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Moving House Checklist Australia 2024
Moving house can rank as one of the most stressful things in life that you can do. The best way to ensure that you have a smooth move is to be well organised, and to engage an experienced removalist like Dawson Moving & Storage. We aim to make your move as stress-free as possible so you can enjoy your new home from the minute you arrive.
To help you move into your new house, We have created a simple and step-by-step moving in-house checklist.
Follow our comprehensive Moving House checklist for a smooth move.
Some of the most important steps when moving house in Australia:
- Find an AFRA accredited removalist.
- Receive an in house no obligation quotation.
- Decide if you or the removalist will be doing the packing.
- Declutter your home, and pack.
- Contact all service and utility providers.
- Other useful reminders before moving day.
- Moving Day!
1. Finding A Removalist:
The easiest way to find a reputable removalist in Australia is to visit AFRA the Australian Furniture Removers Association and perform a search for an accredited removalist in your area.
“Australian Furniture Removers Association (AFRA) is an official body of removals experts that helps regulate the removals industry. AFRA is consulted by Government departments before they make decisions about the industry.
AFRA accredits only those furniture removalists that have the necessary equipment, vehicles, premises and staff training needed to complete a professional move.“
Dawson Moving & Storage is a proud AFRA member and we are located in both Melbourne and Canberra, and with an extensive network of agents, can move you locally, interstate or overseas.
Also ask family and friends for recommendations and then check that the company is accredited with AFRA. Visit company websites and ensure that the company you select has more than just a mobile number as a contact and that they have a physical street address, not just a post office box. This will help you to avoid shonky fly-by-night operators.
Call the company or companies you have selected. Reputable companies will take your call with good grace and friendliness and will be able to provide you with information on how to proceed with your move.
2. Receive A House No Obligation Quotation:
Even if you are just moving across town, the best thing you can do to obtain a quotation is to have a representative from an AFRA accredited removalist company visit you and your home. This allows the moving company to provide you with the most accurate and detailed quotation.
On arrival the representative will assess the access to your property, taking note of:
- Steep or narrow driveways
- Overhanging branches
- Stairs
- Lift size and accessibility
- Any other impediments
- Ferry vehicle requirements
Once inside your home, they will complete an inventory of your goods and belongings, and take note of:
- The total number, and type, of boxes to be packed (standard removalist cartons, book/wine cartons, picture cartons, TV cartons, porta-robes and bike cartons)
- Any furniture items that need to be disassembled (for example; beds, buffets, desks, lounge suites, trampolines, play sets and dining tables)
- The total volume of goods to be moved
- Any items that may require specialist packing materials such as crates
- Any large or difficult items (for example; billiard tables, pianos, work benches and safes)
The representative will also discuss:
- Dates and settlement times
- Insurance
- Long or short term storage requirements
- Packing and unpacking options
- Car and pet transportation
- End of lease / moving out cleaning
- Accessibility at your new property
Armed with all of this information, the representative will be able to provide you with the most accurate quotation for you move. In most cases the quotation will be able to be provided immediately, but in some circumstances may need to be emailed to you within 24 hours.
The only time when you would not require an in home inspection is when you a have a small number of items to be moved. In this case you can provide the list to the removals company over the phone, or via their online quotation platform, and they will be able to provide you with a quotation.
Please ensure if this is the case that you highlight any issues with accessibility to your property and provide an accurate list of goods to be moved. If the list you provide is inaccurate, there is a greater chance that the removalist company may provide you with the wrong size truck, or moving van, and possibly insufficient staff.
3. Decide if you or the removalist will be doing the packing:
Whether you are moving across town, interstate or overseas, packing your belongings can be a daunting task. Removalists are experts at packing your belongings, and can take the pressure off you by doing it for you.
Many people will choose to utilise Dawson Moving & Storage’s “breakables” packing option. This entails the professional removalist packing your kitchen items, ornaments and other delicate goods. Other customers prefer to not do any packing at all, whilst some will still elect to pack everything themselves. Reputable removalists will also be able to provide you with an unpacking service.
