Everything You Need to Prepare for Moving Day: Step-by-Step Checklist

The Ultimate Moving Day Checklist for a Stress-Free Move (An Australian Guide)

Estimated reading time: 14 minutes

Key takeaways

• Start 4–6 weeks out: decide DIY vs removalists, declutter, and lock in insurance and records.
• DIY success = right truck + right gear: size up, use trolleys, blankets, and straps.
• Pack smart: label every box, group by room, and use quality packing supplies.
• Load like a pro: heaviest items forward, balance weight, build tight tiers, fill gaps.
• Essentials first: prepare an “essentials box” and overnight bags for day-one comfort.
• Notify early: utilities, banks, ATO, licence, and set up Australia Post mail redirection.

Your Moving Timeline: A Structured Step-by-Step Countdown

An upcoming move can feel overwhelming. Between the endless boxes, logistical puzzles, and a mountain of administrative tasks, it’s easy to feel stressed before you’ve even started. But here’s the secret we’ve learned from our extensive experience helping Australians move: a smooth, successful move isn’t about luck—it’s about great planning and organisation.

This guide is your ultimate, step-by-step resource to conquer the chaos. We’ll walk you through everything from initial planning and packing to critical tasks on moving day and settling in. To make it even easier, we’ve created a comprehensive printable moving checklist and planner to be your essential companion throughout the entire process.

From our experience, the best way to handle the monumental task of moving is to break it down into a clear timeline. This structured approach makes the entire process feel manageable and helps you avoid the last-minute panic that can derail a move.

4-6 Weeks Before Moving Day: The Foundation Phase

This is where the groundwork for a successful move is laid. The decisions you make now will set the stage for a smooth transition later. Getting these fundamentals right is critical.

Decide How You’ll Move: Professional Removalists vs. DIY Rental Truck

One of your first big decisions is whether to hire professional movers or go the DIY route with a rental truck. There are pros and cons to each, and the right choice depends on your budget, timeline, and how hands-on you want to be.

• Professional Removalists: This is the less hands-on but typically more expensive option. They handle all the heavy lifting, loading, and transport. If you choose this path, now is the time to research reputable removalist companies, get at least three written quotes, and carefully check their insurance policies and customer reviews on independent sites.
• DIY Move: Renting a truck gives you maximum flexibility and can be significantly more cost-effective, putting you in complete control. From our experience helping countless DIY movers, booking your rental truck early is vital to ensure you get the size you need, especially during peak moving seasons like weekends or the end of the month. A flexible and affordable service like Go With The Gecko offers a range of well-maintained vehicles to suit any size household.

Declutter and Organise Your Belongings

Don’t pay to move things you don’t need or want. A common mistake we see is people underestimating how much time this takes. Decluttering before you pack will save you money on packing materials, reduce the size of the truck you need, and save effort on moving day. Go through every room and sort items into four categories: keep, sell, donate, or dispose of. This is also the perfect time to create a detailed inventory of your belongings, especially valuable items, for your insurance records.

Handle Key Administrative & Logistical Tasks

Get a head start on the paperwork and planning that underpins a successful move.

• Insurance: Contact your insurance provider to arrange transit insurance. This is crucial as it covers your belongings while they are in transit between properties. It’s a common misconception that a standard home and contents policy automatically covers this—always verify the specifics of your coverage with your provider.
• Records: If you’re moving to a new area, organise the transfer of essential records, including medical files from your GP, dental records, and school records for your children.
• Leave & Support: Book time off work for your moving day and, if possible, the day after. If you have young children or pets, arranging for a friend, family member, or sitter to look after them on moving day is one of the best ways to keep them safe and reduce stress for everyone involved.

The DIY Move: How to Prepare and Use a Rental Truck

Choosing a DIY move puts you in control. Here’s our expert advice on how to prepare for a safe and efficient move when you use a rental truck.

Choosing the Right Size Rental Truck

Selecting the right truck is critical—too small and you’ll be making multiple, time-wasting trips; too large and you’re paying for space you don’t use. As a general guide, consider the following:

• 1-2 Bedroom Apartment: A 2-3 tonne truck or a large van (like a Renault Master) is often sufficient.
• 2-3 Bedroom House: Look for a 4-5 tonne truck (like an Isuzu N-Series).
• 4+ Bedroom House: You’ll likely need a 6-8 tonne truck or larger.

