How to Pack a House For Moving: The Complete Checklist
Moving house is one of life’s most exciting yet stressful experiences. Whether you’re relocating internationally—from Australia to another country—or moving inter-state, such as from New South Wales to Victoria, or even just across town within Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne (or wherever you call home), the process can feel overwhelming. From packing up your entire life to coordinating logistics and settling into a new home, there’s a lot to manage.
In Australia, moving can come with unique challenges. Interstate moves, for example, often involve navigating different regulations and long-distance travel. Even local moves within bustling cities like Melbourne or Sydney can be tricky, with traffic, parking, and tight schedules adding to the complexity.
The key to a smooth move is organisation. That’s why we’ve created The Ultimate Moving House Checklist, a comprehensive guide to help you pack, plan, and prepare for your move with ease. This checklist covers everything from decluttering and packing tips to notifying essential services and setting up your new home. Plus, we’ve included a free, printable PDF version so you can tick off tasks as you go.
Whether you’re moving across the country or just across the street, this guide will ensure nothing falls through the cracks. Let’s dive in and make your move as seamless as possible!
Table of Contents
Planning a DIY Move
For a stress-free DIY move, planning is key. With our checklist, you’re ready to start packing and ensure a smooth packing experience. But once you have packed, the next headache is organising movers or a vehicle for transporting your belongings. The good news is that in Australia, you can drive a 3.5-tonne moving truck with a standard car licence, meaning you can take complete control of your DIY move, from packing to loading to driving and unpacking. For the right moving truck, contact us today for a quote. At Mobile Truck Rental, we offer the best prices for one-way truck rentals up and down the East Coast of Australia. Even better, we deliver and pick up a moving truck from you. You never have to visit a rental site!
And if you are a first-time moving truck driver (like most of our customers), don’t worry. Our Moving Truck Hiring Guide contains everything you need to know about moving truck rentals. You can also read what other customers say on our customer testimonials page here.
Yes, We Come to You. You Move. We Pick Up. One Way Possible.
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For the best rates on Pantech Truck Hire, contact us today.
Moving House Checklist: Important Questions to Ask Upfront
When Should You Start Preparing Your Move?
Moving takes effort, but luckily it’s not too complex a task. In the end, all you have to make sure of is that your belongings make it from A to B. That’s why a few weeks of preparation in advance are usually enough. We recommend starting to prepare four to six weeks in advance of your moving date.
This gives you just enough time to get organised. Note that for international moves, a longer timeline is recommended, especially if you need to close accounts, or apply for a new passport or a work visa, for example.
DIY Move or Hire Professional House Removalists?
Deciding between a DIY move and hiring professional removalists hinges on a few key factors: the size of your home, the distance between your current and new locations, and your budget.
For smaller homes, self-moving can be a more manageable option, as there are fewer items to transport and organise. Conversely, larger homes often require more manpower and resources, making professional movers a more practical choice.
Additionally, if your old and new homes are relatively close to each other, planning a self-move becomes significantly easier. Proximity allows for multiple trips, minimising the stress of transporting everything in one go.
Lastly, budget plays a crucial role in this decision. Opting for a self-move is generally more cost-effective, as you take charge of packing, transporting, and unpacking your belongings. All it requires is securing the right truck for the job. Hiring professionals, on the other hand, simplifies packing, moving, and unpacking.
Ultimately, assess your circumstances carefully. Based on our experience, everything up to a 3-bedroom apartment can be moved without having to hire professional removalists. Determine which option aligns best with your needs, situation and resources.
Truck Hire For a Smooth DIY Move
At Mobile Truck Rental we understand moving can be stressful and most people have time constraints, so to make you’re moving a little easier our rental truck is delivered to your door. And with our one-way truck hire, you can move from point A to point B (even interstate) and never have to visit a rental site!
You no longer need to find someone to drop you down to your rental provider or try and find secure parking to leave your car. Mobile Truck Rental is here to help you with your moving budget and save you time and money.
Call Mobile Truck Rental on 1300 799 317 or get a quote online, click here.
What Else Can I Do to Prepare a Move?
Here are a few other things you can do in preparation for your move.
Most importantly, ensure your new home is ready to receive your belongings on your moving date! Make sure you have the keys and everything you need to access your new home. Secure parking for your moving truck while unloading. Inform building management, if any, or neighbours of your move-in date.
