House moving checklist: what to do, week by week

Planning

4 to 6 weeks to moving day

Book your removal company and choose carefully. We recommend an Australian Furniture Removers Association (AFRA) accredited company. Set your budget, get a written quote and arrange moving transit insurance.
Organise contents and household insurance for your new home.
Notify the Electoral Office of your new address. Also update your driver's licence and car registration.
Draw a floor plan of your new home for furniture placement, and measure the spaces to make sure your furniture will fit, particularly the fridge. Will large items fit through the doors?
Prepare an inventory of everything you own, noting any scratches or dents.
Make a note of any precious items that need special care to move.
Get rid of everything you don't need.
Check the manufacturer's moving instructions for your washing machine.
In the kitchen, use up all opened packets and throw out anything past its use-by date.
Start using up the food in the freezer.
Remember to sort through the garage, the garden shed and under the house.
Ask your removalist about safe handling of gas cylinders, air bottles and flammable goods.
Arrange safe disposal of unwanted chemicals, paint, solvents, cleaning fluids, fuel and aerosols.
Create a folder for all your moving documents.
Arrange to have your mail held or redirected to your new address.
Arrange school, preschool and day-care transfers.
Redirect or cancel newspapers and other subscriptions.
If travelling, organise passports, tickets, visas, currency, credit cards and accommodation.
Return borrowed or rented items.
Arrange a rubbish pick-up with the local council.
Confirm the key collection time and settlement date with your lawyer or real estate agent, as this will set your moving day.
Plan to carry important legal documents and jewellery yourself.
Plan and book any repairs that need doing.
Research storage if you need it.
Get family and pet medical records, plus dental and school records.
If leasing, arrange the property inspection and book cleaners.
Transfer and set up utilities at your new address.
Review your home and contents and car insurance.

Packing and preparation

If you're packing yourself

Arrange cartons and packing materials (labels, bubble wrap, tape, markers and paper). Your removalist can usually supply them, or see where to get boxes near us.
Use clean white butcher's paper, not newspaper, which marks your things.
Label every carton clearly, on the tape, with its contents and the room it's going to.
Keep an inventory of each carton. Mark FRAGILE clearly. Note all dents and scratches.
Pack lighter items in large cartons and heavier items in small ones, with the heavier items at the bottom.
Take apart furniture that comes apart. Tape the screws somewhere obvious, or label them and put them in an ESSENTIALS carton with the TV and sound system remotes, bed legs, shelf supports, keys to furniture cabinets and the manufacturer's instructions for putting things back together.
Pack a SURVIVAL KIT (load it last) with the kettle, tea and coffee, breakfast, special children's toys, school things, pet needs (especially leads), bathroom necessities, a phone charger, medications, snacks, a corkscrew, spare light globes, scissors, tools and toilet paper.
Think about taking very sentimental and personal items with you in your car.

The final week

1 week to moving day

Set aside bed linen and towels for the first night, so the beds can be made up as soon as possible on moving day.
Draw a plan of each room in your new home showing where the furniture goes, for your removalist.
Water indoor plants lightly and pack them into plastic-lined boxes.
Let your babysitter, gardener, cleaner and other services know.
Back up your computer. Get the printer and scanner ready to travel.
Re-confirm all moving details with your removalist, real estate agent and lawyer. Make sure your mover has all the contact numbers, the new address and clear instructions.
Write a friendly welcome note for the new residents with anything useful to help them settle in, and your contact details.
Arrange access and parking for the removalist's truck.

The final week

The day before the move

Defrost and empty the fridge. Have an Esky and ice ready to carry what's in it.
Clean the oven. Keep the vacuum handy for last-minute cleaning.
Pack the personal luggage and things you're taking with you.
If you're using professional packers, leave out what you'll need that evening and the next day.
Unplug appliances and tie up the cords.
Have cash on hand for last-minute costs, and have the money for the move organised.
If your house will be empty for a while, tell the police and your neighbours.
Say goodbye to your old neighbours.
Write an action plan for moving day.

House moving checklist

4 to 6 weeks to moving day

If you're packing yourself

2 to 3 weeks to moving day

1 week to moving day

The day before the move

Moving day

Your new home

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Moving questions

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