The representative who provided you with your quotation will also be able to arrange for new (or second hand) cartons, tape and packing paper to be delivered to your property.
4. Declutter your house, and pack:
We all have them. No one likes to talk about them. They are the boxes that move with you from house to house and are never even opened, let alone unpacked. Before your next move, open those boxes and decide if you really need what is in there. If you haven’t used it in the past 12 months, are you really likely to use it again… ever?
Declutter! Make use of council hard rubbish collections. Many councils will allow you to book a once off collection if it is outside of their normal collection timetable. Hire a skip, give to charity, and make your grown children take their own boxes of childhood memories. Declutter!
Removal prices are based on volume. The less you take with you, the less your move will cost.
Start decluttering and packing (if you are doing that yourself) well in advance of moving day. Start in the least used room of the house and work your way through, room by room. This will leave you feeling a sense of accomplishment and far less overwhelmed.
For further detail on how to pack like a professional visit how to pack like a pro, and follow the tips below:
- Pack one room at a time, and start with the items that are used the least.
- Make sure you tape the bottom of the box securely – you can never use too much tape!
The flaps of the box should NOT overlap. Close the sides opposite each other at the same time and tape across in both directions on the outside.
- Use the right size box!
- Book / wine cartons are suitable for heavy or delicate items such as glassware, china, figurines, cutlery, books, wine, DVD’s, CD’s and videos.
- Standard cartons are suitable for crockery, ornaments, shoes, toys, linen, clothes and other medium weight items.
- Porta-robes are used for hanging clothing and oversized items.
- Picture cartons are for mirrors and pictures.
5. Contact all service and utility providers:
One of the most important chores to do when moving home is to notify all of the utility and service providers of your change of address, and to organise final readings.
- Electricity
- Gas
- Water
- Internet
- Pay TV
- Telephone
- Insurance
- Subscriptions
- Hire purchase companies
- Car registration and licence:
– VicRoads
– RMS NSW
– Access Canberra
– Service SA
– DoTDirect (WA)
– TMR (QLD)
– MVR (NT)
– Service Tasmania
- Banks and financial institutions
- Schools
- Childcare
- Doctor
- Sporting clubs
- Relevant government departments: ATO, Medicare, Centerlink
- Australia Post for mail redirection!
There are also service available such as Compare & Connect or Connect Now who can arrange some of these for you.
6. Other useful reminders for before moving day:
- Empty and clean fridge and freezer
- Notify your neighbours that you are moving and ensure to save ample
parking space out the front of your property for the moving van - Make sure all your packing (if you are doing it yourself) is completed before moving day, and that all cartons are securely taped and marked with contents or room destination
- Plan where you would like to place your furniture in your new home
- Pack an essentials carton to load on the truck last or to go in the car with you:
– Kettle, tea, coffee, sugar, mugs and spoons
– Toilet paper and bathroom essentials
– TV remotes
– Bed screws, an Allen key or tool kit
– A bottle of bubbly and glasses
7. Moving Day:
Your removalist will contact you the business day prior to your move, to notify you of the time the moving van will be arriving at your property.
And now the big day has arrived!
If you have followed the above steps then you should be all packed and ready to go. The removalists will load the moving van with great care and skill, it is amazing how much they can fit into a truck!
Call us today on 1800 066 846 for a no-obligation and confidential discussion and quotation.
Download Moving House Checklist PDF
Related Posts:
Hiring A Removalist in Australia – Why, When & How
Removalists Melbourne to Canberra – Ultimate Moving Guide
Removalists Canberra to Melbourne – The Complete Moving Guide
How Much Does Moving Houses Cost?
How Much Does Self-Storage Cost?
Are Removalists Liable For Damage?
How To Move Interstate On A Budget?
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- Canberra | (02) 6260 1214
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