Moving Interstate Checklist: Your Ultimate Guide
To make your interstate move easier, we've created the most comprehensive moving interstate checklist for you.
Moving Interstate To Do List
The thought of moving to a new home can be exciting. Perhaps you’re starting fresh in a new town or city, or got promoted and need to relocate as part of your job, or you’re finally moving into the house of your dreams.
However, it’s one thing to move house, it’s another to move interstate.
Moving states in Australia entails traveling a large distance – whether you’re moving from Western Australia to Queensland, or from Victoria to South Australia. You can’t just go back and pick up items you forgot or take care of missed errands when moving states, so you can’t afford to put moving tasks off until the last minute.
Planning your interstate move long before your actual moving day is the best thing you can do to ease the stress and the anxiety of relocating. Once you start planning, you’ll realise there are a million things to consider when moving interstate.
Using a moving interstate checklist will help you stay on top of your moving goals and tasks. A checklist for moving interstate will also give you a sense of fulfilment as you tick off items on your list. This way, you’ll stop feeling overwhelmed or unsure about where to begin.
With an interstate moving checklist, you’ll know exactly what’s been done and left to do – whether you intend to hire professionals to do the packing for you, or plan to DIY certain tasks.
Not sure how and where to start?
The following checklist for moving interstate in Australia can help you navigate the process, stay organised, and keep track of what still has to be done. Ideally, the planning phase should begin about two months before your scheduled move, or as early as possible.
Tips Before Moving Interstate in Australia
Moving to a new state offers exciting opportunities for adventure and learning, but the physical act of relocating can be an overwhelming experience. So don't let moving interstate add extra stress—make it easier on yourself by following our advice on relocating to another state.
1. Follow Three Stages of Packing
Streamline your relocation by breaking down the packing process into three simple steps. It will keep everything organised and make moving a breeze.
- Prepare for the move by preparing your unused items, like skis or school uniforms. Donate what's unnecessary and ensure everything else is properly sorted to help with a smooth transition.
- Give yourself a week's head start before the big move and begin to box up your most often-used belongings. It will give you extra time to settle into your new home without worrying about pesky everyday items that usually get forgotten when packing.
- It's time to hit the road! Last but not least, ensure your suitcase is filled with all of life's necessities for a successful journey—toiletries, some clothing essentials, documents, and any precious jewellery that need extra care.
Let us take the hassle out of packing with our team of experts creating high-quality, tailored packages for you. Our focus on providing quality care ensures that all your belongings are packed securely and safely.
2. Hire Moving Service
Let WA Removals take the hassle out of relocating! With years of experience, you can rely on us to move quickly and safely—all for an affordable price. Trust in our expertise so you can make your whole move a success.
Our team consists of experts in making your move as stress-free and enjoyable as possible, with their friendly demeanour and diligent attention to your belongings. We guarantee a pleasant experience!
3. Do Your Own Research
Make A Visit – Get a head start on the move to your new state by visiting and exploring possible suburbs that will meet both your lifestyle requirements and personal needs. Make sure you make the most of this unique opportunity!
Online Research – We live in a fabulous age where the World Wide Web is ever-present. Take advantage of it to get an insider's look into your locale—explore maps and uncover activities, services, and community hubs you never knew existed.
Social Network – Let your friends and family know you're on the move and ask them to tell any contacts they have that may be able to help. Leverage social media or local groups/pages, too—this is a great way to get up-to-date intel.
Plan Your Home - Finding your dream home just got easier! With the help of an estate agent and some creative use of technology, you can scope out a space that perfectly meets all your needs. From virtual tours on websites or Skyping video conferencing with agents up close with potential properties, locating the perfect place for you has never been simpler.
4. Prepare Essentials
- When relocating to a new state, planning your transportation is essential. Determine what mode of transportation you will use for the relocation.
- Before you move into your new home, get all the necessary connections and utilities up and running, from turning on power outlets to organising internet services.
- Ensure your kitchen is well-stocked upon arrival! Do an online grocery shop and plan for the delivery to come a day later, giving you time to ensure that everything in the fridge and freezer is ready at ideal temperatures so all of your food stays fresh.
5-7 Weeks Before Moving Checklist
During the early stages of planning, you’ll still be deciding on the majority of the tasks to include on your checklist before moving out of state. In general, though, you’ll need to go over and finish the following tasks. You can simply add to the list as needed.
