Moving Checklist: 4 Weeks Before You Move in Adelaide | Complete Guide
It's time to pack up and move house in Adelaide. It is thrilling and yet stressful as well. Before moving day, there is so much that needs to be planned and organised. When you do it at the last minute, it becomes too overwhelming. When you have a clear checklist, there will be fewer headaches in the move.
This moving checklist will take you through every step of the way. It begins four weeks before your move and concludes with moving into your new home. It also includes budgeting suggestions, packing tips, and whether to hire professional Adelaide removalists or do it yourself with the help of family members and friends.
Know About Adelaide Before Your Move
Adelaide is among the cheapest cities in South Australia, but housing is expensive in most areas. There are sought-after and competitive suburbs like North Adelaide, Glenelg, and Norwood. To achieve a lower price, you should look at suburbs such as Prospect and Mawson Lakes. They are convenient, low-cost, and still highly serviced.
There are reasonable costs in Adelaide as compared to Sydney and Melbourne, and it is best to plan. Think of what your desired salary is to pay rent/ mortgage, utilities, bills, and other daily costs.
Transport in Adelaide includes buses, trains and trams. The tram is fast and convenient, provided you are in the city or nearby. Although Adelaide is scattered, the majority of people are transported by car. Consider parking and travel time when selecting your suburb.
Even the weather in Adelaide needs to be ready. Summers are long, hot, and winters are mild. Summer can be a challenging time to move. If you can, attempt to move during the cooler months.
What To Do Four Weeks Before the Move
Your planning begins four weeks before the move.
Book your removalist in advance. Select an AFRA-accredited removalist for added peace of mind. Obtain a written quotation, check moving insurance, and budget accordingly. You can also book packing and unpacking services if that is what you'd like, to save time. Getting accurate removalist quotes in Adelaide early helps avoid last-minute stress.
Arrange contents insurance and home insurance for your new place. Inform the electoral office, driver's licence office, and car registration office of the new address. These changes keep everything in order and easy.
Make a drawing of your house interior. Measure to see that your furniture is of the appropriate size. Watch out particularly with such large items as fridges and sofas. If something will not fit, organise it to sell or stash. Knowing how to move heavy furniture safely can help prevent damage.
List all your belongings. Document scratches, dents, or anything delicate. Label valuable items requiring extra care.
Clean your home now. Remove anything you do not need. Look through your kitchen and consume open packets. Clear out past-due food. Defrost your freezer within the next few weeks so nothing is wasted.
Do not ignore outdoor places. Clean out your shed, garage and the storage areas under the house. Dispose of empty gas cylinders and air bottles, and reuse such ignitability liquids and gases as paint, thinners, fuel, or garden chemicals.
Organise all of your moving papers into a folder. That should be contracts, quotes, receipts, and checklists. Forward your mailing address.
Make arrangements concerning school, nursery or day-care transfers (if you have kids). Cancel newspapers or other subscriptions.
If you will be abroad, sort out passports, tickets, visas, and foreign travel money. Give back borrowed items, and arrange refuse collection with your council. Agree on the key collection time and settlement date with your lawyer or agent, as this will secure your moving date.
Plan to transport legal documents, jewellery, and valuables yourself. Should storage be required, investigate facilities in advance. Gather family, dental, medical, and pet records, too. If renting, arrange for a property inspection and cleaners.
Plan to transport valuables yourself and organise storage if required. Last of all, arrange for the transfer of utilities to your new residence and check your car, contents, and home insurance.
Organise and Declutter
Sort through every room before packing. Decide on what to keep, give or sell. Get rid of old papers and breakage. Sell copies of the item online or donate them to a charity based locally.
Have an inventory of valuables and have them insured. Pack what you will put to use in your new house only. After you move in, you can acquire cheap second-hand furniture in Adelaide to furnish your house without breaking the bank.
Packing Supplies and Boxes
For a three-bedroom house, you'll require about 15–20 small boxes, 15–20 medium boxes, 5–10 big boxes, and 2–3 wardrobe boxes. Purchase them at Bunnings, Officeworks, or moving companies.
You'll also require six to eight rolls of high-strength tape, one or two rolls of bubble wrap, two to three packs of packing paper, and five to eight moving blankets. Plastic storage bins are optional but handy.
Purchasing in bulk or second-hand can cost less. Most Adelaide removalists have packing supplies delivered right to your door.
Packing in Advance
If you are doing it yourself, order boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and markers. Removalists and storage companies can organise the delivery of the supplies. Use clean butcher's paper rather than newspaper to prevent staining. Label each box with its contents and the room the box goes into.
