Garage and shed planning

Moving garage and shed contents

Garages and sheds often contain moveable equipment, fixed fittings and products that cannot simply be packed together. Build a separate inventory, show AA the access route and identify fuel, chemicals, cylinders and batteries before the quote is confirmed.

Request a moving quote Build a furniture inventory

Inventory first

Walk through the whole storage area.

List what is moving, what stays and what needs a separate decision. Do not rely on “garage contents” as a description.

Tools and equipment

Count toolboxes, power tools, ladders, garden equipment, bicycles, camping gear and loose hand tools. Give the make, model, dimensions and verified weight for large machines when available.

Shelving and workbenches

Mark each unit as freestanding or fixed. Photograph it, record its dimensions and say whether dismantling is being requested. Fixed cabinets, pegboards and building fixtures are not assumed to be part of the move.

Heavy or awkward items

Identify tool chests, safes, ride-on equipment, compressors and long items. Send photos and the complete carrying route so the team can assess whether they can be included.

Other destinations

Separate items going to storage, sale, recycling or disposal. Only the addresses, items and work accepted in AA’s written quote form part of the move.

Keep hazardous products separate

Do not pack fuel, chemicals or cylinders into the load.

Set aside petrol or diesel, oils, paint, pesticides, pool chemicals, aerosols, gas cylinders and batteries. List them separately and ask AA what, if anything, can be accepted. Only items specifically accepted in the written quote should be presented for transport.

If a product is not moving, use an authorised collection or disposal service. Victoria’s Detox Your Home program helps households dispose of hazardous chemicals through free collection events delivered with local councils.

Check Victoria’s Detox Your Home service ↗

See the items to separate before moving

Prepare equipment safely

Follow the maker’s instructions, not a guess.

Remove loose attachments only when the manufacturer’s instructions allow it, then label and keep the parts together. If equipment needs fuel, oil or another fluid removed, follow the manufacturer’s instructions or use a qualified technician. Do not improvise by transferring liquids into unapproved containers.

Clean soil, grass, seeds and plant matter from outdoor equipment before an interstate move, then check the destination’s current biosecurity rules. Cleaning an item does not guarantee that it can enter another state or be accepted for transport.

Check the interstate plant and soil guide

Access from storage to truck

Show the complete route at both properties.

Inside the garage or shed

Photograph narrow gaps, low doors, steps, shelving and anything blocking the item. Clear a safe path without moving a heavy item yourself.

Across the property

Record gates, side paths, slopes, soft ground, garden beds and low eaves. Measure the tightest opening and give the carrying distance.

Truck position

Identify the nearest legal position for the truck and any access time, loading-zone, driveway or building restriction. Tell AA if the route changes before moving day.

Common questions

Can AA move fuel, chemicals or gas cylinders?

Do not pack them into the load. List each product separately and ask AA before the quote is accepted. Only items specifically accepted in writing can be presented for transport; arrange authorised disposal for anything not moving.

Should I drain a mower or other powered equipment?

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and any requirements stated by AA in writing. If you are unsure, use a qualified technician rather than guessing or transferring liquids into unsuitable containers.

Can AA dismantle garage shelving or a workbench?

Photograph it, say whether it is fixed or freestanding, provide dimensions and describe the dismantling requested. The written quote must confirm any dismantling or reassembly work.

What changes for an interstate move?

Check the destination state’s current biosecurity rules for soil, seeds and plant material on outdoor equipment. Clean the equipment and disclose it, but do not assume cleaning alone makes it acceptable.

Ready to list the storage areas?

Send the inventory, photos and access at both addresses.

Request a moving quote