Moving house checklist for Australia (share it with your partner)
Moving house is a few hundred small jobs with hard deadlines. The trick is to put every one on a shared list, give each an owner and a date, and work backwards from moving day. This checklist is written for moving within Australia.
How to use this checklist
Copy the tasks into a shared list, assign each one to you or your partner, and set due dates working back from moving day. Then you can both see what's left without asking each other. Rules and timing vary between states and territories, so check your lease and your state's requirements where it matters.
8 weeks to go
- Confirm your moving date, and check what notice your lease or contract requires.
- Get quotes from removalists, or work out a truck hire if you're doing it yourselves. Popular dates book out.
- Start decluttering: sell, donate or bin what you won't take.
- Measure the big furniture against the new place's doorways, stairs and rooms.
6 weeks to go
- Book your removalist or truck, and any storage.
- Start packing the things you rarely use: books, off-season clothes, decorations.
- If you're renting, give your landlord or agent notice in writing, as your lease requires.
- Check your contents and car insurance for the new address.
4 weeks to go
- Arrange your internet connection at the new address. This can take time, so don't leave it late.
- Schedule electricity, gas and water to be disconnected at the old place and connected at the new one.
- Arrange mail redirection through Australia Post.
- Book a cleaner for the old place if you need an end-of-lease clean.
- Organise school, childcare and pet arrangements for moving day.
Tell people your new address
Split this list between you and tick them off as you go:
- Banks, credit cards, superannuation and insurers
- The ATO, Medicare and Centrelink (usually through myGov)
- The electoral roll (Australian Electoral Commission)
- Driver licence and vehicle registration, through your state or territory's transport authority
- Your employer, schools, childcare, doctor, dentist and vet
- Phone, subscriptions and online accounts
2 weeks to go
- Confirm times with the removalists.
- Use up the food in the freezer and pantry.
- Pack most of the house, leaving everyday items out.
- Arrange parking permits or lift bookings if you're moving into or out of an apartment.
The last week
- Pack an "essentials box" for the first night: kettle, mugs, toilet paper, chargers, medications, bed linen and basic tools.
- Defrost and clean the fridge and freezer if you're taking them.
- Take photos of the old place's condition and of the meter readings.
- Confirm your keys: when you collect the new ones and when you return the old ones.
Moving day
- Do a last walk-through of every room, cupboard and shed.
- Take final meter readings and photos.
- Hand over the keys.
- At the new place, check the inventory with the removalists before they leave.
After the move
- Unpack the kitchen and the beds first.
- Check the smoke alarms, and find the switchboard and the water mains.
- Work through any remaining address updates.
- Meet the neighbours. They're a useful source of local knowledge.
Where TickOff fits
A move is exactly the kind of project a shared list suits: lots of small jobs, two people, and deadlines that don't move. In TickOff you can paste in the tasks above, assign each one to you, your partner or both, give each a due date and a reminder, and tag them (such as "bookings", "address changes" and "packing") so you can filter to just the jobs for one area.
It's free for up to three people and 30 active tasks, which covers most moves. If you're moving with housemates or helpers, you can all join the same list.
Common questions
Should we make one list or several?
One list for the whole move, with tags for areas, usually works best. Having everything in one place makes it easy to see what's left overall.
How early should we start?
Eight weeks is a comfortable runway for most moves. If you have less, work from the 'tell people your address' list and the bookings first, since those have outside deadlines.