Pack heavy items in small boxes, light items in large ones. Put heavy items at the bottom of each box. Take apart any furniture that is easily disassembled, and tape the screws together in a marked bag. Put remotes, small pieces, and keys in one "essentials" box. Following these professional tips to pack your belongings helps reduce breakage.
Create a survival kit. Tea, coffee, breakfast food, toiletries, phone chargers, medications, kids' toys, lead for the pet, snacks, light bulbs, scissors, and toilet paper should be in it. Keep sentimental or non-replaceable items with you in your vehicle.
Two to Three Weeks Before the Move
Here, begin verifying details. Inform authorities once more if necessary. Return library books or rented materials. Pre-arrange child/pet care for moving day so that you can concentrate on moving.
Change your bank accounts, gas, internet, and telephone services to your new location. Service your vehicle and drain out your lawnmower. Book final meter readings for gas and electricity. Cease delivery services, stop memberships, and pick up dry cleaning.
Book a locksmith to fit new locks on the day of your move if you wish. Take time off work. Ensure that your new home is clean. Book cleaners if necessary for ovens and carpets. Take down outdoor furniture and play equipment.
Make up a handyman kit containing tools, bulbs, nails, and wall hooks. Have it ready for small jobs in your new place.
One Week Before the Move
Set aside towels and bed linen for your first night. Organise room plans for furniture positions and hand them over to your removalist. Lightly water indoor plants and pack them in lined boxes.
Backup computer files and prepare your printer and scanner for transport. Re-check information with your removalist, lawyer, and real estate agent. Ensure that they receive your new address and telephone number.
Organise parking for the removal truck for both addresses. Have a welcome letter for your new neighbours at your former home with useful information, such as bin collection days.
The Day Before the Move
Defrost and clean the fridge. Pack cold food using an esky and ice. Clean out the oven, and clean up the house by vacuuming. Pack clothes, toiletries and necessities in your luggage. Carry some cash in case of sudden expenses.
Remove the plugs and secure the appliance cords. Wish your neighbours goodbye and inform them as to whether the house will be empty. Write a simple moving day action plan so you do not leave anything behind.
Moving Day
Get up early and have your essentials box packed. Give floor plans and directions to the removalists. Request that they put the kitchen boxes on last so they are the first off at the new residence.
Ensure that visitors and children do not entertain the moving process since this can be a source of stress. See pets to safety. Read your meters, collect keys, and tick off each item as it is loaded.
Lock doors and windows before leaving, switch off the hot water, and inspect sheds, garages, and cupboards. Return keys to your agent and take your garage remote out of your car.
Settle into Your New Home
When you get there, instruct removalists directly. Take photos of the condition of your new house if you are renting. Check that your utilities are on. Make up beds early so that your first night is comfortable.
Acclimatise children and pets with things that are familiar to them. Check your moving inventory and notify the removalist immediately if something is amiss. Greet your new neighbours and discover your surroundings.
How Much Does A Move Cost in Adelaide?
Prices are determined by the size of your house, the distance of the move and various other factors.
Here are average prices for some local moves in Adelaide:
Studio or one-bedroom relocation will cost anywhere between $500 and $750.
A two-bedroom property can cost around $550 to $1,250.
For a three-bedroom house, expect to pay between $850 and $1,350.
Four-bedroom relocation costs between $1,250 and $2,450.
When buying or selling, include the agent's commission, conveyancing and legal costs, and property inspection costs. Renters will have to pay for a bond, initial rent, and connections to utilities. Don't forget supplies, insurance, cleaning, or storage if needed. Planning prevents unexpected expenses.
Read More- How Much Does Removalists Cost in Adelaide
Professional Movers vs DIY: Which is Better
Professional Adelaide removalists are time and stress-saving. They pack, transport, and ensure safe moves. They know how to lift heavy objects and keep fragile ones safe. But they are more expensive, particularly for big houses or stairs.
DIY moving is economical, and it gives full control. However, it is physically taxing, time-consuming, and dangerous. Snapping stuff or harming yourself will be unachievable without experience.
If you hire the movers, always compare quotes before booking.
Final Thoughts
Gearing up to move to Adelaide is a matter of preparation, but things become simpler when you leave it to the last minute and do everything systematically. The best thing would be at least four weeks before the date of the move. Arrange your belongings, handle making reservations with your moving company, get your utilities disconnected and notify your family to be ready with the transition. You will be calm and ready on moving day.
If you are looking for professional assistance with packing, moving, or unpacking, call Door2DoorMovers today for a booking or a quote.
