What are the signs and symptoms of a wound infection?

•  Fever
•  Blood or Pus
• Swelling
•  Vertigo
•  Foul/Rancid odour from the wound

You should seek medical attention for any of the symptoms above as antibiotics may be necessary.

Pulled or Bruised Muscles
Doing heavy lifting, especially when using muscles that we haven’t used for anything more than opening the occasional tricky lid of vegemite, may become the cause of a pulled muscle.

Muscle Strain is graded by severity:
• 1st Grade: Mild Discomfort, No permanent disability or immobility
• 2nd Grade: Moderate Discomfort, limited ability to perform high level or complicated activities. May have moderate swelling and bruising associated.
• 3rd Grade: Severe Injury that can cause excruciating pain. Muscle spasms, swelling and significant bruising.

Unlike scrapes, a pulled muscle requires inactivity and rest in order for the damaged to the muscle to recover. Immobilization may cause muscle stiffness therefore gentle stretching of the affected area may be necessary. If you have any concerns, you should see a doctor.

Back Pain and Broken Bones
One of the most common injuries to happen during a move, especially when lifting heavy objects, is lower back pain. Overuse or twisting at a wrong angle can sometimes cause a slipped disc, which means the actual spine has been damaged, rather than just sore muscles.

Back Pain Treatments:
• Rest and apply either cold or warm compress on the affected area
• After the swelling has gone down, certain stretching exercises can be done for minor back pain that will help the healing process to become faster.
• Medication prescribed by a physician may also be used to relieve pain from the affected area
• Surgery is seen as a last resort for recurring back pain and for cases where damage to the spine has occurred

When lifting heavy objects, cases of slipping and dropping the object on your toes, feet or even arm are a real possibility. Therefore having the proper tools and knowing the right way of lifting heavy objects must always be followed. Lift with your legs as much as possible and refrain from twisting or using your back for leverage. By doing this, not only will you be able to handle heavier loads but you are also lessening the chances of spinal damage.

Why take the risk?
In hiring a removalist company like MiniMovers to do your move for you, they not only guarantee a fast move but also a safe one. Every MiniMovers operator is trained in the proper way of lifting, moving and loading of furniture and boxes. We provide physically fit men who have an array of tools such as straps, trollies, dollies and furniture pads, that not only make the moving process easier but minimize the chance of a moving related injury.

MiniMovers also has a written no damage guarantee which states that if they damage anything during the course of the move they will fix it.

If you still choose to move on your own, make sure to follow the proper way of lifting items and avoid getting any scrapes or bruises during the move. Saving a few bucks by hiring a ute may seem like a good deal right now but as soon as the medical bills come in for your ‘minor’ moving accident, you’d wish you invested in hiring a removalist.

You can find other helpful tips to prepare for your move here - Help You Move

All information in this article is general. You should always seek medical attention if you are concerned.

MiniMovers Makes Local Moving Easy

Check out the video below by Melbourne Locksmiths - TopLock Locksmiths  - to find out just how quick and easy this process can be.

There will always be times that people need to temporarily store personal items or larger items such as motorhomes, caravans, motorbikes, boats or personal household items. Finding the right storage company can seem a challenge given the number of storage operators in Australia today. MiniMovers can help to take some of that uncertainty out of your decision-making by recommending National Storage as its alliance partner in the storage industry. The business is based in Australia with storage facilities located in Melbourne, Geelong, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart. National Storage assures clean, modern and most importantly, secure premises for each client.

There are a lot of different reasons for needing storage.

• Going away on a holiday can be stressful for some who know that they have to leave behind valuable items and leave their home unsupervised. Homes contain many valuable things and thieves may try to break in and steal portable and saleable items even if security systems are in place. Why not put those valuable items into temporary storage?

• Moving homes or renovating a home is always a good time to de-clutter. We don’t always want to get rid of the de-cluttered items, so storage is a great option to store some larger and more valuable items for a short period of time. Often, there is a time delay between moving out of one home and into another. It is during this time that many people choose to store their valuable items at a secure facility instead of taking the items to a temporary residence that may be small, cramped and possibly insecure.

