Moving in checklist

Moving into a new home is an exciting time. We’ve put together a handy checklist to ensure your next move is as easy as possible.

Prepare your financial documents.

Renting a new place or buying one together - you will need to have your financial documents ready to submit with any applications. This means knowing your credit score, having bank statements to show savings and any debt; payslips and references.

Decide what to toss or keep.

This is where the word ‘compromise’ comes into play. There are going to be possessions you can’t imagine living without, but your partner certainly can. Use this time to decide together what you can toss and what must stay. You could both make some cash with a garage sale and put the money toward a trip together or pay off a debt or start a savings account? You can also decide what household items you’re going to need to buy and, if both of you have certain items already, what to do with the doubles. If you’re into parties two fridges might not be a bad idea.

Book your removalist early.

Before you pick a removal company, it’s also worth doing your research beforehand, so you’re not disappointed on the day. Apart from getting a competitive price, you may want to check out their reviews online; look for reliability, good timekeeping and the level of care taken when handling household possession.

What are the hidden costs of moving?

Now might be the time to sit down and put together a household budget or, at least, a ‘moving-in’ budget. Here are a few things to consider:
 

  • You are going to need lots of boxes to pack your things in – storage companies sell them, and you can often get free ones at grocery stores, etc.
  • Don’t forget paper to wrap delicate items.
  • To save on moving costs, decide what you can haul yourselves. If you rent a truck, think about who will help load big household items.
  • What furniture or whitegoods do you need? What about kitchen, bath and bedroom ware?
  • If you’re leaving a place to move into a new one, there may be cleaning costs to cover.
  • Plan for cash flow issues, especially if you’re waiting for a bond return and must pay bond on a new rental.

Consider how you will protect your belongings.

If renting, you might want to get renters’ insurance to cover you and your property. If moving into your first home read about the many different general insurance options available with Westpac.

Connect utilities

Setting up your utilities for day 1 will help ensure your first or next move is as easy as possible. Here’s a list of some of the most common service providers:
 

  • Energy
  • Internet
  • Water
  • Bank
  • Super
  • Insurance incl. car, health and personal insurance
  • MyGov
  • Medicare
  • ATO
  • Electoral roll
  • Subscription services, such as Netflix and Foxtel