Important Legal Disclaimer
General Information Only: This content and any calculators or tools provided are for general informational purposes only and do not constitute personal financial, legal, taxation, or professional advice. The information provided is based on Australian law and regulations as understood at the time of writing.
Not Financial Advice: The content does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation, or needs. Before making any property purchase or financial decision, you should:
Verify all current information on official government websites, including:
- Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
- Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
- State Revenue Offices (relevant to your state/territory)
- First Home Buyer Government Resources
Consult with licensed and qualified professionals before making decisions:
- Licensed Financial Adviser (for financial and investment advice)
- Licensed Conveyancer or Solicitor (for legal and property matters)
- Registered Tax Agent or Accountant (for tax implications)
- Licensed Mortgage Broker or Bank (for loan and finance matters)
Regulatory Compliance: Under Australian law, only individuals or entities holding an Australian Financial Services (AFS) licence or authorisation can provide personal financial product advice. This content and any tools provided do not constitute such advice.
Information Currency: Laws, regulations, government schemes, grants, tax rates, and lending criteria change regularly. Information and calculations provided may become outdated. Always verify current details through official government sources and licensed professionals before making decisions.
No Liability: While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no warranty is given regarding the completeness, accuracy, or currency of the information. Readers use this information entirely at their own risk.
What Should Be on a Moving to House Checklist?
A complete moving house checklist Australia covers five categories: admin and utilities, packing and logistics, address changes, moving day tasks, and first-week essentials. Most people focus on packing but miss time-sensitive admin — like activating Australia Post mail redirection (3 business days lead time) or transferring council rates. A thorough moving to house checklist addresses all five areas with deadlines.
This moving to house checklist breaks every task into four phases: 8 weeks out, 4 weeks out, 2 weeks out, and moving day itself. Each phase has specific deadlines and Australia-specific requirements that do not apply in other countries — including ATO notifications, Medicare address updates, and electoral enrolment obligations. Bookmark this page or print it before you start.
8 Weeks Before Moving: Admin and Planning Tasks
Starting your moving house checklist australia 8 weeks before your move date gives you the widest choice of removalists, the lowest prices, and enough lead time for government paperwork. This phase is about setting up admin — not packing a single box.
Notify Your Landlord or Settlement Agent
- Renters: Give written notice to your landlord or property manager. Most states require 14 to 28 days of written notice depending on your lease type and reason for leaving. Check your state's residential tenancy legislation for exact notice periods — they vary between NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT, and NT.
- Homeowners selling: Confirm your settlement date with your conveyancer or solicitor. If you have not yet arranged a pre-settlement inspection, review a detailed building and pest inspection checklist so you know what to check before handover.
Contact Utility Providers
Call or go online to arrange disconnection at your current address and reconnection at the new one:
- Electricity — Book a final meter read. Schedule connection at the new address at least 5 business days before moving day.
- Gas — Same process. If the new property uses a different gas retailer, compare plans on the Australian Energy Regulator's Energy Made Easy site before signing.
- Water — Council-managed in most areas. Contact your local water authority to arrange a final read.
- Internet and phone — NBN transfers typically take 10 to 15 business days. Start early to avoid weeks without a connection [VERIFY: confirm current NBN transfer timeframe as of 2026].
- Streaming and pay TV — Update your address on any location-dependent services.
Set Up Australia Post Mail Redirection
Australia Post mail redirection costs between $43 and $369 depending on duration (1 month to 12 months) and whether it covers one person or a household [VERIFY: confirm current Australia Post redirection pricing as of 2026]. Set this up online at auspost.com.au. Allow at least 3 business days for activation — this is one of the most commonly delayed tasks on any move house checklist.
Review Your Home and Contents Insurance
- If you own the new property, arrange building and contents insurance effective from settlement day. Lenders require this before they release funds.
- If renting, update your contents insurance with the new address and confirm coverage for the transit period.
- Cancel or transfer any policies tied to your current address. If you are purchasing for the first time, our home buying checklist covers the full insurance step in detail.
