How to Move Interstate in Australia
Moving from one state to another? Moving house can be very stressful and costly, especially if you’re moving interstate. However, with proper planning and the right guidance, you can get everything done without exceeding your budget. You might even save more money.
In this guide, you’re going to learn about the cost of interstate moving in Australia. You’re also going to learn budget-friendly tips, tricks and reminders for the big move, so you won’t have to burn a hole in your pocket before reaching your new home.
How Much Does It Cost to Move Interstate?
The cost of an interstate move can vary greatly depending on a number of factors. Moving costs can range from $5,100 to $11,500. These figures include service fees for interstate removalists, transport costs, storage and more.
Interstate removalists
If you’re hiring a removalist company, its removal service is most likely going to be your biggest moving expense. As mentioned, the costs of their service will depend on several factors, including the size of the move, the time of year, the travel distance and more.
Let’s say you have a lot of valuable items that are too big to fit in your car during your interstate move. Hiring a removalist company to do the job for you would be a smart choice. They’ll ensure that your belongings are packed safely and securely in their appropriate storage boxes. They’ll transport them to your new place.
Moving insurance
Not all removalists offer moving insurance. Only a removal business that holds a license can provide and arrange insurance cover.
Sometimes, the coverage of moving insurance is barely enough to keep all your valuables safe and sound in case of accidents during transit. You can get insurance from a third-party provider to make sure your expensive furniture and other belongings get the protection they need throughout the moving process.
Packing supplies
From storage boxes and packaging tape to bubble wrap, packing supplies should be included in your budget. Take note that some professional movers will include moving boxes and other supplies in their service fee while others will charge you extra. If you’re hiring removalists, make sure to ask them beforehand.
However, if you aren’t paying for packing services, you can ask local shops, friends or family for packing supplies.
What Is the Cheapest Way to Move Interstate?
The cheapest way to move interstate would be to do everything yourself and self-pack, load, transport and unload all the items without professional help. However, that would be more labour intensive. It would require more time, attention and effort. You can save money and energy if you ask friends and family to help out with the big move.
Fortunately, there’s a wide array of removalists in Australia that do offer affordable services. Whether you’re moving to Canberra or Brisbane, you won’t have trouble finding professional movers that offer complete and affordable removals.
What Is the Best Way to Move Interstate?
If you can squeeze in interstate moving services in your budget, you should. It’s arguably the best way to move interstate because it’s the most hassle-free. Whether you’re moving in a week or months from now, professionals can help you plan and get everything done in time. They can send a team over to help you with packing. They can also transport your belongings safely.
How to Save Money on an Interstate Move
Are you moving from Sydney to Melbourne? Sydney to Canberra? Or are you moving from Sydney to Brisbane? No matter where your destination is, you can save on a big interstate move by doing research and booking services ahead of time.
Cost-effective trips take time, preparation and a lot of patience.
Compare quotes
Research can help you stick to your budget or even save money. By comparing the price of removals from different companies, you can find the most suitable choice for your budget and your needs. Always contact your prospects and ask about their services so you have all the information you need.
For instance, ask them if packing is included in their quote. Is a storage container included? How about transportation? What about travel insurance?
Get in touch with them so you have an idea. Most of these companies are now on Facebook, so you can receive fast responses whenever needed.
Book travel arrangements
If you’re flying to your destination, remember that flights can change in price drastically. The price differences can be even greater for longer direct flights. To save money, book your flights before the big day. Mid-week flights are usually some of the cheapest flights you can get because airlines find it difficult to fill up their planes.
The peak travel season in Australia is around December. Thus, you might want to schedule your move before the holidays to save.
Practice self-packing
If you’re moving on a budget, you can pack all your items instead of hiring a moving company. Some companies will charge extra for this service, so you might as well self-pack. You can ask for supplies from friends and family members. You can also ask them to help you pack for the move.
Rent a storage container
If you have a lot of stuff, you can keep the less important ones in a storage container for the time being. Leave the heaviest items and the essentials to the removalists.
Once you have the time to pick up the rest from the storage container, you can self-pack. Rent a van and move the items out of your unit. Again, compare prices in advance so you can get the best deals for your move. Don’t forget to contact the storage facility to ask about the size of the container, terms and policies.
Things to Do Before You Go
Moving interstate can be such a daunting ordeal. You can spare yourself from the stress and chaos of the big move if you accomplish a few things beforehand. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.
