Our handy moving house checklist

Use our handy moving house checklist to help take the stress out of moving and stay on top of key tasks. 

One month until moving day

• Hire removalists or start buttering up friends and family – they can be your own personal muscle.
• Scout out the local services in your new neighbourhood: doctors, schools, shopping centres, pharmacy, vets.
• Notify the relevant people/organisations of your change of address: work, school, doctor, optometrist, dentist and medical specialists, utilities and insurance providers, the Electoral Office, ATO, Seniors Card, banks and post office and look at updating key documents like your driver's license.
• Check your insurance policies. There’s a chance your belongings may be damaged or lost. Check to see if you are covered by the removalists or your own insurance.
• Have a big clear out. Organise a garage sale, post unwanted items on Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace, or donate to charity.

Two weeks until moving day

• Arrange the redirection of mail, newspapers, magazine subscriptions and anything delivered to your home.
• Clear out the garden of any plants you want to take with you. Put out any green waste for disposal. Hire a gardener if your garden has accidentally turned into a jungle.
• Arrange final readings of utilities.
• Arrange access/parking for removalists if needed.
• Back up your computer, just in case.
• Disassemble all bulky furniture/anything that can be reduced in size for ease of movement.
• Return borrowed library books/DVDs.

One week until moving day

• Give the house a thorough clean.
• Start using up food from the cupboards and perishable food from the freezer.
• Drop off any last-minute items at the charity shop or give away to neighbours.
• Start packing and labelling items. Start with the items that you do not need on a daily basis.
• Don’t forget the emotional trauma your pets might experience – arrange where their bed and toys will be homed so that you can settle them in as soon as possible.

Moving day

• Do a final clean, or hire professionals to do the job for you. 
• Pack up final items, keeping valuables at hand.
• Lock all doors and windows; turn off hot water if required.
• Do the final walk around – you know the usual suspects will be lurking in the usual hideouts.
• Check that you have all relevant keys for the new house and leave all old keys with the new residents/landlord.