Get the right supplies
Use sturdy boxes in a few useful sizes, strong packing tape, marker pens, labels, packing paper, bubble wrap and furniture protection.
A calmer move starts here
Moving can be stressful.
Moving can be stressful.
A good plan makes it lighter.
Start early, understand what needs special care and give yourself room for the unexpected. You do not need to do everything today—you just need to know what comes next.
Availability changes throughout the year
Seasonality can affect your choices
Weekends, month-end, school holidays and the summer moving period can book out faster. If your dates are fixed—or you need a removalist, cleaner or specialist service—request quotes early and mention any timing constraints upfront.
Plan ahead
Your practical moving timeline
Use this as a guide and adjust it to suit your home, distance and circumstances.
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6–8 weeks before
Set the foundations
Confirm the moving date, prepare a rough budget, compare suitable services and begin decluttering. Tell suppliers about access issues and unusual items now.
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3–4 weeks before
Book and organise
Lock in key suppliers, order boxes and packing materials, arrange time off, ask friends for help and begin packing rooms you use less often.
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1–2 weeks before
Confirm the details
Redirect mail, update important addresses, arrange utilities, use up freezer food and confirm arrival times, parking, lift access and keys.
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The day before
Prepare for an easy start
Finish packing, charge phones, photograph electronics before disconnecting them and put documents, medicines, valuables and first-night essentials aside.
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Moving day
Protect the essentials
Do a final walkthrough, keep children and pets safe, check meter readings and condition photos, and make sure the first-night box travels with you.
Pack smarter
Boxes, wrapping and labelling
Good packing is less about speed and more about making every box safe, liftable and easy to place at the other end.
Declutter before you pack
Moving unwanted things costs time, space and money. Sort items into keep, sell, donate, recycle and dispose before filling boxes.
Pack room by room
Finish one area at a time. Label every box with its destination room and contents. Mark fragile boxes clearly on the top and at least two sides so the warning stays visible when stacked.
Keep boxes liftable
Put heavy items in small boxes and lighter items in large ones. Fill empty spaces so contents cannot shift, but do not make boxes unsafe to carry.
Prepare an essentials box
Pack chargers, toiletries, towels, toilet paper, basic tools, cleaning supplies, snacks, kettle supplies, pet needs and a change of clothes.
Photograph before dismantling
Take photos of cable connections, furniture assembly and valuable items. Keep screws and fittings in labelled bags taped securely to the item.
Choose with confidence
Check more than the price
The cheapest quote is not always the clearest or best-value option. Compare like for like and understand what happens if plans change.
Read recent reviews
Look for consistent feedback about punctuality, communication, care, accuracy of quotes and how problems were handled—not only the overall score.
Check what is included
Confirm minimum hours, travel time, stairs, heavy-item charges, packing materials, tolls, waiting time and whether the quote is fixed or estimated.
Ask about protection
Ask what insurance or goods-in-transit protection applies, what is excluded and how damage claims are handled. Keep the answer and quote in writing.
Understand changes
Check cancellation, rescheduling and delay terms. Tell the supplier quickly if the date, inventory, access or destination changes.
Make the quote accurate.Share photos, an honest inventory, both addresses, stairs, parking, access restrictions and every delicate or unusually heavy item before accepting.
Do not leave surprises for moving day
Delicate, heavy and unusual jobs need extra planning
Tell your supplier early about anything that needs specialist handling. Photos and accurate dimensions can help them quote correctly and arrive with the right equipment.
PianosSafesPool tablesAntiques
ArtworkAquariumsLarge appliancesFragile collections
Share access details too
- Stairs, narrow doors and tight corners
- Apartment lift bookings and loading times
- Parking distance or permit requirements
- Steep driveways, gates and low clearances
- Items needing disassembly or extra people
Extra hands
Ask friends early—and give them a clear job
Friends are more likely to help when they know the date, expected hours and exactly what you need. Ask someone to pack the kitchen, watch the children, collect keys, clean an empty room or keep pets settled rather than simply asking them to “help move”.
Be realistic.Heavy furniture, difficult access and long-distance moves may be safer and faster with insured professionals and suitable equipment.
Delegate, do not duplicate
Decide who is responsible for what
One owner per task prevents assumptions, repeated work and important jobs being missed. Write the names down and share the plan before moving day.
Move coordinator
Owns the master checklist, timings, supplier confirmations and decisions when the plan changes.
Supplier contact
Meets the crew, explains access, confirms the inventory and answers questions throughout the job.
Packing lead
Checks boxes are sealed, labelled by room and clearly marked when fragile, heavy or needed first.
Children and pets
Keeps children safely occupied and pets secured, calm and away from open doors and moving vehicles.
Keys and condition
Handles keys, final property checks, meter readings, condition photos and the handover process.
Destination lead
Arrives first where possible, protects access paths and directs boxes and furniture to the correct rooms.
TaskWhat must happen?
OwnerWho is accountable?
DueWhen must it be ready?
BackupWho takes over if needed?
On the day
Keep the move flowing
A few small preparations can prevent most moving-day confusion.
When it feels like too much
Reduce the stress, not just the boxes.
Break the move into small tasks, keep one written list and focus on the next useful action. Build in rest, accept help and leave spare time for delays. A move does not need to be perfect to be successful.
- One roomFinish a manageable area before starting another.
- One listKeep dates, bookings and tasks in a single place.
- One backupKnow what you will do if timing or help changes.
Plan the move. Find local help. Keep it all together.
MoveDone helps you organise the services and next steps around your move without endless phone calls.
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