1. Get removal quotes from moving companies
One of the major crucial tasks you need to sort out first is finding a removalist. Go online or get recommendations from your network. Make sure you have a budget in mind before getting quotes from prospective movers. Ask about removals insurance, too.
If you have additional requirements like those involving moving your plants and pets, let your prospective removalists know.
Getting this part of your moving states checklist out of the way not only will help you avoid making an expensive last-minute booking, but could also save you money. Some removalists offer discounts for early bookings, but make sure to confirm this.
You can also time your interstate relocation during the less busy (and less expensive!) months and avoid peak moving season like summer or the months of January to March.
2. Declutter your home
Now’s the time to start sorting through your possessions. If you have kids who are old enough to help out, give them time to declutter their own rooms as well. Ask them to separate their things into three piles: to keep, to donate and to sell.
You can give away anything that you don’t want to take with you to a charity, or to relatives and friends whom you think will find a good use for such items.
You can list valuable items that you no longer want for sale on Gumtree, Etsy, or eBay, or post them on social media. You can also hold a garage sale – just make sure to spread the word.
As you declutter, set aside durable empty cartons or boxes and suitcases that you already own. These can be utilised for packing, so you can purchase fewer boxes and packing supplies later.
You can also start packing seasonal items you won’t need for the next six weeks or two months. This includes seasonal attire, holiday décor, items in storage, and things you haven’t used in the last three to five months. By doing this, you’ll finish some of your packing ahead of time.
3. Take care of admin tasks
Before all admin tasks get overshadowed by all the sorting, cleaning and packing you’ll be doing in the next few weeks, contact your:
- Bank
- Credit card and insurance providers
- Australia Post
- Doctor or healthcare provider
- Dentist
- Veterinarian (if you have pets)
- Utilities
Inform them of your impending move so they can update your records or remove your name from utility accounts and keep your credit and debit cards operational even at your new residence.
You might also want to start cancelling subscriptions or updating your records to ensure your mail gets delivered to your new address.
If you have school-age kids, the earlier you can arrange for their schooling, the better for all of you – even if you’re moving during a holiday.
Packing Checklist for Your Interstate Move
After booking your removalist, decluttering and finishing most or all admin tasks, it’s time to go over your packing checklist.
It’s best to sort this out before the actual month of your move, so you have ample time to prepare and won’t need to rush through the remaining items on your list for moving out of state.
This is the time to:
1. Purchase and organise your packing materials
Conduct a quick survey of all the items that you’ll be taking along with you to your new place and make a rough estimate of how much you’ll need of the following packing supplies:
- Boxes
- Rolls of packing tape
- Newspaper or packing tissue, bubble wrap, packing peanuts, etc.
- Permanent markers
- Box cutters
- Labels
If you have big-ticket items or fragile things to move with you, get in touch with your removalist to see if they can supply moving blankets, rope, a trolley and other things you might need for their safe removal.
2. Involve your family in organising packing tasks
Have a look at the items your kids will be taking with them, and assign a couple of boxes, labels and other packing supplies for their use.
Give them a short orientation on what things go together and which items they can pack themselves. Ask your kids to not tape up or close their boxes, so you can inspect the contents before sealing them for transport.
3. Pack all non-essentials
If there are any leftover seasonal and non-essential items you’ve yet to pack, now’s the time to segregate and put them in their designated cartons.
Utilise what you have by packing heavy items, such as books, in a luggage with wheels or a handle, and protecting fragile objects (e.g., glassware) with clothing or newspaper.
With these things out of the way, you can focus on the tasks ahead and stress less.
While it’s perfectly fine to DIY packing tasks, you don’t want to get overwhelmed either. There’s no shame in asking for the help of professionals, especially when you feel that packing is something you can’t manage all by yourself.
Need help with packing? WA Removals is ready to assist.
3-4 Weeks Before Moving Checklist
Before bidding farewell to your rental home, confirm the cleaning requirements with management or read your lease agreement. Failing to meet these standards may cost you additional fees and jeopardise any potential security deposit return. So take a few moments now for due diligence—it could save some extra money in the long run!
Now that your moving month is officially here, things are going to happen really fast – and you wouldn’t want to forget anything in your moving-house-interstate checklist!
Here are the things to do when moving interstate in Australia 3-4 weeks before moving:
- Gather all your documents (e.g., birth certificates, passports, identification cards, etc.), financial records, and medical records in one folder. Be sure to label the container.
- If you have friends and relatives helping out, finalise the list now.
