Moving a two-bedroom apartment involves far more than loading furniture into a truck. Jim’s Removals Co-Founder & Director Danny Ganino takes viewers behind the scenes of a real move from Box Hill to Vermont South and explains how the team handles packing, apartment lifts, trucks, equipment, and moving-day efficiency.
Watch the video above, or keep reading for the full Q&A.
What Actually Happens During a Jim’s Removals Job?
A Jim’s Removals job starts with planning the move, choosing the right truck and crew, then safely loading, transporting, and unloading the customer’s belongings.
In this footage, Danny is working with Sylvia and Ruben on a two-bedroom apartment move from Box Hill to Vermont South. Apartment work brings its own challenges, especially lifts, building access and limited loading space, so the team plans around those details before the truck is packed.
The same crew also handles houses and offices. Danny says houses make up a large share of their work, particularly out west and in Officer, while apartments and office moves are also regular jobs.
Does Jim’s Removals Handle Apartments, Houses and Offices?
Jim’s Removals handles house moves, apartment moves, office relocations, regional moves, and smaller delivery jobs.
Danny mentions a recent request for a 30-person office in Vermont, while the job shown in the video is a two-bedroom apartment move. The team also uses a van for smaller jobs, including a recent trip to Ballarat to deliver a three-seater couch.
Customers can also look through the available Jim’s Removals moving services when planning their relocation.
What Are Jim Boxes and How Do They Make Moving Easier?
Jim Boxes are reusable moving boxes that customers can rent before their move, use for packing, and return after moving day.
Danny explains that the boxes can be dropped off about a week before the move. Customers pack their household goods into them, the movers transport them on moving day, and the boxes are collected about a week later.
He says customers moving with Jim’s can get them for about $3 a box. The main benefit is avoiding disposable cardboard, while the uniform shape also makes the boxes easier for removalists to stack securely in the truck.
Customers can find more information about Jim Boxes and current rental options before their move.
Should You Book the Lift Before an Apartment Move?
Danny strongly recommends booking the lift before an apartment move and checking the building’s moving rules with the building manager.
If you’re moving from an apartment, book the lift before moving day and confirm the rules with the building manager. Danny warns that failing to do this can leave movers unable to work, which can cause extra cost and create problems with rental end dates or property settlement.
A booked lift can also make loading more efficient. Danny says the crew can stack the lift almost like a truck when they know it is reserved for the move, rather than worrying about other residents needing it.
How Long Does a Removalist Job Usually Take?
The length of a removals job depends on the property, access, distance, volume of belongings and the complexity of the move.
Danny gives one clear example: the team had recently completed a 17-hour job. He describes it as a mental battle, but says the crew stayed with it and got the job done.
That does not mean every move takes anywhere near 17 hours. Moving jobs can vary significantly, which is why accurate information about the property, item list, and access conditions matters before the crew arrives.
How Does Jim’s Removals Choose the Right Truck for Your Move?
Jim’s Removals uses different vehicle sizes depending on the move, including a small truck, a larger truck and a van.
Danny says the larger truck is about 40 cubic metres and roughly twice the size of the smaller truck. The van holds about 10 cubic metres and is used for minor deliveries.
Choosing the correct vehicle matters because a truck that is too small can create unnecessary trips. Danny says the team uses the customer’s item list and move details to recommend the correct truck and crew size.
Can Jim’s Removals Help With Regional and Long-Distance Moves?
Danny says the team is doing more regional moves, including jobs to Bendigo and Ballarat.
He gives the example of a customer who had tried moving belongings herself before calling the team. She had completed roughly 20 trips in the car, with each trip taking about two hours each way.
Regional moves can become tiring quickly when customers are transporting smaller loads over long distances. Using a removalist allows the move to be planned around suitable truck capacity rather than repeating the same drive many times.
What Information Do You Need to Book a Jim’s Removals Job?
The booking process starts with the customer providing the suburb, move details, and an item list so the team can recommend the right truck and crew.
Danny says many customers come through Google and complete an online process. From there, the team reviews the information and can speak with the customer by phone to talk through the move and provide advice.
Some customers also come through referrals from people who have moved with the team before. Either way, the goal is to understand the job before moving day so the crew arrives with the right setup.
How Can You Make Moving Day Faster and More Efficient?
Using experienced movers, packing before moving day, and using square, standardised boxes can all help reduce the time spent loading and unloading.
Danny recommends having everything packed before the crew starts. He prefers square, consistent boxes rather than irregular shapes such as Amazon boxes because standard boxes are easier to stack safely inside a truck.
He describes the loading process as almost being “Tetrised out”. When boxes fit together cleanly, the crew can use the available truck space more effectively and avoid unstable stacks that can slow the job down or make loading less safe.
Customers who want help getting everything ready can also look at Jim’s Removals packing services.
What Equipment Do Professional Removalists Use to Protect Your Belongings?
The team uses standard moving equipment as well as specialised tools designed to move more items safely and efficiently.
Danny mentions fridge trolleys for moving fridges without hand-carrying them, shoulder dollies, DJ trolleys that can carry up to 15 boxes at a time, high-quality moving blankets and polyester tie-downs made from the same material as seatbelts.
He says a standard carry might involve 2-3 boxes, so the DJ trolleys can make a major difference on suitable jobs. The polyester tie-downs also allow the team to secure loads without the same risk of over-ratcheting that can come with ratchet straps.
Danny says that, to date at the time of filming, the team had not experienced damage inside the truck during transit. He credits the systems, equipment, processes and training used to keep loads secure.
Planning a move? Get a free moving quote from Jim’s Removals and provide your item list, locations, and access details so the team can recommend the right setup for moving day.