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Moving House Checklist: A Week-by-Week Guide for Melbourne Movers

A couple carrying boxes downstairs

Moving house is one of those jobs that looks manageable until you’re three days out, surrounded by half-packed boxes and wondering who you forgot to tell about your new address.

The good news is that most moving stress comes down to timing. Do the right things at the right time and moving day becomes a lot less chaotic. This moving house checklist breaks the whole process into stages, from eight weeks out to your first week in the new place.

Whether you’re moving out of home for the first time, upsizing, downsizing or relocating across Melbourne’s North, work through it at your own pace and tick things off as you go.

Your moving timeline at a glance

When Focus Key tasks
8 weeks before Plan and declutter Set your date, book removalists, declutter, sort storage
4 weeks before Admin Change of address, utilities, school transfers
2 weeks before Packing Pack least-used rooms, label boxes, confirm removalists
Moving week Final prep Essentials box, clean the fridge, take furniture apart
Moving day Move out Final walk-through, meter readings, hand over keys
First week Settle in Check connections, clean, unpack the essentials

8 weeks before moving: plan and declutter

The earlier you start, the more options you have. Two months out is the time to lock in the big decisions and get rid of anything you don’t want to pay to move.

  • Set your moving date and confirm it with your landlord, agent or conveyancer.
  • Book removalists or a truck hire. Weekends and the end of the month book out fast, so get quotes early.
  • Set a moving budget that covers removalists, packing materials, cleaning, connection fees and any storage.
  • Declutter room by room. Sell, donate or bin anything you haven’t used in the past year. Every box you don’t pack is a box you don’t carry.
  • Measure your new place and check that large furniture will fit through doors, hallways and stairwells.
  • Work out if there’s a gap between homes. If your lease ends before settlement or your new place isn’t ready, sort storage now rather than in a panic later.
  • Start collecting boxes, tape, butcher’s paper and bubble wrap.

Not sure what’s worth storing and what should come with you? Our guide to what to put in storage when moving house walks through it.

4 weeks before: your change of address checklist

A month out, start on the admin. Updating your address is the step most people leave too late, and it’s the one that causes problems for months afterwards.

Who to notify What to update When
Electricity, gas and water Disconnect at your old address, connect at the new one 2 to 4 weeks before
Internet (NBN) Transfer or new connection 3 to 4 weeks before
Australia Post Mail redirection 2 weeks before
Schools, childcare and clubs Enrolment or transfer 4 or more weeks before
Banks, super and insurance Address, plus contents cover for the new home Before you move
Your employer Payroll details Before you move
Doctor, dentist, vet and pharmacy Patient records Before you move
VicRoads Licence and vehicle registration As soon as you move
Australian Electoral Commission Enrolment (also updates your Victorian enrolment) As soon as you move
myGov Medicare, ATO and Centrelink details As soon as you move
Pet microchip registry Contact address As soon as you move
Subscriptions and online shopping Delivery address Moving week

Around the house

  • Book a babysitter or pet sitter for moving day.
  • Start using up food in the freezer and pantry.

2 weeks before: tips for packing

With two weeks to go, packing should be well underway. A few habits here make unpacking far easier at the other end.

  • Pack the rooms you use least first: spare rooms, the garage, out-of-season clothes and books.
  • Label every box with the room it’s going to and a short list of what’s inside. Numbering boxes helps you check nothing went missing.
  • Keep boxes manageable. Heavy items like books go in small boxes, light items like linen in large ones.
  • Photograph the back of your TV and computer before unplugging, so reconnecting is easy.
  • Keep important documents together in one folder that travels with you, not in the truck.
  • Confirm your removalist booking and give them any access details, such as parking, lifts or narrow driveways.

If you’re short on space while you pack, a storage unit can act as a staging area. Move packed boxes and spare furniture out early, and your home stays liveable (and easier to clean) right up to moving day.

Moving week and moving day checklist

The week before

  • Pack an essentials box for each person: chargers, toiletries, medication, a change of clothes, snacks and basic tools.
  • Defrost and clean the fridge and freezer at least a day before the move.
  • Disassemble large furniture and keep screws in labelled zip-lock bags taped to each piece.
  • Withdraw some cash for tips, takeaway or anything unexpected.

Moving out checklist for renters

  • Book or plan an end-of-lease clean, including carpets if your lease requires it.
  • Patch small marks and fix anything you’ve damaged.
  • Compare the property against your original condition report and take dated photos of every room.
  • Return all keys, remotes and access cards to your agent or landlord.
  • Lodge your bond claim through Rental Bonds Online once you’ve agreed on the return.

On the day

  • Be there when the removalists arrive and walk them through what’s going and what’s staying.
  • Do a final walk-through of every room, cupboard, the garage and the meter box.
  • Take final meter readings and photos for your records.
  • Lock up and hand over the keys.

Moving into a new house checklist

You’ve made it. The first week in your new home is about getting the basics working before you worry about where the art goes.

  • Check that electricity, gas, water and internet are connected.
  • Do a walk-through and photograph any existing damage (renters: note it on your entry condition report).
  • Find the meter box, water mains and smoke alarms, and test the alarms.
  • Clean before you unpack, especially kitchen cupboards and bathrooms.
  • Unpack the essentials box first, then the kitchen and bedrooms.
  • Change the locks or reprogram garage remotes if you’ve bought the property.
  • Check your mail redirection is working and update anyone you missed.
  • Introduce yourself to the neighbours and find out your bin collection days.

Gap between homes? Storage in Melbourne’s North

Moves don’t always line up neatly. Settlement gets pushed back, a lease ends early, or you’re renovating before you move in. When that happens, short-term storage saves you from cramming everything into a friend’s garage.

StorYge is a purpose-built self storage facility at 438 Barry Road, Coolaroo, close to Broadmeadows, Craigieburn, Roxburgh Park and Greenvale.

  • Month-to-month terms, so you only pay for as long as you need it
  • Units from $65 a month, from lockers up to 6m x 3m
  • Ground-level, drive-up access, so you can unload straight from the truck or trailer
  • 7-day access using your phone through the OneLock app, with no keys or PIN codes
  • 24-hour CCTV across the facility

Not sure how much space you need? Check our storage unit size guide, then book your unit online in a few minutes.

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