It’s time to move home.
Whether you’re moving across town or across the country, it can be an overwhelming experience.
This article, along with a detailed moving house checklist, will provide you with all of the information that you need to make your transition as smooth and successful as possible.
Making the decision to move
The decision to move house is a big one. There are some key things you’ll need to think about before making your final call.
These may include how far away from home you are thinking about moving and the size of your budget.
Are you upgrading to a bigger home or perhaps downsizing because the kids have moved out and you’re sick of cleaning.
You may also want to consider the impact that moving could have on visiting your family and friends – do they live in the area? How will it affect your relationships?
Or perhaps you are moving closer to work or further away. How does it affect your commute?
Once you’ve thought through all of these factors, then and only then should you make a decision about whether or not it’s time for a change of scenery.
Conducting your research
Before making a final decision to move house, you’ll need to do some research on the area where you plan to move and what it has to offer.
If you have kids you may want to research local daycares, preschools, primary or secondary schools to ensure that you have suitable education available and are happy with the options in the area.
And what about nearby shops and supplies?
Consider the essentials to your lifestyle such as a local butcher or baker rather than just a supermarket. So take a look at the shops available or at least the amount of time it will take you to get to the stores you need.
Also, take to your social platforms to research the area itself. Check what locals say about safety, parks and general area advice. There are often social media pages dedicated to neighbourhoods or ‘buy/swap/sell’ pages for the area.
Some areas may look amazing to drive through but also consider:
- bush fire prone land
- any flood risks
- crime rate
- residential wildlife such as swooping magpies or slithering snakes on the footpaths
- access to parks or playgrounds
- recreation facilities
- sporting grounds
All areas have pros and cons, so a little research will help answer any questions you may have about the area.
Buying vs Renting
To rent or to buy?
That is the question! And to help you make your decision, you will need to weigh up the good, the bad and well, the bills.
Buying
If you choose to buy, that humble abode could be yours to do with as you please whilst giving you the comforts of regular mortgage repayments, financial and personal security.
You could however see larger upfront costs and increased ongoing expenses compared to renting.
Renting
On the other hand, if you choose to rent you may see smaller upfront costs and fewer ongoing costs to worry about since you will have a landlord to take care of those things. You may also be able to live in a property that you can’t quite afford to buy yet – and feel a little fancy. But overall, you’ll have a little extra cash around to save for future investments.
Putting in an offer
Making an offer on a property can be a daunting task but also brings with it the excitement of owning a new home.
Putting an offer on the house you want, whether before an auction or for a private sale, is a similar process.
All you need to do is contact the real estate agent and let them know what you are willing to pay (ensuring you have done your research on the market beforehand). You can also formalise your offer in writing.
Be thoughtful, strategic and timely with your offer to give you the best chance of owning your dream home.
Last minute questions to ask seller
You have been running around writing a list of all the things to do when you are moving house, but don’t forget that this may be the last chance to ask the property’s sellers or previous inhabitants some helpful questions before you settle in.
Make a list of the things you need to know and also leave the same instructions for whoever is moving into your old place.
Here are some questions you might find helpful:
- When are the bins collected?
- How old are the appliances and heating systems?
- How old is the roof?
- Have they made any insurance claims to repair any damage caused to the structure of the property?
- Are there any warranties, receipts or instruction manuals that need to be left behind?
- Where are the utility meters?
- Is there a neighbourhood watch?
Creating a budget
It’s easy to get carried away with the excitement of packing up your old home and getting ready for a new adventure. But before you do anything else, you need to have a budget in place.
A lot can happen during the moving process – from finding unexpected maintenance costs on your new property to struggling with the cost of travel expenses if you’re moving interstate or overseas – so it pays to be prepared.
Consider:
- Pre-move expenses (including conveyance fees, agent fees, stamp duty tax, and so on)
- Moving costs
- Cost of renting a truck
- Cost of hiring a moving company or individual movers
- Expected move in expenses (all utility bills, furniture, etc.)
