• Ascertain your moving date once your contract has become unconditional with your solicitor.

• Start listing incoming mail for people to contact with your change of address.

• Decide what goes with you, what to sell and what to give away.  Great opportunity for a garage sale.

• Begin collecting large sturdy cardboard boxes as well as newspaper for packing.

• Determine which items you will pack yourself.  Begin packing seldom used articles. (confirm your moving company’s insurance policy for self-packed items.

• Prepare a comprehensive inventory and carry it with you on moving day.

• Determine new public transport routes.

• If you have children at school you may need to enrol them in another school in your new neighbourhood.

HIRING REMOVALISTS ...

If you are going to hire removalists, we recommended you get quotes from three separate companies.

Things to look for include:

• Obtain at least three quotes and if you are planning to move during the summer holidays, book early. 

• Companies who have insurance that cover damage to your goods as well as their truck.

• Companies who quote by the job, not the hour. They will usually ask to meet you and have a look at what they have to move before they give you a quote.

• Making sure you receive a written quote after they have seen what they have to move.

• Whether they will pack your house up or whether you will.

• Checking what your contract with them will cover in terms of late or damaged goods.

• Asking if they are a member of the Australian Furniture Removalists Association – a voluntary organisation that aims to keep the removalists industry reputable.

• If you can't move in to your new home straight away, consider having your possessions stored – check that the storage area is secure and clean (e.g. no mice, insects, water leaks, etc).

There are two types of insurance you can get:

• Replacement insurance – replaces goods regardless of their age; and

• Indemnity insurance – covers goods at their market value.

Replacement insurance is more expensive but much more popular.

While we move now more than we ever have before, even the most organized person will probably not be able to remember every detail of the move - or every item.  I suggest adding these points to the top of your moving preparation list:

• For The Record - Obtaining copies of your medical records including your dentist, veterinarian and vaccine/immunization information can often be overlooked. In some cases, a notarized letter is required to receive the official documentation.

• Old Phone Numbers - Pack phone books from your old town. You may think you'll remember the numbers you frequently call now but, more likely, you'll spend a small fortune on directory assistance charges to contact old friends or tie up loose ends.

• Taken To The Cleaners - Remember to complete transactions with local businesses (for example, picking up your dry cleaning).

• Where You're Moving To - In the flurry of preparing for the move, you may often forget your forwarding address - important information when forwarding periodicals and credit card bills, as well as keeping in touch with old friends. Always keep your new address handy in your wallet or purse.

• Spic And Span - Although your focus will be on your new home or apartment, you can't forget about preparing the old residence for your exit. Remember to leave out cleaning supplies for the final "once-over" before closing the door for good, or make arrangements in advance for a service to clean it for you.

• The Opener - Many people often forget to take the electric garage door opener out of their car before leaving. Remember to leave the opener for the new tenants or owners.

• Remember Rover - In most cases, moving companies cannot transport animals or plants. Remember to make arrangements for their move too.

• Keys To Success - The collection of spare house keys can often be forgotten. Whether it means getting them from neighbors who kept them, or retrieving them from under the rock next to the front door, don't forget to gather all sets before you leave.

SELF PACKING ...

If you are going to pack your house up yourself, you’ll need to make sure you have several things before you start.

It’s usually best to work from room to room.  As you pack everything from each room up, clean it and then move on to the next one, you won’t feel like you’re living in war zone, and you’ll be able to see how far along you are at any given time.

• Strong boxes – can be obtained from National Storage - Oxley.

• Small, strong boxes for books – it’s important to put books in small boxes so that you’re not tempted to lift something which may do long term damage to your back or shoulders.

• Lots of packing tape.

• Lots of newspaper for packing fragile and delicate items.

• When packing items, write a summary of the contents on each box. This will make unpacking much easier.

• Pack lighter items in large boxes and heavier ones in small boxes – this will reduce the likelihood of breakages and make them easier to lift.

• Marker pens – make sure they’re thick enough and in good working order and that you can read them easily for a little bit of a distance.

• Lots of big, strong garbage bags.

• A trailer or skip for excess garbage – you can then take this to the tip once you’re done.

• Healthy snacks and drinks – it’s an exhausting process so make sure you don’t dehydrate.

• Lots of cleaning supplies.

For the average home, allow at least three weeks for packing and cleaning…especially if you or other family members are working. It can be done faster, but it’s much more stressful, and this way every one should have time to help out, including the kids.

SAFETY ISSUES ...

Please make sure you move safely. There’s nothing worse than pulling a back muscle before you have finished and having to rely on other people complete your move.

Things to look out for include:

• Boxes that are too heavy – get smaller ones for heavy items to avoid this happening in the first place.

• Sharp objects – ensure you wrap all sharp objects appropriately to avoid injury.

• Insects, reptiles and general creepy crawlies – when you move you tend to go into corners and areas of your home which haven’t been disturbed by humans in quite some time… just keep an eye out.

