A well-paced move starts eight weeks out: confirm the dates, choose how the move and any storage will work, then pack and update accounts in stages. Renters also need to follow their lease and WA notice, inspection and key-return requirements. Keep essential documents, medicines, chargers and one night’s supplies with you rather than in the moving load.
Moving house checklist Perth: the eight-week plan at a glance
This moving house checklist for Perth gives every week one clear priority.
| When | Main priority | Checkpoint |
|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks before | Set dates, budget and moving method | Move date and decision-makers confirmed |
| 7 weeks before | Book help and plan access | Movers, storage and access needs understood |
| 6 weeks before | Sort belongings and measure | Keep, donate, dispose and store decisions made |
| 5 weeks before | Start low-use packing | Labels and box register in use |
| 4 weeks before | Arrange services and address changes | Providers and notification list recorded |
| 3 weeks before | Pack room by room | Daily essentials are the main items left out |
| 2 weeks before | Confirm every booking and handover | Dates, contacts, keys and inspections aligned |
| Final week | Build a moving-day buffer | Essentials bag and first-night box ready |
| Moving day | Control the handover | Old home checked and new home made functional |
| First week after | Close the remaining admin | Address, tenancy and account tasks completed |
Eight weeks before moving: fix the dates and scope
The first week is for decisions that affect everything else.
- Confirm the usable dates. Record access, departure, inspection and settlement dates. Do not assume they are the same day.
- Build a moving budget. Include moving help, materials, cleaning, utility costs, mail redirection, pet care, temporary accommodation and storage.
- Choose the moving method. Decide what you will move and what needs professional help. Ask providers about access, inclusions, cancellation terms, packing responsibility and how damage is handled.
- Decide whether storage solves a real problem. Storage may bridge date gaps or clear space for cleaning and renovations. Compare access, duration and total quoted cost. Mobule Storage’s mobile storage services let customers pack a delivered unit themselves or ask about packing and removals support.
- Create a household inventory. A room-by-room list improves quotes and provides a record for arrival.
For renters: read the lease and current WA Consumer Protection moving-out guidance before giving notice. It covers Form 22 and the different rules for fixed-term and periodic tenancies. This is practical planning information, not tenancy advice.
For homeowners: confirm settlement, key collection and vacant-possession arrangements with your settlement agent or conveyancer, including responsibility for utilities around settlement.
Seven to six weeks before moving: lock in logistics
Early logistics planning prevents access problems on moving day.
- Book moving help and any storage. Get the date, arrival window, inclusions and access requirements in writing.
- Check both properties for stairs, lifts, narrow doors, parking limits and strata booking rules. Measure large furniture, doorways and lifts.
- Arrange moving-day care for children. Contact a new school or childcare provider early if required.
- Plan safe pet transport, medication and a secure quiet space at the destination.
- Check whether the new address is ready for your preferred internet service. nbn recommends contacting the provider early; most providers request at least one week’s notice.
- Use pantry and freezer food instead of adding more.
Sort items into move, store, donate, sell, recycle or dispose. Keep documents, jewellery, devices, medicines and irreplaceable items under your control.
Five to four weeks before moving: pack and notify
Packing works best as a repeatable system, not a last-week sprint.
Pack books, décor, spare linen, off-season clothing and seldom-used kitchenware first. Mobule Storage lists packing boxes and protective materials. Close boxes flat, protect fragile items and keep each carton at a safe lifting weight.
Label each box on the top and at least one side with:
- destination room;
- a short contents description;
- priority: open first, first week or later;
- fragile or orientation instructions where relevant; and
- a number that matches the household inventory.
At four weeks, list every service that must stop or start. Electricity, gas, water, internet and phone providers have different processes and lead times, so confirm the required notice, final reading and start date directly with each provider.
Build an address-change register rather than relying on memory:
| Category | Examples to check |
|---|---|
| Government | Driver’s licence, vehicle licence, electoral enrolment, Medicare, ATO and Centrelink if relevant |
| Money and property | Banks, super fund, insurers, employer, landlord or property manager |
| Health and family | GP, dentist, specialists, school, childcare and vet |
| Household | Energy, water, internet, mobile, subscriptions, memberships and deliveries |
The Australian Government’s moving house checklist links to government update services. WA licence and vehicle licence holders must notify the Department of Transport of an address change within 21 days. The Australian Electoral Commission allows an update after you have lived at the new address for at least one month.
