Moving House Task List: The Master Checklist for Moving in Australia

moving house task list boxes piled bemoved

Moving house is one of life’s biggest logistical challenges. Between coordinating leases, wrapping glassware, booking trucks, and updating administrative records, small yet vital details can slip through the cracks, leaving you arriving after dark to cold showers and no Wi-Fi.

This step-by-step moving house task list provides an Australian timeline to help you navigate packing, agency notifications, and utility connections without costly delays.

At a glance

Master Moving House Timeline

Timeframe	Phase	Key priority
6 Weeks Before	Planning & Purging	Book removalist/truck; audit belongings room by room.
4 Weeks Before	Admin & Bookings	Submit lease termination notice; book end-of-lease/carpet cleaning.
2 Weeks Before	Connections & Utilities	Compare and lock in electricity, gas, and broadband.
1 Week Before	Final Prep & Mail	Lodge Australia Post redirection; pack the “Open First” survival kit.
Moving Day	Handover & Setup	Record meter readings; follow electricity safety instructions; secure keys.
Week 1 Post-Move	Address Updates	Update driver’s licence, Medicare, and pet records. Check when your electoral enrolment can be updated.

Step 1 · Start early

6 Weeks Before: Logistics & Decluttering

Start early to reduce the volume of goods you have to transport, which directly lowers removalist quotes.

Book your removalist or truck hire: Secure quotes from accredited AFRA (Australian Furniture Removers Association) removalists early. Peak moving periods (Fridays, month-ends, and school holidays) book out weeks in advance.

Room-by-room declutter: Sort your possessions into three distinct piles: Keep, Donate/Sell, and Recycle. Moving items you haven’t touched in a year wastes time and van capacity.

Collect packing materials: Gather sturdy cartons, heavy-duty tape, packing paper (avoid printed newspaper on porous ceramics), bubble wrap, and black marker pens.

Measure access points: Measure major appliances (fridges, washing machines) and large sofas against doorways, hallways, and lifts at both properties.

Step 2 · Get organised

4 Weeks Before: Notice & Services

Provide formal rental notice: If renting, supply written notice to your property manager in line with the notice period and tenancy rules in your state or territory.

Schedule end-of-lease cleaners: Book a professional bond clean and carpet steam clean for the day immediately following moving day so the property is empty.

Transfer schools and childcare: Request student records and immunisation histories to transfer enrolment into your new local intake zone.

Organise pet transportation & boarding: Book a pet sitter or cattery/kennel for moving day so gates can remain open without stress.

Begin packing non-essentials: Pack guest bedrooms, books, off-season wardrobe items, and decorative artwork first. Clearly label each box with its room and contents.

Step 3 · Essential connections

2 Weeks Before: The Utilities Moving Checklist

Arranging utility connections ahead of time can help avoid last-minute delays and give you a better chance of having essential services ready when you arrive.

Compare electricity and gas plans: Allow enough time for your retailer and distributor to arrange the connection. Moving is also a good opportunity to compare regional tariffs rather than automatically keeping an existing plan.

Set up home broadband (NBN / Opticomm): Depending on your connection technology (FTTP, FTTN, HFC, or Fixed Wireless), hardware delivery or a technician visit may be needed. Arrange this early to avoid relying on phone hotspots.

Leave the NBN connection box behind: If your current property has an NBN Connection Box (NTD) installed, leave it at the property for the incoming resident.

Arrange transit and contents insurance: Confirm whether your home and contents insurance covers household goods in transit, and schedule your new policy start date for key collection.

Step 4 · Final preparations

1 Week Before: Mail, Prep & Packing

Lodge Australia Post mail redirection: Set up a 3- to 6-month mail redirection starting on your moving day. This catches unexpected mail while you update organisations individually.

