The Sutherland Shire is one of Sydney’s hidden gems. Nestled between pristine beaches and national parks, it is a haven for its residents, providing respite from the busy city life of Sydney’s CBD. Known to locals as “The Shire”, this gorgeous area has so much to offer, combining the charm of coastal living with the accessibility of the city. For those making the move to Sydney’s southern pocket, here are our top tips on creating the perfect move within Sutherland Shire.
Essential Factors To Weigh Up
Choosing The Suburb For You
The Shire covers a large expanse of ground and includes a vast array of landscapes, from waterfront to bushland. Therefore, choosing the right suburb to suit your needs is a necessary first step in the moving process. If you’re looking for a beachside escape, then Cronulla is the crown jewel of beaches. The only beach in Sydney accessible by train, it is a prime real estate location for individuals looking for a balance of coastal tranquillity and city accessibility. Alternatively, for more affordable maritime living, Woolooware and Caringbah are both situated just a short drive from the beach, with accessible train stations at both, keeping you easily connected to the city.
Additionally, if you’re looking for a family-centred environment, the Sutherland Shire has plenty of suburbs that embrace family living with areas such as Woolooware and Burraneer offering excellent schools and facilities for children. Suburbs such as Miranda, Gymea and Caringbah are also some of the Shire’s go-to suburbs for families with their suburban community spirit and close proximity to excellent amenities and shops. Home to 45 suburbs, the Shire has something to offer everyone. From a thriving beach lifestyle to community-centred relaxed living, make sure to do thorough research on all of the Shire’s suburbs to find what’s right for you before making the move.
How would I get to the city?
Staying connected is essential, especially for those who have to take regular transport to the city centre. Understanding your links and transport possibilities should be a top priority when deciding where to live in the Shire. With strong city connections, the T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra train line will have you in the Sydney CBD in approximately 35-45 minutes. Alternatively, if travelling by car, suburbs with direct access to major roads such as the Princes Highway make travelling in and out of the area much easier.
Moving Day Prep
Now that you have taken the time to decide on your new spot in Sutherland Shire, the next step is actually preparing for your move. With things to consider such as the best times and days to book your move, packing to avoid breakages and researching weather conditions to avoid a complicated drive, there is a lot to take on board. With no stone left unturned, this guide is here to help you truly understand what is needed for a relaxed and efficient move to the Shire.
What is the best way to pack?
Whilst much of the southern region stays fairly well connected through well-surfaced roads, some parts may be trickier to navigate. When packing up your personal belongings ensure that you are correctly wrapping more fragile items that could experience damage in trickier terrain. Learn to pack like a pro or consider engaging with packing professionals who can offer convenient packing services for an optimal move and to avoid disappointment when it comes to unpacking.
How do I prepare my furniture for moving?
For larger items such as furniture, certain rules must also be followed to avoid damage. Firstly, it’s important to note that soft furnishing and hard furnishing should be prepped and packed differently. Your main concern with soft furniture such as a couch or mattress is keeping it clean in transit, therefore, wrapping should be done with shrink wrap or a dedicated sleeve. Whereas hard furnishings such as a dining table need to be protected from scratches or damage and therefore require removalist blankets to ensure the item’s safety. Additionally, for any antique or fragile furnishings, even more care should be taken in the preparation process. Using professional removalists may alleviate the pressure of packing. With the knowledge and understanding of the correct processes, expert removalists can take care of the whole process, including wrapping and preparation so that everything arrives safely.
Understand Your Location
Being a place of natural beauty is not always unanimous with straightforward moving. When considering and planning for your move it's best to start with truly understanding the drive that lies ahead of you. Coastal roads in NSW can quickly change from smooth highways to narrow winding paths and uneven roads. If you are unfamiliar with the journey or grounds of your new property, consider booking in with an experienced removalist who can carefully navigate the roads of your suburb, to ensure safe passage of your belongings. For some areas of the Sutherland Shire, you may also require a ferry vehicle to get your belongings to their new home. For those who live nestled away down tight roads/driveways or up very steep hills, standard moving trucks are not always able to access those streets. In these circumstances, ferry vehicles are then used to transport your items from the trucks and to your door.
Speaking with expert removalists can help ease worries and stress from the beginning. Their thorough understanding and expertise of the removal process means that they can provide you with a detailed explanation of what's to come so that you can rest assured your goods are in the right hands.
What is the best time to move?
As well as ‘the where’, it’s also good to consider ‘the when’ for your move to the sunny suburbs of The Shire. Traffic going in and out of the area can be pretty hectic, especially during peak hours. Try planning to be on the road around the middle of the day when school and work rush hours have died down to avoid long queues of traffic. Additionally, it's best to avoid moving on the weekend as many people venture to the glorious beaches of your new home during this time.School holidays are also a great time to move, with many families going away during this time leaving the roads much quieter and giving you one less thing to worry about.
Keep Watch of The Weather
The weather can often vary in NSW, and last-minute changes can sometimes throw off plans, especially in more extreme weather conditions. Keeping an eye on the weather forecast means that you will be fully prepared for whatever is thrown your way. For days of heavier rain, it's even more important to make sure that you are using trusted and experienced removalists with high-quality trucks.When booking with a removalist company, make sure that they are AFRA-accredited. This accreditation will ensure that their trucks are maintained and presented to a high standard and drivers have been fully trained to comply with AFRA standards.
Enjoy the Journey
This may feel slightly easier said than done, but more than anything it’s important to try and enjoy the day. Following this guide should help you prepare so that when the day comes, moving house is an enjoyable experience. With a lot to consider and busy lifestyles, using a full service residential moving company can take the weight off your shoulders and make the big day all that more fun. With over a decade of expert knowledge in Sydney removals, Holloway Removals will safely and professionally cover your door-to-door move to your new home in Sutherland Shire.