Always check the vehicle’s internal dimensions and load capacity. When in doubt, it’s better to go slightly larger. Many reputable providers offer helpful online truck size calculators to make this decision much easier.

Essential Equipment for a DIY Move

Having the right gear will protect your back and your belongings. We strongly recommend ensuring you have:

• Heavy-duty trolley or dolly: Absolutely essential for moving heavy appliances and stacks of boxes safely.
• Moving blankets/pads: To wrap furniture and prevent the inevitable scratches and dings that happen during a move.
• Ropes and ratchet straps: To secure everything tightly inside the truck and prevent dangerous shifting during transit.
• Gloves: For better grip and to protect your hands from splinters and scrapes.
• Basic toolkit: A set with Allen keys, screwdrivers, and a wrench for disassembling and reassembling furniture.

How to Pack a Moving Truck Like a Pro

Loading a truck is a game of Tetris with real-world physics. For a safe and secure load, follow these industry-standard principles:

1. Heaviest Items First: Load your heaviest items like refrigerators, washing machines, and solid furniture at the front of the truck (the end closest to the cab). This keeps the centre of gravity low and forward.
2. Distribute Weight Evenly: Balance the load from side to side to ensure the truck is stable and handles predictably on the road. An unbalanced load can be dangerous.
3. Build Stable Tiers: Create solid walls of boxes, placing the heaviest boxes on the bottom and lighter ones on top. Ensure tiers are packed tightly together.
4. Fill All Gaps: Use soft items like cushions, duvets, or bags of linen to fill any empty spaces. This prevents items from shifting, rubbing, and breaking during transit.
5. Last On, First Off: The items you’ll need first at the new place—like your essentials box, cleaning supplies, and basic tools—should be the very last things you load onto the truck, right at the back near the door.

2-4 Weeks Before Moving Day: Packing & Notifications

With the big decisions made, it’s time to dive into the details of packing and notifying key organisations of your move.

The Ultimate Change of Address Checklist

Start notifying businesses and services of your new address. It’s a long list, so tackle it in batches to make it manageable.

• Utilities: Contact your gas, water, and electricity providers to arrange a disconnection at your old address and connection at your new one.
• Financial: Notify your banks, credit card companies, superannuation fund, and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
• Government: Update your details on the electoral roll and for your driver’s licence and vehicle registration in your state or territory.
• Other Services: Don’t forget your internet and phone provider, subscription boxes, magazines, and all insurance providers (car, health, life).

To catch anything you might miss, we highly recommend setting up a mail redirection service with Australia Post for at least three months.

Smart Packing Strategies: Room-by-Room

The packing phase is a marathon, not a sprint. Start with non-essential items like out-of-season clothes, books, and decorative items.

• Label Everything: Clearly label every single box with its contents and the room it belongs in. This is the single most important tip for an organised and low-stress unpack.
• Group Boxes: Keep all boxes for a specific room together to make loading and unloading more efficient.
• Use Proper Supplies: Invest in sturdy moving boxes, strong packing tape, bubble wrap for fragile items, and clean packing paper (not newspaper, which can leave ink stains).

Prepare Special Items

Some items need special attention before being moved. For safety and to prevent damage, be sure to:

• Empty the fuel from lawnmowers, whipper snippers, and any other petrol-powered equipment.
• Defrost, clean, and thoroughly dry your refrigerator and freezer at least 24–48 hours before the move.
• Secure the drum of your washing machine using the original transit bolts if you still have them.
• Gather all appliance manuals and warranties into a single folder to take with you.

1 Week Before Moving Day: The Final Details

The final week is about finishing up packing and preparing for the big day itself.

Pack Your Moving Day Survival Kit (The “Essentials Box”)

This is the pro mover’s secret weapon. It’s the box that saves your sanity, containing everything you’ll need for the first 24 hours in your new home. It should travel with you in your car, not in the moving truck.

