Moving in to new property has always been a hard thing to do. Particularly the part of carrying heavy fridge, washing machines and other furnitures. Its almost certain that you will one way or another be exhausted, drained or hurt yourself.
When it comes to transporting your stuffs. Transport plays a crucial role to get this things in order. If you don’t have much stuffs to move; like only clothings and small personal effects, then you just use your car like what our neighbors did. Would you believe they managed to fit it their stuffs using their 2 door Mitsubishi Mirage? The good thing about them is that they don’t have furnitures and big appliances to bring as they lived to their parent’s house before.
In our case, its a bit different. We got some big stuffs to move like washing machine, sofas, bed frames and mattresses, dressers, barbeque grill, play ground that i dismantled, and some chairs and tables. Apart from that, items like 50 plants on the pots, 3 bicycles, 20 boxes of my son’s toys that our Suv just barely accommodate.
This is where my wife and I decided that we need to hire a truck. We went to Budget hire to rent a truck for a day. There are also other big companies that does the same like Avis, Europecar, Hertz, and Thrifty.
We did not have the luxury to shop around because of time constraint. Our builder Metricon just announced that we can move in to the property 2 days prior.
We got the standard commercial close van that my driver’s license allows. The truck comes up with hydraulic lift ramp which I find very useful and safe when lifting heavy stuffs. This will prevent back injuries from loading and unloading materials. It’s also safe for your things to avoid accidental drop.
How much did it cost? About $190 all up. $130 for a day rent, $30 for the petrol we used and another $30 (optional) to lower the insurance excess/participation from $2000 to $500 for every accident incurred. I just decided to get this extra cover for my added protection because I realize I am not used to driving big trucks.
Overall we are glad to get this truck because in the process its saves us time because it just took us 2 shifts to move everything. It also made it easy and lot safer for us to carry the heavy stuffs because of the hydraulic lift.
After almost 2 busy months , I finaly got the chance to write again. Moving in to a new house is not an easy task. Its like starting once again. I remember the hardship we did during the first months of our migration. Its just comes back to me.
At the moment, I can say that we are slowly settling well. Got the internet back, almost all entities are informed about our new address, furnitures were properly placed, and the list goes on.
During this stage, I discovered that I can do some home fixing stuffs I never think of like installing letter boxes, clothesline and blinds. Still, the list never ends. Recently my wife and I decided to lay crashed rocks on our backyard. Its still not finish but at least its not muddy now when it rains.
Im so glad to write again and excited to give informations again about discoveries and knowledges gained in living in Australia
My wife and I did our first walk through last Tuesday at our newly constructed house. Walk through means you are invited to see for yourself the house in its completion stage. Its not only for you to experience the joy of entering your domain but also to check if there are items that does not conform with the plan so the builder can sort it out prior to moving in.
Its nice to see the house all ready to go. We are pleased to the way it went and 95% of the items are built, installed and fitted as per planned. However I want to share things that you need to know during walk through:
1. Be on time. Since walk through is by appointment, you don’t want to be late and later on rush the inspection because the site manager needs to go to the next appointment.
2. Study the house plan well. Items like the numbers of power points , tv points and light points are crucial. During the selection process, items may vary. You might have added some power points to certain areas like the family room, kitchen, garage etc.. that is not included in the original plan. Variations should be carefully check because you might be surprise to find that the copy of the site manager’s plan is may not marry up to the one you got.
3. Check water flow for blockage - It is important to check all water flowing from faucets are going straight clear to the drainage. The last thing you dont want to happen is water blockage on your settlement day.
4. Ask questions. Take this opportunity to ask everything to your site manager with regards to your house. Things like when can you move in? when all the minor repairs going to be fixed, how to operated the ducted heating etc.. Don’t be afraid to ask. Remember, It’s your house and you paid for it so you deserve all the answers in the world.
5. Enjoy and relax - The most important thing is to enjoy your house for the first time. Do not think so much of the items that still need to be done but instead enjoy the beauty and cherish the moment that your new house can give to you and your family.
After 2 hours of swim at Wyndham Leisure Centre. Enzo, Dang and I went to Di Caprio Family restaurant for lunch. Dang ordered seafood Marinara pasta. Its a delicious dish as always. I always get Dang to make me one and I must admit I have not tasted a much better seafood pasta the way she cooks it.
Here’s Di Caprio’s version of Seafood Pasta Marinara $18.00 Main (Large) size
Chicken Bakon and Pumpkin risotto for Me and Enzo. $14.50 Entree Size.
I’ve been hesitating to do hook turn in Melbourne City since the day we arrive in Melbourne. Though its pretty hard to comprehend even for those seasoned and experience driver, its not really complicated at all.
Wikipedia explains hook turn as a “traffic-control mechanism where cars that would normally have to turn across oncoming traffic are made to turn across all lanes of traffic instead.”
Doesn’t make sense? its alright. Its better to see the actual process. Here’s a video i got from youtube.
Main purpose of hook turn is to allow the clear passage of trams (which are common in Melbourne) and prevents right-turning drivers from having to wait or check that there are no trams crossing the driver’s path. The manoeuvre also allows the passage of traffic wishing to continue straight ahead unobstructed. -wikipedia.
Melbourne CBD contains 19 hook turn intersections. Its being identified when you see this sign.
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