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Forgetting essential tasks when moving house is a common occurrence

Moving homes, whether it's your initial venture or you're a seasoned mover, can lead to forgetting several tasks. This piece will provide the remedies.

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House Moving Oversights: Essential Tasks Often Overlooked
House Moving Oversights: Essential Tasks Often Overlooked

Forgetting essential tasks when moving house is a common occurrence

Moving home can be an exciting yet daunting experience. To make the process smoother, it's essential to plan ahead and be aware of common oversights. Here's a list of tasks that are often forgotten during a move in Australia:

  • Packing an Essentials Box: Containing daily necessities for immediate access on moving day, such as toiletries, a change of clothes, important documents, and basic kitchenware.
  • Making a Moving Inventory: To track items and avoid losses.
  • Labeling Boxes Properly: For easy identification.
  • Packing Large Household Items Carefully: And arranging for help with heavy furniture.
  • Not Disconnecting, Cleaning, and Preparing Appliances: Ahead of the move.
  • Changing or Transferring Utilities and Services: Often overlooked but critical.
  • Updating Your Address: With relevant institutions like banks, government departments, and postal services.
  • Doing a Final Sweep of the Old Home: To ensure nothing gets left behind.
  • Holding on to Valuable Documents and Personal Items: On moving day.

A Phased Approach to Moving

Adopting a planned timeline can help reduce last-minute errors and overlooked tasks. Here's a suggested approach:

  1. Declutter Early: Room-by-room to reduce packing volume and minimize stress when moving.
  2. Prepare and Pack Over Several Weeks: Avoid last-minute rushing.
  3. Create and Maintain an Inventory: Of packed items.
  4. Pack an Essentials Box: With toiletries, a change of clothes, important documents, and basic kitchenware to use immediately after arrival.
  5. Label All Boxes Clearly: On multiple sides to streamline unpacking.
  6. Confirm Removalist Details, Parking, and Access: Well in advance.
  7. Disconnect and Clean Appliances a Few Days Before Moving: Preparing them for transport.
  8. Scheduling Utility Transfers: And informing necessary parties about your change of address weeks ahead.
  9. Doing a Final Walkthrough on Moving Day: To ensure nothing is left behind and handing over keys or notifying landlords/next occupants.

Additional Tips

  • Unplugging the Fridge and Freezer at Least 24 Hours Before Moving: Can prevent damage.
  • Updating Social Connections and Neighborhood Cohesiveness: Can help residents experience fewer negative mental health outcomes during challenging times, such as the pandemic (Australian National University).
  • Utilities Management: Some services allow you to manage utilities such as electricity and internet in one place, potentially getting you a better deal and saving you money.
  • Neighborhood Watch: Provides resources such as free new neighbor postcards and printables, which can help foster positive relationships with neighbors.
  • Changing Door Locks and Garage Door Locks: Is recommended after moving for security reasons.
  • Updating Your Address: Is crucial for ensuring mail delivery and for insurance purposes.
  • Solar Panels: If not working, instructions for troubleshooting can usually be found on the inverter or by contacting the installation company.
  • Building Relationships with Neighbors: Can improve home security, provide safety, happiness, and a sense of connection to the neighborhood.
  • Utility Connections and Disconnections: Contact service providers ahead of your move-in date to arrange for these at your old and new addresses.
  • RACV: Offers 24/7 emergency locksmith services.
  • Solar Panel Installation: Look for providers that are well-reviewed, CEC approved, and have market longevity when considering installation.
  • Neighbor Interaction: Smiling, waving, or saying 'hi' to neighbors can be a simple way to start building relationships.

[1] Australian National University. (n.d.). Neighbourhood cohesion and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Retrieved from https://www.anu.edu.au/news/all-news/neighbourhood-cohesion-and-mental-health-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

[2] RACV. (n.d.). Emergency Locksmith Services. Retrieved from https://www.racv.com.au/travel/travel-insurance/emergency-assistance/emergency-locksmith-services

[3] Energy Made Easy. (n.d.). Compare Energy Plans. Retrieved from https://www.energymadeeasy.gov.au/compare-energy-plans

[4] Neighbourhood Watch. (n.d.). Neighbourhood Watch. Retrieved from https://www.neighbourhoodwatch.org.au/

[5] SolarQuotes. (n.d.). How to Choose a Solar Installer. Retrieved from https://www.solarchoice.net.au/guides/how-to-choose-a-solar-installer/

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