Preparing For Your Move – Moving House Checklist

Statistics show that the experience of moving house is ranked as one of the most stressful times in a person’s life. You can ease the anxiety and stress during this time by starting to prepare well in advance for the big day. This allows you to quit worrying and start focusing on the excitement of settling into a new home.

You can start preparing for your move over a month in advance. You may still be in the process of selling your home at this point, which is why it’s worth discussing your moving plans with a licensed real estate agent. Your agent can help you achieve a stress-free move with a little bit of advice and planning assistance. Start the process by registering today at LocalAgentFinder. This free comparison tool allows you to receive and select an agent proposal that best suits your needs, in both buying and selling a home.

The following moving house checklist is also a good place to start as you get organised for your moving day.

4 to 6 Weeks before the Move

Although you have several weeks before moving day, this period is critical for getting all of your ducks in a row. You can take care of the following tasks during this time:

• Search for a respected moving company. Ask about insurance policies to be sure that all of your possessions are protected whilst in transit.
• Book your removal expert once you have decided on a definite moving day. It’s best to avoid peak times such as weekends or Fridays, when moving companies may add a surcharge. A less busy day will be cheaper and less stressful if you can arrange time off from work.
• If you’re moving in or out of a flat or apartment, you’ll want to book the lift if applicable and arrange access for the moving truck by calling your building manager.
• Book a cleaning company for the moving day. Although it’s tempting to clean your property from top to bottom on your own, this adds a significant amount of stress to your day. The cost of hiring a professional can be well worth the price. Professional cleaners will have the right equipment and know about real estate standards that you might not be aware of, like wiping skirting.
• Create an information packet for the new residents of your property. This should include pertinent details about heating and cooling systems, appliances, and council operation such as rubbish and recycling.
• Start amassing packing materials like heavy duty tape and boxes. When you’re researching moving companies, try to find one who takes care of packing for you.
• Purchase insurance for your new property.
• You’ll also need to make sure that your new property is ready to move into. Working with an organised real estate agent during the buying and selling process can help you with this transition. You can find an experienced local agent by comparing your options at LocalAgentFinder.

2 Weeks before Moving Day

The real countdown is beginning, so you’ll want to start planning for your upcoming change of address with the following tasks:

• Cancel local newspaper subscriptions and inform banks about your change of address. Inform Australia Post about your change of address and arrange to have mail redirected.
• Set up a day to have utilities disconnected at your old property and turned on at your new property, so that you have running water and electricity sorted out for your arrival.
• Look through your freezer, refrigerator, and pantry. Use perishable items and consolidate food for an easier move.
• Take a look at a floor plan of your new property. Create a rough sketch of where you want to place your furniture, so that the moving company can quickly move your furnishings into the right area.
• Take apart any furniture that can be dismantled, clearly labelling small parts and keeping hold of instruction manuals for easy reassembly.
• At this time you will also want to start clearing out your belongings. You can sort these into categories, removing any unnecessary items, those which are easily replaced, or those which you have not used for a long time. Moving is the time to gain a fresh start.
• Rather than throwing away the items you wish to clear out, consider donating them to charity, gifting them to friends, or even holding a garage sale to earn a little spare cash.
• With the main clutter removed, the next step is to start packing up those objects which you wish to keep but don’t use too often. This could include books, kitchenware, and out-of-season clothes. As you start packing, protect fragile items by wrapping them in white paper. Pack light objects in large boxes and heavy objects in smaller boxes to make them easier to handle. Label each of these packages with the contents and which room they should be moved into.
• As you pack up your belongings, create an inventory so that you know where everything is and what still needs to be packed.
• Be sure to collect all copies of your house keys, including spares that you have lent to friends and family.
• At this point you should have also sold your previous property, ideally.

Last Minute Moving Tasks

With many of your belongings already packed up and cleared away, you will need to focus on the finer details in the days leading up to your move. You can either eat out or prepare basic meals, using disposable dishes and cutlery to reduce clutter. The following tasks are also helpful:

• Arrange for childcare on moving day if you have children. The same goes for pets, which should be boarded or watched by friends during this time. They may get underfoot or find the move stressful.
• Take a look at the weather forecast for moving day, and prepare for rain with tarps if there’s any chance of wet weather. This will help protect your furniture.
• Set aside all items that you will need immediately in your new home, like prescriptions, toiletries, linens, and work or school clothing. These should be placed in clearly marked boxes. You’ll also want to give yourself some snacks and tea or coffee on moving day, so be sure to set this aside for easy access once you reach your new home.
• Place documents in an easy to access place should you need them during or after you have moved. This should include any real estate documents related to the move. Back up any important files on your computer and give these to a friend or relative for safe-keeping.
• If you have many valuables, you may wish to store them in a safety deposit box until the move has finished. You can find this at your local bank. Another option is to keep them on your person on a money belt or somewhere else close to you. It’s easy to lose valuables during relocation, so be sure to protect them and consider taking out contents insurance.
• The day before moving house, clean and defrost your refrigerator to prevent water spilling out of it during transport.

Moving Day Tasks

You’ll want an early start for your big day! Give yourself more time by getting up early and starting the day dressed and showered. Pack your bed linens and toiletries so that you’re ready to go as soon as the removalists arrive. You’ll also want to keep the following tips in mind:

• The heaviest boxes should be placed at the front area of the house. These are usually put in the truck first to help speed up the moving process. If you’re paying by the hour, this is particularly important.
• Prevent dents and scratches in your walls by placing padding around areas that could be difficult to move around.
• Keep your moving house checklist in hand and check items off as boxes and furnishings are moved onto the truck. This will help prevent anything from getting left behind.
• After everything has been placed in the truck, walk through the house to double check that it is completely empty. Don’t forget to look in drawers and cupboards.
• Secure doors and windows and turn off power at the switchboard.
• After you have arrived at your new property, you can use your floor plan as a guide to help direct your removalists. This will make short work of putting boxes in the right rooms.
• For added security, consider changing the locks at your new place.
• If your residence is a unit or apartment, you may need to contact the owners corporation and let them know you have moved in or out.

What’s next?

Although this checklist may seem long, a little bit of planning can make the whole moving process run far more smoothly. It’s also a good idea to consult with your real estate agent during the sale process to see if there is anything you can do to prepare for your move. Register now at LocalAgentFinder to get in contact with the right agent to suit your needs.