Ultimate House Moving Checklist

4–6 weeks before moving day

The bulk of the planning happens now. Lock in your removalist, set your budget, and start the paperwork that takes time to update.

• Choose a removalist — get at least two written quotes and confirm insurance
• Set a moving budget including packing materials, cleaning and bond clean
• Notify the Electoral Office, update driver's licence and car registration
• Sketch a floor plan and measure doorways so furniture fits the new place
• Photograph valuable furniture and note any existing scratches or dents
• Cancel or redirect newspaper and magazine subscriptions
• Confirm key collection and settlement times with your lawyer or agent
• Request family, pet, dental and school records to take with you
• Arrange to transfer or connect utilities at the new address

2–3 weeks before moving day

Time to lock in the people, paperwork and parts of the house you won't think about on the day.

• Notify all authorities of your change of address (see our Change of Address Guide)
• Arrange a carer for kids and pets on moving day
• Refill prescriptions you'll need the week of the move
• Service the car, drain fuel from the lawnmower
• Book final gas, electricity and water meter readings
• Cancel local memberships, deliveries and automatic payments tied to your address
• Book a locksmith for the new home on moving day
• Dismantle outdoor items — trampolines, swing sets, BBQ gas bottles
• Build a Handyman Kit: hammer, Allen keys, screwdrivers, lightbulbs, hooks, knife

Packing — room by room

Pack the rooms you use least first (garage, study, spare room) and the kitchen and bedrooms last. Label every box with room AND a one-line summary of contents.

• Kitchen — wrap glassware in butcher's paper, fill gaps with tea towels
• Bedrooms — vacuum-bag bedding and out-of-season clothes
• Wardrobes — use port-a-robes for hanging clothes (we supply these)
• Bathroom — bag toiletries inside ziplock bags to stop leaks in transit
• Garage — sort tools by type, drain fuel and gas from anything powered
• Fragile items — mark FRAGILE on the top AND two sides, never on the bottom
• Photos & art — back-to-back with cardboard between, stand vertically
• Books — small boxes only, they get heavy faster than you think

1 week to moving day

• Set aside bed linen and towels for the first night so beds go up immediately
• Draw a furniture-placement plan for each room and give it to the lead removalist
• Re-confirm time, address and crew size with your removalist
• Arrange parking and access (lift bookings, permits, dog gates open)
• Finish packing — leave only the kettle, mugs, phone chargers and toilet paper

The day before

• Defrost and empty the fridge and freezer 24 hours before
• Pack a personal overnight bag for each family member
• Unplug and tie up appliance cords with cable ties
• Withdraw cash for tips and incidentals
• Tell neighbours or police if the house will be empty for a few days
• Charge phones, laptops, the kids' tablets and a power bank

On moving day

• Have your ESSENTIALS and SURVIVAL cartons (kettle, snacks, meds, chargers) on hand
• Hand the removal supervisor a floor plan and parking instructions for the new address
• Ask the crew to load kitchen boxes LAST so they come off the truck FIRST
• Tick items off your master list as they go onto the truck
• Return keys to the agent, lock up, turn off power, tighten taps and check gas
• Do a final walk-through — under beds, top of wardrobes, garden shed

Essentials box checklist

Pack this last, unload it first. One per household member.

• Phone chargers + spare power bank
• Toiletries and any daily medication
• Two changes of clothes
• Bedding and a towel
• Kettle, mugs, instant coffee/tea, snacks
• Toilet paper, paper towel, hand soap
• Torch, batteries, basic tool kit
• Important documents folder (passports, contracts, insurance)

Moving with kids & pets

• Arrange a sitter or family member for moving day
• Pack a 'kid bag' with familiar toys, snacks and a tablet
• Update microchip details and council pet registration
• Keep pets in one closed room with food, water and a familiar item until the truck leaves
• Travel with pets in your own car, not the moving truck
• Set up the kids' bedrooms first at the new home — familiar surroundings help them settle

Insurance & valuation

Standard removalist liability covers carrier negligence to a limited amount. For full peace of mind on high-value items, take out transit insurance for the move and check your contents insurance for the gap between policies.

• Photograph high-value items before they're wrapped
• Make a written inventory with replacement values
• Ask your removalist for their carrier's terms in writing
• Quote transit insurance for the truck day
• Overlap your home contents insurance by at least 24 hours either side

Settling-in — week one

• Test smoke alarms and replace batteries
• Locate the water mains, gas shut-off and meter box
• Re-key or change locks (we recommend day one)
• Update your address with the bank, insurers, super fund and employer
• Find your nearest GP, pharmacy, vet, school zone and 24/7 supermarket
• Introduce yourself to neighbours — they're your local intel for years to come