Cities
Table of Contents
A house move rarely goes wrong because of one big mistake — it goes wrong because of a dozen small things nobody wrote down. This checklist is built around that reality: a running list, organised by how much time you have left before moving day, rather than a vague list of "things to remember."
Use it as a working document, not a one-time read. Print it, or keep it open on your phone, and tick items off as you go — the value of a checklist is in the crossing-off, not the reading.
Four Weeks Before: Decide and Book
Start by deciding what's actually moving with you. This is the single highest-leverage decision in the whole process, because every box you don't pack is money and time you don't spend later. Walk through each room and separate belongings into keep, sell/donate, and discard — do this before you get a quote, since volume is the biggest driver of cost.
Get at least two or three moving quotes based on an actual survey (in person or by video call), not a phone guess. Compare them on what's included — packing materials, insurance, dismantling/reassembly — not just the headline number. Once you've chosen a mover, book your date in writing and confirm it covers your building's move-in/move-out timing rules if you live in a managed society.
Two Weeks Before: Start Packing What You Don't Need Daily
Begin with off-season clothing, books, decorative items, and anything in storage — things you won't touch again before the move. Label every box with the destination room and a short contents note ("Kitchen — glasses, mugs, fragile"), not just the room name, so both you and the crew know how to handle it.
This is also the point to start collecting the paperwork you'll need: your new address proof, school transfer certificates if children are changing schools, and any documents tied to utility transfers. If your move is interstate, read up separately on the additional documents that trip up first-time movers — it's worth doing early rather than the night before.
One Week Before: Confirm Logistics
Confirm your moving date, crew size, and vehicle with your mover in writing. Arrange building access — lift booking slots, security permissions, parking for the truck — at both the old and new address; this single step prevents more move-day delays than almost anything else on this list.
Start using up perishable food so you're not throwing out a full fridge on moving day, and begin settling any final bills at your current place. If you're changing cities, this is also the week to schedule utility disconnection at the old address and connection at the new one, since most providers need a few days' notice.
48 Hours Before: Pack the Essentials Box
Pack a first-night box separately from everything else, and plan to carry it yourself rather than loading it onto the truck: phone chargers, a change of clothes, basic toiletries, any daily medication, snacks, and copies of your key documents. This one box does more to reduce moving-day stress than anything else on this checklist.
Finish packing everything except what you'll use in the final hours. Disassemble large furniture if you're doing it yourself, or confirm your mover is handling this — keep screws and small hardware in a labelled bag taped to the piece itself, not loose in a toolbox.
Moving Day
Do a final walkthrough of every room, cupboard, and drawer — including easy-to-miss spots like the top of wardrobes, balcony storage, and the back of bathroom cabinets — before the truck leaves. Keep your essentials box, valuables, and important documents with you rather than on the truck.
Get an inventory list signed at pickup, and keep a copy. When the truck arrives at the new address, check items against that list as they're unloaded rather than after the crew has left — this is the easiest time to flag a discrepancy.
After the Move: Settling In
Unpack the essentials box first, then work room by room rather than trying to unpack everything the same day. Update your address with your bank, employer, and any subscriptions, and register with a local physician or school if you've relocated to a new city.
Keep your moving inventory, invoice, and any insurance documents in one folder for at least a few months — it's the fastest reference if a delivery discrepancy or warranty question comes up later.