The week you sign the contract
Book your removalist
The first decision you need to make is if you’ll be moving yourself or whether you’ll use a moving company. At LJ Hooker Assist we help Aussie home movers pack up and move into their new homes every day. We can connect you with a selection of local recommended removalist for you to choose from and source quotes for you to review. It’s super easy and we’d love to help you. Click here to find out more.
Rent storage if you need it
If you need to use storage facilities now is the time to look around for options, compare prices, location and space. Make sure you get a couple of quotes as pricing can vary significantly. This needs to be booked in advance.
Create a paperwork file
With important paperwork everywhere, create a file for all your important moving documentation. It is also worth keeping a record of all the mail you receive so you know who you need to notify with a change of address.
Start to plan the move
Start compiling an inventory list of all your furniture and Write down a list of all items of furniture that will be moving with you. This way you’ll be able to keep track of what you’re moving and what’s staying behind. This is also super helpful to give the removalists and help you work out how much packing you will need.
If you don’t have a floor plan of your new home, ask the real estate agent to supply you with one. This is a great way to work out where your furniture will furniture from your current property will go where in the new place.
A few weeks before move
Sort and pack
You don’t want to be moving clothing, furniture and ornaments that you don’t want to use in your new property. So spend a week or two, going from room to room and cupboard to cupboard. Pull everything out of the cupboards and put it on the floor. Start sorting it into four piles, keep, donate, sell, throw out.
Make sure you are ruthless here. This is the perfect time to cull unwanted and unneeded items. Firstly, there is no point spending time packing something you won’t use, nor do you want to pay for the extra packing materials or for the removalist to remove items you don’t want.
Put all the donate items in bags and drop the bags off to your closest charity bin. Make sure the items are still in good nick, as the charities don’t want dirty, stained or ripped clothes. It just wastes their time sifting through and getting rid of unwanted items.
Put all your sell items in another pile. If you have loads, you may want to consider having a garage sale or selling on eBay, Gumtree or similar.
The items you want to keep – look at these with a critical eye. Will you use it again? If you aren’t sure it may be best to add to the donate / sell piles. Group similar items together and start to pack items you will not need between now and time you’ll move. For instance, if you’re moving in summer, start by packing all you winter jumpers, pants and shoes. Label the box with the content and which cupboard it came from.
Two weeks to move day
Contact your utility providers
LJ Hooker Assist can help organise and connect your electricity, gas, internet, pay TV, home phone and more. With one call we can arrange all your core home moving needs and connect you with Australia’s leading suppliers. To get started click here.
Get the kids sorted
If you have little ones around, it’s better if they are out of the way completely. Ask family or friends if they could help out for the day or organise a trusty babysitter to take care of them.
Make travel arrangements
If you have pets think about their travel plans and how you they will be relocated to their new home. If you are flying it is worth contacting a few pet transport companies to get a few quotes as they can vary significantly.
If you’re driving a long distance to your new home, make sure your car is fully serviced and checked…you don’t want to have any issues on the way. Home buyers ASAP
Start eating items in your freezer and pantry
Try not to buy too many groceries unless you have to and only buy items that you’ll get through in the next couple of weeks. It’s also a good idea to see what you have in the pantry and buy fresh items to help you use them up. Such as sausages to get through the tomato sauce, or mince to use up the tins of tomato…you get the idea.
Continue packing
As you pack, try to label each box with what’s inside, where it goes in your new home and any special instructions such as FRAGILE, THIS SIDE UP etc. Be as detailed as you can as it will make it much easier when you’re unpacking if you know what needs to be unpacked first.
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