• There are, unfortunately, difficult times in some peoples’ lives resulting in a need to find somewhere to store things while they settle matters. Storage is a convenient option as there are no long-term contracts and you can pay by the month.

• Going overseas is an exciting life choice, but sometimes you do not want to sell off those cherished pieces of furniture, memorabilia or parts of your life that are important to you. Storage is the answer and is available for short-term or long term stays.

• Companies also use storage and is ideal at times that there are seasonal increases in stock and you do not want to store all that extra stock in the showroom.

• Tradespeople will also find storage advantageous as they can rent space on a month-to-month basis without having to lock into expensive long-term leases.

National Storage offers secure spaces for personal storage and furniture storage for anyone who decides they need to store some items for a short or long period of time. National Storage provides a clean, modern and secure space where personal items are always accessible. National Storage even offers a specialist service for people who wish to store valuable art work or other items that may need to be stored in a climate controlled storage facility. Without a doubt, a National Storage facility is a great way for those who are going away or those who are moving house to experience peace of mind that their valuable possessions are safe and secure.

MiniMovers uses and recommends National Storage for all your storage needs.

Call 1800 680 672 or visit www.nationalstorage.com.au 

Need help moving in? Call MiniMovers on 1300 366 000

There is help to be found without a bank, if you have a few dollars to put towards your future – and not the 10 or 20% the banks ask for either! Groups such as  LisaBuysYourHouse.com have become a popular alternative to jumping through hoops for banks.

If you haven’t yet considered buying your own home, consider the benefits of owning over renting:

An Investment in Your Own Future –

One thing that is certain – rent prices are rising and home prices are due to rise in the future. When you own your home you won’t be at the mercy of rising rent costs, and your future will be secured with the equity in your property.

No Landlord to Answer To –

One reason many people opt to own their own home instead of renting is simply to rid them of the control that a landlord has. Want a new puppy for your daughter? When you own and move in to your home you won’t need to ask the landlord first. 

You Won’t Be Throwing Your Money Away –

When you spend your money on rent, you get nothing in return. Home ownership provides you with a way to get something back for the money you spend on a place to live.

Possibilities –

The biggest reason to own your home is simply the possibilities it allows you. Money you put into the home increases its value and you’re free to decorate, renovate, and change whatever you want!

And when you are ready to make the big move – remember to give MiniMovers a call to find out how we can make your move easy!

Lisa Johnston helps people buy a home or investment property without a bank.

www.lisabuysyourhouse.com

Mobile – 0417 765 749 or connect at Facebook 

 The Decluttering Experience ~ by Tracey McLeod from Show Homes. 

Whether you are moving or not – decluttering is always a great idea! Removing excess junk from your home means there is less to move, which saves time and money. If you are staying put – then a good clean out has numerous emotional and physical benefits too

So, you get motivated – you are ready to clean up. And then you turn… As you do, your heart sinks. Your eye sweeps around the cluttered room. This isn’t the first time you’ve felt the emotional heaviness of your cluttered life.

The thought of decluttering your home or office can be overwhelming, but it’s a liberating experience if well-planned and executed. You will free up space and create warmth and beauty.

Ready to start? Just remember that you are embarking on an emotional journey. Here are a few tips to get you started in a healthy and positive way:

1. If practical to do so, start with one room at a time.

2. Create your new vision for the room in your mind’s eye.

3. Find pictures of the ideal furniture, furnishings, colours, wallpaper, etc.

4. Buy some cardboard and art supplies to paste your pictures onto.

5. Start to ‘furnish’ your ideal room using your pictures.

6. Put your ‘vision room’ on the wall or on the door of the existing room.

7. Believe it will happen…

By starting the process in this way, you will move more easily toward creating beauty and out of decluttering darkness.

