Moving Home – Everything You Need to Know in 2022

Moving home can be pretty stressful, but here at Move In Connect we are on a mission to take the stress away. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide just for you that’s jam packed with everything you need to know about moving. From packing, transportation, and connecting your utilities. It’s all covered here. Don’t go moving without reading this guide.

Preparation is Everything – Your Moving Home Checklist!

Note – Muhammad has a think about whether you want the checklist in the piece or even as a downloadable document. It’s quite comprehensive.

Being prepared for your move will make it easier and even more enjoyable. But so many people, unfortunately, don’t prepare when moving, and so stress and overwhelm get the better of them. Don’t be like them, be prepared with our moving home checklist that breaks up your move into weeks, so it’s easier to manage. The checklist can also be used for moving businesses

4 to 6 Weeks to Moving Day

Four to six weeks before your moving day is when you need to be getting ready and prepared. Please don’t leave things to the last minute. A sure way to get super stressed and overwhelmed.

• Have a declutter day and organise your belongings into 3 categories: things to keep, things to give away, and things to discard.
• Shop around and speak to at least 3x removal companies (take into account pricing, services, customer service etc). Get a written quotation!
• Organise your insurance (house and contents) for your new home
• Set up your utilities for your new place – gas, electricity, phone etc
• Have current utilities switched off at the old place
• Notify the Electoral office of your new home address
• Notify Driver’s license and car registration
• Notify your bank
• Notify your GP and other medicals
• Do a floor plan of your new home to ensure furniture & other belongings will fit
• Make a note of any rare and precious items which need special care to move
• Go to your kitchen and use up all opened packets and dispose of times past use by date
• Start to use all food in the freezer
• Go through the garage, garden shed, etc
• Tidy up your backyard
• Arrange to have your mail held or redirected to your new address
• Arrange school, preschool, etc.
• Redirect or cancel any postal subscriptions or go digital
• If travelling interstate, organise tickets, visas, currency, credit cards, accommodation
• Arrange a rubbish pick up with your local council
• Confirm with the real estate agent and lawyer the key collection time and settlement date (this determines your moving day)
• Do an inventory of all legal documents, jewellery and precious items
• Research storage facilities if needed
• Arrange property cleaning
• Arrange property inspection
• Speak to the friendly and professional team at Move In Connect to help you set up your utilities. Call 1300 786 045

2 to 3 Weeks to Moving Day

As the big day gets closer, there are things you must take care of so you’re as prepared as possible.

• Contact all relevant authorities to notify them of your new address.
• Arrange for utility connections – gas, electricity, internet, phone etc
• Return all library books, and items loaned etc
• Arrange for family and friends to mind children & pets on moving day.
• Take care of any prescriptions needed
• Finalise any last-minute meetings and errands before the move date
• Arrange final readings of gas and electricity meters
• Cancel any delivery services and local membership
• Book a locksmith to change the keys on moving day at your new place
• Arrange time off work on moving day.
• Ensure your new home will be cleaned before moving in and the original home after your move.
• If moving interstate, ensure you have the correct timezone details for your move. Remember, just because it’s in Australia doesn’t mean the time’s the same.

One Week to Moving Day

Your move is getting closer– just one week to go! Fine-tune and finalise the following:

Have a plan set up for furniture placement for your new home

• Have any indoor plants watered lightly and packed into boxes
• Finalise everything at work – meetings, workload etc
• Contact your utility services to ensure everything is going to plan- electricity, gas, internet etc
• Double check and confirm all moving details with your removalist, real estate, bank etc
• Ensure your removalist has all contact information, new address and clear instructions.
• Arrange any parking and special access for your removalist truck

The Day Before Your Move

You’re nearly there- just 24 hours or a bit more till you move! This is the time for last minute errands and touch ups.

• Do all your household cleaning- vacuum, wash, clean etc
• Pack up goods that you’re taking with you
• Unplug and tie up appliance cords
• Have some cash on hand for last minute expenses
• Say goodbye to your old neighbours
• Have an action plan for moving day
• Tidy up any loose ends- banking, utilities, insurance etc
• Take it easy today; only do the bare minimum. Everything else should have been taken care of now.
• Ensure you get plenty of sleep so you are energised and ready for your move
• Keep an eye on weather conditions- warnings for extreme weather like flash flooding and heavy rain. These often delay moves.

Moving Day

The big day has arrived- you’re finally moving! If you’ve hopefully followed this checklist and ticked off all the above, you’re going to be one HAPPY MOVER. If not, expect to have some stress and overwhelm. We really hope you’re the former. Moving shouldn’t be all that bad, and it wouldn’t be if people were better prepared!

• Be up and ready for your removalists
• Ask removalist to load and unload certain boxes first and last
• Give removalist floor plans and address of the new home
• Keep any pets on hand
• Check off all items before going into the moving van
• Lock all doors and windows
• Turn off power
• Turn off water
• Tighten all taps
• Check gas and electricity one final time
• Go in each room one final time and check all power points are turned off
• Go outside and check that backyard, garage, the shed is all in the clear
• Return all keys to the real estate agent or landlord
• Don’t forget to eat! – either prepared the night before or buy takeaway

Home Sweet Home – Moving In

Welcome home to your new home, and for any last minute errands or just things to run, feel free to speak to the team at Move In Connect, who can assist you with connecting your utilities and more.

