A moving house checklist won’t make the move effortless, but it does stop everything landing on the last weekend. Most of the stress comes from jobs that could have been done weeks earlier, and from decisions made in a rush.
Whether you’re moving from a family home in Halls Head to a smaller place in Mandurah city, or between rentals in Falcon and Wannanup, the order of tasks matters more than the speed. That’s why at Go 2 Storage, we have you covered. Here is a step by step guide on how to work through it.
Sort Before You Pack
Start by deciding what’s actually coming with you. Walk through each room and measure your larger furniture against the floor plan of the new place. A dining table that suits a big open kitchen can swamp a smaller lounge, and it’s far easier to find that out now than in a doorway on moving day.
This is also when to lock in anything with a fixed date. Book your truck or removalist, arrange your internet and power connections, and tell your bank and insurer about the new address. Connections in particular can take time to arrange, so leaving them until the week of the move is a common mistake.
Pack What You Won’t Miss
Begin with things you rarely use, like seasonal clothes, spare linen, books and the good glassware. Pack heavy items such as books and tools into small boxes so they stay liftable. Large boxes full of heavy things are how backs get hurt.
Label every box with the room it belongs in and a short note of what’s inside. “Kitchen: baking trays and mixing bowls” will save you far more time at the other end than “Kitchen” alone.
Some items can’t safely go into storage or onto a truck, and it’s worth sorting these out early. Petrol, gas bottles, paint, solvents and aerosols are the usual culprits, along with fresh food. If you’re not sure about something, check before you pack it. Our storage tips guide covers preparing larger items and what to keep out of a unit.
When Storage for Moving House Makes Sense
Not every move needs storage. But a few situations come up often enough that it’s worth knowing when a short stay in a unit solves a real problem.
The most common is a gap between dates. If your settlement or lease start doesn’t line up with your move-out, you can end up with a house full of furniture and nowhere to put it. A storage unit covers that gap without forcing you into a rushed move.
It also helps when the new place is smaller than the old one. Rather than deciding on every item before moving day, you can take what you need and sort the rest once you’ve settled. And if you’re doing work on the new home before you move in, a unit keeps your belongings out of the way of the tradies.
Units at Go 2 Storage range from 2.3 m², enough for a few boxes, up to 34 m². Access is 24/7, including public holidays, which matters when a move stretches over a few days and doesn’t fit neatly into office hours.
If you’re moving your belongings in yourself, new customers to our Mandurah storage facility can use our free move-in truck. It’s a 3-tonne automatic with a tail lift, and a standard driver’s licence is all you need. A trailer is also available for smaller loads. Terms and conditions apply, and to be clear, this is a self-move option rather than a removalist service. If you’re not sure what size unit suits your load, get a quote and we’ll help you work it out.
Moving Day: How to Plan a move in the Mandurah Heat
From late spring, WA afternoons can get hot quickly! Starting your move early makes the day easier on everyone, particularly if you’re lifting furniture. Keep water on hand, and load the heaviest pieces first while you still have energy.
If you’re using our truck or trailer, plan the route and the timing before you collect it. A rough sequence of what goes in first and what comes off first will keep the unloading from turning into a puzzle.
The First Week After
Resist the urge to finish everything at once. Set up the beds and the kitchen first, then work outwards. Living in the space for a couple of weeks tells you much more about what you actually need than any floor plan did.
If some of your belongings are in storage, revisit them once you’ve settled. Some things you thought you’d want close by won’t matter. Others will turn out to be worth bringing over.Â
Ready to start storing in one of our Mandurah storage units? Book a unit online today and make your move easier than ever!