- It’s time to do your final grocery run to avoid having any extra food and products leftover on moving day.
- Take pictures of important appliances or furniture from all angles, especially those that need to be dismantled before the move and reassembled in your new place. This way, you’ll have references in case you get stuck during reassembly.
- Make arrangements for child and pet care on moving day.
- Set aside time to say farewell to local friends and relatives with your family.
- Continue packing. Hopefully, by this time, majority of your possessions would have been packed already, sealed, labelled and ready to go.
DIY Cleaning Checklist
All your belongings are packed and ready to go, but one more task needs to be completed before you can move into the next step of the things to do when moving interstate. But you must ensure everything in your old home has been taken care of.
To ensure a successful rental experience, taking care of the remaining cleaning tasks is essential. Doing so can heighten your chances of returning the security deposit and leaving an ideal home for future occupants. Streamline your move-out cleaning by tackling each room from top to bottom.
Whether you’re a tenant or homeowner, leaving your old home clean is a sign of common courtesy.
Of course, for tenants, there’s such a thing as a bond clean that needs to be accomplished for them to get their bond or deposit back from their landlord.
Whichever situation applies to you, be sure to cover the following during cleaning:
1. Whole House Plus Miscellaneous Areas
Before bidding farewell to your rental home, confirm the cleaning requirements with management or read your lease agreement.
Failing to meet these standards may cost you additional fees and jeopardise any potential security deposit return. So take a few moments now for due diligence—it could save some extra money in the long run!
- Clean all surfaces, especially stairways.
- Wipe down walls and baseboards.
- Dust ceiling fans and clean air vents.
- Fix the walls; remove the screws and nails.
- Wipe down windows and blinds.
- Clear away the cobwebs.
- Clean the dryer and washing machine from the inside out, behind and underneath.
2. Kitchen
The daily hustle and bustle of a kitchen can leave it disorganised. To ensure your space is always ready to go, use this cleaning checklist when moving states in Australia.
These simple steps will help keep clutter away, promote good hygiene habits, and ensure you don't have any problems once you leave the place.
- Clean interior and exterior of cabinets and drawers.
- Wipe down the microwave inside-out.
- Defrost and get rid of the contents of the refrigerator and clean it inside, from behind and underneath.
- Clean up the countertops.
- Scrub the faucet and sink.
- Give the stove and oven a thorough clean.
3. Bathrooms
Keep bathrooms clean before moving. Use this bathroom cleaning checklist to ensure your space stays fresh and bacteria-free. Of course, regular, intense scrubbing is done every once in a while, but it's best to give that final touch before leaving.
Here are the steps you should take when cleaning your bathroom.
- Give the shower a thorough scrub and bleach the grout.
- Organise the bathroom vanity and drawers.
- Wipe down the countertop.
- Clean and polish the mirror.
- Dust the exhaust fan.
4. Outdoors
Before moving out, ensure you meet all outdoor cleanup requirements as specified in your lease. Also, pay close attention when completing essential tasks on your moving interstate Australia checklist if the property is yours to sell or maintain.
- Trim the lawn.
- Pull out the weeds.
- Pressure-wash or scrub the pavers or concrete pavement.
You’ll significantly increase your chances of receiving your entire bond back if you apply to this checklist.
We’re here to help ensure you vacate a clean property.
Last Week Before Moving Interstate Checklist
It’s time to take care of other important things now that you’re down to the final few days.
- Get your new home ready for move-in by setting up all necessary utilities. Contact gas, electric, water, internet, and other local services to ensure a smooth transition into the property.
- If you are bringing your refrigerator for a move, unthaw your refrigerator and freezer for a smooth transition. Then, allow 24 hours of defrosting before loading them onto the moving vehicle to ensure an easy transition.
- Before leaving your home, document its excellent condition for a few moments. Then, with outgoing photos and videos, you'll have proof you can use to show when selling or protect your security deposit if renting out. So capture those memories for peace of mind.
- Except for the mattresses, disassemble any furniture you can. To prevent losing any parts, place all hardware, such as screws, bolts, handles, etc., in a durable plastic bag and then fasten it securely to the furniture.
- Finish up packing. Ensure that all boxes are labelled with the room, the contents, and whether or not the container is fragile. Count all the boxes, ensure they’re all accounted for by creating a list. You can add other items later as you continue packing.
- Prepare individual overnight bags for all family members. Each bag should include a change of clothes or two, some snacks and beverages, and any other personal essentials (e.g., towels, soap, tissue, keys, chargers, power banks, hard drives, etc.).
