If moving house feels like trying to juggle flaming torches while riding a unicycle, you’re in good company. Most families underestimate how much planning goes into a smooth move, and the right house-moving tips can save you.
No worries. Our experience tells us what separates smooth moves from complete disasters. These 7 house-moving tips will help you stay calm when moving day arrives.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- Insurance gaps can cost thousands
- Why do school records need sorting first
- How decluttering cuts your costs
- Getting your new house ready
- Last-minute tasks that prevent disasters
Follow this plan and save hours on moving day while avoiding costly mistakes. Let’s explore how you can make your move a success story.
Protecting Your Belongings: Home and Contents Insurance Coverage
Insurance gaps during moves catch families off guard every day, often costing thousands in unexpected losses. The problem is that your regular home and contents insurance doesn’t automatically follow your belongings from house to house.
Come, let’s break down what you need to know to protect your belongings during the move.
Reviewing Your Current Contents Insurance
Most contents insurance policies pause the moment your belongings get loaded onto the truck. So ring your insurance company before packing starts to confirm exactly what stays covered and what doesn’t. Keep in mind that some insurers offer temporary moving coverage.
Even then, you need to arrange the protection ahead of time. The conversation takes five minutes but could save you thousands.
Coverage During Transit
Transit insurance protects your belongings while they travel between homes. It’s a fact that moving companies typically offer basic coverage, though you should check if the amount matches the full value of your belongings.
We recommend you budget at least $300 for comprehensive transit insurance on a standard household move. Trust me, the peace of mind alone makes the investment worthwhile.
What Happens at Your New House
Your contents insurance resumes once everything arrives at your new address and gets unpacked. But many people still make mistakes. They forget to document any damage immediately with photos and detailed notes. We are saying this because insurance companies need proof of when and how the damage occurred during the moving process.
Getting your insurance sorted early prevents headaches later when you’re settling into your new space.
Gathering Your Important Paperwork
Yes, your insurance is ready to protect you. But now, you have to deal with an even bigger challenge. Sorting the important documents. We all know how documents disappear when you need them the most.
The problem gets worse when you consider how long replacements take. For instance, school records, medical files, and legal papers need special attention because replacing them takes weeks or even months. That’s why organised families start gathering these documents at least three weeks before their moving date.
Once you’ve collected everything, make digital copies and store them in cloud storage as backup. Then keep the originals in a clearly marked box that travels with you, not in the moving truck.
Your real estate agent can also help identify which local documents you’ll need for your new address. Plus, mail forwarding takes time to set up, so arrange the service early to catch any important documents that might get sent to your old address.
With your paperwork organised, you can tackle the next big job without stress.
Decluttering Before You Pack
Putting aside the serious talks, let’s finally talk about the fun part of moving! Moving house gives you the perfect excuse to get rid of stuff you’ve been ignoring for years. Every item you pack costs money to move, so decluttering early can seriously cut your moving costs.
Start room by room and ask yourself when you last used each item. If something has been sitting untouched for over a year, it’s probably time to let it go.
Listen up, sort everything into three piles: keep, donate, and bin. First comes the “keep” pile, where you will place things you use regularly or genuinely love. For the good quality items, we suggest you send them to local charities, which often pick them up from your house.
The best part is that less stuff means fewer packing boxes, which saves time and money on moving day.
Preparing Your New Home Before Moving Day
Your new house needs some prep work before the removalists arrive with all your belongings. Note that getting the basics sorted early means you can focus on unpacking instead of looking for toilet paper on your first night.
Let’s make your first day as stress-free as possible:
- Utility Connections: Most utility providers need at least two weeks to get electricity, gas, and water connected at your new address. So, don’t leave it for later. If you leave it too late, then you might be camping without power for days.
- Internet Setup: A common thing that catches many movers off guard is that internet installation can take up to six weeks with some providers. We recommend booking your service the moment you confirm your moving date.
- Space Planning: What if your fridge won’t fit through the kitchen doorway on moving day? A nightmare indeed. That’s why you shouldn’t forget to measure spaces and doorways beforehand, plus check where the power points are located for large appliances.
- Basic Supplies: Moving means you’ll desperately need cleaning supplies, toilet paper, and basic groceries on arrival day. Take a day off and pop into nearby hardware stores a week early to stock up and avoid the moving day panic.
- Grocery Shopping: Nothing beats having milk, bread, and coffee waiting for you after an exhausting day of moving. So, buy groceries beforehand because hunting for unfamiliar shops while tired isn’t fun.
A few hours of preparation now will save you stress and make your first night feel like home instead of a camping trip.
Your Final Week Game Plan
This final week will determine how your moving day goes. Believe us when we say families who get organised now avoid the last-minute scrambles that cost extra money and stress.
Here’s your final week checklist:
- Moving Company Confirmation: Ring your hire removalists to double-check arrival times, truck size, and any access issues at either property. This step is very important because miscommunication here can lead to delays that can cost hundreds in extra hourly fees.
- Survival Box Packing: You’ll desperately need clothes, medications, phone chargers, and basic toiletries on your first day, so pack these items separately. Many families forget this step and spend their first night searching through dozens of boxes.
- Timing Verification: Mismatched dates between your moving day and getting keys to your new house create expensive storage fees. Some removal companies charge $200 per day to store your belongings when timing goes wrong.
- Work Leave Planning: Most people underestimate how exhausting moving day gets, which is why you should book the day after off too. Your energy levels will be zero, and unpacking requires clear thinking and physical stamina.
- Emergency Preparation: Cash comes in handy for unexpected expenses like extra bubble wrap or parking fees. Along with that, keep your movers’ contact details where you can find them quickly during the chaos.
Follow these steps and you’ll be ready to handle whatever moving day throws at you.
Ready for Your New Home
Your move doesn’t have to become the disaster story you tell for years. Stick to our guide to save time, money, and your sanity. If you strictly follow each tip, you’ll be able to create a system that works for any distance. Our clients who have complied with this plan consistently report fewer surprises and less stress.
If you still need professional support, at Goofer Man, we bring decades of experience through our network of 800 locations across 80 countries. Our systematic approach takes the guesswork out of moves, while our comprehensive insurance protects your belongings.
Don’t let moving day stress define your new beginning. Contact our Brisbane team today and turn your overwhelming move into an exciting, fresh start.