• Toolkit: Box cutter, scissors, screwdrivers, Allen keys.
• Electronics: Phone chargers and a portable power bank.
• Kitchen Basics: Kettle, instant coffee/tea, mugs, sugar, snacks, and a bottle of water for everyone.
• Cleaning: Toilet paper, paper towels, multi-purpose spray, rubbish bags.
• Personal: Basic toiletries, a first-aid kit with plasters and pain relief, and any essential medications.
• Documents: A folder with your moving paperwork, lease/sale documents, passports, and other important papers.

Prepare Personal Overnight Bags

Pack a small suitcase or overnight bag for each member of the family, just as if you were going on a short trip. Include a change of clothes, pyjamas, toiletries, and any personal comfort items. This simple step means you won’t have to rummage through dozens of boxes to find a toothbrush at the end of a long day.

Final Confirmations and Preparations

• Confirm your booking details, pickup time, and addresses with your removalist or rental truck company.
• Finish packing absolutely everything except the items you’ll need on moving day morning.
• Plan for the final clean of your old home. Decide if you’re doing it yourself or booking a professional cleaning service.

The Day Before & Moving Day Itself

The moment has arrived. A few final checks will ensure the day goes as smoothly as possible.

Final Checks for a Smooth Day

• Fully charge your mobile phone, laptop, and any other essential electronic devices.
• Make sure you have the keys for your new home in a safe, easily accessible place, like your handbag or pocket.
• Clear pathways and ensure there is safe, clear access to your front door for movers or your rental truck.
• Before you leave for the last time, do one final walkthrough of your old property. Check every cupboard, drawer, and room to make sure nothing has been left behind.

At the New Home: First Steps

• Direct your movers or helpers on where to place boxes and furniture. Taping a simple floor plan to the wall by the entrance can be a huge help.
• Before anything is unloaded, quickly check that the electricity, gas, and water are all connected and working.
• Make the beds first. Assemble the beds and put on fresh linen as a top priority. At the end of an exhausting day, you’ll be grateful to have a comfortable place to collapse.
• Find your essentials box and overnight bags. Unpack the kettle, make a cup of tea, and take a deep breath. You’ve made it!

Post-Move: Settling In

The heavy lifting is done, but there are a few final tasks to tick off.

• Check your inventory list against the delivered boxes to ensure everything has arrived safely.
• Unpack systematically, starting with the most important rooms like the kitchen and bedrooms.
• Update your pet’s microchip details with your new address.
• Before returning your rental truck, do a final sweep of the cabin and cargo area for any personal items that may have been left behind.
• If you had a great experience, leave a positive review online for your removalist or rental truck company—it’s always appreciated.

Moving Day FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is the first thing to do when moving house?

The very first, most critical step is to create a plan and a timeline. Decide on your moving date and choose your moving method (professional removalists vs. a DIY rental truck). Once those are locked in, start decluttering your home, as this often takes longer than anticipated.

What should you not pack when moving?

For safety and legal reasons, never pack hazardous materials such as flammables (fuel, paint thinners), corrosives, poisons, or aerosol cans. Avoid packing perishable food. Keep vital personal documents (passports, birth certificates), valuables (jewellery, laptops), and essential medications with you rather than in the truck.

How can I make moving day less stressful?

The key is thorough preparation. Start early, follow a detailed checklist, and be ruthless when you declutter. Two things make the biggest difference: packing a well-stocked “essentials box” and having the right equipment (like a trolley and straps) ready to go.

When should I start notifying companies of my new address?

Begin your change of address notifications at least 2–3 weeks before your move. This gives utilities, internet, and mail redirection enough time to process requests and ensures a seamless transition without service interruptions.

Conclusion

A successful, low-stress move doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the direct result of systematic planning, thorough preparation, and staying organised. By following a chronological moving day checklist, you can maintain control of the process, anticipate challenges, and turn a potentially chaotic day into a smooth transition to your new home.

Ready to get started? Don’t forget to download your Free Ultimate Printable Moving Checklist & Planner PDF to keep you on track every step of the way!

If you’re planning a DIY move, explore the options with Go With The Gecko to find a reliable, easy-to-drive rental truck that fits your needs.