Written by Chris Smith · Illustrative case study
The situation
A property manager rang about a rental at a property in Sovereign Islands where the outgoing tenant had left vented and condenser dryers, laundry tubs and cabinets and wall brackets and hoses. The new tenants were moving in the next morning, so whatever we did had to happen that afternoon.
Why the customer needed help
They'd rung a couple of other outfits and got vague answers about price. I told them I'd come and look, give them a figure on the spot, and they could decide from there.
What was at the property
By my count there were vented and condenser dryers, laundry tubs and cabinets and wall brackets and hoses, along with the usual loose odds and ends that build up around a job like this. It's typical of what we see from landlords refitting laundries.
Working in Sovereign Islands
Sovereign Islands is an exclusive canal estate of large waterfront homes. Sovereign Islands homes often back onto water, so we carry loads carefully past pools, pontoons and landscaped gardens. We protect paving and lawns on the way to the truck and work within bridge and street access limits.
The initial assessment
I did my usual lap. I check what's heavy, what's sharp, what's reusable and what might be hiding something underneath. A redback in the bottom of a pile isn't unusual on the Coast, so gloves and a torch come out before anyone reaches in.
How the job was planned
The plan was simple: protect the route, clear a path, then work from the far end back towards the truck so we never had to climb over what was left.
Preparation
We put drop sheets down through the hallway and taped corner guards on the door frames. It takes ten minutes and saves arguments about scuff marks.
Step 1
Step one was the bulky stuff. My offsider and I took the largest items out first, tilting them through the door frames rather than forcing them. With vented and condenser dryers, laundry tubs and cabinets and wall brackets and hoses in the mix, there was no point clearing small things while the big ones were still blocking the way.
Step 2
Step two was the stuff in the hard-to-reach spots: the top of the garage racking, under the house, behind the water tank. That's usually where the surprises live, and this job was no different.
Step 3
Step three was the final check. I went back through every room and corner with the customer, picked up the small stuff the big items had hidden, and swept up.
Removal, sorting and loading
We loaded by destination rather than by size. Metal on one side for the scrap yard, green waste kept clean, cardboard flattened and bundled, and general rubbish packed into whatever space was left.
From the truck it went to a licensed transfer station, where recyclables were dropped off separately, and anything usable went to a local op shop before the tip run.
Challenges we ran into
The item was heavier than it looked, and it was sitting at the end of a narrow side path with a step down halfway along.
How we handled them
Two of us, a stair-climbing trolley and a sheet of ply over the step. We took it slow and kept it upright the whole way.
Completion and final result
When the last load was strapped down, the space was empty and swept. The customer walked through with me, signed off, and paid the price we'd agreed at the start, not a dollar more.
What I learned
I came away reminded that a fixed price agreed up front takes all the stress out of the day, for them and for us. Nobody's watching the clock or arguing at the end.