How to Move a Household Easily

Moving households is often rated one of life’s most stressful moments. With so much involved in moving your whole life from one place to another, it’s easy to lose track of all the tasks that need to get done. And it all becomes very overwhelming.

The key difference between a chaotic move and a manageable one almost always comes down to planning. With the right approach, moving household can be far less stressful than most people expect.

With this practical guide, you’ll understand the steps needed to go from feeling overwhelmed to settling successfully into your new home.

Start with a household moving checklist

To start off the successful planning of your move, it’s important to start by creating a household moving checklist, as this will form the foundation of your planning and logistics. Many people don’t know how to move a household and underestimate the amount of time required to organise a complete house move.

Ideally, a household moving preparation should begin six to eight weeks in advance, especially if you want to avoid last-minute stress and scrambling. To take the stress out of relocating, we’ve put together a timeline outlining what you should focus on each week leading up to moving day.

6-8 weeks out

Within 6 to 8 weeks out from your moving day, you should prioritise choosing your preferred moving method: a moving company or a truck or trailer hire. Book your removalist or vehicle hire weeks in advance before all the slots are filled.

It’s also good to start sourcing packing material such as boxes, tape, bubble wrap, etc.

4 weeks out

It’s time to declutter your room. Donate, sell or dispose of anything you won’t take with you to the new place. This will make it easier to pack all the non-essential items ahead of time and put them in a self-storage unit.

Make a note to also start redirecting mail and updating your address with banks, Medicare and the ATO.

2 weeks out

With moving day approaching (and fast), it’s a good idea to confirm all your bookings like removalists, trailer hire, and storage units. Finalise packing – leaving everyday items last – and arrange the disconnection and reconnection of utilities at both addresses.

Moving week

On moving week, it’s interesting to pack an essentials box. Put your documents, chargers, medications and a change of clothes together and label every box accordingly – it helps heaps when you arrive at the new house.

Finally, do a final walkthrough of your old household before handing over the keys. Make sure you have everything yon ed and have vacated the place completely.

What does it cost to move a household?

The question everyone asks when they start planning their move. And, although costs vary significantly depending on distance, volume, and method, we’ve put together a few estimated costs to better draw the idea.

• Removalists: typically, $100–$200 per hour for a two-person team with a truck in a capital city. A two-bedroom house move of 3–4 hours could run $300–$800 or more depending on the company and timing.
• DIY with trailer hire: significantly cheaper. Trailer hire fees from National Storage runs from $50 for a half day to $80 for a full day. Main costs are time, fuel, and the effort of enlisting help.
• Packing supplies: budget $100–$300 for moving boxes and packing supplies for a full household depending on size. A good tip is to buy in value packs, as it reduces the per-unit cost considerably.
• Storage: where needed to bridge a settlement gap or stage a move, a self-storage unit adds a predictable monthly cost – and often removes the need to rush the move or pay for additional removalist time. Small and medium size units can vary from $70 to $270 per month.

Ultimately, it’s important to understand that moving costs are an investment decision, not just a cost to be incurred. The right combination of moving services can actually reduce the overall spend if compared to doing everything at the last minute without a plan.

Choosing between household moving companies and DIY

If you’re starting to plan your household move, you might be contemplating a decision between booking a removalist vs a trailer hire.

While both options have their perks, comparing them against the services offered by professional household moving companies can help you better understand the costs, and overall value involved in your move.

Removalists suit…

…Larger home or long-distance moves – if you’re moving interstate, for example. Or if you simply want to protect your high-value items with professional handling.

DIY trailer or truck suits…

…Smaller homes or apartments and local moves where a return trip is feasible. It also works perfectly if you’re moving in stages or if you don’t have access to a towing vehicle.

A hybrid approach can also be a good idea – using removalists for bulky items and trailer hire for boxes and smaller pieces – if you have a large move household and are trying to manage costs.

How to pack household items for moving

Finally, one of the best ways to make a household move less stressful is to pack strategically and in a logical order. Packing household items for moving is a skill in itself.

Few things are more frustrating than needing an item you’ve packed away weeks earlier, only to find it’s buried beneath dozens of boxes. Or arriving at your new home and having no idea which boxes contain the essentials which can make the unpacking process feel overwhelming.

• Pack room by room, not category by category – it makes unpacking faster and reduces confusion
• Use the right box for the job: small boxes for heavy items like books, large boxes for light bulky items like bedding and pillows
• Wrap fragile items individually in packing paper or bubble wrap – don’t rely on proximity to soft items for cushioning
• Label every box on the side, not the top, so labels remain visible when stacked
• Disassemble large furniture before the day you’re moving household to save time and reduce the risk of damage in transit
• Use soft furnishings – towels, blankets, clothing – to pad out gaps inside boxes and protect items at the same time
• Pack an essentials box last and load it into the vehicle last so it comes out first at the other end

Having the right set of packing supplies can make the difference on how efficiently the day runs. Make sure you have a packing supplies guide prior to moving household items to your new address.

When to use a self-storage unit during a household move

Not everyone requires a unit to be added to their household moving services, but it can be a helpful storage solution when you’re between addresses. Having a secure place to store your belongings gives you peace of mind and extra time to plan your next steps.

A few cases where you can benefit from a storage unit rental include:

• Settlement delays: when your new property isn’t ready on move-out day and you need a place to store your belongings
• Renovation before moving-in: putting your furniture in storage it’s a way to keep your items safe while works are completed
• Downsizing: storing items you’re not ready to part with while you work out what fits in the new space
• Staging for sale: decluttering the current home to improve presentation without throwing things away
• Bridging between leases: when there’s a gap between tenancies and you can’t move your belongings into your new address straight away

Taking advantage of short-term storage solutions in these cases, often ends up being the most cost-effective solution. The month-to-month fees with no lock-in contracts at providers like National Storage are usually lower than the extra hours you would have to pay for removalists to rush a move.

Using a storage unit size guide can also help you pay only for the space that you need, without ending up with extra unused space or units that are too small to fit your items.

Make your household move easier with National Storage

National Storage offers a range of convenient services designed to make your household move as smooth and stress-free as possible:

• Flexible self-storage units on month-to-month leases
• Trailer hire to help with moving day logistics
• A Box Shop stocked with packing essentials, delivered straight to your door
• Friendly on-site staff to assist with unit selection, access, and storage advice

Whether you’re moving across town or between homes, we’re here to help. Find your nearest National Storage centre to book a unit or get in touch to discuss your storage needs.