10 Item Moving House Checklist

Moving can be a time of hectic chaos or a time to organize and pare down to the essentials. Follow this checklist to save yourself the headache of remembering all the steps involved. From purging and packing to getting your paperwork around for the other end, these steps will guide you along the road to getting moved.

1. Do Your Research

Find out the policies of your new region: what types of insurance are necessary, what records will be needed from taxes to children’s school records, and what local news and facilities are available. Have a file folder or journal to keep notes and documents from your move centrally located and close to hand.

2. Get Things Sorted

This step should begin eight weeks prior to the move. Walk through each room, opening every drawer and door. While doing so, choose what has a place in your new home and what should be discarded. Make a list of things to keep that will call for special packing. Some items may even call for more insurance coverage; keep notes on such possessions. For the pile of discards, sort into recyclables, donatable items, items for a yard sale, and simple garbage. Try to minimize this latter pile.

3. Find a Reputable Removalist Service

Finding positive word of mouth reviews is a great way to select a solid removalist company. Those like BrisbaneRemovalists can offer different levels of support. If you do not like the notion of removing and moving everything yourself, a good removalist can handle the load for you.

4. Collect Boxes

If you are going to be handling the heavy lifting, you will need boxes for your possessions. They should be of good quality, sturdy, sealed with packing tape that is strong enough that you can trust it not to give way. Ask for spares at local stores for a free option, but be sure of the sturdiness of any boxes you collect from that source. Otherwise, removalists often sell boxes, as do many storage facilities.

5. Establish a Clear Labeling System

Use a pack of multi-colored stickers to get things distinctly labeled. Choose a color for each room, and be consistent about where on each box those colored dots go. In addition, label each box clearly with its destination and its contents. You do not need to itemize each box down its side, but have a basic rundown of the categories contained in each. You will be grateful when the time comes to disgorge all of your possessions again.

6. The Packing

Now that you have sorted and consolidated, it is time to actually pack things in the boxes. Be sure you use sufficient padding for each fragile item. Keep heavy items spread throughout rather than testing the strength of a single cardboard carton for all of them. Double-check the limits for weight on the boxes that you are using.

7. Clean

Odds are likely that you will be doing some cleaning at your new residence before things get moved as well as cleaning in your old residence after things are moved out. This lets you start clean as well as meeting your lease agreements to keep things to a certain level of cleanliness. You can do this yourself, but you may wish to arrange for cleaners at one end or the other, if not both.

8. Moving Considerations

For the actual move, you will need to arrange for trucks or a transport company. Decide on a budget, get quotes from various companies, and then make the final decision. Keep each receipt and all dates important to the move in that journal or file mentioned in step one.

9. Get Bills and Utilities Sorted

Pay off any bills that are outstanding and cancel utilities in the prior residence, arranging for them in the new home. Keep them in another centrally located journal or binder in case of discrepancies.

10. Keys

Pass over keys and garage door openers to the realtor or new homeowner of your previous residence. Make copies of keys for the new place. Make friends with neighbors and give a spare key to someone trustworthy. Be security conscious when considering where to stow a spare key otherwise.