Interstate moving takes a little more time, effort and planning then moving house from one suburb to the next in the same city. The biggest challenge to interstate moving? The distance. You can’t make a quick run back to your old home to pick up that last box, so everything needs to be organised well in advance.
Here is a checklist to tick off for the weeks prior to your interstate moving adventure.
One month before moving interstate
□ Purge! It’s time to get ruthless with your belongings when moving house and organise a hard rubbish collection well in advance (consider doing these months before moving, as councils can be booked up for months).
□ Create a spreadsheet of everything you own once you have rid yourself of everything that was weighing you down. Create a simple spreadsheet on Google Docs, separated according to room.
□ Choose a removalist for your furniture removal. This is one of the largest costs associated with interstate moving, due to the distance, so account for at least $2000 in costs for moving house interstate.
□ Sort through what you need to transport yourself and consider how you will do this (will you hire a trailer?). Place emphasis on your valuables and delicate furniture.
Two weeks before moving interstate
□ Get important documentation and records in order and packed. Consider carrying these yourself if they are quite valuable, rather than having removalists carry them.
□ Inform your utility providers of the move and research/organise what utilities you will have for when you do move house.
□ Plan the itinerary of your move
□ Organise your packing materials (moving boxes, packing tape, newspaper and bubble wrap, permanent markers
□ Begin to pack!
One week….
□ Reduce all your dry foods by hitting up some recipes, baking a few cakes for any of your moving volunteers.
□ Ensure the house into which you are moving will be clean when you arrive.
□ Photograph expensive possessions and furniture for future reference in case of damage during the move.
□ Organise your change of address with relevant institutions (banks, Australian government institutions, insurance, Australian Electoral Commission, ATO, Australia Post, accountant, lawyer etc.)
Moving day…
□ Organise cleaners for your old home.
□ Turn off your utilities
□ Check that you will have access to the home on the other end.
□ Go grocery shopping the night before so you won’t have to worry about food for the first few days.