Before Decluttering

After Decluttering

If you’d like to know more about the decluttering process or our other services such as property styling, please drop me an email at tracey@showsell.com.au or call 0401 312 323

Tracey McLeod is the Director of Showhomes – the property stylists for homes for sale 

MiniMovers, Australia’s Leader in Local Moving,  is proud to support Australian businesses.

Deciding to move house is a big upheaval for the entire family. But while adults tend to focus on the practical problems, a child will focus on all the losses that the move causes. This can be the loss of their friends or of a safe and familiar environment.

The decision to move is, after all, taken by the adults and the child feels powerless because they can’t influence that decision.

The degree of stress in moving is often underestimated by all concerned. Research shows that moving house is one of the greatest stresses we face in our lives. It comes only after losing a close relative in terms of psychological impact, and ahead of illness, loss of employment and divorce.

Of course planned and managed well, distress is not necessarily the outcome.

How can the move be made less stressful?

Talk to children about the move. Do it early to give them as much time as possible to get used to the idea. Tell the children all about their new home and give them lots of facts and information appropriate for their age group and level of understanding.

Young children have short attention spans, so be prepared for them to talk about the move only for a short while before moving on to something completely different. Do not expect a young child to spend the entire evening discussing the move and its consequences. If a child is ready to talk or has a particular question, make the most of it and be ready with answers.

Even though a child can’t decide which house to buy or which town or area to move to, they can get involved in other ways like choosing colours to decorate rooms. That way they will feel part of the process.

If possible, take the child to visit the new place a couple of times before moving in. This will often help make the whole thing more real and familiar.

How will a child react?

Some children may not be bothered by the move at all and may be very excited by it. Other children may have a range of reactions depending largely on their age. Young children may:

• start sucking their thumb
• wet the bed
• talk baby talk
• cling to you constantly.

Older children may:

• refuse to eat
• suffer insomnia
• twirl their hair endlessly
• become shy
• become aggressive
• change their sleeping patterns
• have trouble concentrating

Some children seem to change their personality and may suddenly start lying or stealing. These reactions are stress reactions as a child cannot always understand what is going on or express their own complicated feelings. During this difficult period of transition, quality time with their parents is very important for a child.

What is the move like for children under five?

Small children under five are the easiest to move. Their sense of security depends entirely on their parents and they usually feel safe provided their parents are around. Prepare young children for the move with simple explanations, that you can repeat often. At this age, a child will benefit from being told stories about other children their age who are moving.

When it’s time to start packing, explain to the child that their toys are just being put in boxes so they can be taken to their new home. Let them help with the packing of light items soft toys etc. Otherwise, the child may worry that all their toys are about to disappear or be taken away from them.

Do not make any promises that you cannot keep. For example, don’t promise that when you move the child can have a pet if that’s not going to happen. If a parent breaks a promise, the child will find it harder to trust them.

Try not to buy a new bed or other furniture during this period. New things create a feeling of insecurity. Old things are familiar and create a feeling of security.

If possible, it can be a good idea for the child to spend moving day with friends or relatives. Otherwise, they may feel left out or in the way because Mum and Dad are so busy.

What is the move like for a school-age child?

The big question when you have a school-age child is whether they will like their new school and make new friends. Children spend a lot of time in school so it is important that they like it.

It is debatable whether it is better to move during the school year or the summer holidays. If the change of school takes place over the summer, the child has more time to get used to the idea and has a fresh start with the rest of the children. The drawback is that the child will then spend the summer without their old friends and without much opportunity to make new ones. If this is the case try and organise things so that the child is not bored or lonely.

What is the move like for a teenager?

A teenager will usually understand why the family has to move and what the consequences are. However a move may still upset a teenager’s life dramatically. They will often lose their group of friends – which is the most important thing in their life. They may be separated from a boyfriend or girlfriend. It can be hard to start a new school at this age, when being accepted by people of your own age group is so important.

