The Ultimate House Moving Checklist

Moving house can be a mammoth task, and it can easily spiral into chaos if you’re not adequately prepared. To help avoid any moving nightmares, we’ve put together this moving checklist to make the process as stress-free as possible. To make things as easy to follow as possible, we’ve sorted our list out based on how far your moving day is. Let’s begin!

Two months out from moving day

Choose your removalist

You should lock in your removalists nice and early, making sure you secure a reputable, fairly priced and reliable company before they all book out and you’re left with limited options. A good moving company will be fully licensed and insured, have positive Google reviews, transparent pricing and offer extra services such as packing and unpacking and furniture disassembly and assembly.

Arrange transport

If you have trailers, caravans, boats or multiple cars and you’re moving interstate, overseas or simply from one side of the city to another you’ll need to look into vehicle transport. The right company will be able to safely and securely transport your vehicle from point A to point B and save you from wasting your time making multiple trips (if that’s even possible).

Arrange storage

In many cases, short or long-term storage might be your best option to make things easier on moving day or to help declutter your house in preparation for open inspections. Not only will this simplify the entire moving process, but it’ll also help keep your belongings secure and out of sight.

One month out

Start packing

Packing is always a bigger job than you think it’ll be, and you’ll be surprised at just how many items you have hidden away in cupboards, draws and other nooks and crannies. Plus, packing is something that has to be done smartly, keeping your goods safe and making it easy to unpack and sort through things once you arrive at your new place. Some removal companies will do this for you on the day, which is a good option if you don’t want to get your hands too dirty.

Dispose of dangerous goods

Your household will be home to many products that can’t be moved due to the safety risk they pose. These dangerous goods are mainly explosive or combustible items that can only be moved by officially licensed organisations or will have to be safely disposed of. This includes items such as fuel, pool chemicals, car batteries, methylated spirits and paint thinners.

Give notice to your landlord and boss

If you’re moving during the week, let your boss know and organise a day off in advance. If it’s going to be a bigger move, you might even want to take a second day off to give yourself ample time to get everything done. If you’re renting, make sure you give your landlord at least a month’s notice and organise a time for a final inspection.

Two weeks out

Begin cleaning

Although you’ll always have to do a big clean after you’ve finished moving all your belongings out, getting a head start can never hurt. Cleaning those oft-neglected areas such as inside your oven, underneath large pieces of furniture and your windows will make your final clean go much quicker and easier, with only a quick wipe- down needed rather than something much more intense and labour-intensive.

Cancel any recurring domestic work

If you have any recurring cleaning services such as gardeners or house cleaners, make sure to cancel and inform them of your move with enough notice.

One week out

Final inspection of new home

If you’ve bought a new home, you’ll have to do a final inspection to make sure everything’s up to the agreed standard. 24 to 48 hours before settlement is the best time to do this, so make sure to cut some time out of your moving schedule to do this.

Store valuables in a safe place

Every home has essential items that you can’t go without for long, so make sure to keep them in a clearly marked box that’s easy to find. Consider placing items such as chargers, remotes and keys in here, while keeping clean linen and bedding in another labelled box so you’re all ready for your first night in your new home.

Confirm details if you’re moving interstate or overseas

Moving interstate is stressful enough as it is, and the last thing you need is to get any of the details mixed up. Double-check any flights, accommodation, shipping arrangements or removalist services are all confirmed and ready to go at the right time on the right day.

Day before

Pack an ‘essentials’ kit

Once your moving day is finally here, make sure you have any essential items on hand and at the ready if you need them. This could include prescription medication, portable chargers, snacks, water, Bluetooth speakers, keys, a first aid kit and more.

Provide movers with specific instructions

While any team of reputable movers will know what they’re doing, every client (including yourself) needs something different. Make sure once they arrive you provide them with any specific instructions that you need them to follow, especially if you’ve hired them for packing and unpacking services too and if you have any high-value or sentimental items that they’ll be handling.

Contact utility companies

Finally, call up your utility companies to confirm services like your gas, hot water and electricity will be disconnected. This will save you from paying for services that you’re no longer using and prevent any headaches down the track.