4 Weeks Before Moving: Booking and Packing
With one month to go, your moving to house checklist shifts from admin to physical preparation. This section of the moving house checklist australia focuses on the tasks that take the most physical effort. Removalist prices climb as your date approaches, so book promptly if you have not already.
Book Removalists
The average cost of a local move (within the same city) using professional removalists ranges from $400 to $1,200 for a 2 to 3 bedroom house, depending on access difficulty, volume, and day of the week [VERIFY: confirm average removalist cost range as of 2026]. To get the best price:
- Get at least three quotes. Ask for an in-home or video assessment for accurate pricing.
- Check AFRA membership. The Australian Furniture Removers Association (AFRA) accredits removalists who meet insurance and safety standards.
- Avoid weekends and end-of-month dates. These are peak periods with higher rates.
- Ask about transit insurance. Standard cover handles damage during the move, but check what is included versus what costs extra.
Declutter Room by Room
Moving is the best opportunity to reduce what you own. Work through each room and sort items into four groups:
- Keep — Goes on the truck
- Sell — List on Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree at least 3 weeks before moving day
- Donate — Schedule a charity pickup through the Salvation Army, Vinnies, or local op shops
- Dispose — Book a council hard rubbish collection or hire a skip bin
Decluttering before you pack reduces removalist costs directly. Fewer boxes and lighter loads mean a smaller truck and faster loading time.
Gather Packing Supplies and Start Packing
You will need:
- Moving boxes (small, medium, large) — buy new or collect free ones from supermarkets and bottle shops
- Packing tape and a tape dispenser
- Bubble wrap or butcher's paper for fragile items
- Marker pens to label every box with its destination room and contents summary
- Mattress protectors and furniture blankets if not supplied by your removalists
Start with rooms you use least — spare bedrooms, the garage, storage cupboards. Pack seasonal clothes, books, and rarely used kitchen appliances first. Label every box on at least two sides.
2 Weeks Before Moving: Your Moving House Change Address Checklist
The address change phase is where most Australians fall behind on their moving house checklist australia. There is no single "change of address" service in Australia, so you must contact each organisation separately. This moving house change address checklist covers every essential notification.
Government Agencies
Update your address with these agencies as soon as your new address is confirmed:
- Australian Taxation Office (ATO) — Update through myGov. Your tax correspondence, PAYG summaries, and any refunds depend on correct contact details.
- Medicare — Update through myGov or call 132 011.
- Centrelink — If you receive payments, update within 14 days of moving to avoid overpayments or debt notices.
- Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) — You are legally required to update your electoral enrolment within 8 weeks of moving. Failing to do so can result in a fine of up to $222 [VERIFY: confirm current AEC fine amount as of 2026]. Update online at aec.gov.au.
- State transport authority — Update your driver licence address through Service NSW, VicRoads, TMR Queensland, or the equivalent in your state.
- AHPRA — If you hold a health practitioner registration, update your address within 30 days.
Financial Institutions
- Banks and credit unions — Update your address across all accounts, credit cards, and loan statements.
- Superannuation fund — Log in to your super fund portal or update through myGov if linked.
- Insurance providers — Home, car, health, and life insurance policies all need your current address.
- Share registries — If you hold shares, update your details with the relevant registry (Computershare, Link Market Services, or similar).
Other Organisations
- Employer or payroll — Make sure pay slips and tax records reflect your new address.
- Schools or childcare — Notify administration and update emergency contact details.
- Doctors, dentists, and specialists — Update your patient records and request file transfers if changing providers.
- Subscriptions and deliveries — Online shopping accounts, meal kits, newspapers, and magazines.
- Pet registration — Update your council pet registration, especially if moving to a different local government area.
- Vehicle registration — If moving interstate, you may need to re-register your vehicle within a set period (typically 3 months).
If you are buying your first home and managing these changes alongside settlement, our guide to first home buyer schemes in Australia explains what government support you may qualify for.
Moving Day: Hour-by-Hour Checklist
Moving day runs smoothest when every task has a time slot. This is the moving to house checklist section that veterans say matters most.
Morning (Before the Removalists Arrive)
- Strip beds and pack remaining linen into clearly labelled bags.
