A Complete Guide on How to Prepare for a Home Move in Melbourne

Relocating to a new home is an exciting chapter, but it can also be overwhelming, especially in a vibrant, fast-paced city like Melbourne. From bustling inner-city apartments to suburban family homes, the city’s diverse neighborhoods offer a variety of living options, but preparing for a move in Melbourne requires careful planning. 

Here are some essential steps of preparing for a move, offering practical advice to ensure a smooth, stress-free transition. 

Create a Moving Checklist 

Whether you’re moving across the street or to the other side of Melbourne, creating a moving checklist is one of the most crucial steps. By putting everything down on paper, you’ll ensure that no detail is overlooked.

What your checklist should include: 

● Pre-move preparation: Sorting, donating and decluttering, marked boxes and packing lists. 

● Moving day logistics: Confirming your moving team, truck access, and ensuring that your selected movers are running to schedule. 

● Important dates and deadlines: Utility shutdowns and renews at your new home, lease handovers, and cleaning and inspection appointments. 

● Contact details: Movers, utility companies, local essential services, family, and friends. 

Declutter and Organise 

Where to begin: 

● Decide what to keep, sell, donate, or discard: Set aside unwanted items for charity or post them for sale online. 

● Organise important documents: Secure your birth certificates, deeds, and medical records in one folder, so they’re safely housed, and easy to find when needed. While you are doing this, it’s a great idea to scan and digitise these documents for future safekeeping. 

If you’re moving within Melbourne, it’s important to keep in mind that storage space can become expensive over time. The less you move, the better, so it’s worth factoring this into your planning and moving budget. Having a storage facility near your new home is also an important factor. 

Research and Book Professional Movers 

Melbourne’s bustling streets and competitive property market make it crucial to hire professional movers who are familiar with the city. A reliable moving company can ease much of the stress associated with logistics on moving day, as even experienced movers 

can face challenges when maneuvering oversized furniture into new spaces—though this is manageable with the right manpower. 

When hiring movers: 

● Book 4-6 weeks in advance: This ensures availability, especially during peak moving seasons, particularly over summer or December. 

● Check for insurance and reviews: Ensure that they have insurance to cover any potential damage to your property, and look at reviews to gauge the quality of their service. 

● Confirm parking and access: Melbourne’s inner-city areas can be tricky, so make sure the movers have clear access to your property, including any parking permits that may be required. 

Be sure to get multiple quotes from Melbourne-based removalists to compare prices and services. A formal quote should outline exactly what is included and any extra costs to avoid any unpleasant surprises on moving day. 

Pack Smart and Ahead of Time 

Once you’ve sorted through your belongings and booked your movers, it’s time to start packing. Begin this process at least 2-3 weeks before moving day, starting with the least-used items (such as seasonal clothing, decorative pieces, and out-of-season furniture). 

Packing Tips: 

● Use quality materials: Invest in sturdy boxes and packing tape. Don’t forget bubble wrap for fragile items. 

● Pack room by room: This makes unpacking a breeze. Label each box with both its contents and the room it belongs to. 

● Use what you have: Instead of buying expensive packing materials, use towels, blankets, or clothes to protect fragile items. 

● Disassemble furniture: Take apart larger items like bookshelves, beds, and tables to save space in the moving van. 

Packing early and thoughtfully can save time and reduce stress on moving day. Movers typically have multiple jobs in one day, so it’s more efficient for them to focus on following your instructions for placing furniture in your new home, rather than spending time packing up remaining items at your old place. 

Prepare for Moving Day 

On moving day, having a plan in place is essential. A smooth moving day starts with preparation. 

Moving Day Tips: 

● Start early: Starting early allows you to handle any unexpected situations with ease. Being the first move of the day is also beneficial, as movers are typically more energised, timely, and focused. 

● Ensure parking: In Melbourne’s busy areas, secure parking spots for the moving truck ahead of time to avoid delays. 

● Complete a final walkthrough: Double-check that all cupboards, drawers, and closets are emptied. Ensure your removalists have all the information they need to safely transport your belongings. 

Lastly, keep a box with essentials (like toiletries, snacks, and important documents) close at hand. This way, you can easily access them during the move and is especially handy when moving with kids and pets. 

With these essential steps and tips, you’ll be well on your way to having a stress-free move in Melbourne. Moving doesn’t have to be overwhelming when you’re well-prepared. Once you’ve tackled these tasks, you can focus on settling into your new home and enjoying all the amazing opportunities Melbourne and your new start that your new environment and welcoming community has to offer.