7 Tips for Moving Interstate
Moving interstate in Australia is one of the biggest decisions you will make in your life, and tips for moving interstate can help to put your mind at ease throughout the process. There are a number of different reasons people usually make the move to another state. Whether for a new job opportunity, cheaper house prices, or for a change of lifestyle.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in the past 5 years around 43% of Australians have moved home. Whatever the reason for moving, there is a lot which must be carefully considered.
It’s important to first plan whether you can afford to move, and the cost of living in the new state. Also, can you afford the large expense of the moving process interstate?
Packing up your entire life to fit into a truck, can be a rather stressful time. We’ve made the process easier so that you don’t leave everything to the last minute.
Here are 7 Tips for Moving Interstate:
- Plan Everything
A month before your move, start to make a list of everything you need to do before your move. You should do this before you even pack a single box. Last minute packing and moving is a complete nightmare. Work out how long everything will take you to complete, as well as on which days you will do each task.
Creating a checklist helps to make sure you don’t forget anything before you leave your home for the last time. It is also the best time to work out which tasks you can complete on your own. As well as which you need help from friends or family, or to hire a professional for.
- Start Early
There is nothing more stressful than last minute moving. Moving is a very time-consuming process. It also requires a lot of patience and often takes longer than most people realize. This leads to frantically trying to do everything at the last minute with moving day fast approaching. Doing so can lead to you forgetting important things or losing or misplacing items. It can also cause damage to occur in transit due to not being correctly packed.
So make sure to avoid unnecessary problems, accidents, and bills. By giving yourself plenty of time, you can have everything done smoothly, and get rid of any time pressure.
- Look For Help
If they are free and willing to lend a helping hand, friends and family can help make the moving process easier. They can also save a lot of time. If they come over to help pack and clean, buy some pizzas and drinks to thank them. It’s lucky to have friends and family help pack and clean your home. But it’s very unlikely for them to help you with the moving process interstate.
This is where it’s best to hire professional and reliable interstate movers. Be sure to get a few different quotes. But, don’t base your decision on price alone. Cheap removalists are often inexperienced, unreliable, and damage your possessions during moving.
Spending a little bit more money on a removalist who is professional and experienced will help reduce the stress of your move. After all, they will be handling your entire lifetime of possessions, so you need to make sure you can trust them.
- Smart Packing
Instead of randomly picking things in boxes, it’s advisable to organise everything. This will make it easier to unpack everything when you arrive at your new home. It will also let you find something fast you may need before you leave.
Pack items in boxes together from the same home, and clearly label the boxes. This makes it easy to know where to put them in your new home.
Be sure to place the heaviest items at the bottom of each box, and also that each box is secure so that items can freely move around. Using bubble wrap or newspaper is great for this. Also, ensure that each box is properly sealed.
Also, if possible, disassemble large items, and pack them into smaller boxes. This will help reduce the amount of space you need, and possibly save you money by being able to hire a smaller truck for your interstate removal.
If you don’t have the time or need some extra help packing, removalists provide packing services. Professional packers will safely and securely pack for you before the move.
- Check the Quarantine Laws
Australia has some of the world’s most strict quarantine laws. They also apply when moving interstate.
Items such as plants, agricultural equipment, or animal products should not be brought to your new home interstate. It’s possible they contain things such as soil or contaminants. The rules and regulations for each state are listed on Australian Interstate Quarantine. Double check exactly what you can and can’t take with you.
- What Do You Need?
Moving interstate means you will need to sort through all your belongings. Then you need to pack your life into boxes. While time-consuming, it provides the perfect opportunity to decide what you need to bring with you, and also what you no longer want.
By either selling, donating, or throwing out old items, it will allow you to cut down on your moving costs, as you won’t need to move as many boxes.
Also, with the money you make from selling items you no longer need, it will help reduce the cost of moving.
- Keep Your Important Items Separate
It’s a good idea to keep your important items separate to everything else, even if you are using professional removalists. You should prepare a bag or box of your most essential items and personally move this yourself. Include things which you will need to access on moving day. Such as your mobile phone and charger, laptop/tablet, medications, and toiletries.
Also be sure to include all your important documents. Such as birth certificates, and passports. Don’t forget sensitive information like financial records or medical documents.
It’s also recommended that you keep any sentimental or valuable items with you during the moving process. This way you know that the most important things are safe at all times.
Be sure to know exactly where these items are at all times. So that you don’t have to go searching through box after box in case an emergency arises.
By following these tips for moving interstate you will ensure that the moving process is a lot easier and less stressful.
For professional and affordable interstate removalists, contact Next Level Removals today. Call 1300 005 400 or email info@nextlevelremovals.com.au for a free quote.
