Moving house is a serious pain. There are so many things to remember from disconnecting all your utilities to sourcing packing materials and sorting out transport. So, if you’re embarking on The Great Move (whether locally, interstate, or even overseas), you’ll need our ultimate moving house checklist to keep yourself sane and your stuff in good order.

Six to eight weeks before moving house

Now is the time to start sorting out the broader details. Get quotes and decide on a highly rated removalist company and book them in as early as you can. It’s better to lock in your time and date early to get the time you want, so that you can work to a hard and fast deadline.

At this point, you’re also going to want to de-clutter. Get rid of things you haven’t used in a while, donate those clothes and shoes you never returned from your last online shopping binge, hold a garage sale or hit the markets, and just decrease the amount of stuff you have.

Four weeks before moving house

Now you’ve got a fair idea of what you’re moving, start sourcing your packing materials. Before things get too hectic, it’s a good time to do your changes of address for things like:

– Electoral office

– Licences

– Car rego

– Insurance (car, home and personal)

– Banks

– Subscription services, like pay TV, magazines, or subscription boxes

– Pet registration

– Mobile phone

– Gym

– Local services (eg. library)

Contact all your utilities providers now to set up the disconnection from your old property and setting up a connection in your new place. This can sometimes take a little while to process, so DO NOT leave it to the last minute (trust us).

Three weeks before moving house

Start using up frozen foods and only buy essential groceries. Now isn’t the time to be stocking up on bargain bulk buys, so when something runs out, get the smallest size to replace it.

Start packing items you won’t be using like knickknacks, vases, books, excess linens and towels, which can be great padding for valuables and breakables, wall décor and decorative items, out-of-season clothes and anything else you won’t need.

Two weeks before moving house

Go hard on packing kitchen appliances you’re not likely to need, spare crockery, and most of your belongings except your bare essentials. Dismantle whatever furniture you can (making sure to keep screws taped to the side of the item) and plan your ‘survival kit’ that will be loaded last or taken with you that has all of your essentials. Be sure it has things like toilet paper, scissors or box cutter, meds, kettle with tea and/or coffee, snacks, water, and important documents.

Also, if you’re renting, you’ll need to book your cleaners and carpet cleaners to do the final move-out clean. You could risk it and do it yourself, but with the exhaustion of moving, do you really want to save a few bucks only to find you missed a spot and you won’t be getting your full bond back?

One week before moving house

Something many people forget is that the moving truck will need access not just to your old property, but also your new one. Scope out where the removalists can park at both properties, and if there’s an elevator, be sure you have permission from the building manager at both sites for use. In many cases, you can book the lift for exclusive use for an hour or so, but this will need to be discussed in advance. 

Lightly water plants and pack them into plastic lined boxes. By now your packing should be almost done except for essentials and things you’ll need in the last week. Calling to confirm dates, times and parking with your removalist now is good to save you from any stress closer to the day.

A few days before the move

Pack a suitcase like you’re going on holiday for a long weekend. This should have enough clean clothes, toiletries, phone and laptop charger, spare cash, and all other items you’d need if you were going away. Live out of your suitcase and pack everything else up. You will be living in Box City for a few days, but being prepared is better than packing in a hurry while the removalists wait.

Finish up any food in the fridge and partially finished food in the cupboards. Toss out anything that’s almost run out or easy to replace like that mostly empty bag of flour or the few dregs of allspice left in the jar.

The day before moving house

Panic. No, just kidding. By now you should just have last bits and pieces to prepare for the movers, like defrosting the fridge, draining fuel from your lawnmower, and making a plan of attack for the next day. Try not to overdo it and get a good night’s rest, because tomorrow is going to be rough and there’s no getting around it. 

Moving day

Before your movers arrive, double check you have everything you need for the first night in your new place ready to go. Keep bedding in the box to be loaded last and once the bed is moved into your new place, make sure you set it up first. This way you won’t have to worry about making the bed when you’re exhausted later and you can collapse in a heap at any time.

With all the commotion, be sure to look after your pets and keep them happy throughout the day. It’s a confusing time for them, so have their favourite toys and blankets on hand as well as their leash, food, water, treats, and anything else that might help calm them.

Lastly, do a final check of your empty house once all the boxes are out. Check every drawer, on top of cupboards, back of shelves, under fixed appliances, and don’t forget any storage areas or cages separate from the property.

Checklist

Six to eight weeks

– Get quotes on a removalist

– Book your move

– De-clutter

– Donate unwanted clothes, books and other items

– Sell any items at a garage sale, market, eBay or Gumtree.com

Four weeks

– Source your packing materials, such as:

– Boxes

– Bubble wrap

– Paper

– Tape

– Tape gun

– Scissors

– Labels

– Markers

– Change your address with:

Electoral office

Licences

Car rego

Insurance (car, home and personal)

Banks

Subscription services, like pay TV, magazines, or subscription boxes

Pet registration

Mobile phone

Cancel or change your address with your gym and any other local services

Contact utility providers for disconnection and reconnection

Three weeks

– Start using up frozen foods

– Pack items you won’t be using immediately like:

– Knickknacks

– Vases

– Books, CDs, and DVDs

– Excess linens and towels

– Valuables and breakables

– Wall décor i.e. posters, framed prints, photos, tapestries etc.

Two weeks

– Pack out-of-season clothes, kitchen appliances, and spare crockery

– Plan outfits for your next couple of weeks

– Dismantle furniture and keep screws labelled or taped to the side of the item

– Plan your ‘survival kit’ that will be loaded last or taken with you with essentials like

– Toilet paper

– Medications

– Kettle with tea and/or coffee

– Snacks

– Water

– Important documents

– Scissors or box cutter

– Pet essentials

– Book cleaners and carpet cleaners

One week

– Find appropriate parking areas at both properties for removalists

– Confirm dates, times and parking with your removalist

– Book the elevator with the building manager at both properties

– Lightly water plants and pack them into plastic lined boxes

– Pack everything except essentials

A few days before

– Pack a suitcase like you’re going away for a long weekend with enough:

– Clean clothes

– Toiletries

– Phone and laptop charger

– Spare cash

– Finish food in the fridge and cupboards

– Throw out food that’s almost run out or that’s easy to replace

The day before

– Defrost the fridge

– Drain fuel from your lawnmower

– Make a plan of attack for moving day

– Rest up

Moving day

– Check you have everything you need for the first night in your new place

– Have bedding and essentials handy

– Discuss items that need special handling and explain where things will need to go in the new property with your movers

– Keep pets happy with their favourite toys, blankets, leash, food, water, and treats

– Do a final check of your empty house – don’t forget any storage areas

– Make up the bed in your new property first thing

– Unpack your kitchen followed by essential areas before any decorating

– Enjoy your new digs!

Moving house doesn’t have to be a pain with your ultimate moving house checklist – just make sure you plan ahead and find a removalist that meets your needs.