The Big Move!

Moving to a new home is a huge logistical exercise, but with proper planning you can reduce some of the stress involved. Once you have exchanged contracts you should start planning the logistics of the move.

Check out our moving house checklist.

Property removalists

The best way of finding a good removalist is to get a referral. Failing that, you can find a removalist via the internet, the Yellow Pages or the local news paper in the classified section. Using the internet is a very quick and efficient way to research the range of services offered by each company. Most removalists have a free online quote service, where all you have to do is enter all your details, and a quote will be emailed to you within 24 to 48 hours. You might want to get between three and four quotes before choosing a removalist.

Moving home on your own

If you’ve got some friends or relatives that are willing to help you move, you could hire a van or truck and do the move yourself. You'll need to work out how many cubic feet of non-boxable and boxable possessions you need to move so you know what size truck to book. Don't book open trucks, it's bound to rain.

Hiring a truck is relatively simple. You might want to get three or four quotes from different truck hire companies and compare the benefits and costs. Source boxes as well – often truck rental companies can help here.

You will need to know how to manoeuvre and lift heavy items and have the right equipment e.g. trolleys, caster wheels, blankets, ropes etc

If you need to hire moving equipment to help you move large items (e.g. trolleys, blankets, ropes and pads) you can find various companies listed on the internet (search for ‘moving equipment’).

If you need to organise storage, source quotes and select a company.

Moving insurance

Consider whether you need to take out insurance for your furniture and other household items while they are in transit from your old property to your new property. If using a removalist, ask about the level of coverage that you will receive and the cost.

Insurance normally covers the cost of any damage or destruction of your property during the moving process, although you should carefully read the insurance policy to find out exactly what is covered. You may also want to check that it covers theft.

Notifying services

Australia Post can redirect mail from your old address to your new address for a specified period of time.

Simply complete and lodge an application to redirect mail in person at any Australia Post outlet. Then when you receive your redirected mail you will be reminded as to which companies you still need to notify about your address change.