Moving house is one of the most logistically demanding things most people will ever do. Between coordinating removalists, updating your address with dozens of organisations, and physically packing up an entire life’s worth of belongings, it is easy to feel overwhelmed before the first box is even taped shut. The good news is that a solid checklist, combined with a realistic timeline, can take most of the chaos out of the process. Here is a practical breakdown of what to do and when to do it.
Six to Eight Weeks Before Moving Day
This is your planning phase. The further out you start, the more options you will have and the less you will pay for services that book up quickly.
Sort Out the Big Logistics First
- Book your removalist early. Get at least three quotes and check reviews. Weekday moves are almost always cheaper than weekend ones. Confirm whether the company provides packing materials or whether you need to source your own.
- Notify your landlord or settle on a settlement date. Make sure you know your exact vacate date and build your entire timeline around it.
- Arrange time off work. Most people underestimate how much time a move takes. Book at least moving day itself, and ideally one extra day on either side.
Start Decluttering Immediately
Do not pack things you do not want in your new home. Go room by room and create three categories: keep, donate or sell, and throw away. The less you move, the less you pay and the faster you unpack. List sellable items online now so transactions are completed before moving week arrives.
Four to Six Weeks Before Moving Day
This is when the practical administration begins. It is also the phase most people skip, which causes headaches later.
Start Your Address Change Notifications
Updating your address takes longer than expected because the list is longer than you think. Work through it systematically rather than waiting until after you move.
- Electoral roll and government agencies
- Bank accounts, credit cards, and superannuation funds
- Health insurance and any other insurance policies
- Medicare and any private health providers
- Your employer and payroll department
- Subscription services, including streaming platforms and magazine subscriptions
- Online shopping accounts like Amazon
- Your GP, dentist, and any specialists
Set up mail redirection through your national postal service as a safety net. It will catch anything you missed, but do not rely on it as your only strategy.
Start Collecting Packing Supplies
- More boxes than you think you need. You will always need more.
- Packing tape and a dispenser, not just a roll
- Bubble wrap or packing paper for fragile items
- Permanent markers in at least two colours
- Labels or sticky notes
Liquor stores, supermarkets, and bookshops often give away sturdy boxes for free if you ask. Collect them early before demand picks up closer to the end of the month, which is when most leases turn over.
Two to Four Weeks Before Moving Day
Begin Packing Non-Essentials
Pack everything you will not need in the next month. This includes books, seasonal clothing, decorative items, spare linen, hobby equipment, and anything in storage areas. Packing early dramatically reduces the stress of the final week.
Label every single box on the top and at least one side. Write the destination room, not just the contents. “Kitchen – baking equipment” is more useful than “pots and pans” when you are directing a removalist at speed. Consider colour-coding by room using coloured tape or markers so boxes can be sorted at a glance.
Sort Out Utilities
- Arrange disconnection of electricity, gas, and internet at your old address for the day after you move out, not the day of the move.
- Arrange connection at your new address for move-in day or the day before if possible.
- Contact your water provider if accounts are in your name.
- If you are switching internet providers, order the new service at least two weeks in advance. Installation wait times are often longer than expected.
One Week Before Moving Day
Final Packing and Practical Preparation
By now, most of your home should already be in boxes. This week is about finishing the job and tying up loose ends.
- Pack all but the most essential items. Leave out only what you need to function day to day.
- Confirm the booking and arrival time with your removalist. Get a contact number for the driver specifically, not just the office.
- Clean out your fridge and use up or discard perishables. Defrost the freezer if needed.
- Return anything borrowed from neighbours or friends.
- Locate and set aside important documents: lease agreements, identification, insurance papers, and anything else you will need immediate access to on moving day.
Pack an Essentials Box
This is one of the most practical things you can do. Pack a single box or bag that travels with you personally, not on the truck. Include everything you will need in the first 24 hours at your new place.
- Phone charger and any other essential cables
- Toilet paper and basic toiletries
- A change of clothes and pyjamas
- Medications
- Kettle, coffee or tea, a mug, and some snacks
- Basic tools such as a screwdriver and box cutter
- Bedding for the first night
Moving Day
Keep the Day Running Smoothly
Start as early as possible. The more time you have, the less pressure every small delay creates.
- Do a final walkthrough of every room, wardrobe, cupboard, shed, and garage before the truck leaves.
- Take photos of the condition of your old property after it is empty. This protects your bond or deposit.
- Direct removalists clearly when they arrive at your new home. Point them to the right rooms using your colour-coded labels so nothing ends up in the wrong place.
- Check that all utilities are working before the removalists leave.
- Locate your essentials box immediately so the first night is comfortable regardless of how much unpacking remains.
After the Move
Do not let the small tasks drag on for weeks. In the first few days, do a final check of any address notifications you may have missed, return your old keys on time to avoid extra fees, and register your new address with the electoral roll if you have not already done so.
Unpack room by room rather than randomly pulling things from boxes. Start with the kitchen and bathroom since those are the rooms you will use immediately. Everything else can wait a few days without causing real problems.
Moving will always involve some degree of chaos. Accepting that small things will go wrong and building buffer time into your schedule is the most effective stress management strategy available. The checklist is there to handle the controllable parts so your energy is free for everything else.