Three to two weeks before moving: remove uncertainty
The goal is to verify arrangements and leave only everyday items unpacked.
- Reconfirm movers or storage, access, parking, payment and the day’s contact person.
- Give helpers a precise time, address and task.
- Arrange cleaning, waste removal and agreed repairs in time to inspect the result.
- Redirect mail. Australia Post recommends applying no later than three business days before leaving. Redirection does not replace direct updates.
- Update pet registration with the local council and the prescribed microchip database. WA Government says changed microchip details must be updated within seven days.
- Confirm school, childcare, pet-care and transport plans.
- Photograph valuable or fragile items and back up important digital files.
Renters should compare the property with the original condition report, clean as required and keep dated photos or video. WA Consumer Protection says the final inspection should occur as soon as possible and within 14 days after the tenancy ends, with a reasonable opportunity for the tenant to attend. It also says not to disconnect utilities before the final inspection, because services may be needed to check cleaning and appliances.
The final week before moving: protect the essentials
The final week should create breathing room, not introduce new decisions.
Finish general packing and prepare a marked essentials box. Keep it with you or load it last.
Personal essentials bag
- identification, keys and essential documents;
- medicines and basic first aid;
- phones, chargers and a power bank;
- a change of clothes and toiletries;
- children’s comfort items; and
- pet leads, carriers, food and medication.
First-night box
- toilet paper, soap and towels;
- bed linen and sleepwear;
- kettle or simple meal supplies;
- reusable water bottles and snacks;
- basic cleaning items and rubbish bags;
- a torch, simple tools and device chargers; and
- mugs, plates and cutlery for immediate use.
Confirm how every key, access card and remote will change hands. Charge phones, check the forecast, set aside water and share the day’s running order.
Moving day checklist for Perth homes
Moving day works best when one person controls a shared checklist.
Before loading:
- keep children and pets away from doors, vehicles and lifting areas;
- point out items that are not going with the load;
- confirm the destination address and contact number; and
- keep documents, valuables, medicines and essentials with you.
Before leaving the old home:
- check cupboards, drawers, the oven, sheds, outdoor areas and behind doors;
- photograph meter readings where relevant and retain final account records;
- remove rubbish and complete the agreed cleaning;
- check windows, taps, lights and locks; and
- return all keys, cards and remotes by the agreed time.
At the new home:
- inspect rooms before filling them with boxes;
- test essential services and report problems to the appropriate provider or property contact;
- direct each box to its labelled room;
- assemble beds and set up one bathroom first; and
- check the box register for anything missing or visibly damaged.
A renter entering a new WA tenancy should receive two copies of the property condition report within seven days. Add any disagreements and return one signed copy within seven days of receiving it, as the WA property condition report guidance explains.
The first week after moving: close the loop
The first week is for safety, records and unfinished admin.
- Unpack essential areas and remove trip hazards or unstable box stacks.
- Complete high-priority address changes and keep confirmation numbers.
- Check old and new utility accounts for the correct dates and readings.
- Return the new rental condition report on time and keep a copy.
- Report missing or damaged items promptly using the inventory and provider’s agreed process.
- Update deliveries, workplace records, health providers and memberships.
- Leave low-priority boxes for later rather than rushing every room.
Moving house checklist Perth FAQs
When should I start a moving house checklist?
Eight weeks allows time to compare options, declutter and pack gradually. With less time, keep the order: confirm dates and access, book scarce services, arrange utilities and notifications, then pack by priority.
Should WA renters disconnect utilities before the final inspection?
No. WA Consumer Protection says electricity, gas and water may be needed to check cleaning and appliances. Set the final account date with the provider while keeping the inspection requirement in view.
Who needs my new address after a Perth move?
Start with the Department of Transport, electoral roll, government services, banks, insurers, employer, health providers, utilities, school or childcare, vet and subscriptions. Record each confirmation.
When is temporary storage useful during a move?
Storage can bridge access dates, clear space during renovations or hold furniture not needed immediately. Compare volume, duration, access and total quoted cost. Mobule Storage describes short-term storage options for moving transitions.
Make the move manageable
A checklist turns a move into dated decisions. Start with the property dates, protect the handover requirements and keep first-night essentials outside the main load. If mobile storage would simplify the gap, review the service details and request an instant storage quote from Mobule Storage.