The Ultimate Guide To Moving

Whether you’re up-sizing, down-sizing, changing rentals, or have bought your dream home; moving into a new place can be as fun and exciting as it is exhausting and stressful. It is normal to feel a little overwhelmed, but luckily for you we have found that the best way to cope with the stress of moving is to put a solid plan together!

Planning every last detail of what goes into moving from one house to another is crucial in simplifying the process and ensuring that everything runs smoothly. And while you can’t always plan for every little surprise that pops up along the way, you will be able to handle them easier.

So, to help you plan your next move we’ve made a list of 10 things that are crucial to consider when moving house:

1. Assess the size, costs, and difficulty of your move

A little planning can go a long when it comes to saving money. The initial costs involved with buying a house or paying bond for your rental is expensive enough, and unfortunately expenses won’t end there. By assessing the size and the difficulty of your move, you will be able to gather a rough idea of the expenses involved to create a budget.  As well as larger moving costs such as hiring removalists and hire trucks, there are many additional smaller expenses that can add up to a lot more than you’d expect!

2. DIY or removalist?

When it comes to moving furniture, there is generally two choices – hiring a professional moving service or move everything yourself. If you choose to opt for hiring a professional service, it’s a great idea to obtain estimates from a few different companies to compare. If you are thinking about DIY moving, you will need to consider:

• What do you need to move?
• Will you need to hire a truck, ute, or trailer?
• Are there any stairs, narrow doorways, or difficult places you need to move large furniture?
• Do you have any friends or family that can help?
• Can you move in one day or will you stagger it over a few days?

3. Declutter

Regardless of how long you have lived at your previous home, it doesn’t take long to accumulate clutter. Going through all of your belongings while you pack is a great way to declutter. Decide what you would like to keep, and what you can donate to charity or possibly sell in the weeks leading to moving. One great perk to decluttering means that you will have more room for storage in your new home!

4. Packing boxes

If you have opted for DIY packing you will need a decent supply of good-quality moving boxes and extra strong packaging tape. For fragile items and valuables, you may need to source some bubble wrap or newspaper to make sure everything arrives in one piece!

5. Leave out a sneaky box or two of essentials!

As you start packing more of your belongings, you will come to realise what essential items that you will need to leave out for your day-to-day lives. It is a great idea on moving day to pack these items last and label these boxes separately as essentials, so that when you are unpacking you know to unbox these items first!

6. Meal plan

As you near moving day and begin packing up the kitchen, you can rule out home cooked meals as a dinner option! It may be a good option to scout out some restaurants in the area or plan to order delivery for a few days while you get set up.

7. Disconnect/connect utilities and services

Once a moving date has been set, you can arrange for utilities to be disconnected at your old house and connected at your new house. These can include:

• Landline/internet
• Electricity
• Water
• Gas
• Mail redirection

One of the steps we see missed the most is redirecting mail! You can apply to redirect your mail via Australia Post.

8. Arrange for exit clean

When leaving as property, especially a rental, it is expected that the property is left in the same condition as you found it. You can either choose to clean the property yourself or you can hire a professional cleaner. For rental properties it is sometimes encouraged to hire a professional cleaner who specialises in bond cleans, as they will guarantee that the property is left spotless.

9. Insurance

Before moving, it is a good idea to shop around or check your existing insurance. Ask questions like whether you would be covered if something is lost or damaged during the move? If your current insurance policy does not cover moving, there are other insurance options you can look at such as “Transit Insurance”. If you have hired professional movers, sometimes they will organise Transit Insurance for you. This is worth checking when you are gathering quotes.

10. Moving checklist

Although it may seem like extra work, taking the time to make a moving checklist will save you time in the long run. To create a moving checklist, you will need to list down every single task that you will need to do regarding the move, big and small! This way you won’t miss or forget anything!

Below is a check list we’ve created to help you on moving day: