Interstate Relocation – DIY House Moving Guide

Compile a List of Household Items

When relocating interstate, it’s essential that you are able to transport all of your possessions in a single journey.

Important things to consider are:

  • Which items are you going to be transporting?
  • Which items are you going to discard or place into storage?

Get Insured

When Relocating interstate, your precious belongings are in transit for an extended period of time, placing them at a greater risk of damage. It’s a good idea to always get moving insurance to help ease the financial burden if something goes wrong.

Moving insurance will protect you in the following areas:

  • If your hire truck is damaged in an accident and the driver of the other vehicle is responsible
  • If hire driver is operating your vehicle and is responsible

Packing

Packing your household belongings can be a daunting exercise, especially if you have a vast amount of items to pack, but it can be a made a great deal easier if you don’t leave it till the last minute. Beginning 2 or 3 weeks prior to the date of your move is a great time to start. One of the first things you’ll need to do is source suitable packing boxes. Many places supply such boxes and it’s simply a case of search for ‘packing boxes’ or ‘moving boxes’ online and finding a local seller.

You’ll also need plenty of tape with which to secure your items. There are several kinds of tape that are effective for securing moving boxes and each have their own strengths and weaknesses.

Good choices for moving house boxes include:

Shipping Tape – this is your best bet for a typical packing box. It’s inexpensive to buy and strong enough to secure your valuables.

Masking Tape – anyone that has ever used masking tape will know that it isn’t known for its strength. It is however useful for labelling your boxes.

Duct Tape – in terms of reinforcement, there is none better than duct tape. This is the ideal tape for securing your heaviest items or for fastening your belongings in place.

Filament Tape – this tape has similar qualities to shipping tape but is infused with a plastic lining which helps to prevent tearing. Filament tape is also a suitable for securing heavy items.

General Tips for Packing

  • Soft fabrics such as old bed linen, unwanted clothing, pillows and so on, provide a handy way to secure and protect your valuables from damage while in transit
  • Always be sure to place padded fabrics between fragile items such as cutlery and other breakables
  • Items such as bags and suitcases are containers themselves, first and foremost, so be sure to cram each of these with as many items as possible. Doing so will help reduce the number of moving boxes you need to buy
  • Moving house is a great time to get rid of all the old trinkets and other bits and pieces that you’ve been meaning to throw out for years but haven’t gotten around to doing. When you’re tallying up how many boxes you’ll need for the move, don’t automatically assume that everything you have in your current household will be needed for your next place. If it’s rubbish that’s been collecting dust for donkey’s years, get rid of it and save yourself the extra hassle when it comes to transporting everything

Packing Electronic Devices

  • Similar to breakables such as cutlery and glassware, be sure to include plenty of protective cushioning for your expensive electronic devices such as televisions and computers
  • It’s a good idea to place cables for each device into their own separate bags and label them accordingly
  • Electronic cables are notorious for getting tangled. An easy way to ensure this doesn’t happen is to wrap them tightly and secure individually using rubber bands or special cable fasteners

Travelling with Pets

Pets Driven in The Truck with You

An often overlooked aspect of an interstate relocation is the affect it has on pets. Cats and dogs can become agitated during a long haul journey, as they’re placed into a setting that they’re unaccustomed to. If you are travelling with pets, there are some special laws that you must abide by. Help guarantee your pets health and wellbeing by being mindful of the following:

  • You’ve gone to great lengths to ensure that your cargo is safe and secure and the same level of care must be given to your pets as well. We wear seatbelts to protect us in the event of an accident. In the same way, your pets must also be secured. There are a wide range of high quality vehicle restraints for dogs and carriers for cats available
  • Never leave your pet unattended in the vehicle
  • Be sure to bring one of their favourite items with them in the truck, such as a blanket or toy to help alleviate any anxiety they may be experiencing
  • Pull over at parks or other appropriate areas such as fields and grasslands to let them run about, have a drink and relieve themselves. Of course, regular stop offs aren’t just good for your pets, they’re good for you too!
  • Be sure that your pets are wearing a collar with necessary contact details; if their current collars contain outdated information, be sure to renew them with the new contact details before you head off; this is another benefit of beginning your planning and packing process weeks in advance
  • If your pet has only rarely ever been a vehicle, get them used to it by giving them treats in the car and taking them on brief drives in the weeks prior to interstate move

Having Your Pets Flown

In situations where interstate travel distances are considerable, it may be a better idea to have your pets flown to your new destination for you, which will greatly reduce the time spent during transportation. Certain airlines may call for a pet to be flown with the owner or an authorised person, while others also offer special pet transportation services which enable the pet to be flown solo and retrieved at the new destination.

Who to Notify When Moving Interstate

Phone, Internet and Electricity

  • Alert your utility co. of the date you’ll be exiting from your current address
  • Issue them with the contact info of your location
  • Arrange for electricity to be activated at your new location
  • Notify your phone company of the date you are scheduled to leave your current address and arrange for reactivation of phone services at your new one
  • Notify your internet service provider and arrange for reactivation at your new address (in some cases, your existing ISP may not provide internet coverage to your new address, so a new ISP will have to be sourced)
  • Be sure to make your mobile phone service provider aware of your updated contact details
  • If you have cable TV/satellite, have your details updated and arrange for reconnection (similar to internet services, your existing pay TV provider may not service your new area. Be sure to verify this before you move)

Health Services

  • P and any other health practitioners (including your vet)
  • Private health insurer (if applicable)

Postal Services

  • Be sure to gather a list of as many companies you can that send mail out to your address, so that you can notify them of your updated details; this is another benefit of planning your move well in advance of the actual move date
  • Visit an Australia Post store to get your mail redirected to your new address

Banks

  • Check that there are local bank branches close to your new location

Government Agencies

  • Australian Electoral Commission
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Centrelink
  • Transport Department (driver’s licence etc)
  • Other public institutions such as libraries
  • Medicare
  • If you have pets, be sure to have the contact details of their microchip record updated

Other

  • Work (if you’re relocating interstate but will still remain an employee at the new location)
  • Accountant
  • Sporting Clubs
  • Insurance companies
  • Any other organisation that you currently have membership with
  • Solicitor

 

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