Moving Checklist

Nobody likes moving. It’s easily one of the most stressful experiences ever, as there are a lot of things to figure out. But in reality, the chaos is usually less due to the pressure of going to a new place and more due to the disorganisation. You need to be prepared enough, and for that, you need a simple checklist to have the things you need to move out get sorted.

Also, because you can’t build the ultimate moving house checklist without talking about planning, you need to start working on your checklist at least a month before the date of the move.

From informing your landlord to making your house liveable, your moving house checklist should be all-inclusive and flawless. Here’s a quick guide to assist you.

Things to do when moving house

When you sit down and begin creating your moving house checklist, you’ll realise that you’ve actually got a thousand things to do when moving house. Therefore, it makes sense to start doing this as early as possible – some people actually start working on their moving to-do checklist three to six months before their scheduled relocation.

#1 – Finalise the budget

Before you begin checking off things to do from your moving house checklist, you need to have a budget in place. There’s no way you can plan properly without knowing how much you can spend. Consider costs such as buying supplies for moving (ex. boxes and markers) and hiring reliable removalists.

#2 – Get a moving partner

The biggest mistake people make while moving house is that they start from point A to get to point B. For instance, homeowners pack their stuff before booking a moving partner.

But the secret is to reverse engineer the process.

Start by booking professional removalists. Not because it’s tough to get a slot, but because it helps you take the first step and is great for mental preparation.

#3 – Arrange a storage location

It’s not always possible for your moving dates to align with that of the other homeowners or tenants. So, it’s wise to look for removalists who not only pack your things up but also offer you a storage service until you’re absolutely ready to move into your new home.

#4 – Shop for packing supplies

If you’ll be doing the packing yourself, allocate time for putting your packing supplies together in your moving house checklist. Some essential items to include in your shopping list are box cutters, packaging tape, scissors, multi-coloured permanent markers, bubble wrap, packing tissue and sturdy boxes.

#5 – Get rid of the clutter

This is probably the perfect time to clear out the excess stuff that you’ve been harbouring within your house. Declutter before moving as that’ll make it easier for you to start afresh and live a more organised life in your new home. If you don’t know what to do with unwanted furniture, there are many options such as selling them on a market place or donating your furniture to someone in need.

Once you’re done with that, make a list of all the things that you’re moving out with. This tiny practice comes in handy when you move into the new house.

#6 – Start packing

Whether you’re moving to a different neighbourhood in the same city or interstate, you need to begin packing your possessions several weeks prior to your scheduled move. Six to eight weeks before moving day is a good time to start. Of course, this rule doesn’t apply to perishable goods and it depends on what sort of items you are moving to your new home. For example, if you are moving with plants, it’s best to pack them shortly before moving day. If you are transporting a TV, it’s best to learn the correct approach.

You can pack by room or use your own organisational system, but make sure you pack seasonally or rarely used items first, such as holiday décor, ski equipment, etc. To make unpacking easier later, colour code your boxes according to the sections of your home, such as green for kitchen items and yellow for things that belong to the living room.

#7 – Create backups of computer files

Backing up important work and personal files is another item to add in your moving home checklist.

Although it’s a given you and your removalists will be careful on moving day, accidents can happen. By ensuring you back up your computer files in the cloud, you can stress less in case something goes amiss with your computer or laptop. You can also create a second backup set using a removable or external hard drive.

#8 – Don’t forget your pets and kids

When you have pets and kids in your house, it can be difficult to have a smooth moving process. A simple solution to this problem is considering hiring a pet or babysitter to reduce the stress, or dropping them off at a friend’s house for the day.

#9 – Inspect the new home

No moving home checklist is complete without you doing a thorough inspection of your new house. You can either get help from professional property managers or do it yourself. And while snagging can be a tad time-consuming, it definitely pays off.

#10 – Enrol your kids in the new school or kindy

It’s important that you enrol your kids in the new school and kindy early enough. Usually you have to apply for a spot and then the education provider will send you a letter confirming your children’s spot or they inform you that they don’t have any spots left.
Info regarding school enrolment in each state:
➜ WA

➜ VIC
➜ NSW
➜ QLD
➜ ACT
➜ NT
➜ SA
➜ TAS

Moving out of home checklist

These items in your checklist before moving out include some administrative errands and tasks you should finish in the last few weeks or days leading up to your move.

#1 – Get in touch with all your utility providers

Since you’re moving out, make time to discontinue all the utility services that are linked to your current address, including the internet, cable, gas, water, and landline services.

