Moving house checklist - Take the stress out of moving

Every year thousands of Grey Power Electricity customers move to a new house. And they all say the same thing: it's stressful!

Yes, Tetris-ing your life into boxes and organising insurance means there's a lot to keep track of when it comes time to move into a new house.

Nevertheless, we're firm believers that relocating doesn't have to be a logistical nightmare. With a bit of planning and some hard yakka, it's possible to keep stress levels low and maximise your chances of a successful move day.

Ready to put your organisational skills to the test?

We've put together a comprehensive moving checklist to help you stay on top of things:

Two months to go

Your move day might seem like a long way off, but now is the time to begin developing a plan of attack. Get the ball rolling early to keep stress to a minimum as the big day approaches.

• Get quotes from moving companies or trailer/truck hire companies if you're going the DIY route.
• Start collecting boxes and packing materials.
• Begin decluttering the house. Sell items that you no longer need, donate anything that's still in good condition and chuck out or recycle old junk that's taking up space.
• Starting packing items that you don't use very often. Label the box with its contents and which room its destined for in your new home.

One month to go

The panic is probably starting to set in right about now. That's okay - you've still got plenty of time. Stick to the plan, finalise a few moving details and continue gradually packing up your home.

• Book the moving company or truck/trailer hire. If you're going to do the move on your own, start bribing your friends and family into helping (pizza and beer is always a winner!).
• Let your service providers know that you're moving. This might include telephone, TV and Internet providers.
• Contact your insurance company and double check your belongings will be covered while in transit and on the day you move into your new property.
• Try to cut down on buying new food. Start eating food from the freezer and those long-forgotten cans lurking in the back of your pantry. Get creative in the kitchen but remember to check the expiry dates before consuming!
• Continue packing!

Two weeks to go

We're getting down to the crunch. By now, you should have packed a good chunk of your home into boxes. In the final two weeks, it's time to ramp up the packing and start putting the finishing touches to your moving day preparations.

• Make sure you contact your electricity retailer to let them know you are moving and to set up electricity in your home. If you're not already with Grey Power Electricity, give us a call and we can take care of this for you.
• Contact your local PostShop and ask to have your mail redirected to your new home.
• Ramp up the packing!
• If you know the layout of your new home, draw up a basic floor plan of where you want everything to go.

One week to go

The final stretch. If you've stuck to the plan, you should be well on track to having everything packed up and ready to go. The last seven days are all about tying up the loose ends.

• Defrost the freezer, drain the water hoses and give it a good clean at least 48 hours before moving day.
• Pack a bag of moving day essentials with all the critical things you'll need when you first move in. This might include a change of clothes, snacks, cleaning products, toilet paper, soap, toothpaste and a toothbrush.
• Get in touch with your landlord or real estate agent and ask them about any details that need to be finalised, such as alarm passcodes, handover of keys etc.

Moving day

This is it: the big day. You've given yourself plenty of time to prepare, so if everything has gone according to plan you shouldn't be feeling overly stressed. Work with your movers, kiss goodbye to your old home and get ready for a new chapter in your life.

• Provide a final meter read to your power company.
• Work closely with your movers using the rough floor plan you sketched up to make sure everyone's on the same page.
• Triple check every room in the house to ensure nothing has been left behind.
• Lock up all the doors and windows.
• Leave the new owners your contact details.
• Say goodbye to your old home!

Looking for a new power company to go with your new home? Get in touch with Grey Power Electricity today to discuss your options.