Moving home can be an incredibly stressful experience that can take weeks or even months of planning. Having a guide to help you stay organised throughout the whole process is essential to not only help your move go smoothly but also help you settle into your new home as quickly as possible.

To simplify your move, it’s important to plan ahead. There is so much that needs to be done, so it's important to start early so as you don't miss anything. 

The perfect time to begin planning your move is four to six weeks before and, because there is so much to do, making a checklist is one of the best thing you can start with. Making a checklist allows you to map out the exact tasks you need to do and will make sure that nothing gets forgotten.

1. Pick a date

The very first step for you to take in your move is to plan the date. Once the date is settled, you can book in a moving truck or hire removalists to help you when the big day arrives. Be sure you do your research and thoroughly examine your options to get the best deal available. Ringing around or going online to obtain a price quote is a great way to start.

2. Make an inventory

Along with the creation of a moving checklist, an inventory of your things is a great step to take. This process is helpful to you because it will keep you organised.

Taking inventory of your things gives you the perfect opportunity to clear out any items that you don’t want or need. Whether you throw them out, donate it or sell it, this is an opportunity to declutter and start fresh in your new home.

If you'd like to keep track of everything and make unpacking easier, you can pack the belongings that have survived the process into boxes and neatly label them. 

3. Arrange your packing supplies

Securing the right packing equipment is one of the most important things to do to help make your move the smoothest experience possible.

Having the right amount of boxes, tape and markers to label everything is something that can sometimes get lost in the bigger picture of moving.

While you can buy packing supplies from places such as Bunnings or even through the moving company you have hired, you may be able to save yourself money though by collecting and saving boxes from other places. 

4. Plan your furniture placement 

While you are counting down to moving day you can take a proactive approach to how you will arrange your new home. Moving can be much less stressful when you've already mapped out where all your furniture will be placed in your new home.

This is particularly important with the larger items that you will be moving. Measure the spaces where you will be putting your furniture to ensure that they actually will fit where you want them to go. 

The size of your furniture is something that you also need to think about. Knowing whether your couch or bed frame will fit through the doorways of your new home in advance is important in helping you know which of your favourite furniture you can keep and which you may need to get rid of. 

If any of your furniture can be taken apart, this is usually a helpful measure to take. In most cases, it makes it easier to transport.

It's also often helpful to put together a makeshift tool kit with a hammer, screwdriver, nails, Allen key and anything else you think might be handy. Having these tools prepared is a simple precaution but it can certainly be useful during your move.

5. Organise your change of address notifications and utilities connections

The month leading up to moving day is the ideal time to notify all the relevant parties of your change of address. Credit card, utilities and insurance companies may need to know about your change of address. Your bank and phone company should also be made aware that you are moving.

You'll also want to get in touch with your utilities suppliers so that, when you move in, your power and all the other services you need to enjoy your place are already hooked up.  

At Little Real Estate, we know this can be a taxing process. Therefore, we’ve partnered with connectnow to help our tenants enjoy a quicker and easier moving process. Connectnow helps to ease the moving process by finding suppliers in the area and arranging connections all at once!

This extends to connections for electricity, gas, internet, phone, pay TV and much more. It also includes moving services, discounted car, truck and van hire and quotes for cleaning and other services.  

Although the services are not free, the process of organising them is. However, you can’t put a price on a stress-free moving experience that will give you more time to settle into your new home and spend less time on the phone with suppliers.

Mail redirection is also something that needs to be taken care of. This can be done in person or online. Updating your address will ensure that you don't miss any important documents or bills in the post after moving home. 

6. Pack a personal bag and supplies

Not all of your possessions need to be boxed up and ready to go. A great tip is to prepare a small bag of clothing, toiletries and any other essentials to take with you during the move. Having these things on hand will not only help you settle into your new home but prevent you from having to spend time searching through your boxed-up possessions and creating a mess.

Setting aside bed linens and towels that can be used on the first night is another step that should make the transition easier. By doing this, beds can be made up as soon as possible on moving day and you can reward yourself with a relaxing shower after an exhausting day. 

In most cases, people have precious items that will require care when moving. Whether they are delicate, expensive or simply just very special to you, it's can be best to take care of these items yourself and move them in your own car.

7. Complete a thorough clean

Before your move can be complete, it is important to thoroughly clean your house or apartment to prepare it for the next resident. 

When it comes to the kitchen:

• Clean the stove top thoroughly
• Mop the floor
• Wipe cupboards on the inside and the doors
• Wipe out all drawers with a cloth
• Clean countertops and the sink.

When it comes to the bathroom:

• Mop the floor
• Clean the sink and fixtures
• Clean the toilet inside and out
• If there is a cabinet and door clean those
• Clean the mirror with glass cleaner.

If applicable, the exterior of the property should also be tidied up. Mowing the lawn and trimming any plants or hedges is essential when moving out.

Also, don't forget to put your bins out so they can be emptied. If you are a renter, inform your property manager that you have done this so the bins can be returned once they have been emptied.

If you have larger items to throw away, organise a hard waste collection through your local council. It's definitely worthwhile to check the guidelines that come with these though as they will often only collect a certain amount or will not collect certain types of rubbish. 

It is also a good idea to do some cleaning in your new home too (but not essential as you may be tired from the move). It doesn’t need to be a full clean as the moving process can be very dirty event.

8. Finalise your move  

When the big day finally arrives, it can be very easy to become stressed.

Sticking to the plan that you have made is the ideal way to minimise any stress. By beginning your preparation weeks ahead, you will have ensured that this experience will be as stress-free as possible.

When all is packed up and you're ready to leave, be sure to do a final walk-through of your home to make sure that nothing has been left behind.

If you need help finding your next home, whether it’s a buying or renting, contact us today and let us help you in your search.