Moving House Checklist: Everything You Need To Do Before, During And After Your Move
Moving house is one of those experiences that feels manageable until you are actually in it. There are more tasks than most people anticipate, and the ones that slip through the cracks — notifying your energy provider, redirecting mail, booking a removalist before the good dates are gone — tend to cause the most stress. A structured checklist removes the guesswork and gives you a clear order of play from the moment your moving date is confirmed. This guide starts two months out and takes you through to settling into your new home. If you are moving in or around Townsville, we have included North Queensland-specific considerations throughout — from wet season timing to interstate route planning — so the advice reflects the conditions you are actually dealing with.
Two Months Before Moving Day
Book your removalist
Removalists in Townsville get booked out quickly, particularly during school holidays, end of month and the lead-up to Christmas. Two months out is not too early. When you contact Dawson Moving & Storage NQ, we assess your move size, discuss access at both properties and provide a clear quote. As an experienced furniture removalist Townsville families and businesses rely on, our team handles everything from a single bedroom to a full family home.
If your move involves an interstate haul — Townsville to Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne — book even earlier. Interstate runs require coordinated scheduling, and lead times are longer than a local move.
Consider wet season timing
The wet season in North Queensland runs November through April and can bring flooding and road closures that affect moving day logistics. If your move falls in this window, discuss contingency planning with your removalist. Some access roads and rural driveways become impassable after heavy rain.
Start decluttering
Work through your home room by room. The less you move, the lower your costs. If you have not used something in two years and it holds no sentimental value, it probably does not need to come.
Notify your landlord if renting
In Queensland, a periodic tenancy typically requires four weeks written notice. Check your lease and provide notice by the required date.
Arrange removals insurance
Ask Dawson about transit insurance when you get your quote. Accidents during loading and transit are rare but they happen — having cover means you are not out of pocket if something is damaged.
Six Weeks Before Moving Day
Sort out packing supplies
Dawson's packing supplies showroom stocks everything you need, or collect secondhand boxes from supermarkets, liquor stores and community groups. Have more supplies than you think — most people underestimate by about a third, and running out of boxes mid-pack is a frustrating delay.
Begin packing non-essentials
Seasonal items, books, spare linen, hobby equipment and anything not needed in the next six weeks can be packed now. Label every box clearly with its contents and the destination room in your new home. A consistent labelling system saves enormous time and effort on unpacking day.
Arrange storage if needed
If there is a gap between your moving-out and moving-in dates, organise storage now. Dawson offers modular and container storage in Townsville — book it alongside your removal to keep the logistics in one place and avoid double-handling your belongings.
Flag specialist removals
Pianos, pool tables and vehicles require specialist handling that goes beyond a standard removal. Flag these with your removalist now so the right equipment and approach are planned well ahead of moving day. Leaving this until the last minute creates unnecessary risk.
One Month Before Moving Day
Notify utilities and service providers
Work through your providers and update your moving date and new address:
- Electricity and gas — arrange disconnection at your old address and connection at your new one from moving day. Allow several business days for processing
- Water — notify your local council or water provider
- Internet and phone — confirm your provider services your new address, or arrange a new service before you move so you are not without internet from day one
- Bank and financial institutions
- Medicare and private health fund
- Centrelink and other government services if applicable
- Your employer's HR department for payroll and emergency contact records
Arrange mail redirection
Set up Australia Post mail redirection for at least three months. This catches correspondence from senders you may have missed when updating directly. You will be surprised how many pieces of mail keep arriving at your old address for months after a move.
Update your driver's licence
In Queensland you are legally required to update your licence address within three months of moving. Do it now while it is front of mind via the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads.
Notify important contacts directly
Mail redirection is a safety net, not a substitute for direct notification. Update your address with your GP, dentist, children's school or childcare, accountant, super fund, insurance providers (home and contents, car, life and health) and any subscriptions.
Plan for children and pets
Arrange for young children and pets to be elsewhere on moving day if possible. This protects them and lets the removalists work safely and efficiently.
Two Weeks Before Moving Day
Pack in earnest
Anything not needed in the next two weeks gets boxed and labelled now. Work room by room and keep your labelling system consistent.
Pack fragile items carefully
Wrap glassware, crockery and artwork individually in bubble wrap or packing paper. Mark boxes clearly as fragile and pack snugly so items cannot shift in transit. If you are unsure about a particular item, ask about Dawson's professional packing service.
Use up food
Work through your pantry, fridge and freezer. Plan meals around what you have and avoid buying more than you need.
Service your car if driving interstate
Townsville to Brisbane is around 1,400 kilometres. Check tyres, fluids, brakes and air conditioning before the trip. If transporting your vehicle separately, book early — interstate car transport from North Queensland fills quickly.
Confirm access at both properties
Check that removalist vehicles can access both addresses. Narrow driveways, steep grades or overhanging trees are common challenges in some Townsville suburbs and rural properties. Flag anything unusual with your removalist in advance.
One Week Before Moving Day
Confirm your booking
Contact Dawson to confirm the time, date and any specific moving day arrangements. Flag anything that has changed since you booked.
Pack your essentials bag
Set aside everything you will need for the first night and next morning — bedding, towels, a change of clothes, toiletries, phone chargers, medications, basic kitchen items and important documents. This bag travels with you, not on the truck.
Final sweep for overlooked items
Check the garage, shed, attic and storage areas. Look inside built-in wardrobes, under beds and inside appliances. These are the spots that get missed.
Moving Day
Have everything packed and ready when the team arrives. Removalists work to a schedule, and a home that is not ready to load adds time and cost to the job.
Before the truck leaves your old address, walk through every room — including the garage, laundry, garden shed and any outdoor areas — and confirm nothing has been left behind. Turn off all taps, appliances and lights, lock all windows and doors, and return keys to your landlord or agent as required.
At your new property, direct the team using your labelling system so boxes end up in the right rooms from the start. Before the removalists leave, do a walkthrough and check for any damage. If anything has been damaged, document it immediately and report it to the team leader.
After Moving Day
Check that electricity, gas, water and internet are all connected and working. Register with a local GP and dentist, enrol children in their new school or childcare and update any remaining contacts. If you have moved interstate, check whether your vehicle registration needs to be transferred to the new state. Photograph meter readings at both properties on moving day as a reference if any billing disputes arise later. A forwarded piece of mail through Australia Post is also a useful prompt for providers you may have missed when updating your address directly.
Finally, give yourself time to settle in. Moving is physically and mentally demanding — prioritise the bedroom, kitchen and bathroom first and work through the rest gradually over the coming weeks. At Dawson Moving & Storage NQ are the removalist Townsville locals trust for smooth, stress-free moves. Whether you are still two months out or getting close to moving day, visit our website or call us on (07) 4774 3780 to get a free quote and lock in your date.