Take regular breaks when you are packing so that you’re not wearing yourself out too much. Keep the fluids up as well and stretch before you start.

It’s also wise to have a word to your kids before hand and to keep an eye on them throughout your move. Children can get overenthusiastic at times and hurt themselves by lifting or moving items that should be moved by adults.

EXCESS RUBBISH ...

Remember:  "One man’s rubbish is another’s treasure".

Take an objective look at what you own, and decide what must go and what can be left behind.  Books you've read and will never read again?  The pan with the broken handle or the children's long-neglected games?  Remember - extra weight costs more money and there are several organisations who would love to have your excess or unwanted furniture, books and clothing. Some of them will even come and pick it up for you.  There are bins in most suburbs where you can drop off clothing for recycling.

As for actual garbage, you can either spread it over a period of weeks and include it in your regular bin for pick up by the council, or arrange to have it taken away

TWO WEEKS AHEAD ...

• Collect/return anything outstanding: eg videos, dry cleaning, lay-bys, library books etc

• Close or transfer club memberships: eg video and gym memberships

• Consider pet minding for moving day.

• Collect the basic essentials you will need handy for moving day:

  Toilet paper and tissues

  Some cutlery

  Rubber gloves

  Mop and bucket

  Disposable plates and cups 

  Large garbage bags

  Cleaning products

  Extension cord/adapters 

  Kettle and coffee/tea

  Soap

  Can Opener

  Strong tape

  Mobile telephone

  Marking pen

  Light bulbs etc

• Arrange an appointment for your pre-settlement inspection of your new home with your sales consultant.

• Note the position and number of telephone points and power outlets

• Arrange to have your new home sprayed for pests.

• Confirm your removalists.

• Arrange the redirection or holding of your mail with your local post office

• Organise disconnection/connection dates for gas, electricity and phone and transfer accounts.

• Cancel or transfer local arrangement eg: cleaners, gardeners etc.

• Get a babysitter for young children on moving day so you can focus on the move.

• Ask friends and relatives to help on moving day.

• Confirm arrival time with the removalists.

• Prepare a cooler filled with snacks and drinks for the day.

• Keep important documents, valuables and keys handy.  Carry them with you.

• Make a thorough final inspection to be sure that nothing has been forgotten.

• Ensure all lights and taps are turned off and that windows and doors are locked.

• Deliver a set of keys to the office for the new owners to collect on settlement.

• Leave only when everything is loaded and after the removalists is on their way to the new property.

• Leave your forwarding address for the new owners so they can send you any mail received at your previous address.

MOVING WITH KIDS ...

MOVING PETS ...

Moving is a particularly hard time for your pets, and there are things you can do to make it easier on them.

Move them to your new place last and make sure you have an enclosed area ready for them where you have set up things which would be familiar to them. This can include bedding, scratch poles, food and water dishes, toys, kitty litter, etc.

Once you’re sure there’s no way the can escape the house or yard, slowly introduce them to new areas and give them a lot of attention while you’re unpacking or organising things.

Dog and cats in particular are renowned for travelling long distances to go back to an old home. So make that extra little bit of effort to look after their needs and make them feel at home in your new place as well.

DOGS

To help your pooch settle in easily, take him for a quiet walk around the house and garden, letting him sniff it out. If you do this after he’s had a feed or a nap, it is likely he will want to go to the toilet. Show him a good place to do his business in the garden and praise him when he goes there. Repeat this for a few weeks and he’ll use the same spot every time, making cleaning up a lot easier. It is also a good idea to introduce your pooch to the neighbours so that they are familiar with each other.

 

CATS

Once you have arrived and settled in, let puss out of her carry basket and spend some time quietly patting her. Once she settles down, show her the litter tray several times until she knows where it is. Cats are a lot more sensitive to their surroundings than dogs. For this reason, it is best to keep puss inside for the first three or four days, so she can get used to her new surroundings. Reduce her food slightly, and limit movement to a particular area of the house, as stress can cause an upset stomach.

Lastly, if you are planning a big housewarming party, leave it for a few weeks until the animals are settled. Even then make sure they are locked away safely from all the noise and activity.

FINALLY MOVING IN ...

• Supervise placement of furniture and cartons - it will save you moving them later.

• Check that the telephone, electricity and gas are all connected.

• Check that you have hot and cold running water.

• Don’t try to unpack everything at once.  Start with the refrigerated food stuffs and make sufficient beds.

• Put all packing material/paper into one box so you can flatten all boxes to be returned to the removalists.

• Contact your family and friends with your new telephone number and address.

• Introduce yourself and your family to your new neighbours.

Happy moving and enjoy your new home!

Bye for now

Kerrylea

"The property you saw today, and want to think about tonight,

will sell today to the people who saw it yesterday and thought about it last night!"

Top Of Page

All brochures, floorplans

& RTA forms on this

website require Adobe Reader.

mmmmmmmmmMmm