• Give the Removalists clear directions as to where the furniture will be placed
• If renting, take note of property and furnishings with your real estate agent or landlord
• Check that all utilities are connected. Speak to our team if there are any issues with this, and we will look after you.
• Check your hot water service is on
• Ensure security is all good and locks are changed
• Assemble bedding and all necessary set up for moving in
• Help settle children and pets down
• Contact the moving company if anything is wrong, like items are missing
• Ensure you have all keys
• Contact your local council for garbage collection and other information
• Make yourself at home- make a nice cup of tea, sit down and relax
• Go and meet your neighbours ( remember to still follow COVID safety rules)

Packing For Moving Home

Packing is both an art and a science when it comes to moving home and even moving business. Follow our best tips, and your packing will go so much smoother, which will result in a better move.

• Arrange all packing materials – labels, bubble wrap, tape etc
• Label every box clearly with a permanent waterproof marker. Mark contents and room.
• Make an inventory of each item
• Pack heavier items on the bottom of boxes and lighter items on the top
• Put aside precious and fragile items in separate boxes – paintings, jewellery etc
• Dismantle furniture that comes apart and place in boxes
• Arrange your electricals in specific packaging- TV, Foxtel, sound system etc
• Set up a special box – ‘necessity box’ with kettle, tea, coffee, medications, snacks, toilet paper etc
• Ensure none of your items are leaking water or any other substances
• Tell your removalist the exact number of boxes on hand
• If putting some items in plastic bags, label the plastic bags

Unpacking When Moving

Once you’ve packed, you then need to unpack all your boxes for when you move. There is a right way and a wrong way to do it. Thankfully we’ve got you covered and recommend the following best practices:

• Unpack your most essential items first- bedding, toiletries etc
• Place boxes in relevant rooms. Remember all boxes should be marked room by room, so it makes sense to unpack them room by room
• Unpack 1-2 rooms a day, or else will get overwhelmed
• Carefully pick up items, especially fragile ones- glass, artwork etc
• Untangle any cords that might have come undone

Connecting Utilities When Moving Home

You want to make sure that your utilities like gas, electricity, NBN, and PayTv are connected and running properly when you’re moving home. After all, you won’t be settled in without them. It’s not exactly a pleasant experience arriving at your new place, and you don’t have essential services like electricity. There are always candles and torches, but you don’t want to be relying on these. MoveIn Connect is here to ensure this doesn’t happen. We will help you connect your utility services easy and hassle-free from a wide range of providers. So, you can relax and let us do all the connecting for you!

First Home Buyers and Moving Home

We thought it’s important to mention a little bit about first home buyers ( hyperlink to blog on the subject once live) and moving home. It’s always exciting being a first home buyer despite its challenges, like saving for a deposit, getting approval, etc. When moving to your brand new home, whether it’s a newly built home or a preexisting one, the same rules apply, and so the above checklist for moving home comes in handy. Ensure that you’ve signed all the legal documents and spoken to your lawyer and real estate agent as a first home buyer. Find out more information on the first home buyers grant at the State Revenue Office. Please note this only applies to Victoria. Check your state for the first home buyers grant

A Little Note on Newly Built Homes

Time and time again, our team has found that when it comes to newly built homes, there is stress despite the excitement that comes with them all too often. As This isn’t just in the planning and building phase but also afterwards when you have the keys and are ready to move in. We’ve found that often essential moving utilities services like electricity haven’t been properly installed, wiring is missing, and proper electricity checks have not been conducted.

When this happens, it’s not easy getting utilities connected despite all the good effort from our expert team. What needs to happen is that even before you’re given the keys to your newly built home, everything has been set up properly so utility connections like electricity, gas, NBN etc can be set up. Have a chat with your builders and building site supervisor to ensure this has occurred. Don’t just take their word for it, get it in writing.

Avoid These Moving Mistakes When Moving Home

Hopefully, by now, with this guide, you should have a good understanding of everything you need to know when moving home. To further help you, we’ve outlined the following mistakes that people make when moving home both locally and interstate. Know them and, more importantly, avoid them for your move:

• Poor planning and preparation – leaving things to the last minute, not having a checklist
• Not shopping around for a removalist- get at least 3x quotes
• Not getting utility services connected in a timely manner- Move In Connect can connect all your utilities for you in a simple and hassle free manner
• Underestimating how much stuff you have – have a decluttering day
• Not getting packing materials organised- better to get more boxes than too little
• Not arranging insurance cover
• Not tidying up loose ends- cancelling of mail subscriptions, not informing the electoral office of your move, paying outstanding bills at your old place etc

If you’re moving and looking to connect utilities like NBN, Foxtel, Electricity and gas, contact the team at Move In Connect. With over 30,000 connections, you’ll be in great hands!