Moving house is one of those jobs that feels enormous until you break it down. The secret is timing. A good moving house checklist spreads the work over eight weeks, so nothing is left to the last minute and you never find yourself packing the kitchen at midnight.

At John Bull Removals & Storage, we’ve been moving families across Sydney since 1953, and we’ve seen what separates a calm move from a chaotic one. It’s almost always the planning. Here’s the countdown we’d give our own family.

8 Weeks Before Moving: Book Removalists and Make the Big Decisions 

This is the stage where small choices save you the most stress later.

• Lock in your dates. Confirm your settlement, lease end or key handover date, and work backwards from it.
• Plan around settlement if you’re buying. You usually can’t collect the keys until settlement has gone through, which can be later in the day. Allow for this when you choose a truck time, and consider a night or two of storage as a buffer.
• Book your removalists. Good Sydney removalists fill up quickly, especially at month-end, at the end of a lease, and during school holidays.
• Compare quotes properly. Get quotes in writing and check what’s included, including insurance cover and whether the company is AFRA-accredited. AFRA is the Australian Furniture Removers Association, and accredited members have to meet its industry standards.
• Start a moving folder. Keep quotes, contracts, receipts and confirmation emails in one place, digital or paper.
• Decide on storage. If there’s a gap between moving out and moving in, or the new place is smaller, sort out storage now rather than at the last minute.

Got your date? Get a quote from John Bull and tick the biggest job off your list early

6 Weeks Out: Declutter and Get Your Packing Supplies

Every item you don’t move is one you don’t have to pack, carry or unpack.

• Declutter room by room. Start with the spaces you use least, like the garage, spare room and linen cupboard. Sort things into keep, sell, donate and dispose.
• Book a council clean-up. Most Sydney councils offer bulky waste collections for furniture and large items. Bookings can be weeks out, so check your council’s website now.
• Get your packing supplies. You’ll need sturdy boxes, packing paper, tape and mattress covers, plus markers.
• Consider professional packing. Prefer to skip it? Many people book a professional packing service for part or all of the home.
• Start packing what you won’t miss. Books, out-of-season clothes, spare linen, ornaments and décor can all go into boxes now.
• Label as you go. Mark each box with the destination room and a short description of what’s inside.
• Run down the pantry and freezer. Plan meals around what you already have.

4 Weeks Out: Change of Address and Utilities Checklist

Changes of address take longer than people expect, so this is when to get organised.

• Update your address with Service NSW. Its change of address service lets you update your driver licence, vehicle registration and other NSW government records in one go.
• Update everyone else. Think banks, super fund, insurers, Medicare, the tax office, your employer, your electoral enrolment and any subscriptions.
• Set up mail redirection. Australia Post can redirect your mail for a set period, which catches anything you’ve missed.
• Arrange your utilities. Organise disconnection at the old place and connection at the new one for electricity, gas and water.
• Book your internet early. Installation can take time, so don’t leave it until moving week.
• Tell the people who need to know. Schools, childcare, your GP, dentist and vet should all have your new details.
• Share access details with your removalist. Mention stairs, steep driveways, tight parking, lifts and any heavy or awkward items such as a piano.
• Sort out parking and building access. If you’re in an apartment, book the lift or loading zone with your strata or building manager. On a busy street, check whether your council requires a permit to park the truck.
• Book time off work for moving day if you need it.

2 Weeks Out: Pack Room by Room

Now the main work begins. Aim to have most rooms packed, leaving only what you genuinely use each day.

• Pack one room at a time. Finish one room before starting the next.
• Match the box to the weight. Pack heavy items in small boxes and lighter items in larger ones.
• Arrange care for kids and pets. If you can, a quiet friend’s house or a trusted sitter makes moving day far easier for everyone.
• Set aside valuables and important documents. Passports, jewellery, medications, laptops and paperwork travel with you, not on the truck.
• Deal with items that can’t be moved. Removalists can’t carry dangerous goods such as gas bottles, paints, fuels and chemicals, so arrange safe disposal now. Ask for your removalist’s full list of prohibited items.
• Book your end-of-lease cleaning or arrange your final inspection.
• Renting? Get your paperwork ready. Find your original condition report so you can compare it at the final inspection and get your bond back sooner.

1 Week Out: Final Preparations and Your First-Night Box

The finish line is in sight. This week is about tying off loose ends.

• Pack a first-night box. Fill it with a kettle, mugs, toiletries, phone chargers, medications, toilet paper, a change of clothes, bedding, snacks, basic tools and pet supplies. This is the box you’ll be glad of at 8 pm on moving day.
• Prepare your appliances. Defrost the fridge and freezer at least 24 hours before the move, and check your removalist’s instructions for washing machines and other appliances.
• Photograph cable setups. A quick photo of the back of your TV and computer saves a lot of head-scratching later.
• Confirm the details with your removalist. Check the arrival time, both addresses, access and how payment will be handled.
• Clear pathways. Make sure there are clear routes through both the old and new properties, and that parking is sorted.

Moving Day: Keep It Simple

If you’ve followed this moving house checklist, moving day should mostly be about supervising and pointing the crew in the right direction.

• Be there to greet the crew. Do a quick walk-through with the team leader. Point out fragile items, anything that needs special handling and the rooms to start with.
• Keep your essentials with you. That means your first-night box, valuables, documents, keys and phone.
• Do a final walk-through of the old place. Check cupboards, the garage, the shed and the roof space, close the windows and take meter readings.
• Direct traffic at the new home. Tell the crew which room each box and piece of furniture belongs in, and protect floors and doorways if you can.
• Check items as they arrive. If anything looks damaged, mention it to the crew leader on the day so it can be dealt with promptly.

After the Move: Your First Week in Your New Home

You don’t need to unpack everything in a weekend.

• Start with the essentials. Beds, the kitchen and the bathroom come first.
• Check that your utilities and internet are working, and chase anything that isn’t.
• Finish your address changes. Confirm nothing has been missed, and keep your mail redirection running for now.
• Take it room by room. Unpack at a pace that suits you, and break down and recycle boxes as you go.