No matter how organised you are, moving house is never going to be 100% stress-free. With so many things to think about and organise, it’s only natural to feel a little overwhelmed by the process.

Don’t know what to do first? Here are 8 things you need to do before moving to a new house:

Find a good removalist

Before you start packing a thing it’s time to start thinking about how you’re going to move your items from your old house to your new one. You might want to move some of the smaller items yourself, but you’ll definitely need some help with the larger and heavier items. Or, you might want to outsource the whole job to some professionals. Do some research on removalists in your area who are highly rated, offer the services you require and fit within your budget.

As well as deciding on a removalist, you’ll also need to decide if you’re going to buy or hire packing boxes as most removalists will require you to provide your own. If you’ll only need the boxes for a short time it can be more economical to hire them. If you’re putting some items into storage or if you’ll be needing to move again in the near future, buying boxes can work out better. Check out your options at Hire A Box.

Disconnect and reconnect utilities

This one needs to be timed perfectly. Make a list of all your current utility companies and start letting them know you’ll be moving. You’ll need to let them know the exact day you’re moving out so they can disconnect your services at the right time. Then, you’ll need to reconnect them again at your new place.

Don’t forget your internet provider as well. It can pay to make sure your internet is up and running as soon as you get to your new place in case you need it for work, study or streaming your favourite TV shows.

Update your address details

You need to let everyone know your address has changed. Of course, you’ll want to tell your friends and family, but you’ll also have to update your address details at a range of other places. Change your address details for all your mail subscriptions, medical and dental providers and on your license, just to name a few.

Start making a list as soon as possible because you’ll be surprised just how many places you’ll need to update it.

Redirect your mail

Although you’ve updated your address details in as many places as possible, you’re bound to miss one or two. Rather than stressing about missing anything important, it’s a good idea to redirect your mail, at least for a few months after you move. There is a cost involved but it’s easy to organise through Australia Post. Then, whatever turns up through redirection will remind you where you still need to update your address details, and you won’t miss out on receiving any of your mail.

Sort and pack your items

Getting your items sorted and packed is the most time-consuming part of moving, so it’s best to get started on it as soon as possible. Start out by getting rid of anything you no longer need. Next, pack away any items you don’t use often into boxes ready for the move. Lastly, pack up everything else such as clothing and cooking implements a day or two before you move.

Not interested in doing it all yourself? Did you know you can hire professionals to pack and unpack your items for you? This can be a great investment that saves you a lot of time and energy.

If any of your items need to go into storage, you’ll need to organise that before you move as well.

Arrange cleaners

Whether you’re renting or selling your old place, you’ll need to leave it in the best condition possible. While you can do some of the cleaning yourself, some rental agreements require you to organise a professional cleaning services to get the job done. It can be a great idea to outsource this job anyway as it is very time-consuming work. Research some cleaners in your local area and find out if they are available for when you need them.

Have one last celebration

You might be stressed and overwhelmed while you’re focusing on your move so it’s a great idea to take some time out to celebrate in your old place. Have a nice dinner, a small gathering of family or friends, or just one last takeaway meal on the living room floor before you say goodbye forever to your old place. You’ve made memories there, good or bad, and it can be nice to remember and talk about them as you say goodbye and get ready to start a new chapter of your life. Don’t forget to take some photos too.

Pack a first night box

You’ve packed everything up neatly in boxes and they’ve been delivered to your new place. Chances are you won’t get everything unpacked straight away, so what happens on your first night in your new house? Where are the saucepans? Can you find the linen for the beds? The last thing you want to be doing is looking through a range of boxes to find one thing.

Be super organised by packing a first night box. Put everything in that you’ll be needing on your first night so you won’t get stuck without an essential item. Consider packing a couple of plates, cups and cutlery as well as bed linen, towels and toiletries. Then, you can unpack the rest of your items at your own pace.

There are so many things you need to organise and do before you move into a new house. But the good news is, you don’t have to do it all yourself. As part of the Hire Group, we can take care of your complete moving and relocation needs, from packing and unpacking to moving, boxes and packing supplies – all with our friendly single point of contact.

Our team at Hire A Packer can safely pack and unpack your items, Hire A Mover can get your items to your new place, and Hire A Box can supply you with all the packing materials you’ll need. Not moving straight into your new place? Hire Storage can now help with your short or long term storage needs too.

Are you about to move to a new house in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane or Gold Coast? Hire A Mover can help get you there. For more information on how we can help you with your move, call us today on 1300 358 700 or request a quote via our website.