Avoid fobbing them off with clichés like ‘everything will be fine’ or ‘time is a great healer’, or they are likely to rebel. The best way to help a teenager is to listen to them and treat their concerns with respect. Let them know you understand that the situation is difficult and that you must find the best solution together – if there is a solution. It is important to listen, understand and above all, respect the teenager’s feelings and wishes.

What do I do on the actual day?

The day of the move is a day of change and the decision is now irrevocable. Take care of your child’s new room first, unpacking their boxes of toys. Having a base will make the child feel more secure. Stick to normal mealtimes and bedtimes. If you do not have time, ask someone – a friend, a sister or brother or your child’s grandparents – for help.

How long will it take for a child to get used to a new home?

Do not expect a child to be ready to go to school straightaway. They need a little time to get used to their new surroundings.

Once in school, a six-week period for a child to get used to their new surroundings is normal.

Getting to know the child’s new teachers and making them aware of the situation is important, especially for younger children. You can help the staff ‘get up to speed’ in their understanding of a child by giving them some background information about your child’s school career so far.

If, after a month or two, the child has not adapted to their new school and new home, the parents may consider getting professional help.

Can moving house be positive?

A move may turn out to be a positive experience for the whole family, provided they go about it in the right way. The reason behind the move may be something good, but any kind of change creates the need for a lot of communication and planning and this may create closer relations in the family.

Good Luck with your move!

Most likely you will have some of your favourite indoor / outdoor plants to move – maybe even some of your favourite garden specimens you wish to transplant.

Here are some basic tips for moving plants :-

• Keeping plants from shock:  It’s especially important to ensure that plants will be protected from extreme temperatures during your move.  (Don’t put them in the boot of your car unless you’re moving them immediately and only short distance).  Some house plants are susceptible to shock just from prolonged vibration, extremes of temperature, and not enough water.  It would be a good idea to give plants a drink a day or two before the move (to stop leaking water in your car or the furniture truck) and then again as soon after you arrive at your new home.

• Water needs:  Though most house plants can survive for a week to ten days without water, it’s not a good idea to trust that they’ll stay healthy for that long a period when being otherwise stressed.  But you shouldn’t overwater them, either – so be sure to keep them on your list of things to look after as soon as you get to your new destination.  Plants should be moist, but not soggy, when being moved.

• Darkness/light:  It’s often said that indoor / house plants can tolerate darkness for up to a week, if other conditions are favourable – but let’s assume that other conditions are not favourable during a move.  You may have to store them under someone’s verandah or house until your home is ready to move into.  If plants have been in the dark for several days, expose them again to the light gradually, or they may be susceptible to wilting and sun scald.

• Cuttings:  If possible, you might decide to take some cuttings of your favourite plants to the home you are moving to.  Most cuttings can survive for several days in a plastic bag containing damp mulch or peat moss – if they aren’t subjected to too high or low temperatures (or squashing!).

• Fire Ants – Qld Only: There is a very real risk of fire ants being transported when relocating even within the same suburb – anything with dirt must be cleared by the DPI (Department of Primary Industries) before being moved.

• Legalities State Borders:  If you’re moving between states, check federal and state regulations for quarantines or other restrictions, some states require inspections to ensure that plants are pest-free.  Better look into this well before your move, in case you need to arrange for inspection of your plants in advance (though in most cases, they’ll be inspected at the border).

If you have any tips to share – please leave a comment below. We are always keen to hear from our readers! Thanks to Peggy Tomkins for supplying this article.

To book a move, or get a quote, call us on 1300 882 440 or visit MiniMovers Online.

Rocklea Depot - after 2011 floods

It has been a challenging year for MiniMovers and its employees following the loss of our Rocklea depot in the 2011 Brisbane floods.

We have finally completed the rebuilding of the Rocklea removalist depot and would like to offer our sincere thanks to not only our employees for their patience and understanding during this last 12 months, but to those employees and the many (still unknown) people who showed up, out of the blue, to help us clean up once the waters receded.