Prepare the “Open First” essentials box: Pack a clearly labelled, dedicated tub containing items you will need within the first 24 hours:

Phone, tablet, and laptop chargers
Toilet paper, hand wash, paper towels, and hand sanitiser
Basic toolkit: box cutter, screwdriver, pliers, and torch
Kettle, mugs, instant coffee, tea bags, and bottled water
Bed linen, pillows, and towels for everyone
Prescription medications and pet essentials

Defrost the fridge and freezer: Consume perishables, then defrost, drain, and dry your fridge in accordance with manufacturer guidance before transport.

Dismantle flat-pack furniture: Take down bed frames, desks, and shelving units. Place screws, bolts, and Allen keys into labelled ziplock bags taped securely to the furniture frame.

Step 5 · The big day

Moving Day: Execution & Property Handover

At your departure property

Confirm your electricity disconnection arrangements: Keep electricity available until packing and cleaning are complete. Follow your retailer’s instructions for any switchboard or meter requirements.

Take final meter photos: Capture clear, time-stamped photos of your electricity, gas, and water meters to help check your final account bills.

Final property sweep: Inspect cupboards, the cavity above the oven, outdoor sheds, clotheslines, and attic storage for left-behind items.

Hand over keys: Return all original keys, window keys, remotes, and access fobs to the real estate agent or incoming buyer.

At your new property

Check power and hot water: Follow the connection instructions from your retailer, including any directions for the main switch. Check that taps and hot water are working.

Plug in the essentials: Allow appliances to settle for the period recommended by their manufacturers after transport, then connect the fridge and modem and assemble the beds first.

Inspect and document condition: If moving into a rental, complete the Entry Condition Report within your state or territory’s required timeframe, backing it up with photos.

Step 6 · Settle in

Post-Move: Who to Notify Checklist (Australia)

Once you are in your new home, update your address across government services, banks, insurers and deliveries. Exact legal deadlines vary by state and service.

Organisation / entity	When to update	Where to update
State Transport / Driver’s Licence	Often within 14 days (check your state)	Service NSW, VicRoads, TMR QLD, and other state authorities.
Australian Electoral Commission (AEC)	Once eligible at your new address	AEC online portal. You generally must have lived at the new address for at least one month.
myGov (Medicare, ATO, Centrelink)	Promptly after moving	Update your myGov contact details and select which linked services to share the changes with.
Banks & Financial Institutions	First week	Banking mobile apps / internet banking profile.
Pet Microchip & Local Council	As soon as practical; check state rules	Your pet registry and local council.
Private Health & Life Insurance	Promptly; check policy terms	Member portal or phone app.
Subscriptions & Delivery Services	Before the next order	Amazon, eBay, and meal delivery apps (Uber Eats, DoorDash).

Deadlines and eligibility differ by state and organisation. Check official requirements for your circumstances.

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to book utility connections when moving house?

Start organising your connections 1 to 2 weeks before moving, where possible. Electricity, gas and broadband connection times depend on the property, provider, location and any work required. Confirm available dates with your selected provider.

What happens if the power isn’t on when I arrive?

Check your connection confirmation and follow your retailer’s instructions for the property’s main switch, if it is safe to do so. If you still have no power, contact your electricity retailer. Avoid touching damaged electrical equipment or wiring.

Does BeMoved charge a fee to set up my services?

BeMoved is free for customers to use. Providers may pay BeMoved a referral fee when you connect through the service. Retailer or distributor fees associated with your chosen plan or connection may still apply.

FAQs

Moving can be daunting, but we can help you tick a few tasks off your list.

Check out our helpful list of Frequently Asked Questions, or get in touch via livechat if you need additional assistance.

How long does it take to organise my connection with BeMoved?

Using the BeMoved service, we can get your connection sorted in just a few minutes, without having to spend ages on the phone, sitting on hold or making multiple phone calls.

How much notice do I need to give to connect electricity and gas at my new address?

It depends on the provider you choose, but it's always recommended to give at least a few days notice where you can. It's worth remembering that electricity and gas can only be connected on weekdays (not weekends or public holidays).

How soon can gas be connected?