Bear in mind that your utility providers may purposely delay the process to charge you for an additional month or two. But if you keep this step as a priority on your moving out of home checklist and put in your request in advance, you’ll end up saving a fortune.

#2 – Clear outstanding bills

It’s not uncommon to forget paying bills among all the chaos. So, it’s probably best to take care of them before you’re burdened with a ton of late fees.

#3 – Update your address

Never forget to change the address before moving house on all your documents including those of banks, hospitals, subscriptions, schools, and childcare. If you’re subscribed to a mail service, ensure to redirect it to your new address, so you can continue enjoying uninterrupted mails.

➜ Learn more: Change of Address Checklist

#4 – Arrange vacate cleaning

An important part of your apartment or house moving-out checklist should be arranging Perth vacate cleaners. You can either hire an independent cleaning service or work with removalists who offer cleaning as part of the moving service. The latter is always a time and cost-effective option because not only might you get a packaged deal, but it’ll also spare you from contacting different companies for various jobs. Talk to the Smooth Movers, we do it all.

#5 – Defrost and clean your fridge/freezer

The task of defrosting and cleaning your fridge and freezer the day before your move may seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people forget this and ignore other vital considerations when moving a fridge to a new home. So do yourself a favour and keep it in your moving list.

#6 – Get your overnight bag ready

Make sure your overnight bag containing your hygiene kit, some clothes to last you a day or two, your valuables and other essential items are ready. If it’s a family-with-pets move, every family member should have a similar bag prepared, including one for your pets for storing food, toys and other necessities.

#7 – Prepare some snacks and refreshments for the road

If you’ll be on the road for a couple of hours or if you’re moving with kids and pets, make sure you have some snacks and refreshments prepared for everyone.
This is especially important to include in your moving interstate checklist (i.e. if you’re moving to a different state) as it will help keep everyone’s hunger pangs in check during the move.

#8 – Go through the pantry and bin expired food items

Packing all the non-refrigerated items can and typically is left to 1-3 days before moving. You want to make sure to sort through your pantry to throw out old expired things. You’ll find items with a near indefinite expiry date, such as the family’s fav Jarrah Honey, but other things like bread don’t last long at all. So, just check each item individually before you carefully box it up.

Checklist for moving into a new home

Now that you’ve crossed off things to do before moving into a new house, it’s time to focus on the new home checklist. Let’s call this your personal moving into a new house checklist.

#1 – Connect with utility providers

One of the first things you should do after moving into a new house is getting in touch with new service providers. If you’re moving close by, you can also consider transferring your old services to the new address.

#2 – Give clear directions to the movers

When the movers are unloading your stuff, make sure that you stand at the entry point, at a safe distance from them, so you can direct them to put everything where you need them to be.

#3 – Keep a tally of all the boxes and/or crates

Cross-check your list of boxes (and crates) loaded into the moving truck against what has been offloaded in your new place. Make sure that nothing is missing or damaged, so you can thank the removalists afterward and they can be on their way.

Remember that you should always be in control of the move because the removalists count on you to guide them. Make them familiar with the house’s design, so they’ll know how to position your belongings.

Communicate clearly and actively participate in the unloading process.

#4 – Eliminate security concerns

No apartment move-in checklist can be completed without you cross-checking your security systems. Go through every lock and surveillance camera on your property to see whether or not they’re working as promised. If not, change them immediately. And do so before you settle in.

#5 – Ensure your move was smooth

Even if you’re working with reliable removalists, it’s important for you to keep a check on all your belongings. If you make a list of your stuff, this will be a piece of cake as you’ll simply have to cross things off the list.

See if your appliances and furniture are in mint condition or at least the way you packed them. And if anything’s missing, don’t hesitate to notify the removalists right away.

Lastly, make sure you’re satisfied with the work, which shouldn’t be a problem if you’re working with the Smooth Movers.

Printable checklist for moving house

Moving into a new place can be a daunting and exhausting experience. If you haven’t done it before or if you live a busy life, you might be overwhelmed by stress and pressure. But the good news is that you can use this printable checklist for moving house to your rescue and make the experience less taxing for you and your family.

Here’s to a stress-free move!

Before moving out, it’s crucial to plan ahead and create a moving house checklist detailing all the tasks you need to take care of for a smooth, stress-free move.

Hopefully, this guide helps you avoid any pre- and post-move jitters so you can focus on the excitement of moving into your new home.