The entire process of moving house can be very stressful if you don’t plan ahead. Having a set checklist of things to do before and on your moving date will ensure nothing gets forgotten. But how do you know what needs to be included on that checklist?
As you begin to plan the big move to your new house, take a look at our ultimate moving house checklist to help you get organised.
1) Book a Removal Company
Do some research or ask friends and family to recommend removalists. Most moving companies offer various services that can take some stress off your shoulders and remove some to-do’s off your checklist.
Packing and Unpacking Services
Many people don’t even think of hiring professional packing and unpacking services through their moving company. Packing boxes can be a huge task, so having professionals take it over for you can free up your time to handle all the other things on your moving house checklist. Professional packers have been trained on how to:
- Wrap up precious and fragile items safely.
- Pack boxes so that there aren’t any empty spaces for things to roll around.
- Pack heavier items at the bottom of the boxes.
- Pack in an optimal way to save space and time, and make the unpacking process easier.
- Label the boxes clearly and strategically.
Moving Boxes
You probably won’t know how many packing boxes you’ll need off the top of your head. Removalists who offer packing materials deliver a large amount and only bill you for those that you use. You can buy things like crates, packing paper, bubble wrap, and packing tape from the store yourself, but if your removalists can add on the items you need, they can invoice you for your total bill with everything included.
Storage
Do you need storage for any of your furniture or belongings? If you’re downscaling to a smaller apartment or temporarily staying in a rental property until your new home is available, you can store your things in the warehouse until you’re ready to retrieve them. Or you may need to be out of your old house before the new one is ready for your belongings to be delivered.
Moving Transit Insurance
Another benefit of having a removal company is that they provide insurance for your move. Just as you take out home and contents insurance to protect your property in the house, this will provide coverage throughout the journey. Be sure to enquire with your removalist and specify that they should add the cost to your quote if it isn’t already.
2) Inform All Your Utility Providers & Others of Your Plans to Move
Let utility service providers know when you will be moving out so that they can be disconnected. Make sure that all your fees and costs are paid up to date. Then, contact the ones providing services at the new address so that when you move in, everything is already operating and ready to go right away. Utility companies offer services such as:
- Water
- Electricity
- Gas
- Landline/Broadband/NBN
You should also let your employer and your superannuation provider know that you are moving and provide them with your new address.
Other providers that may need your updated address include:
- Bank
- Insurance (car, health, and personal)
- Driver’s licence and car registration
- MyGov
- Centrelink
- Household insurance
- ATO
- Medicare
- Electoral roll
- Subscription services
3) Arrange Transport
If you have more than one car, you may need to arrange to have the others transported to the new house for you. This also counts for things such as trailers, boats and caravans. You can just ask a friend or family member in advance to help out with this. Don’t forget about your pets, either. If you have cats, they can be transported in travel baskets. Or, you can hire a pet relocation service to move them safely and professionally.
4) Cleaning
It’s courteous to leave your old space fresh and clean. Book a cleaning company for moving day to ensure the house is left neat after the moving process. You could also just do this yourself, but then make sure not to pack the cleaning gear and products you’ll need. Take note that the previous occupants of your new space might not have been so kind, so you may need to clean there before your move, too.
Consider doing a big spring clean before you start packing. You can have a garage sale to sell all the clothes and goods you no longer need, or you can donate them to charity. Throw out all the rubbish that you’ve collected over the years and is no longer serving a purpose or adding value. As you’re cleaning out, look through all your wellness products, first aid kit, and pantry and throw away everything that’s expired. Remember to return any library books.
On Moving Day
Once the big day of moving house arrives, make sure there’s adequate access to both the new and old homes for the moving truck. You may need to ask neighbours to park their cars elsewhere if they are obstructing operations. Be sure to also:
- Give all the keys to the real estate agent or new owner. Don’t forget about garage remotes and keys for side gates.
- Receive the keys to the new place and ensure they’re all there.
- Turn off any utilities such as the hot water system and the main switch for the house electricity if the new owners aren’t moving in immediately.
- Once the removalists have packed everything, do a walkthrough of the entire house to double check nothing has been forgotten and that it has been adequately cleaned.
Hire ABC Removalists Today
Our removalist team is happy to provide a whole host of services to make your home or office move as stress-free as possible.
Our professionals can help you pack up everything quickly and effectively to save time and space. Then, we’ll move your belongings to the new location safely. After offloading, we can also unpack your belongings if necessary. If you’re interested, contact us to discuss your interstate or local move, and we can provide a free quote for our services. Our quotes are obligation-free, so there are no strings attached.
