Moving house is a bit like going on a holiday. There is a lot to pack and plan, but there is also a lot to look forward to at the end. Before you can kick back and relax you have plenty to do, and it’s all too easy to accidentally forget something important. No one wants to arrive at a beach house and realise they’ve forgotten to pack their sunnies! So to help you make sure you don’t forget anything important as you move, we’ve put together this handy guide. Here are 10 essential things to remember when moving house!
1. Get on top of your utilities
Utilities are essential to any home, but they can easily be forgotten too. Running water, gas, electricity, and the internet can start to just feel like part of the house. But before you move, don’t forget to cancel services relating to your current home and set them up at your new address. For more information on utilities, make sure to read our article.
2. Book removalists
Let’s be honest, it’s a lot of hard working packing up all your belongings and furniture and moving it all to your new home. While you could do this task alone (or try to get some friends to help) it’s probably an easier idea to hire removalists. Shop around a few weeks before your moving date to make sure you can choose the right help, and the best price and make sure they’re actually available when you need them.
3. Get cleaning
It’s not a glamorous job, but it does need doing. Before you move out of your current home you’ll no doubt need to give it a good clean. If you’re renting, then a clean house is essential to get your bond back, and if you’re selling then it’s the right thing to do to make sure your home is clean for the new owners. Add it to the list and make sure you’ve left plenty of time to dust, wipe, scrub and polish. If you need a helping hand, you can always book a cleaning company to free up your time for other things.
4. Pack it up
Everything must go. You will need to pack up each room and every item eventually, and it’s a good idea to get a start sooner rather than later. Jobs like packing have a way of growing larger than we anticipated, so save yourself some stress and start early. Get boxes, tape, and bubble wrap from a local hardware store and it’s a good idea to pack items that belong to the same room into the same box. Start with rooms that are less frequently used so you don’t accidentally pack something you need before the move.
It’s a great opportunity to declutter and donate unwanted items to charity. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself, ‘will this fit in my new house?’ Anything that isn’t coming with you can be donated or thrown away. Lastly, don’t forget to write the contents and the room on the box, to make your unpacking experience a lot less confusing.
5. Keep your documents safe
It’s a good piece of advice to set aside some of your important documents in a safe place. Things like passports, birth certificates and other valuable things can easily be misplaced during a move. Why not choose a smaller bag before you start packing and make sure anything important is kept together so you know where it is at all times.
6. Change your address
Your friends and family may know all about your new home, but there are a lot of other agencies and authorities that need to know too. Make sure to set aside some time to change your address on things like your driver’s license, your bank, health insurance, where you’re registered to vote, on your Medicare and insurance providers.
You might also want to arrange to have your mail redirected with the post-office to make sure anything important is sent to your new address. This will all take a little bit of time to do, but can save you from a lot of headaches down the road.
7. Take care of your four-legged friends
Moving with pets can be a challenge. Making sure that you have all the proper pet food, equipment, and toys while you’re in the middle of a busy and stressful time can be a lot to handle. If you have a pet who is coming with you on the move, it could be a good idea to find somewhere for them to stay until the process is over. You can book a dog into a kennel for a little while, or find a friend or family member to take them until you’ve settled in. As always, planning ahead now can save you from some difficulties later.
8. Home insurance
Don’t forget about insuring your new home. On top of all the logistics of packing and moving, it’s important that you’ve also taken the right steps to protect your new investment and your contents. Buying a home makes you the one responsible for it, and insurance is a great idea to ensure your peace of mind. To read more about choosing insurance, read our article on home and contents insurance.
9. Make a moving-essentials pack
It’s a handy idea to make a bag of all the things you’ll need for the moving day. You can keep track of all the essential items by packing them in the same bag. This might include things like scissors for opening boxes, a torch, snacks to keep you going on the day, important keys, documents, or phone numbers. Make a plan for the items you’ll need and pack them all into a go-bag for your big day.
10. Don’t do it all on your own
Why not get a little help with your move? For a choice of services and providers simply head to Property Helper. Property Helper will help you pack up, clean up, and move out of your home with removalist and cleaning services, utilities providers, broadband plans and more. Make life a little easier for yourself and get started with Property Helper today.
We know you have a lot to think about at this time, so why not use this handy guide to remind you of some of the most important details when you move. Our team works with people every day across Australia who are moving house, buying, and selling.
We know the stress that can be involved and we’re here for you. We can’t help you pack, but if you have any questions about your settlement period, just get in touch with us today.
This article is provided for general information purposes only. Its content is current at the date of publication. It is not legal advice and is not tailored to meet your individual needs. You should obtain specialist advice based on your specific circumstances before taking any action concerning the matters discussed in this article.