- Costs of box packing supplies and labelling items for storage
Agreeing a moving date
Once the contracts are done and dusted, you can agree on a moving date with the seller or agent.
If you are buying a new house or apartment then there may be a few things that need to be done before you move in. This includes obtaining quotes for any renovations or building work needed to be completed before occupying the property.
If you are renting your property, there may be contractual obligations that need to be met before vacating. If this is the case, then you will need to discuss these with your landlord and arrive at an agreement about when you can move out of the property.
Once all formalities have been completed and there is no pre-moving construction to be completed, it is time to set a date that works for all parties.
Arranging transport
If you’re going from one furnished premise to another, it may be helpful and time efficient to hire the help of a removal company.
Be sure to compare quotes and find out exactly what the company offers, such as insurances, complimentary boxes or weight limits/cargo size.
Also check if your contents insurer covers you in the event of loss or breakage to ensure that your belongings are secure no matter the outcome.
If you are planning on moving yourself, make sure you book a truck or trailer in advance to ensure it is ready to go on your requested date.
Declutter
Now here is the fun part.
When you’re moving home, decluttering your house is one of the most important things to do. It will make packing easier and give you space in your new place.
It’s also a good opportunity to clear out any clutter that has been building up over the years.
Items that are broken or unused, clothes you don’t wear anymore, books you never read, the list goes on (and on and on!) but the idea is to make some room for all the new stuff coming into your life.
Decluttering can be hard work because it means letting go of things we’ve spent time accumulating; but it’s worth doing for both practical and emotional reasons.
This may even be time to organise a garage sale, you know what they say, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. So use the opportunity to earn some extra cash to help pay for that new lounge you have been dreaming of.
Tips on packing
It’s never too early to start, so get organised ahead of time to avoid last minute confusion and chaos.
Here are some of our best tips for packing:
- Start packing well in advance (you can pack up the rooms that you don’t use first to get a head start)
- Colour code your boxes by room – it will make it easier to unpack room-by-room without scouring through all the boxes
- Label everything on the top and side – it will make it easier to see when things are moving around
- Use your towels to roll up jewellery or valuable items, it will keep them safe and is also cost effective
- Use socks to wrap your glasses and clothes to wrap your breakables, it’s better for the environment. You can also use pillows, blankets and soft animals to provide padding for your belongings
- Utilise suitcases for storage
- Leave your clothes on the hangers and wrap as is. You will easily be able to put them straight in your new closet
Using the right materials for packing
Ahead of moving, ensure you have quality packing materials to get your most valuable belongings transported from one abode to another.
Try to choose biodegradable materials so you can recycle them after use.
Remember, you can sell boxes after you are finished or donate them to someone who needs them.
Don’t forget:
- Boxes
- Bubble wrap (if you can’t use clothes, towels or blankets)
- Labels (lots and lots of labels)
- Markers (we like colour co-ordination)
- Old newspapers come in handy for the kitchen
- Packing tape
Take photos of everything
You can use your smartphone to walk around and take photos before packing to remind you where things belong.
They can also help you to remember how your TV or PC was connected. Don’t forget to keep your bluetooth speaker handy, it will be essential for the unpacking process.
Pay your bills
Now we know you’re probably anxious to bust out the packing tape and get into your new crib, but just remember to ensure all of your bills are up to date and ready to go before moving in.
When you move into your new place, connect up your utilities. You will need all the essential utilities and of course your music streaming apps to keep you entertained whilst packing.
A Nimble Anytime Virtual Mastercard can be kept on hand for any surprise bills or costs that may occur in the moving process.*
*The Nimble AnyTime Mastercard is issued by EML Payment Solutions Limited ABN 30 131 436 532 AFSL 404131 pursuant to license by Mastercard Asia/Pacific Pte. Ltd. Mastercard and the Mastercard brand mark are registered trademarks, and the circle design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.
