Ultimate Moving House Checklist: A Stress-Free Guide (Australia)

Moving house does not need to feel like you are summiting Mount Everest. It can be one of life’s biggest stresses, but with the help of a moving house checklist, you can make the task a lot more human. Regardless of whether you are moving just across the street or across the country, this guide will help you with every facet of your move in Australia.

Do I Need a Moving Out Checklist?

Let’s be honest, moving is a lot of chaos! There are countless tasks to do, like packing boxes, changing your address, coordinating removalists, and there are a lot of things it is easy to miss out on. That is why a solid moving house checklist is going to be your best mate. A checklist will help keep you organized, ease some of your stresses and stop you from forgetting to-dos.

Moving homes generally ranks high on the stress-o-meter, but it doesn’t have to be. You will be in your new home before you know it if you plan ahead and use our checklist!

1) 8 Weeks Prior to Moving Day

The biggest secret in moving is starting early. Two months before your move, we suggest tackling:

Research & Book Removalists: Get quotes from at least 3 moving companies. Prices vary wildly from the same mover and ranged from $2,600 to $5,850 moving interstate for a three-bedroom house; local moves were significantly less.

School Transfers If you have children, now is the time to research schools in your new area and start the enrollment process. Some schools have long waiting lists and you should submit applications as soon as you can for any popular schools.

Financial Planning. There are so many costs involved with moving house, and it will easily cost you and your family hundreds, and potentially thousands of dollars. Make sure you budget for removalists if you are going to use one, costs to connect utilities at your new place, cleaning supplies, and that inevitable takeaway when your kitchen is packed into boxes.

Start Decluttering. Begin sorting through your belongings. The process of clearing out unwanted items can be quite overwhelming and time-consuming, so it’s important to plan. Create three piles: keep, donate, and throw away. This early start will save you time and money on moving day.

School Transfers If you have children, research schools in your new area and begin the enrollment process. Some popular schools have waiting lists, so get your applications in early.

Financial Planning Moving costs add up quickly. Budget for removalists, utility connection fees, cleaning supplies, and those inevitable takeaway meals when your kitchen is packed up.

2) 6 Weeks Before Moving Day

Notify Important Parties – Moving house checklist also include and reminds to start updating your address with banks, insurance companies, and subscription services. Create a list of everyone who needs to know about your move – it’s longer than you think!

Medical Records -Tell your doctor, optometrist, dentist and other medical specialists of your new address. Request copies of medical records, especially if you’re moving to a different city or state.

Pet Preparations– If you have pets, research veterinarians in your new area and ensure your furry friends are up to date with vaccinations. If you are planning to move your pet by yourself, then visit a vet to know how to make the move safe and comfortable.

3) 4 Weeks Before Moving Day

Utilities and Services– Utilities and services are where many people face last-minute surprises. Check out the utilities you’ll need to connect at your new home, and see if there are any deals available. Schedule final meter readings from your utility provider (like electricity, gas, or water company) to take a final reading of your meter. And don’t forget to transfer utilities like electricity, gas and internet to the new place.

Contact your providers for:

• Electricity
• Gas
• Water
• Internet and phone
• Pay TV

And remember to set up the disconnection of services at your current address and the connection at your new one. Some require a few days or even a week notice period, so don’t leave this to the last minute.

Change of address: Notify Australia Post of the change of your address so they can redirect your mail. This service costs about $40 for three months and offers valuable peace of mind so you can feel confident that important deliveries won’t become lost in the mail.

Insurance Updates: Let your home and contents insurance know you are moving. Your existing policy may not cover your new property, so check your coverage and get quotes for new insurance if necessary.

4) 2 Weeks Before Moving Day

Confirm Everything Unless you’re going to look a fool when you’re trying to save yourself from smooth shifting. To avoid any chaos and interruption during the process of moving home make sure to confirm the following things: your new address, a new mobile phone number is important too.

Moving Boxes: Stock up boxes, Tape, Bubble wrap and Markers . Packing supplies are available for purchase at most removalist companies, although you usually can get less expensive options at hardware stores or online.

Secure Parking: If you reside in a congested part of the city, set up some sort of parking permit for the moving truck. If necessary, talk to your local council about adjustments to temporary parking restrictions.

5) 1 Week Before Moving Day

Last Steps: Assemble a survival kit of supplies for your first couple of days in your new home. Pack toiletries, medicine and a spare set of clothing, as well as essential documents and basic cleaning supplies.

Verify Utilities: Contact new utility companies to verify the dates for your utilities. The last thing you want is to show up at your new home and discover it has no power or water.

Pack Room by Room, Start with the rooms you use least frequently. Mark the boxes clearly with their contents and their destination room. This makes unpacking much easier.

Moving Day

Another thing to add on your moving house checklist is to make sure to be there to respond to any questions from the removalists. Do a final walk-through of your old home to ensure you haven’t left anything behind.

Keep Important stuff with you, carry valuables, documents, and the essentials for yourself. Don’t put these in the back of the moving truck. Snap Pictures: Photograph the state of your belongings while packing and unpacking. This is useful for if you need to file an insurance claim later.

After Moving Day

Immediate Tasks: Hook up your utilities, update your driver’s license, and update your voter registration to your new home

 Familiarise yourself with the local facilities in your new neighbourhood, including doctors, schools, shopping centres, chemists and a vet.

Settle In. Unpack Stuff that you can live without those first couple of hours, including essentials like items from your bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. Take your time with the rest. It’s exhausting, so give yourself a break.

Keep Updating Your Address

Keep telling other places about your move. Your moving house checklist should include everyone – your dentist, gym, bank, and anyone else who sends you mail.

Money-Saving Tips

You don’t have to go broke to move. Here are a few ways to cut costs:

• Move off peak (not weekends or month end)
• You pack rather than hiring movers to pack for you or go for affordable movers and packer company.
• Bring your own boxes and packing material
• Compare quotes from multiple removalists
• Sell unnecessary items and don’t move them at all
  
  Common Moving Mistakes to Avoid
• Leaving everything for the last minute
• Not reading the small details on moving contracts
• Forgetting to measure furniture for doors
• Packing unsafe materials (paint, chemicals, gas bottles)
• Not taking photos of valuable items

State-Related Factors

Different Australian states have different requirements:

• Some states require different vehicle registration timelines
• Stamp duty differs between states
• School admission processes differ
• Some utilities have different connection methods

Research your specific state’s requirements as part of your moving house checklist preparation.

Conclusion

Moving house is a very big change in one’s life, but it doesn’t have to feel stressful. With the given moving out checklist, you’re now fully prepared to handle your Australian move with confidence and happiness. You have to remember that the secret is to start early with stay organised. To ensure a smooth move, make sure to choose a good and professional house removalists company, which will handle most of the things for you just like Moving Champs

You have to take one step at a time, and next thing you know, you’ll be sipping coffee at your new home. The stress of moving out will be just a memory, and it will get replaced by the feeling of excitement. 

Good luck with your move! Remember, every successful move-out starts with great planning. Moving Champs are here for you to do everything.