape measures, two half-empty tins of the same paint. Keep the best one of each and let the rest go. A cracked plastic bucket, a hose with a split and the broken fan heater all belong in the dispose pile. I'd rather argue with you about a spare drill than carry it across Perth.

3. Sell what's worth selling

Power tools, bikes, outdoor furniture and fitness gear sell well online if they work. Take photos in daylight, write an honest description and set a price you'd accept. Whatever doesn't sell in a week or two goes to a charity shop or the tip. Don't let items sit in the garage waiting for a buyer on moving day.

Items that need special handling

1. Fuel, paint and chemicals

What removalists usually won't take

Most removalists refuse flammable liquids, fuel, solvents, pool chemicals, strong cleaners and similar goods, because they're dangerous in a hot truck. Rules differ between companies, so ask yours for their list of items they won't carry. Do it early, since it changes what you need to dispose of.

Where it goes instead

Many local governments and regional councils in WA run household hazardous waste drop-offs or collections. Dates, locations and accepted items vary, so check your own council's website before you load the car. Never tip chemicals down a drain or into the bin. Dried paint tins sometimes go in general waste, but rules differ, so check before you bin them.

2. Gas bottles and batteries

Gas cylinders have transport rules, and many movers won't take them. Ask your gas supplier whether you can return or exchange the bottle, and don't move a half-used cylinder in a closed car boot. Car batteries and rechargeable batteries should go to a proper recycling point. Many hardware stores and councils accept them.

3. Power tools and the lawnmower

Drain the fuel from petrol mowers, whipper snippers and generators before the move, and let them run dry. Clean off the grass and mud. Take the batteries out of cordless tools and pack them separately. Keep tool manuals and chargers together in one labelled box so you can find them at the other end.

Pack by category

1. Hand tools and hardware

Pack tools in small, strong boxes, because they get heavy fast. A toolbox with a latch is fine as it is. Wrap sharp blades in cardboard, and put loose screws, nails and fittings in sealed containers or zip bags. Don't fill any box with tools to the top. If you can't lift it comfortably, take something out.

2. Garden and outdoor gear

Tie long-handled tools into a bundle with rope or tape so they travel together. Coil hoses, clean pots and let anything damp dry before packing. Soil and fertiliser can add weight and mess. Think twice before you move bags of either. Some councils and nurseries also have rules about moving certain plants and soil between areas, so check before you pack your garden.

3. Sports, camping and car bits

Group these by activity. Camping gear in one tub, fishing gear in another, ball sports in a bag. Dry your tent, swags and sleeping bags completely before storing them, or they'll smell by the time you open them. Car bits like jacks, tyre pumps and roof racks go together in one box so you can find them when you need them.

Boxes and supplies for a garage

1. Sizes that suit garage stuff

Small boxes for heavy items, medium for general gear, and large only for light, bulky things like sleeping bags. Garage contents are heavier than they look, so you'll use more small boxes than you'd expect. When you're comparing packing boxes perth suppliers, check the wall thickness and weight rating, because thin boxes split under a load of tools.

Here's an invented example to show the idea. Say a double garage clears down to about 40 boxes' worth, three big items and a pile for the tip. Your numbers will differ, so count your own.

2. Boxes, crates or tubs

Plastic tubs and crates are tougher than cardboard, stack well and survive damp. They cost more, but you can reuse them. Cardboard is cheaper and fine for dry, lighter items. A mix works well. If you're ordering moving boxes perth shops deliver, allow a few days and ask about bundles, since they're often cheaper per box.

3. Labels that help

Write the room it's going to, a short list of contents and, for heavy boxes, "heavy" on the side. Use a marker on at least two sides. Put a bold label on anything fragile or sharp. You'll thank yourself at the other end when you're looking for the drill and not the garden gloves.

A timeline that works

1. Four weeks out

Do the clear out and list things for sale. Ask your removalists what they won't carry. Find your council's hazardous waste dates and book anything that needs a booking. Start with the shelves at the back, the stuff you'll never miss.

2. Two weeks out

Pack what you don't use: seasonal gear, spare parts, camping equipment. Drain fuel, clean the mower and set aside items for disposal. Collect or order boxes and tape. If you're buying packing boxes perth businesses stock, now is a good time, before the rush.

3. The last week

Pack the daily-use stuff. Take items to the tip or charity shop. Sweep and tidy as you go. Leave tools you need for dismantling shelves or flat packs until last, in one clearly marked box.

Moving day in the garage

1. Big items first

Load bikes, ladders, workbenches and heavy equipment before boxes, as they sit best on the bottom and against the walls. Tell your movers about anything that doesn't fit through a door without dismantling.

2. Safety on the day

Wear sturdy shoes and gloves. Clear a path to the truck so nobody trips on a hose or a stray offcut. Keep kids and pets out. Heavy lifts need two people, and some items should be handled by the professionals.

3. The final sweep

Once it's empty, walk the garage with a torch. Check high shelves, corners and under the workbench. Sweep the floor and check for oil stains or paint spills if you rent, since they can come out of your bond. Take photos of the clean, empty space.

Conclusion

A garage is the room most likely to go wrong on moving day, because it holds the heaviest, messiest and most hazardous things you own. Sort first, handle chemicals and fuel properly, pack by category and give yourself more time than feels necessary. What I can't tell you is what your removalists will refuse, or what your council accepts at its drop-off, because both differ. Ask them early. When it's time to buy supplies, compare packing boxes perth sellers on strength and delivery, and order your moving boxes perth stock a few days ahead. A tidy garage at the end of the move is a good feeling, and a clear one at the start is even better.