Donate or dispose of items you no longer need
Now that you’re moving to a new home, you have a clean slate. You can think long and hard about the belongings you’ve accumulated over the years.
Ask yourself: Do I need it? Do I really want it?
You can donate items to charity or sell them. You either sell them online through Facebook or host a garage sale in your neighbourhood. As for items that can neither be sold nor donated, you can dispose of them properly. Separate items that you can recycle from those that you can’t.
Take inventory of all your belongings
Log all the items that you are taking with you to your new address. If you’re renting a storage container, make a list of the items that you’re keeping there. You can log everything into an Excel spreadsheet, which is easier to update and keep track of. You can also go old school and keep a list of the items in a notebook.
Transfer car registration
Australian states have their own laws and regulations. Before the move, research the cost and the process of transferring your car registration and driver’s license to the new state.
Use professional packers and unpackers to save time
Save a lot of time and energy by hiring professionals to do the packing and unpacking for you. If you’re already hiring a removalist company to handle the interstate move, you might as well hire them to do the packing. Get in touch with them on Facebook, their website or their local phone number.
Protect your valuables
Secure all the valuables that you can take along with you, such as jewellery and documents. For safety reasons, don’t pack them with your other possessions but keep them close so that you’ll have peace of mind during the move. You can also put them in a secure deposit box for safekeeping.
Things to Keep in Mind on Moving Days
Even when you’re hiring a team of removalists, you have a few things that you have to accomplish on your own. Keeping a to-do list can help you make sure that they get done on moving day.
Eat the food in the pantry
Movers won’t transfer food items to your new state to prevent rodents and insects from taking over your property. Thus, during moving days, be sure to consume the food you have left. You can give away some to your family and friends. If you have a bulk of food items in storage, you can give them away to a local shelter.
Set up utilities
Before moving interstate, verify that utility connections in your old property have been cancelled. Also, confirm that everything from gas, water, heating, cooling, garbage, internet and phone services have been set up in the new home.
Things to Do Within One Week of Moving In
Will you unpack your items right away? Here’s a list of things that you have to do in the first few days in your new place.
Inspect your new house
Do a full walkthrough of your house and property before unpacking and setting up your furniture. Check if the previous owners carried out the agreed-upon repairs or restorations. More importantly, make sure that everything that was included in the sale is present.
Let’s say the previous owners brought the washer and dryer along with them, even though your sale contract specifies that they’re supposed to leave them with you. Call your realtor if you have any issues with your property.
Child- or pet-proof your home
Before setting up your furniture, do some pet and childproofing. Keep heavy items and breakables out of reach to prevent accidents.
Contact your kids’ new school
Get in touch with the school’s administration and teachers before your children’s first day at their new school. You can pick them up and drop them off for the first few days to make their transition a little easier.
Moving Interstate Checklist
Are you forgetting anything? Use this checklist as your guide if you’re moving interstate so you won’t feel overwhelmed throughout the process. Whether you’re going to Canberra, Brisbane or Melbourne, this checklist can help you get through the big move.
Create an inventory
Take inventory of all the personal items that will be moved to the new address. List down the items that you will be taking along with you in the car or plane. Create a separate list of the items that will be going into the moving company’s truck.
Find and book a moving company
Look for a moving company that specialises in interstate removals. Compare quotes from different companies. Once you’ve narrowed down your search, call up your options and make an enquiry. Ask about the cost of their service, as well as its coverage.
Secure packing boxes
Whether or not you’re hiring professionals to pack your things for you, secure the boxes, tape and other supplies ahead of time. You can start with the items that won’t be going into the moving truck. You can sort out items for donations, valuables and other personal belongings that will be going into your car.
Cancel services
For electricity, water, internet and other utilities, you’ll have to cancel them from your current home before moving interstate. Then, you can reconnect to these services from your new property. Don’t forget that you’ll also have to inform Australia post of your change of address.
➜ Check our Change of Address Checklist for a full guide
Prep your new home
Make sure your new house has been cleaned and prepared for the big move. You can do this about a week before moving interstate.
Book travel arrangements
From Sydney, will you be flying or driving to the new state? Whether you’re from Melbourne or Brisbane, you need to schedule your trip beforehand. Book travel arrangements so you won’t have to stress over them during the move.
Update electoral roll details
When you’re moving interstate, you’ll have to update the details on the electoral roll, particularly your change of address. You can update your details through the Australian Electoral Commission.