The destruction we faced that first morning was heart wrenching, as it was for our many neighbours and other businesses in the area who also suffered great loss.

So much debris to remove

We could not believe the amazing Queensland spirit that was shown that weekend, not only to us but to so many who suffered during this time.

MiniMovers Team - always smiling!

The 2011 Queensland floods are etched in our minds forever. We will never forget how lucky we were compared to many others and will always remember the offers of help that were so very gratefully received.

Thank you from the team at MiniMovers. To see more photos visit our Facebook Page.

MiniMovers - always ready to lend a (pink?) hand!

Escaping -

Moving house is not only stressful for humans it can upset and confuse your pet dogs or cats. One of the biggest problem you will face is that your dog or cat may escape from your new home and get lost, because the new surroundings are not familiar to them.

For dogs, this means that you must examine the fences of your new home in detail to ensure they are dog proof. Any escape routes should be immediately repaired.

Stopping your cat from escaping through your fences after moving house is more difficult. Cat enclosures can be constructed and are available commercially. Alternatively, keep your cat inside the house and endeavour to ensure it is totally familiar with its new territory. This can take from a few days to a few weeks after the move.

The priority for most cats is to eat and sleep, so work on these aspects of your cat’s new lifestyle first. Feed your cat small tasty meals four to five times daily. This will give it a ‘fun focus’ associated with its new eating spot. Let the cat hunt for its food by leaving small amounts of cat food in several locations or by scattering dry food over the floor in the laundry or a secure verandah or outdoor area in the new house.

Familiarity -

For dogs or cats you can take something familiar from your old home, perhaps a fluffy toy or blanket and leave that in what you feel is most likely to be their new favourite resting spot. Let your dog or cat set the location and place the bedding in that area.

Allow your cat to perch on furniture near an window or let your dog look through the fence or the screen door so that they can view its new territory, without getting out just yet. Smells like home:  Another useful trick is to rub a warm damp towel over your cat’s body and especially around its face to remove some of your cat’s scent. Then rub the towel with the scent onto prominent surfaces around the house such as on corners of furniture and on doorways. This marks the new house with the cat’s scent and helps the cat to realise that your new house is its home as well. Releasing your pets:Releasing dogs into the garden is easy but cats are more difficult. One method is to place your cat in a cage of some type in the garden. A cat transport cage is suitable. Place the cage in a shaded spot of the garden and let the cat view its surrounds. Don’t leave it unattended though.

If this is done for several days, the cat can get its bearings more easily. The same can be achieved by placing your cat in a harness and walking it around the yard.

To prepare for its release, train it to ‘come’ for its meal. At dinnertime, bang a cat food can or your cat’s food bowl with a spoon as you call your cat’s name. Then, when you plan to release your cat, do so just before dinnertime. If the cat slinks off, it is more likely to return when you bang the food bowl and call its name.

In case they stray, be sure you have name tags on your pet’s collar or id chips inserted by your Vet before they are released. Moving Locally:  If you are moving only a very short distance away, rather than across town, you can have additional problems with your dog and especially your cat. It is common for dogs and cats to try to return to their old home if they escape.

Securely confining your cat or dog is one way around this problem. However, for added security you could confuse your pet by taking it to a boarding kennel or cattery, some distance away for a week or so. When your pet is then taken to your new home, it will hopefully be disorientated enough to not try to get back to your old home.

Lastly, if you are moving into a new area check out the dog parks and other areas where you can safely and legally walk your pet. The website Doggo is great for this. Visit your local vet and ask if snakes, ticks, fleas, toads and worms are common in your area. Also ask if the viral diseases parvovirus and canine cough are seen regularly.

After that, sit down with a cuppa and your pet and enjoy your new home – you deserve it!

Thanks to Peggy Tomkins for writing this article.

MiniMovers has been helping Australia’s with their local moves for over 26 years. If you’d like to find out how we can remove the stress from your next move – contact us on 1300 882 440 or get a quote online.

You can also get more tips to help you save money on your move at – Help You Move.