Moving can be a daunting task at the best of times, but moving interstate presents a brand new set of challenges. Have you decided which belongings you’re going to take interstate? Have you made a plan for the moving day? And have you hired the right interstate movers?
We want your interstate move to be your best move yet – which is why we’ve put together a step-by-step guide to help you throughout the entire moving process.
Declutter Your Home
Decluttering your home is an important first step and should ideally be completed before you start packing. Not only does it mean dealing with less stuff, it can also help you feel more organised and less stressed leading up to the big move.
Here are some steps you can take to declutter your home:
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Set specific decluttering and clean-up goals for each room in your house with completion dates for each of these goals.
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Create a sorting system including a pile for items you want to keep, items you want to get rid of, and seasonal items you want to put away in storage.
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Dispose of any items you don’t want by donating, recycling or selling them.
Create a Moving Plan
Before moving house, you should set aside time to create a step-by-step plan. Most people will need more time and resources than they initially anticipated, and this is why it's important to give yourself plenty of time and create as much of a stress-free experience as possible.
When creating a plan, you should determine when tasks will be completed, which tasks you'll need to hire a professional for, and which you can do on your own.
Your next step is to create a comprehensive moving house checklist.
This list should include:
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Contacting an interstate moving company
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Choosing how you're going to move interstate; by air, road or rail.
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Organising a transfer certificate before contacting your child’s new school
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Making arrangements to transfer your pets
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Organising a roadworthy vehicle inspection in your new state – this must be done within three months of changing your address.
Stay Organised While Packing
Organising your belongings will help you save time and space once you start unpacking boxes at your new interstate address.
Here are some helpful packing tips for your move interstate:
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Make sure you have enough boxes for the move; in a range of different sizes
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Make sure that you don't overpack to avoid any potential breakages or the boxes becoming heavy or misshapen
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Pack items from the same room together and label the boxes so you know where to put them in your new home.
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Spread out and pack the heaviest items at the bottom of each box and make sure all the boxes are properly sealed.
Pack Your Last Box
In the last week before moving, you should pack your most used daily items (e.g. an overnight bag and toothbrush) and important documents into your last box. Label it “pack last” so that it will be the first box to be unloaded off the truck when you arrive.
Hire Interstate Removalists
While hiring removalists may cost you more than help from your friends and family, it may well be worth it for the peace of mind - especially when you’re moving interstate.
Read reviews and make sure you look for removalists who offer a range of different services and great value for money. Working with a service like Muval will help you feel more secure about your move.
Here's a list of services you can expect the movers to cover:
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Transporting your belongings interstate to your new home
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An optional packing and unpacking service
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Optional cleaning services
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Storing your items if needed
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Insurance for your belongings while in transit
Interstate Moving Costs
According to experts from Muval, interstate moving costs are determined by the destination as well as how much space your belongings take up in a moving truck.
If you’re moving interstate from Sydney on average you’ll spend:
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$154.20 per cubic meter and;
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$1367.77 on the overall job.
If you’re moving interstate from Melbourne on average you’ll spend:
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$171.13 per cubic meter and;
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$1564.11 on the overall job.
If you’re moving interstate from Brisbane on average you’ll spend:
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$163.13 per cubic meter and;
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$1327.88 on the overall job.
If you’re moving interstate from Perth on average you’ll spend:
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$172.21 per cubic meter and;
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$1339.77 on the overall job.
If you’re moving interstate from Adelaide on average you’ll spend:
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$148.31 per cubic meter and;
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$1247.29 on the overall job.
If you’re moving interstate from Canberra on average you’ll spend:
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$172.94 per cubic meter and;
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$1122.38 on the overall job.
If you’re moving interstate from Darwin on average you’ll spend:
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$207.78 per cubic meter and;
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$1572.93 on the overall job.
If you’re moving interstate from Hobart on average you’ll spend:
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$216.01 per cubic meter and;
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$4462.76 on the overall job.
Update Your Address
Before you move don’t forget to update your address. You’ll need to provide your new address to your bank and other financial institutions, your employer, your everyday service providers (e.g. mobile phone companies), government agencies, utility companies and most importantly your family!
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Organise your mail to be redirected to your new address via Australia Post
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Update your address and voting registration on the Australian Electoral Commission
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Transfer or cancel your utilities (including your electricity, gas, internet and mobile phone)
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Contact Medicare to inform them of your new address
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Organise home and contents insurance for your new address
Contact Budget Direct to ensure that all of your belongings are protected with Home Insurance both at your current address and interstate address.
Check out all of our moving house guides to help you stay organised during your move.
