A Moving House ‘To Do’ List

Every now and then I get sent an ‘infographic’; basically these things are big pictures with lots of information on them. I am then invited by the sender to use their infographic on my website if I feel it is relevant to my audience, providing I include a link to their website as a credit.

Last week an infographic turned up which, similar to the one I used recently about burglaries, I did feel was fully relevant. It was called ‘The Ultimate Guide To Moving Home

Moving home

Moving Home

Any of you considering a move to Australia from another country would, I’m sure, find this list useful at some point. Indeed, anybody already in Australia and coming to this website to look for information on other cities or states with a view to moving soon will also find this list useful too.

I’ve had a look through, I think they have pretty much covered everything, although I probably disagree with some of the timings in their plan.

For example, I wouldn’t advise packing all of your cleaning products into a box 2 months before you move, that’s a long time to go without putting bleach down the toilet.

Also, if you are moving internationally you will probably want to start researching which removal company you’ll be using a lot sooner than six weeks before your move. You would probably want them all booked up by then at the latest.

Those things aside though, I think the list is solid and a great foundation from which to plan your house move from beginning to end. For that reason I have decided to use this infographic on my website and also include it at the tail end of my series How to Move to Australia.

So, without further ado, here’s that picture with lots of information on it:

Moving Home listCredit: jarrimber.com.au

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{ 24 comments… add one }
  • Fleur August 23, 2018, 10:23 pm |

    Hi Bob,
    Thanks for this wonderful website. It’s become my bible 🙂
    I have 2 questions.
    1. Is it true that when you ship your furniture etc. that you have to pay taxes over them again?
    2. Did you buy adapters for all your electronic devices?

    Cheers!
    Fleur

    • BobinOz August 24, 2018, 6:45 pm |

      As far as I’m aware, you would only need to possibly pay taxes on any goods that are less than 12 months old. Anything older you will be fine, unless it’s a specifically taxable import item, like a car.

      As for adapters, the best plan for the long term is to probably change the plugs to Australian ones, that would work out much cheaper. Be aware though that in some state’s only qualified electricians are legally allowed to do this.

      Crazy, I know.

      For some of your appliances may be a four gang English socket with the English plug replaced by an Australian one might be another option.

  • Lauren kreuger June 19, 2017, 4:56 am |

    I found this more useful for people moving within a country than for emigration. We are moving from Cape Town to Australia (haven’t decided where yet) in 6 months time and for us it’s going to be cheaper to sell everything here and start from scratch than to ship stuff. So things like “pick up keys to new house, pack your bedding so you can set it up again” etc are going to be more like “sleep on plane. Collect hire car. Arrive at short term furnished rental.” In fact I don’t even know what it’s going to be like because I’ve never done this before. My point is I dont think this info graphic is going to be much use to someone selling up everything and arriving with 2 kids and six bags.

    • Mark June 19, 2017, 6:17 am |

      We all arrive in another country with something, whter its several memroy sticks with all career realted items on or a full container of furniture. I left the USA many years ago as barely and adult with similar to you but was heading for a place I knew well in the UK and was to collect things later from USA. However this whole website is about helping those whether in the country even but particularly those moving form overseas. Im amazed your bringing nothing, no old photos, memorabilia and so on and surprised its cheaper for you to sell than ship, I would really question that as dependant on what your shipping, shipping costs are likely less than replacing everything, that would likely be more expensive it certainly would have been in my case.
      We (as in the contributors to this site ) are also here to help with where to live and where to buy items even if asked,

      • BobinOz June 19, 2017, 8:49 pm |

        Yes, I kind of implied that it’s not ideal for international moves in the write-up before the infographic when I said you would need to book the removal company much earlier than they suggest.

        As for leaving everything behind and starting from scratch when you get here, I personally think that’s a very bad idea, see…

        https://www.bobinoz.com/blog/2631/migrating-to-australia-what-should-you-take/

        Good luck with your move though, Bob

  • Santanu Roy April 15, 2017, 10:12 am |

    Hi

    I am from brisbane but live in Jersey City NJ now but we are planning to move back to brisbane later this year ( sept 2017 ). My wife is American ( grew up Orlando ) and I ahve a 5 year old. My parents are getting old and really need to help them out otherwise I would live in the US especially for work ( I am an electronic engineer ). Just wondering about shipping stuff back to oz. We have a lots of books and CDs and some clothes. Do any shipping companies come about to you home and do an estimate on shipping ?

