From a Bayside Apartment to a Family Home in the West

Moving from an inner-city apartment to a house across the bay is one of the most common relocations we handle. It’s also one of the easiest to underestimate. Apartments hide a surprising amount of furniture and boxes in a small footprint, and the access at the old address is often harder than the access at the new one.

That was exactly the case for David, who recently moved from a third-floor apartment in Port Melbourne to a single-storey home in Altona. His move is a good example of what experienced movers in Port Melbourne need to be ready for: stairs with no lift, more belongings than expected, and a client who wants the job finished properly at the other end, not just unloaded on the driveway.

Two Suburbs, Two Very Different Ways of Living

Port Melbourne and Altona sit on opposite sides of the West Gate Bridge. The way people live in each is just as different, and that difference shapes what a move between them involves.

According to the 2021 Census (Australian Bureau of Statistics), Port Melbourne is home to 17,633 people. Half of its occupied dwellings (50.0%) are flats or apartments, and another 43.9% are townhouses, terraces or semi-detached homes. Only 6% are separate houses, compared with 73.4% across Victoria as a whole. Port Melbourne households are also highly mobile: 43.3% of homes are rented, well above the state figure of 28.5%.

Altona looks very different. The ABS Census QuickStats for Altona show a population of 11,490, with 61.1% of homes being separate houses and only 8.6% flats or apartments. Homes there average 2.9 bedrooms, compared with 2.4 in Port Melbourne. Nearly half of Altona’s dwellings (46.5%) have three bedrooms.

Put simply, a move from Port Melbourne to Altona is usually a move from compact, stacked living into more room, a yard and a single level. David’s move fits that pattern exactly. It also shows why the logistics on moving day can catch people off guard.

When the Inventory Turns Out Bigger Than Expected

A few days before the move, David contacted us with a problem. He’d realised he had seriously underestimated how many boxes and how much furniture he needed to move. The truck originally booked wasn’t going to be enough.

This happens far more often than people think, especially with apartment moves. Storage cupboards, wardrobes and spaces under beds fill up over the years, and it’s only when everything is packed into boxes that the real volume becomes clear.

Because David’s move was on a weekday, we were able to adjust the booking and send our largest truck, a 10-tonne truck, at no additional cost under our weekday special rate. It turned out to be the right call. By the end of the job, the truck was completely full of David’s furniture and boxes.

If you’re not sure how much space your belongings will take up, it’s always better to raise it before moving day than to discover it when the truck is already full. Our prices and trucks page explains how truck sizes and rates work, and a quick conversation with our team can help you pick the right one.

Three Flights of Stairs, No Lift

The Port Melbourne apartment had no lift. Every item, from the heaviest furniture to the last box, had to be carried down three flights of stairs.

That’s a big job, and it’s exactly the kind of work where experience and technique matter. According to WorkSafe Victoria, hazardous manual handling is the biggest cause of workplace injuries in the state, with more than 48,000 injury claims accepted since 2021. It’s also why carrying a full apartment down a stairwell is rarely a sensible DIY job for a few friends on a Saturday.

Our removalists, Darren and Shawn, worked steadily through the stairwell while protecting David’s furniture at every turn. Large pieces were wrapped and angled carefully around landings so nothing was scraped or dropped. David’s pot plants needed extra care too. They were loaded so they wouldn’t tip, crush or lose soil on the trip across to Altona.

Finishing the Job Properly in Altona

Once the truck arrived in Altona, the single-storey layout made unloading much easier. Our movers in Altona didn’t just stack everything in the lounge room and leave. Darren and Shawn took the time to place the heavier furniture exactly where David wanted it, so he didn’t have to drag large items across the floor himself after the truck had gone.

It’s a small extra step, but it makes a real difference on the first night in a new home. The beds are where they should be, the couch faces the right way, and the heavy items that are hardest to shift on your own are already in place.

What David Had to Say

After the move, David left us a 5-star Google review:

“Jake removals were great! Prior to the move we contacted them, because we had seriously underestimated how many boxes we would have to move. They adjusted the order, and sent a 10-ton truck, at no extra cost, which was filled with our stuff. The guys who came – Darren & Shawn – were really good – it was hard work, because they had to move our stuff down 3 flights of stairs, but they were cheerful, and careful with our treasured possessions. After they unloaded all our stuff, they were very helpful in moving particular heavy items of furniture to where we wanted to put them. We were very happy with their service. Thanks Jake removals, and Darren & Shawn”

Tips for Your Own Apartment-to-House Move

If you’re planning a move like David’s, a few simple steps will make moving day smoother:

Do a realistic inventory early. Open every cupboard, storage cage and under-bed drawer before you book. Apartments almost always hold more than they look like they do.

Tell your removalist about access at both ends. Stairs, lifts, parking restrictions and long walks from the truck all affect how long the job takes and what crew size you need.

Book a weekday if you can. Weekday moves are generally easier to schedule, and our weekday rates can make a bigger truck or extra help more affordable.

Plan where the big pieces will go. Knowing where beds, wardrobes and couches belong in the new home lets the crew place them on the way in, rather than leaving you to rearrange later.

Check your insurance cover. Make sure your removalist is fully insured, especially when furniture has to come down multiple flights of stairs.

Why Choose Jake Removals

Whether you need movers in Port Melbourne for an apartment without lift access, or movers in Altona to help you settle into a new family home, Jake Removals adapts to what moving day actually looks like. Our team has the trucks, equipment and experience for tight stairwells, last-minute changes in volume and heavy furniture removals across Melbourne. You can check our full list of service locations to confirm we cover both ends of your move.

If you’re planning a move across the bay, across town or just down the road, get in touch with Jake Removals for a free, no-obligation quote.