So my boyfriend and I are moving! We had very little notice and are still dealing with dodgy soon-to-be ex real estate agents, but we've found a new home and we're moving in this weekend!

It's been a couple of years since my last move so I'm a little rusty. Tell me... what tricks do you use to make moving easier? How do you stay motivated? How am I going to keep my boyfriend motivated? Have you ever had to deal with dodgy, dishonest landlords or agents?

As for shadiness: My first place in college wanted to charge a whole extra month's rent for being a weekend late on a 2 month notice. Had a family friend (who is a lawyer) send a letter and it was cleared up (said we were willing to pay the extra like $50 for the 3 days, not an extra $1100).

For packing: In general, I go room by room, packing into the large rubbermaid bins. If you can afford some each time you move and build a collection, it really makes things so much easier than boxes - and reusable! Also, when you pack room by room, area by area, it is much easier to unpack.

If you have time, I would recommend going through stuff first to see if you really need it. I inevitably end up throwing lots of stuff away (shame, I know) when I move because it's last minute and gotta get in the moving truck, there isn't enough room, and it's stuff I don't really care about enough to want to move anyway.

Oh, I could write a whole novel on our agent's dodginess!!

First we had an inspection that we didn't know about. During the inspection they discovered that we were keeping a cat here, so we got evicted. Fair enough - we broke the rules.

Then they told us we were liable for rent until they found another tenant, and other costs associated with re-letting the house. Tasmanian law says nuh-uh, no way, but just to make sure we contacted the Tenants' Union. We also reported them to Consumer Affairs for shady dealings.

Consumer Affairs rang the agent, who told them that he had served us with a Notice to REMEDY, not a Notice To Vacate. This was VERY odd, since we have a NTV stuck on our fridge right now. So Consumer Affairs rang me, and I brought them the NTV, and they have a copy now. So Dodgy Agent has been caught out in a lie. Win for us!

They will probably still try to go after our bond (security deposit), but since we have Consumer Affairs and the Tenants' Union on our side and willing to represent us in court, I'm not too worried.

That's good you are getting everything sorted out! It sounds like a huge headache!!

On the topic of moving (rather than dodgy a hole landlords) my best advice is to use a combo of both movers and private cars if possible (and affordable). I've moved house a HEAP of times in my life and now will always:
1) Move boxes and breakables by myself. It means less chance of things getting broken, and less things for the movers to move which means less time on the clock which means less money.
2) Get movers to move beds, fridges, lounge suites etc. No heavy lifting for you!

I also use clothes, towels, and bedding to wrap breakables. No need for fancy bubble wrap, or even newspaper which you will have to dispose of afterward.

And finally, label your boxes as you pack them.

I second a few of the tips above, pack up rooms an area at a time, use towels etc. to wrap up breakables and definitely, definitely label the boxes as you go.

I agree Elizabeth, motivation can be a big issue. Last time I moved, I started packing about a week before I had to move. This gave me time to collapse in a heap a couple of times and groan about the enormity of it all. Then, I'd put on an awesome 80's mix cd, or Ferris Buller's Day Off, or The Breakfast Club, or something equally awesome, and just keep going.

I also made sure I had a couple of meals in the freezer, and some snack food, to make it a little party time. I didn't want to have to worry about what I should be eating. And because I didn't want the guilt, I made sure I had plenty of fruit too.

That's about all I have. I bought boxes last time I moved, which was awesome, and I hired movers because I wanted to be all grown up and not rely on my parents. Yeah, my dad paid the movers while I wasn't looking. That's what my dad does.

Good luck with everything Elizabeth, I look forward to hearing how it goes

Thanks Jess! We actually moved a month ago, it's all gone smoothly and I'm getting stuck in to our new garden. We are still dealing with dodgy ex-agent, who doesn't want to give us our bond back, but hopefully that will be over soon.

Everyone ready for an update?!

So... there was a dispute with our bond, because the property manager put in a claim for it.. and so the tenancy commissioner decided in our favour (yay!) but now dodgy ex property manager has appealed that decision. In a months' time I have to go to court (YAY. not.) where a magistrate will HOPEFULLY say I can have the bond. It's just ridiculous, seriously. I'm so annoyed!