  • Donna Berryman April 5, 2017, 9:31 pm |

    Thanks for the post!!

  • Myriam February 26, 2017, 7:09 pm |

    Hi there,
    I have a Question about taking my Child’s Car Seat to Sydney, i read somewhere it’s not allowed to use one from Europe in Australia, is that so? I am hesitating only because it was not a cheaper one and i still can use it for 2 years, but if that will cost me a penalty fee, then i think twice.
    Thanks
    Myriam

    • Mark February 27, 2017, 9:37 am |

      This is complicated far more than it needs be but Australia are last time I read still getting to grips with Isofix and car seats…Manufacturers will automatically tell you you need a new one because they can sell another… Fact is UK car seats are as safe as Australian in my own personal view safer Isofix is locked mechanically to the car instead here they do a top tether which is fabric and can rip and get cut
      .. Lets look at this another way are you bringing an isofix bracketed car if not you may not find them abundant if buying one here eg many European cars will have Isofix or at least mounting points and you can buy the brackets in the UK and have them posted Now I imagine you are renting a car for initial periord so dont rent a child seat form the rental company look for child seat rental I do kow these outfits exit..I am also assuming you are nit planning brining it in the plane with you…
      So then you have to look when it gets here if its acceptable…Maybe nit but we all know its safe…I am not suggesting this for one minute but you would be pretty unlucky to find a cop looking for the label on it and added to which I have seen some cut off.. Some folk have said they replaced them even…. That said and touch wood no accident, your wriggling insurance company may look for same…As an alternate have a look on gumtree ebay au…We sold some pretty smart ones in UK you may find the same here. yes you may be screaming I m not buying a secondhand hand one but, yours is a good one if you sold it so likely will someone else’s This is NSW take on this

      Aged from six months old but under four years old must be secured in either a rear or forward facing approved child restraint with an inbuilt harness.
      Children under four years old cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows. Children aged from four years old but under seven years old must be secured in a forward facing approved child restraint with an inbuilt harness or an approved booster seat
      Children aged from four years old but under seven years old cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows, unless all other back seats are occupied by children younger than seven years in an approved child restraint or booster seat
      Children aged from seven years old but under 16 years old who are too small to be restrained by a seatbelt properly adjusted and fastened are strongly recommended to use an approved booster seat. Children in booster seats must be restrained by a suitable lap and sash type approved seatbelt that is properly adjusted and fastened, or by a suitable approved child safety harness that is properly adjusted and fastened.

      So they write all that and then write this as below ………

      If your child is too small for the child restraint specified for their age, they should be kept in their current child restraint until it is safe for them to move to the next level.
      If your child is too large for the child restraint specified for their age, they may move to the next level of child restraint.

      You see perhaps my point how they can at times get so much so correct and then undo it all in the last few lines AHHHHHHhhhhhhhh!!!!!

      • BobinOz February 28, 2017, 12:40 am |

        Now that’s funny! 🙂 So many rules undone by a simple subjective override by the user.

        Here’s what we did. We did bring our child restraint seat with us and we used it when we first arrived, even though it wasn’t to Australian standard. We knew that the first thing we did when we arrived here though would not me go shopping for a car seat.

        But within a few weeks we did go, Kmart had a compliant seat and I’m pretty sure it was only about $100 or so. So we bought it, swap the seats over and binned our UK seat. So, had anything untoward happened, at least we had the right Australian standard printed on the safety device.

    • Mark February 28, 2017, 6:21 am |

      Strange how coincidences happen just had a call from a sort of colleague who has put back a meeting today as he has to swap his rental car. (mileage is high ) at present with child seat, his wife and four year old are here temporarily He mentioned the seat as they will fit anther one to his replacement car and I asked him how much it was, the seat…He said “whilst it looks when you add it up expensive” at he thinks about $9 a day its capped at $60 with his rental outfit, they are swapping the car with new seat and no extra cost for him. I guess its a case of check the rental outfit

  • Claire Bailey February 26, 2017, 4:23 am |

    HI
    We are looking to move to GC in Sept we need to organise a furnished house for 3 months until we know which town we need to be based for work commitments etc any recommendations on where to look everything i have found to date is charged on a nightly rate so is coming up ridiculous money between £5k- £10k a month!!

