What you need to know for moving in and moving out

From transferring utilities to packing efficiently, there’s much to think about when moving to a new home. Our comprehensive checklist is here to make your move smooth – you’ll stay organised and stress-free, leaving you to concentrate on the exciting part – your new abode!

You’ve mentally moved into your new home, arranged your furniture just so, popped the champagne and sent out invites to your housewarming soiree. But between then and now, the somewhat less exciting part needs to happen – the move itself. There’s all the admin of things like changing over utilities to your new address and, of course, the big one – packing your life neatly into as few boxes as possible. The whole process can be quite a drag, but with a little help from our comprehensive moving checklist, you won’t miss a beat, and you’ll be pouring that glass of well-earned champagne (or tipple of choice) in no time!

 

1. Plan and prep
   Kicking off a seamless move starts with some solid planning and preparation. Take your moving date, and work backward to determine when each key aspect of your moving task list (more on that to come) needs to be ticked off. Ensure you give yourself at least a few days of breathing room (and schedule some time off work) before your moving date to complete any final checks and last-minute cleaning tasks. Once you’ve got a timeline, the next step is creating a budget. This includes costs for moving services, packing supplies (if the removalist company you hire doesn’t provide these), utility transfers, cleaning fees, and any other expenses that might be part of the move. This is an essential step in reducing overspending.

   Now you have a rough budget, and your timing sorted out, you’re ready to lock in a significant milestone – a removal service. A quality service will provide you with packing supplies, and some will even offer to pack for you (at a cost). You can DIY this step; however, it’s a big undertaking that is often best left to the experts.

 

• Create a moving timeline: highlight key dates, like transferring utilities and packing milestones.
• Book a removal service: get quotes and lock in a mover that works within your budget.

 

2. Utilities, services, and life admin
   Next up is getting on top of your admin for the move – which is best done sooner rather than later. As soon as you’ve locked in a moving date, keep track of every piece of snail mail you receive and call them to change your postal address. Updating everything is quite a long process, so chipping away at it as you receive mail will make it feel slightly less onerous. From there, list others requiring an up-to-date address, such as your bank, voter registration, ID, employer, and any subscription services. Additionally, it’s worth setting up a short-term mail re-direct through NZ Post to capture anything you’ve missed.

   This leads us to the final part of the admin step, transferring your utilities – electricity, gas, water, internet, and your home insurance – to your new address. And while you’re at it, use it to reassess your options and seek better deals.

• Transfer utilities: renegotiate your contracts at the same time.
• Update your postal address: consider using NZ Post’s redirection service.

 

3. Declutter and pack
   While it’s tempting to shove things into boxes, make the most of your move by using this time, opportunity and motivation to take a discerning look at everything you own and declutter. Work room by room, and make ‘dispose, donate and keep’ piles, and get ruthless! While it’s not always easy to part with those piles of semi-sentimental trinkets, you’ll thank yourself when it comes to unpacking! Your local op shop will often collect larger items like furniture, provided it’s in good condition. It’s also a great time to go through items with limited shelf lives, like cupboards full of herbs and spices and overflowing medicine cabinets. Next, gather your essential supplies – bubble wrap (or towels and blankets) and packing tape and let the packing begin! Label boxes with their destination room as you go, and don’t forget to mark any boxes containing fragile items clearly.

   A helpful hack is to reserve a packing box for essentials – so that you can access items you’ll need immediately, like toiletries, chargers and a few items of clothing, without trawling through all your boxes.

 

• Use what you have to pack: towels, bedding, and clothing, which can cushion fragile items and are an eco-friendly alternative to bubble wrap.
• Pack an essentials box: include necessities for the first few days in your new abode.
• Declutter: donate, dispose, or sell unused items before packing.
• Get smart with labelling: label boxes with their destination room and mark any fragile boxes.

 

4. Make it a clean sweep
   Once a decent chunk of your packing is out of the way, you’ll likely find a few dust bunnies rearing their heads. Working room by room, get stuck into a deep clean, and if you’re renting, you’ll need to check for any minor damage and arrange repairs, too. A deep clean is essential for getting your bond back if renting, and often, this is best left to a professional cleaning service to ensure floors, walls, windows, ceilings, the oven and every inch of the bathroom is thoroughly taken care of. It’s also a great opportunity to dive into a thorough clean of often neglected grime and dust collectors like underneath the couch cushions, your mattresses, pet beds and small appliances like coffee machines, toasters, and microwaves.

Another substantial appliance that needs pre-move cleaning attention is your fridge freezer, and there’s a bit of an art to this one. A few weeks before moving, get creative with meals and strategically eat your way through as much of the contents as possible. Next, thoroughly clean it, removing shelves and drawers as you go. Finally, around 24 hours before moving, turn it off and let the freezer defrost fully. Then it’s ready for transport.

 

• Deep clean: focus on kitchens, bathrooms, and high-traffic areas.
• Document everything: take photos before and after moving out for evidence of the property’s condition.

5. Get D-Day (moving day) ready
   The day has finally come, moving day! Make sure you’ve locked in care for your pets and/or children for the day so you can focus on the task at hand. With the property clean and any repairs taken care of, it’s important to protect the floors and walls from any scuffs, scratches, dents, and other collateral damage from burly removalists transporting heavy items. You can use drop cloths and corner protectors, ask that furniture be wrapped in moving blankets and that shoes be removed.

 

Once everything is locked and loaded, it’s time to do a final walk-through and check all rooms, nooks, and crannies to make sure nothing is left behind and everything is sparkling clean and ready for its next occupants. If you’ve followed our checklist, you’ll be ahead of the game and still have some time up your sleeve to do some final checks (at a leisurely pace) before you hand over the keys.

 

As part of the move, you should also have a plan for unpacking – aside from your essentials box, think about which items you’ll need to sort out and unpack first, like your bed and any kitchen and bathroom basics.

 

• Protect what you’ve prepped: use drop cloths and wrap furniture to minimise damage.
• Do a final walk-through: check for any missed items or last-minute clean-ups required.
• Unpack essentials first: focus on the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom.

 

6. Sit back and relax – almost!
   Once you’ve unpacked the essentials, the next step is to check all your utilities are functioning and ready to go. If you’re moving into a rental or property that you won’t be tinkering with, take some time to inspect the property to ensure there are no damages and issues to report before you finalise the changeover. From here, check over your items for any damage sustained in the move or any missing bits and pieces. You’re likely exhausted, but don’t miss out on the opportunity to celebrate your new home – pick up some takeaways from a new local spot and toast your efforts!

 

• Inspect and check: note and report any issues in your new property (if renting) before moving furniture in, ensure your utilities are all up and running and check over your items.
• Unwind and celebrate: put the champagne on ice, treat yourself to takeaways and take it all in – you’ve made it!

Leave the stress behind and start dreaming

With some planning and preparation and a sturdy checklist in hand, moving into your next abode has never been easier. Once you’ve ticked off every step, the process will be smooth and perhaps even enjoyable – leaving you with more headspace to start dreaming about life in your new home. If you’re ready to make the move this year, reach out to the team at your local First National Real Estate – your trusted experts for finding your dream home in 2025 and beyond.

Disclaimer

The following advice is of a general nature only and intended as a broad guide. The advice should not be regarded as legal, financial, or real estate advice. You should make your own inquiries and obtain independent professional advice tailored to your specific circumstances before making any legal, financial, or real estate decisions. Click here for full Terms of Use.