The ultimate guide to moving house

Are you getting ready to move house? You've probably signed many documents and done more adult stuff than ever before. And now it's time to get organised.

But let's face it, packing your life up isn't an easy thing to do! We know you have a jam-packed schedule of day-to-day tasks and commitments. From working a job (or two!) to wrangling kids/pets/in-laws/out-laws/parents/siblings/friends/TikTok feeds and trying to find time to eat healthy food and exercise when possible.

So, we've pulled together a handy moving house checklist. C'mon, let us share the mental load.

Yes, we know that two months seems a LONG way off, but the early ant catches the worm. Eight weeks or 50+ days or 1,400+ hours will come around fast. Get ahead of the rush and start decluttering and preparing now:

- Collect packing boxes and materials like tape, bubble wrap and markers to write on boxes. Ask for freebies at your local supermarket, social media groups, friends, and family. And once you've used them, you can pass them on to others!
- Start going through your stuff - if you haven't used it in 12 months it might be time to donate, sell or chuck it
- Take a few minutes to check what perishable food is in your pantry, cupboards, fridge, and freezer.  Frozen pasta sauce or curry hiding behind the Magnum ice cream? Give yourself a night or two off dinner duties and use them up! 
- Have cans and packets of food that have expiry dates looming? Try and use them up now or donate them

Now you've sorted some packing boxes and started decluttering, it's time to think about your energy and other utilities at your new house.

- Electricity
- Natural gas
- Internet
- Water
- Home phone/landline

While most of us don't get many 'snail mail' items these days, arranging a redirection through your local post office or heading online to Australia Post is also a good idea. With 3-, 6- or 12-month options available, a redirection will give you loads of time to notify people about your new house address.

Notify government departments online or in the MyGov app, where you can update address details in one place, including the Australian Tax Office, Medicare and the Electoral Commission.

Other essential providers to notify about your new home address include:

- Banks and other financial institutions
- Childcare, schools, and other education providers
- Drivers licence authority
- Employers
- Gym memberships
- Insurance companies for your house, contents, car, health, and pet insurance
- Local council
- Medical providers like your GP and dentist
- Superannuation fund

Booking in advance is a good idea, particularly during peak house moving times between January and March! Before choosing a removalist, check out their customer reviews and ratings. 

Amidst all the turmoil of moving from one house to another, the last thing you want to be thinking about is cleaning. Search for "house cleaning services" and "move-out cleaning" packages online.

Some cleaning companies offer a "move-out" clean that guarantees the total return of your bond, it's a lot more convenient and cheaper than lugging around a vacuum and mopping yourself.

With only a few sleeps left in your old house, it's time to do the following:

- Start packing boxes ready for the removalists.
- Contact the removalists to confirm the time they're arriving
- Hire a van or truck yourself if that's more your bag
- Start prepping the kids and let them know the move is coming soon!
- Eat everything in the fridge and cupboard - including all the condiments at the back (we see you mint sauce...)
  

Sit back and relax you clever thing, you followed the guide and moved with Ten Ants so there's only a few bits left to do.

- Try to get a good night's sleep (last night we mean, not today or the removalists might be confused...)
- Pack a bag of phone chargers, cash, toiletries, medication, snacks, spare clothing, toys, and a water bottle for the transit
- Once your bed arrives in your new home, make it up first. After all, you want to roll into your comfortable bed at the end of the day, not scramble around finding bed linen and blankets late at night!
- Grab a takeaway from your new local, you've worked hard and you deserve that 10 nugget meal. The pans are still all packed away, right?     

Now you've sorted some packing boxes and started decluttering, it's time to think about your energy and other utilities at your new house.

- Electricity
- Natural gas
- Internet
- Water
- Home phone/landline

While most of us don't get many 'snail mail' items these days, arranging a redirection through your local post office or heading online to Australia Post is also a good idea. With 3-, 6- or 12-month options available, a redirection will give you loads of time to notify people about your new house address.