  • Trevor February 22, 2017, 4:08 am |

    These two questions might be of general interest to readers migrating down under …

    1) Many migrants rent at first. How do Australian landlords check their background, especially as they were likely owners in the UK? I asked at Barclays in the UK and they offer a ‘Status Check’ for £10 which I assume to mean general-banking health. If I did have landlords’ references from the UK are they acceptable / checkable in Australia?

    2) Does one’s credit record follow one to Australia? I’ve heard tales of migrants racking up bills and loans in the UK, not intending to return. Or have modern banks and credit-reference agencies got their act together internationally now? Thanks.

    • BobinOz February 26, 2017, 11:22 pm |

      I’m not sure how this works Trevor, but I think when it comes to renting, each landlord and rental agency and even state deals with this status checking as they feel fit. There is no hard and fast rule. Anything anyone can do to prove their credit worthiness will help them secure a rental.

      As for bad credit following you to your new country, again I don’t know for sure, but I would be surprised if the referencing agencies have not got their act together internationally. I really don’t think you can walk away from your UK debts and start a new life in Australia without somebody, at some point, tapping you on the shoulder.

      It would be interesting to hear from anybody who knows more about this.

  • Kim Godbold January 7, 2017, 8:34 pm |

    Moving can be a stressful time. We have all heard the horror stories about movers losing photo albums, damaging TVs, and leaving things behind. Some movers will provide you with packing materials as part of the cost of the move. Ask if the packing material will be included in the whole package before buying yards of bubble wrap. Many movers like moving companies NYC(http://www.movingrightalong.com/moving_overseas.html) are happy to deliver boxes before the day of your move. Plus, the cost of moving is usually less, and if you are moving cross-country with a lot of things, then it is better to take professional movers help.

  • Kelly December 12, 2016, 9:06 pm |

    Hi Bob, since we don’t know our address in Melbourne yet…(still need to find a place to rent) Do you know if the Australian post office have a poste restante service? and if there is a limit to how much you can send for that service. Thanks again for all the tips and info 🙂

    • BobinOz December 13, 2016, 7:41 pm |

      Good question, I don’t really know the answer but I think they do. How many hoops you have to jump through to get one though, and how it works, I really don’t know. I think this is one where you will have to contact them direct to find out about it. Good luck with your move though, I do hope it all works out 🙂

      • Kelly December 13, 2016, 11:47 pm |

        It turns out they do! They just have to get back to me with regards to how many boxes the post office can store at the same time… But usually items are kept for 10 business days. (in case anyone else is wondering 🙂 )

        • BobinOz December 14, 2016, 8:04 pm |

          Excellent, and thanks for letting us know Kelly, it’s useful information to have. Enjoy Melbourne, Bob

  • Shilpa September 21, 2016, 7:51 pm |

    Hi Bob

    Wonderful work! Very useful information on lots of things.
    We are moving to Sydney from England by the end of this year.

    Could you please help me with the removal companies for moving furniture etc.

    Thanks
    Shilpa

    • BobinOz September 22, 2016, 6:40 pm |

      Just phone around and get a few quotes from local companies, and also click on the banner towards the top right-hand side of every page here to Britannia Movers and get a quote from them as well.

      They are a major international shipper so I’m sure they will be able to help you. Good luck, Bob

  • Duncan Pattinson September 20, 2016, 5:09 am |

    If you are going to move house then use a moving house checklist and cost each stage. get to grips with what it is going to cost. Try and get fixed fee quotes from your partner professionals.
    Keep control of your costs – It really helps to reduce the stress

  • Damian Ryan September 4, 2016, 10:38 am |

    Super handy information, thanks for sharing. Also be sure to ask around a few moving companies for quotes, and read testimonials from previous customers. Here’s a few tips on how you can find a reliable removalist: http://www.johnryan.com.au/blog/hiring-a-reliable-interstate-transport-company-in-melbourne

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