Moving interstate can be a daunting prospect in our vast land. Many of our main cities are thousands of kilometres apart. In many ways, moving interstate is almost as complicated as moving overseas. Here are five tips to help you make a smooth transition to a new state.
Tip 1: Don’t wait until you’re there to make yourself at home
With your smartphone or computer, there’s a world of information at your fingertips. As soon as you know you’re moving, research and read about your new city and state. Look at maps to familiarise yourself with the city layout. Find out about shops, places to eat, events and so forth. Often overlooked is a little reading about the weather. Your move may require you to rethink your wardrobe. The more you can learn about your new home the better.
Tip 2: Start sorting out your belongings straight away
We can’t stress this point enough for any move. The sooner you start to sort out your belongings the better. Moving can be expensive with long distance moves, so why pay to move stuff you don’t want or need. For example, if you’re moving to North Queensland, you’re not going to need winter clothes or bedding.
How do you decide what to take? There’s an easy formula you can follow. As you go through your belongings, sort them into four groups: keep and pack, throw away, sell or donate. If you’re selling items, get them listed on Internet auction sites as soon as possible.
Tip 3: Let people at both ends know you’re moving
Moving interstate has one obvious difference to moving across town. You won’t see friends and family as often. Let the people close to you know you’re moving so everyone can get used to the idea. Likewise, connect with anyone you know in the city you’re moving to. Use social media to connect to local groups and start the process of making new friends. Moving interstate is a big change and you’ll appreciate having a support network when you get there.
Tip 4: Don’t forget the admin
Even though it seems obvious, many people forget to change their personal details after moving house. Make a list of all the utilities, services and memberships you have and contact them to notify them of your move so mail can be redirected, utilities switched over and memberships transferred or cancelled. You will also need to deregister your car in your current state and register it in your new state.
There is so much to remember to do when moving interstate, you’ll do yourself a favour by making a to-do list and sticking to it. There are many good apps for smart devices that help you make lists, sort tasks and set reminders, so take advantage of one to help you remember what you need to do.
Tip 5: Choose experienced interstate removalists
Get at least three quotes for your move. When you talk to the removalist company, ask what services are included as part of their fee. While some companies are cheaper than others, not all removalists offer the same services and choosing the right one will make your move a positive experience.
We offer a free, no obligation quoting tool to get you started. Feel free to contact us if you would like more information.
