Make your next move a breeze with Nectr's Ultimate Moving Home Guide.
Moving homes can be one of life’s bitter-sweet experiences. On one hand, you’re beginning a new chapter and there is excitement around making a new home. On the other, you’re forced to organise your life into boxes, then stress out over moving away from your established comfort zone.
To help make your experience as painless as possible, we’ve created the Nectr guide to moving.
Four weeks before your move
- If you’re renting, make sure you’ve been properly approved for the new property before you commit to anything else.
- You will need to notify your current real estate agent or landlord of your new move date so a final inspection can be conducted before you vacate. For renters, a pre-lease clean may be conducted after you vacate the premises.
- You may need to do some upkeep around the property. (This can include a deeper cleaning of bathrooms, kitchens, laundries, or some paint touch ups in common areas.)
- If you have a garden, pool, or lawn and need to maintain them, then make sure each area is regularly tidied. It will save you from extra work and stress as you get closer to your move.
- Organise an eco-friendly boxing service that will supply different-sized boxes. Use a marker to write on every box a description of the content and which room it’s from. Alternatively, check out your local community forums or social network to see if other recent movers are giving their boxes away. Your local grocery store or supermarket may also help you with free boxes – every bit of recycling helps the environment.
- To avoid clutter, you can start your packing by organising one room at a time. If there is a spare room or a garage you can use, then we recommend using this as your main hub for storage until you leave.
- There is a lot of sorting involved in a move. Divide your items in three categories – keep all items you are going to use; discard all items that are non-functional or old; and lastly, give away items that you are not going to use and are in good condition to your favourite charity.
- Book a removalist (or some supportive family members) at least a month in advance so they can accommodate your moving needs. Get a few quotes for your area and find the best option that suits you.
Two weeks until your move
- Reconfirm the date and time of your booking with your removalist.
- Pre-organise the disconnection and reconnection of essential services such as electricity, gas, telephone, and internet.
- A key consideration when moving home is compiling a list of relevant companies, service providers, institutions, and subscriptions that will need your updated details.
- Organise to have your mail redirected to your new address. You can organise this at your local post office (Australia Post also offers a complimentary service where they will notify a number of organisations of your move.)
Final home cleaning checklist
When you’re doing the final clean, make sure that you pay particular attention to:
- stains in the kitchen, on benches, on walls, and in bathrooms
- dents in floorboards or skirting
- mould and mildew in the bathrooms and kitchen
- toilets and bathtubs
- oven, stovetop, rangehood, and dishwasher
- light fittings and other fixtures
- doors, door frames, and windowsills.
1 week until your move
There’s one week left - now it’s time to tie up some loose ends. Here are some tips for leading up to your last week.
- If you’re renting, reconfirm the date of your move with your landlord or real estate agent.
- If you’re not moving interstate and have pets or small children, consider organising a friend or family member to look after them during your move.
- If you’re using a removalist, confirm your address, letting them know about any special access points and parking spots on the day.
- Pack a box of your essential household items for the day of your move. This may include chargers, toiletries, clothes, and any important documents like passports and birth certificates.
48 hours until your move
It’s crunch time, but there are still a few things to do before you go.
- Unplug your relevant appliances and wrap your cords neatly. (Attach them to the appliance with tape if necessary.)
- Clean your appliances inside and out – this includes your fridge, dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer.
- Make sure your air-con and rangehood filters are cleaned prior to vacating.
- Take note of any fixtures that need replacing or updating (this may come out of your bond if you’re renting).
Final house cleaning checklist
You should pay attention to the following list of areas, especially if you are self-cleaning the property:
- stains in the kitchen, benches, rooms, and bathrooms.
- dents in floorboards or skirting.
- mould and mildew in the bathrooms and kitchen.
- toilets and bathtubs.
- oven, stovetop, and rangehood.
- light fittings and other fixtures.
- doors, door frames, and windowsills.
The Big Day
Home stretch, you’re at the finish line! Here are some last-minute considerations to keep in mind on the day of your move.
- Do a final lap, looking for any hidden items in cupboards and drawers or on shelves.
- Give the house a final clean, sweep, and mop.
- Put all your overnight boxes, bags, and valuables in your car.
- Lock all windows and doors.
- Hand all sets of keys back to your landlord or real estate agent (if renting).
- Re-confirm your new address and travel route with your removalist.
- Confirm that your pet (if they haven't gone to stay with a friend) is in your car when you leave!
- Take a minute to say goodbye to your home with your loved ones – you likely created many memories here.
