Moving house checklist: key considerations when moving

Estimate the size and difficulty of your move

Try to estimate how much you have to move, and how it needs to be transported. A little planning could save you money and time in the long run. Creating a budget for your move may also be helpful, as it can give you a clearer picture of the total cost involved. When beginning to take stock of your belongings, it might be good to ask yourself:

• What items can go in boxes?
• How many boxes do you need?
• Is there anything you don’t want and can donate to charity or sell before you move?
• Do you have any precious or fragile items that need bubble wrapping or careful handling?

Think about what it’s going to be like to move your belongings from your current home, and how easy they will be to access at your new place. This is where pre-emptive measuring with a tape measure comes in handy. In some cases, it might be important to consider what the journey is going to be like. Like, if you’re moving a long distance, how much will it cost in fuel? Will your belongings need extra protection due to rough roads?

Consider whether to go DIY or use professionals

When moving, you generally have two choices – moving your belongings yourself (perhaps with the help of friends or family), or finding a professional removalist.

If you are opting to DIY, here are some things to consider:

• How will you transport everything?
• Will you need to hire a ute, truck or trailer, and how much does this cost (and would rental car insurance be applicable)?
• Can you get larger furniture items to the spots you had planned, such as carrying them up stairs?
• Do you have any friends or family that could help?
• Can you stagger the move over a few days, or even weeks?

If you would rather hire a removalist service, it could be a good idea to obtain a few quotes from different companies and find out what each includes. Some companies help you pack from an extra fee, while others reduce the rate if you are on hand to help move. It’s also important to discuss if they have an hourly fee or a set-price contract, any mileage or travel costs which could incur and if they have insurance.

Word-of-mouth can be an effective way to find a removalist that has a good track record in your area. You can also check reviews online or consider using a platform like Airtasker to request people nearby who offer their services. It could be a good idea to formally agree on a price in writing before you engage a third party, to avoid last-minute confusion.

→ Related article: How much do removalists cost?

Collect packing boxes and wrapping

If you’re packing your household items yourself, you’ll usually need a supply of good-quality moving boxes and strong packing tape. To protect your fragile items and valuables, you may also need paper or bubble wrap for extra cushioning. Many removalists and storage facilities sell wrapping and boxes of varying shapes and sizes.You may also be able to source excess boxes from local shops.

Sort through items to keep or cull them

When you begin to pack, you may have things that you don’t want to take with you to your next home. Think about whether you need to organise a skip bin to dispose of rubbish, arrange a garage sale for any saleable items, or donate items to charity. There are also social media groups devoted to ‘free-cycling’ or ‘gifting’, where people list items that they want to give away.

Make sure you have adequate packing supplies

For those things you will be keeping, here’s some suggestions to help make your packing easier and stress free:

• Make sure you use adequate padding for your fragile items and double-check the weight limits of the boxes you are using.
• If something is too heavy to lift on your own, ask another person for help.
• Clearly marking which room a box is intended to be put to speed up the unpacking process.
• A hand trolley could make moving heavy items easier.

You’ll probably need more packing materials than you think, so try and get extra supplies if practical.

Disconnect and connect utilities

When you know your move date, you can arrange for your utilities to be disconnected at the residence you are moving out of, and connected ready at your new home. These utilities include:

• Landline/broadband/NBN
• Gas
• Electricity
• Water

Sometimes, utility providers will require access to your new home, which may mean a delay in getting connected. Canstar Blue has put together a guide on everything you’ll need to know about moving your home utilities. There’s also a handy article about utility connection services and how they can help you when moving home.

Arrange cleaning

When it comes to cleaning a rental property, you can do it yourself or hire the services of a professional (depending on the rental laws of your state or territory). There are many cleaners who specialise in bond cleaning. When deciding whether you want to hire a cleaner or not, keep in mind that most bond cleaners guarantee their work – saving you the hassle of returning to finish any cleaning that a real estate agent or landlord may deem unsatisfactory. This is a more costly option, but may be less stressful and time consuming.

Consider insurance

It’s a good idea to check your insurance coverage if you are planning a move. If you have an existing contents insurance policy, it may cover  your belongings whilst in transit. If not, there are other insurance options you can consider, such as transit insurance. Insurance may also be available through your removalist for an extra cost. But make sure to check the terms and conditions of the insurance policy to understand what is and isn’t covered. For example, does the insurance cover damage that is caused by theft or fire, or just items damaged by the removalist?

Update your address details

Be sure to tell your service providers what your new address is. This ensures you don’t lose important mail and that your contact details are kept up to date. In addition to the utilities providers mentioned above, other providers could include:

• Banks and any other financial institutions
• Tax and legal advisors
• Insurance companies
• Health practitioners
• The Electoral Commission
• Superannuation funds
• Government agencies, via myGov

Also, remember to let your friends and family know your new address. If you have pets, it’s also worth finding out if they have to be registered with your new local council. Pet registration varies in each state and territory, so it’s important to check if it’s a requirement in the area you are moving to. If your pets are microchipped, it’s also important to update the address on the chip to make sure they are returned to your correct address if they go wandering.

Redirect your mail

Even if you have proactively updated your address with all your providers, it can still be a good idea to consider redirecting mail from your old house to your new one. By redirecting mail for at least three months, you can see if there are any companies or friends and family who missed the memo. You can apply to redirect your mail on the Australia Post website.

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