Next, notify service providers to redirect bills, newspapers, and subscriptions to your new address. Also, use up perishable items and non-essential goods to avoid waste and reduce moving costs. Finally, organise and consolidate all important documents and valuables, such as insurance papers, medical records, essential paperwork or computers, tablets or jewellery in one secure and easily accessible place.
These steps will help streamline your move and reduce last-minute stress.
Where Can I Get Boxes For Moving?
When organising a DIY move, it might be tempting to save money by reusing online shopping boxes you or your friends have saved. However, we highly recommend investing in proper moving boxes from hardware stores like Bunnings and others for two key reasons.
First, standard-sized boxes allow you to pack your truck more efficiently, saving space and reducing the risk of damage. Second, you can often resell your boxes on local Facebook groups after the move, recouping some of the cost.
Moving with a collection of mismatched, non-standard boxes can quickly turn into a disorganised mess, so skip the hassle and invest in the real thing for a smoother, stress-free move.
The Complete Moving House Checklist
Here’s a comprehensive, easy-to-follow checklist to help you stay organised and stress-free throughout your move.
The tasks are broken down into four individual moving house checklists: 4 weeks out, 1 week out, 1 day out, and the day of the move. By spreading out the work over several weeks, you can ensure a stress-free move, tackling each step of moving at the right time.
4 Weeks Out
| Tasks | Status |
|---|---|
| Declutter and donate/sell items you no longer need. | ✅ |
| Make a moving budget | ✅ |
| Rent a moving truck or research and book a removalist. | ✅ |
| Notify important parties of your move (e.g., banks, employers, schools). | ✅ |
| Start packing non-essential items (e.g., seasonal clothing, books, decor). | ✅ |
| Arrange for cleaning, repairs or patch-ups at your current and new home. | ✅ |
| Order packing supplies (boxes, tape, bubble wrap, etc.). | ✅ |
| Begin using up perishable items to minimise waste. | ✅ |
| Schedule time off work for moving day. | ✅ |
1 Week Out
| Confirm moving day details with your removalist or helpers. | ✅ |
| Pack essential items separately (e.g., toiletries, clothes, medications). | ✅ |
| Redirect mail and update your address with essential services. | ✅ |
| Defrost and clean your fridge/freezer if moving it. | ✅ |
| Take photos of utility meters for final billing. | ✅ |
| Start packing and label all boxes clearly with contents and destination rooms. | ✅ |
1 Day Out
| Pack a “first-night box” with essentials (e.g., snacks, chargers, toiletries). | ✅ |
| Disassemble furniture if required. | ✅ |
| Confirm arrival time with your removalist or truck rental company. | ✅ |
| Double-check that all boxes are sealed and labelled. | ✅ |
| Ensure valuables and important documents are secured and easily accessible. | ✅ |
Day of the Move
| Do a final walkthrough of your old home to check for forgotten items. | ✅ |
| Take meter readings and turn off utilities (if required). | ✅ |
| Lock up and hand over keys to the landlord or new owners. | ✅ |
| Supervise the loading of the truck and confirm delivery details with the removalist. | ✅ |
| At your new home, check utilities are connected and inspect the property for any issues. | ✅ |
| Begin unpacking essentials and setting up key areas (e.g., kitchen, bedroom). | ✅ |
This checklist ensures you stay on top of tasks and avoid last-minute stress. For a printable version, download our free PDF checklist and tick off each task as you go!
Moving House Checklists for Australia
Moving house can come with specific requirements and resources depending on which Australian state or territory you’re in. To make your move even smoother, we’ve compiled links to official state-specific checklists and guides. These resources provide tailored advice, from updating your driver’s licence to connecting utilities and accessing local services. Below, you’ll find dedicated checklists for New South Wales (NSW), Queensland (QLD), and Victoria (VIC) to help you navigate your move with confidence.
Moving House Checklist NSW
If you’re moving within or to New South Wales, the NSW Government offers a comprehensive guide to help you stay organised. Their Moving House Checklist covers everything from updating your address with Service NSW to transferring utilities and registering for local services.
Moving House Checklist Queensland
For those relocating to or within Queensland, the Queensland Government provides a detailed Moving In Checklist. This resource is particularly useful for public housing tenants but includes valuable tips for anyone moving, such as setting up essential services and understanding your rights and responsibilities as a tenant.
Moving House Checklist Victoria
While Victoria doesn’t have a single dedicated moving checklist, the Victorian Government’s website offers a wealth of information for new residents. From updating your vehicle registration to connecting utilities and finding local schools, these resources will help you settle into your new home with ease. Be sure to check their website for the latest updates and guides.