- Arrange for someone to clean your new home, so it’s ready for you, your family, and your things on moving day.
- All the packing is complete! Give away any items you no longer need to a local donation drop-off, and make your final contribution. Make sure anything hazardous or unusable goes in the trash bin, leaving only quality donations for others to benefit from.
One Day Before Moving Day – Get Your Ducks in a Row
Ideally, the day before your move should be a relatively peaceful one. However, there are a few last-minute checks you can do without needlessly tiring yourself out.
- You could drop off your pets and or kids the evening before your move at your relative’s or friend’s place (previously agreed upon or arranged). Alternatively, they could come over early the next day to supervise your children and pets in a designated room. This way, your kids and pets are safe and out of people’s way when the movers are busy.
- Check your valuables and ensure you’ve cash on hand for unforeseen costs and prepared with the necessary funds for moving.
- Bid adieu to your former neighbours.
- Review your moving day plans.
Moving Day Checklist. It’s Time to Get Ready and Go!
Your packing should be finished by the time moving day actually arrives.
But first, have a good breakfast to start your day, so wake up early!
Now, it’s time to say goodbye to your old house and begin moving items into the new one.
Professional removalists will ensure the heavier boxes or items are kept at the bottom of the shipping container or moving truck and lighter or more fragile ones at the top. Also, kitchen boxes would usually be loaded last, so they come off the truck first at your new address.
- Load the moving truck with care to make your move as effortless as possible. Ensure boxes and furniture are appropriately packed between each other to prevent any damage during transit. Consider hiring reliable movers for a stress-free experience! Ensure all items are securely fastened once loaded to start off safe and sound at your new home.
- Keep track of the boxes and use your checklist to mark what’s being loaded into the container or truck.
- Once everything has been removed from the house, check all cupboards and closets one last time to ensure that nothing is left behind.
- Keep your overnight bags and important documents with you.
- Ensure all appliance cords are unplugged and tied.
- Give the removalist the floor plans and parking information for the new address.
- Make sure all meters are read and that your car and home key collection is organized.
- Lock all windows and doors; switch off the hot water heater.
- Check the garage, yard, sheds, and cabinet tops.
- Give the new tenant or the real estate agent all the keys.
- Lock the doors, switch off the electricity, tighten the handles on all faucets, and inspect the electrical and gas systems.
- Take the electric or remote garage opener out of your car.
Now, it’s time to head to the airport or use whatever mode of transportation you’ll be taking. You could be travelling with your pets, depending on what arrangements you’ve made with your removalist.
Checklist After Moving Into Your New Home
You’ve finally arrived, yay! A good moving plan includes a pre moving interstate Australia checklist. Taking the time to make one can prevent stress and ensure that no critical details are overlooked. This ensures a smooth move and smooth transition.
Now it’s time to go and check out your new home and wait for your removalists to arrive. Just make sure you have all the necessary keys and directions to your new home.
When you get there, try to cover the following tasks:
- Check if the house is clean, although this would’ve been arranged earlier.
- Ensure that all utilities are connected and the hot water is running.
- If you’re moving to a rented home, be sure to have the agent you’re dealing with document the condition of the house and furnishings.
- Replace the locks and review security if you want.
- Designate a room for your kids and pets to stay in whilst the removalists unload your things and move them into your new home.
- Try to position yourself near the removalists’ entrance so it’s easier to give them clear instructions on where to place the furniture, boxes, etc.
- Once the unloading is complete, make sure everything is to your satisfaction. See if all the boxes or items are complete. If there’s anything missing, notify your removalists immediately.
- Unpack your kids’ items and pet supplies first to give the place a familiar vibe. If you have cats, keep them confined safely inside a room. Don’t let your dogs wander outside your new house yet, unless your property is fenced or secure. Ensure someone is around to watch over your kids whilst you’re busy unpacking.
- Get the beds ready as quickly as you can.
- Visit your new local council for information about waste collection.
- Say ‘hi’ and introduce yourself to your new neighbours!
Have a Stress-Free Interstate Move!
Now, that just about covers this moving-interstate-in-Australia checklist.
See, there are a million and one things to do before moving interstate, so it pays to get the right advice. Or, you can always make things a lot easier for you by getting in touch with us at WA Removals.
With WA Removals as your moving partner, you know you have a professional, friendly and reliable team of removalists working with you.
Let’s discuss your interstate moving plans today!