Your Checklist for Moving Home

Your checklist to a stress free change of address.

This checklist is designed to keep you on track when moving home. With so many things to take into consideration and remember there is no doubt that moving home can be a stressful time. However, by following a few simple steps you can make the move to your new home a lot more straight forward.

Three months before moving home

1. Ask yourself key questions about the move such as:

• What needs to be moved?
• What items are important to you?
• What items are fragile and could be broken when moving home?
• What heavy items do you have?
• What items may not get out of your house when moving home? I.E. A table or bookcase built inside your home.

2. Set a date for your move.

3. Set the criteria for choosing a removalist company. What is important to you:

• Price? You want to find a cheap removalist?
• Quality? You want to find a removalist that can pack and unpack your items? You want a professional removalist that is timely and courteous?
• Availability? The further out your removalist the more likely you are to find a removalist that suits your needs.

4. Research the area that you're moving to:

• Schools
• Public Transport
• Shopping
• Security
• Etc.

5. Purchase packing supplies such as boxes, newspapers or foam, and packing tape.

One month before moving home

1. Get a change of address kit from Australia Post.

2. Have a list of all the people, businesses and organisations that should be notified of your move, including:

• family and friends
• utility companies
• Telephone
• Water
• Gas
• Electricity
• Mobile phone provider
• Internet
• insurance agency
• banks and financial institutions
• doctors, dentist, veterinarian
• lawyer, broker and accountant
• schools
• publications (newspapers, magazines and journals)
• government offices (Enrollment to Vote, Drivers Licence, Centrelink, Australian Taxation Office)

3. Ensure you have copies of any legal, school, doctors, vet and financial records you have.

4. Decide exactly what you are taking with you to your new home, and plan how you're going to offload the items that you don't wish to keep. Options include giving them away to charity, selling them on E-Bay and holding a good old fashioned garage sale.

5. Book your removalist

• (Very important: Do not forget to book a removalist for your move.)

6. Start the process of packing, starting with the items that you rarely use such as collectables, etc.

Two weeks before moving day

1. For those self-packing its time to start packing seriously. Go room by room and label all boxes with contents and the room they are going into at the new home.
2. Send rugs, curtains, doonas, etc out to be cleaned. Keep them in packaging from the cleaners to keep them clean during the move.
3. Limit your trips to the supermarket to buy new food. Use up all perishable and frozen foods. And, of course, start ordering pizza in as the food supplies run low.
4. Organise someone to look after your kids and pets on moving day.
5. Cancel deliveries of newspapers.
6. Ensure that your post is redirected.
7. Return library books, DVDs and other things that you may have borrowed from friends or neighbours. You may also wish to collect items you may have loaned to others.
8. Service your car if you’re going to be travelling by car, especially if you are moving a long distance.
9. Back up your computer files on a DVD or a portable hard drive.
10. Organise a cleaning service for after you have moved out.

Moving Week

1. Empty, defrost and clean your fridge and freezer.
2. Clean your stove, or ensure that your post-move cleaner is asked to do this.
3. Complete your packing ensuring that the boxes are well organised for the move.
4. Prepare an essentials box or bag to have with you when moving home.
5. Set aside all of your valuables and important papers so that you can carry them with you.
6. Inform your removalists of all items that need special attention.
7. Mark the boxes that you want to arrive first and be unpacked first when you arrive at your new home.
8. Pack your suitcases.
9. Go to the chemist to get any prescriptions you need.
10. Unplug all appliances.
11. Check and double check all wardrobes, closets, cabinets, vaneties, attics, basements, garages, sheds for anything that may have been forgotten.
12. Give plants you can’t take with you to a loving home - friends, neighbours, doctor, library or school.
13. Confirm your move with the moving company.
14. Confirm payment with the removalists.
15. Keep your cleaning products and equipment on hand.

Moving Out Day

1. Charge your mobile phones and give your number to the removalists.
2. Leave your children and pets with their carer for the day.
3. Ensure the removalists have good access to the property.
4. Be there when the removalists arrive.
5. Go through your plans for the day with the moving company. Ensuring that they know the addresses, the key times, what items you have, insurances, etc.
6. Complete the all important final tour of your home. Shutting and locking windows, turning off lights, shutting off water, and handing over the old house keys.
7. Inform your friends and family of your plans for the days, and contact details and locations in case of emergency.

Moving In Day

1. Ensure that all utilities have been connected and are working.
2. Be there to open up the new home for the moving company and guide your items and boxes to the right rooms.
3. Ensure all of your household goods are unloaded safely and without damage.
4. TIP: Don’t use appliances for 24 hours. This gives them time to adjust to the room temperative and helps avoid potential damage.