Natural gas connections can take 2-3 business days, so make sure to submit your order ASAP if you need gas services connected.

‍

Do I need to be at the new address to get connected?

In most cases, no, no one will need to be at the home when the connection is turned on. You'll likely have to make sure the electricity supply is switched off on the main switchboard, though. The provider will give you instructions once your application is submitted.

What does it cost to connect my energy and gas?

There is no cost to use the BeMoved service to connect your electricity or gas. Costs for the plans you choose will vary depending on the provider and plan you choose, and these costs are shown on the plans page.

‍

How is the BeMoved service free?

The providers pay a fee to BeMoved when you connect electricity or gas using the BeMoved service. This does not affect the price you pay, nor the plans or options available for you to choose.

I've been approved for a rental property. How do I connect electricity?

The process for a rental property is the same as other properties. Simply go through the connection flow, choosing the address, connection date, energy provider and plan, and provide a few personal details. From there, we'll get your connection sorted!

‍

Can I complete my connection online?

Absolutely! That's the benefit of using the BeMoved service. In just a few minutes, and without any annoying phone calls or sitting on hold, we can get your connection sorted and tick that task off your list.

‍

How do I track my order?

Once you've submitted your order, you'll receive an SMS and Email with details of how to keep track of your order.

How can I keep track of my utilities after I move?

Once you’re settled into your new home, RateGuard, our household bill monitoring service, can help you keep an eye on your energy, gas or internet plan over time. Securely connect your utilities data and RateGuard will monitor your usage and plan, and let you know when it may be worth reviewing your options.

Learn more about RateGuard →

‍

Where do I find my main switch?

Your main switch is located in your fuse or meter box. Depending on your property, your meter box could be:

on an outside wall
in your garage
in your hallway
in a kitchen cupboard In your meter box there'll be a number of switches.

Look for the one that has the "main switch" label. Some properties also have a hot water switch - if yours does, you'll need to look for that one too. Flick the main switch (and hot water switch if you have one) to the off position (this might be shown as an | for on and O for off) to allow your electricity connection to take place. Once your power company has confirmed your electricity is connected, switch the main switch and hot water switch back on.

‍

What's a smart meter and how do I know if I have one?

A "Smart Meter", or digital meter, records your energy consumption every 30 minutes and sends usage data to your retailer. This means you get more timely and accurate bills, and can receive bills monthly.

Unlike smart meters, "Basic Meters" measure your usage from one point in time to another and are read by a meter reader every 3 months.

Smart meters generally have a digital face with numbers or digits that represent your current read data and electricity consumption. Basic or analogue meters generally have a dial that spins around, recording your consumption in kWh.

‍

What energy providers does BeMoved partner with?

We partner with Australia's top-tier providers, including EnergyAustralia, Origin and AGL.

‍

Can I just transfer my energy from my old address to my new address, and stay with the same provider?

In a word, yes, it's possible. Technically speaking, the energy companies still require it to be a disconnection (at the old address) and then a connection (at the new address). We can still facilitate this through the BeMoved service, if you choose to stay with one of our partner providers.

Can I use different providers for energy and gas?

Yes, absolutely. When you go through the flow and choose services to connect, you'll be able to choose the same, or different providers for energy and gas.

Can you disconnect my energy at my old address?

In most cases, we can arrange disconnection at your old address, as long as your old address used one of the partner providers for your energy. Most providers will charge a disconnection fee which is added to your final bill.

How much notice do I need to give to disconnect at my old address?

It's recommended to give a week's notice, where possible.

Why do I need to provide personal details?

Your personal information is required to pre-fill your utility connection application. We will ask for your full name, mobile phone number and email address. Once you have chosen your provider and plan, you'll also be asked for your ID details, date of birth and address. These are required by the energy companies to process your application.

We do not disclose or sell your personal information to anyone, and collecting these details is for the sole purpose of arranging and facilitating your utility connection (as per the Australian Privacy Principles under the Privacy Act 1988). BeMoved Privacy Policy.