- Defrost the fridge — start the night before. Wipe it dry and leave the doors open.
- Disassemble furniture that will not fit through doorways (bed frames, large desks). Keep all screws and bolts in labelled zip-lock bags taped to the furniture piece.
- Do a final walkthrough of every room, including built-in wardrobes, the garage, garden shed, and laundry. Open every cupboard and drawer.
- Pack an essentials box that stays with you — not on the truck. Include: phone charger, medications, toiletries, a change of clothes, snacks, water, important documents, keys to the new property, and basic tools (screwdriver, pliers, utility knife).
During the Move
- Supervise loading. Point out fragile boxes and items needing special handling.
- Photograph the condition of your current property before leaving — walls, floors, carpets, and any pre-existing damage. This protects your bond if you are renting.
- Read utility meters and photograph the readings for your records.
- Lock up and return keys to your landlord, real estate agent, or conveyancer as arranged.
At the New Property
- Test utilities — switch on lights, run hot water, check gas, and flush toilets.
- Photograph the property condition on arrival, especially if renting. Note any damage on your condition report immediately. For a thorough approach, use a rental inspection checklist to document everything before your belongings go inside.
- Direct removalists to place boxes in the correct rooms using your label system.
- Reassemble beds first. You will want somewhere to sleep tonight.
First Week in Your New Home: Essential Tasks
Your moving to house checklist does not end when the truck drives away. The first week is about making the new house safe, functional, and liveable.
Safety and Security
- Change the locks or have them re-keyed. You cannot know how many copies of the old keys exist. Budget $150 to $300 for a locksmith to re-key a standard house [VERIFY: confirm average locksmith re-keying cost as of 2026].
- Test smoke alarms in every room. Replace batteries if needed. Australian law requires working smoke alarms on every level of a residential property.
- Locate the switchboard, water mains shut-off, and gas meter. Know how to turn each off in an emergency.
Settle In Efficiently
- Unpack the kitchen first. Being able to cook and make coffee on day one saves $40 to $60 per night on takeaway.
- Set up bedrooms next. Clean sheets and made beds go a long way after a physically demanding move.
- Introduce yourself to neighbours within the first few days. Good relationships matter for security, parcel collection, and shared fence maintenance.
Update Your Council Details
- Council rates — If you purchased the property, confirm the rates are now in your name. Your conveyancer should have handled the adjustment at settlement, but verify directly with your local council.
- Bin collection schedule — Check your council website for collection days and request bins if they were not left at the property.
- Pet registration — Register your pet with the new council if you have crossed into a different local government area.
If you are still in the buying process and have not yet completed settlement, our first home buyer guide covers the full timeline from pre-approval through to handover day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Far in Advance Should I Start My Moving to House Checklist?
Start your moving to house checklist at least 8 weeks before your move date. This lead time lets you book removalists at lower rates, activate Australia Post mail redirection (which needs 3 business days), and compare utility plans before you commit. Leaving everything to 2 weeks or less limits your options and typically costs more.
Who Do I Need to Notify When Moving House in Australia?
You must notify the ATO, Medicare, Centrelink (if applicable), the AEC, and your state transport authority. Beyond government agencies, update all banks, your super fund, every insurance provider, your employer, schools, medical providers, and subscription services. The AEC requires an electoral enrolment update within 8 weeks of moving, and Centrelink should be updated within 14 days.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire Removalists in Australia?
For a local move within the same city, professional removalists typically charge $400 to $1,200 for a 2 to 3 bedroom house. Interstate moves cost significantly more — often $2,000 to $7,000 depending on distance and volume [VERIFY: confirm interstate removalist cost range as of 2026]. Book at least 4 weeks ahead and collect three quotes to find competitive pricing.
SEO Metadata
- Cluster: Moving & Relocation
- Market: AU
- Word count: ~2,050
- Internal links added: first home buyer guide (article-01), home buying checklist (article-04), building inspection checklist (article-05), rental inspection checklist (article-03), first home buyer schemes (article-13)
- Featured snippet target: yes — "What Should Be on a Moving House Checklist Australia?"
- Recommended update date: 2027-03-25