The Simple Moving House Checklist 2022

There are obviously some differences between moving into a rental versus your own home, and you’ll be well aware of the specifics regarding your own situation. But overall, the act of moving house is fairly universal.

You might feel reasonably organized, but amid the flurry of activity in the week or two leading up to the move, it’s easy to forget certain tasks until the last minute.  

What do I need to know?

• Moving home can be really stressful.  Things to get sorted early on include booking a removalist, sorting out any unpaid bills and connecting utilities like electricity and internet at your new home 
• When it comes to packing, do a thorough sort before you pack and get rid of anything you no longer need.  Carefully wrap any fragile items and make sure all boxes are clearly labelled with what they contain and what room they are for 
• Don’t forget to update your mailing address, particularly with your insurers as a new address can impact your car insurance or home and content premium 
• Come moving day, pack a bag of essentials with clothes, toiletries etc so you don’t have to sort through endless boxes.  Make sure you have toilet paper and plenty of snacks on hand too!  

If you’ve already read through our tips for moving house, take a look through our all-important checklist of essentials below and save yourself the frantic running around like a chook with no head.

Before you move

• Get rid of what you don’t need

This is made clear by both Moneysmart¹ and Australia Post²: it’s a good idea to get rid of unwanted items before you move. This will make packing a lot easier since you won’t have to sort through an ocean of junk. So, if you’ve got old receipts you’re willing to part with or clothes you’ve been meaning to donate, now might be the right time to get rid of them.

• Book removalists (if you need to!)

This is something that might depend on how many things you own, particularly heavy furniture like a couch, fridge, or a taxidermied bear rug. It also depends on how many family members and friends you have close by who can help you out with packing, moving, and transporting your things on the day.
If you do choose to hire a removalist then it never hurts to go for someone reliable. Consumer Affairs Victoria³ suggests asking friends or family for their recommendations, seeking out trustworthy reviews of different services or using a service that’s accredited with an industry body (like the Australian Furniture Removalists Association).

• Sort out any unpaid bills

The government website Moneysmart also advises you to pay off any existing rent or utility bills before moving1. Failing to do so doesn’t just mean angry calls from your ex-landlord either – it could affect your credit score or rental history as well.
If you share a house or unit with roommates you’ll also want to pay for any expenses you’ve agreed to share (such as groceries). For renters, it’s also prudent to speak to your landlord or give formal notice that you intend to move out.

• Arrange to disconnect and connect utilities

If you lived with other people at your old residence and they’ll be staying there, you won’t need to worry about disconnecting services. But if you’re all moving out, you’ll need to get in touch with your service providers and arrange a disconnection date. For instance, the Australian Energy Regulator suggests that you give your energy provider at least three days’ notice before you move out⁴.
It’s best to have some overlap between your old and new place, so once you have your move-in date, arrange to disconnect services at your old place on the last day of your residency there. Arrange to connect services at your new place at least a day before your move-in date, so that everything is ready to go by the time you move in.
Internet connections may take a few business days to connect, and if you’re waiting for hardware to be delivered (such as a modem), then you might also be without internet for the first few days. You can always rely on your phone’s hotspot, but it’s easy to churn and burn through all your data and rack up extra costs. If you regularly work from home, prioritise internet connection as early as you can.
To learn more, check out iSelect’s mover’s service, which can help you connect gas, electricity and internet at your new home.

Pack well, pack right

Apart from making sure you’ve got enough cardboard boxes, there are a few more tools and essential items you’ll need to help you pack properly and get you through the move. The last thing you want is shattered photo frames, goo-ridden boxes from leaky cosmetics, or blood all over the carpet from an unstoppable papercut.

• Old newspapers and bubble wrap

Wrap your fragile items in a couple of layers of newspaper or bubble wrap to protect them from cracks and breaks. Photo frames, ceramics, trinkets, glass bottles, and other delicate items you handle gingerly should all be wrapped up before they’re placed into a box. Keep these items together if you can as well, and label that box as ‘fragile’.

• Scissors and tape

This one goes without saying, but without them, your packing process will take a real hit.

• Bolts, nails and screws

If you need to dismantle furniture, make sure you put all the bolts and screws together in a resealable bag, and then label it. Put however many of these you end up having altogether in a box so you don’t lose any and you know where they all are.

Update your address

As the date of your big move draws closer, you’ll want to give your new mailing address to all the organizations who need your information. Yeah, it’s a bit of a pain – but it also ensures that all the important information these organizations send out arrives straight to your doorstep.

Some government services, such as Medicare, Centrelink and the Australian Tax Office – may also allow you to update your details via the MyGov website. You’ll just need to select the state or territory where your new address is located and follow the prompts.

For other organizations and services, such as banks and universities, you may be able to change your details with them online. If not, calling them is usually your next best bet.

Notify your insurer

You’ll also want to let the provider who handles your car, life and health insurance know about the move. Our partners at Budget Direct recommend doing this about 4 weeks before you change addresses⁵; doing so may also help your insurer update your policy accordingly, as some premiums may change depending on your location.

Additionally, if you need home and contents insurance for your new address, you may wish to compare some policies. iSelect provides an online tool which you can use to compare policies from a range of providers; so if you’re interested then feel free to get started with us today!

On the day

• Bring a bag of essentials

It’s important to pack an overnight bag, just as if you were travelling. This means you’ll have easy access to your toiletries, clothes, and whatever else you need to get through a normal day.

• Take care of the pets and kids

Make sure you’ve got a cage for the cat, a tank for the fish, a leash for the dog, and restraints for the kids… child-restraint seating in the car, that is…

• Stock up on the extras

On the day before the move (or maybe in the early morning!), buy extra toilet paper and a first-aid kit if you don’t already have one. Grab yourself and anyone else you’re moving with some groceries too, because you’ll get hungry throughout the day. You won’t have time for a sit-down meal, so it might be helpful to have snacks like bananas or muesli bars on hand to get you through.

Keep in mind that iSelect* is here to make your move a little easier, too. We can help you connect gas, electricity and internet so that you’re comfortable in your new home from day one.

Happy moving!

¹ Source:Moving out of home – Moneysmart.gov.au

² Source:Moving house: The checklist you need – Australia Post (auspost.com.au)

³ Source:Moving over summer? Choose your removalist carefully – Media release – Consumer Affairs Victoria

⁴ Source:Moving house | Australian Energy Regulator (aer.gov.au)

⁵ Source:Moving House Checklist | Budget Direct