Things to Do Before You Move: Your Wollongong Removalist Checklist (2026)

If you ask me, the things you do before you move matter just as much as moving day itself. After all the moves we’ve done around Wollongong and the Illawarra, here’s the honest truth from our side of the truck: the people who have a smooth, cheap move aren’t lucky — they just got the prep right. So in this guide I want to walk you through the real things to do before you move, in the order I’d tell my own family to do them, so your moving day is quick, calm, and a lot cheaper.

This is the same advice we give our clients before we send a removalist in Wollongong out to them. It’s a bit blunt in places, but it’ll save you money — and a few grey hairs.

Why the things you do before you move matter

Here’s something most people don’t realise until it’s too late: a removalist job is priced mostly on time and space. The longer it takes us to load, and the more we have to carry, the more it costs you. So every box you’ve packed properly, every wardrobe you’ve already emptied, every bit of furniture that’s ready to go — that’s money back in your pocket.

We’ve loaded a lot of trucks over the years, and the difference between a $600 move and a $1,200 move on the same size house almost always comes down to one thing: how ready the home was before we walked in. According to MoneySmart, moving is one of the most commonly underestimated household expenses — and being organised is the single biggest lever you control.

8 weeks before: plan early and book your removalist in Wollongong

The earlier you start, the better. I’d genuinely say this is the most important of all the things to do before you move, because everything else hangs off it.

• Lock in your moving date. Even a rough date lets you book everything else around it.
• Book your Wollongong removalist early. The good removalists in Wollongong get booked out fast, especially around the end of the month and school holidays. If you’ve got a date, get in touch and lock it in — don’t leave it to the last week.
• Get a written quote. A proper quote should be in writing, not a number someone mumbled over the phone. If you want an honest quote for your move, that’s exactly what we give.
• Ask about insurance. Check what transit cover your removalist offers and whether you need extra for high-value items.
• Decide if you’re packing yourself or having us do it. Not sure what’s involved? Our guide on whether removalists pack for you in Wollongong breaks it down.

6 weeks before: declutter and be honest about what’s worth moving

This is where you save the most money, hands down. Moving is the perfect excuse to get rid of the stuff you’ve been carrying around for years. And here’s the blunt bit: why pay a removalist to move something you don’t even want?

Go room by room and sort everything into keep, sell, donate, or bin. Be ruthless. If you haven’t used it in a year, you’re probably not going to start now.

• Sell the big, low-value stuff. Old lounges, spare fridges, bulky timber pieces — these eat up truck space. Often it’s cheaper to sell them on Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree and buy fresh than to pay to move them. We go deeper on this in our guide to moving without overpaying.
• Donate what’s still good. Clothes, kitchenware, and toys in decent shape can go to a local op shop.
• Book a council cleanup for anything that’s genuinely rubbish, so it’s gone before moving day.

Do this properly and you’ll shrink the size of your move — which means a smaller truck, less time, and a smaller bill.

4 weeks before: change your address and sort the paperwork

Updating your address is the most commonly forgotten job on every moving house checklist, and it causes the most headaches later. Knock it over now while you’ve got a clear head.

• Redirect your mail. Set up a redirect with Australia Post so nothing important slips through the cracks.
• Update the electoral roll. The Australian Electoral Commission asks you to update your address within 8 weeks of moving — and there can be a fine if you don’t.
• Notify the essentials: your bank, Medicare, myGov, the ATO, your super fund, insurance, and Service NSW for your licence and car rego.
• Sort utilities. Arrange disconnection at your old place and connection at the new one — electricity, gas, water, and internet. Try to have power on at both ends on moving day; you’ll want it.
• Tell schools, childcare, and your GP and arrange to transfer any records.

3 weeks before: get your packing supplies and start early

Packing always takes longer than people think. Start now with the rooms you barely use and you’ll thank yourself later.

• Get sturdy boxes in a few sizes, plus packing tape, bubble wrap, butcher’s paper, and a couple of marker pens.
• Label every box with the room it belongs in and a quick note on what’s inside. This one habit makes unloading twice as fast — and we unload room by room, so it helps us help you.
• Pack heavy items in small boxes and light items in big ones. Books in a giant box is how backs get hurt and boxes burst.
• Start with non-essentials: spare rooms, the garage, out-of-season clothes, books, and decorations.

Want to pack like the pros? Our packing guide has the tricks we use every day.

2 weeks before: confirm the details and handle the tricky stuff

Two weeks out, the move starts feeling real. Time to nail down the logistics and deal with the awkward items.

• Confirm with your removalist. Re-check the date, the start time, and access at both addresses — stairs, lifts, driveway, and where the truck can park. Tight street in Wollongong? Tell us in advance so we plan for it.
• Defrost the fridge and freezer at least 24 hours before the move so they’re empty, dry, and ready. If you’ve got a separate unit to shift, here’s our advice on fridge removals in Wollongong.
• Deal with hazardous items. By law, removalists can’t transport things like gas bottles, petrol, paint, and garden chemicals. Use them up or drop them at your local council’s hazardous waste point.
• Run down the freezer and pantry. Start cooking what you’ve got instead of buying more — less to move, less waste.
• Take apart the big furniture you can (bed frames, table legs) and keep the screws in a labelled bag taped to the piece.

1 week before: final prep and your moving-day kit

The last week is all about tidying up loose ends so moving day runs itself.

• Finish packing everything except the essentials you’ll need in the last few days.
• Pack a moving-day kit you keep with you: phone charger, wallet, keys, important documents, medications, a change of clothes, snacks, water, and the kettle and a few mugs. Trust me, you’ll want a cuppa.
• Keep valuables and documents — passports, jewellery, the important folder — in the car with you, never on the truck.
• Confirm parking and access one last time, and let neighbours know there’ll be a truck out front.
• Arrange a clean of your old place. If you’re renting, this is non-negotiable for getting your bond back.

The day before and moving day

You’re nearly there. Keep it simple and let your removalist do the heavy lifting — literally.

• Charge your phone and have the new address and your removalist’s number handy.
• Do a final walk-through: cupboards, the garage, the shed, under the house, and the backyard. It’s amazing what gets left behind.
• Take meter readings and a few photos of the empty rooms (handy for your bond inspection).
• Give us a quick tour when we arrive — point out the fragile boxes and anything that needs extra care, and we’ll handle the rest.
• Hand over the keys and lock up once the truck’s loaded.

Your quick “things to do before you move” checklist

Short on time? Here’s the whole lot in one glance — the essential things to do before you move:

• Book your Wollongong removalist and confirm the date in writing
• Declutter and sell or donate what’s not worth moving
• Redirect your mail and update the electoral roll
• Switch over utilities at both addresses
• Tell your bank, Medicare, myGov, insurer, and Service NSW
• Gather boxes and packing supplies early
• Pack room by room and label everything
• Defrost the fridge and clear out hazardous items
• Pack a moving-day kit and keep valuables with you
• Clean the old place and do a final walk-through

Why locals choose Premier Removalist in Wollongong

We’re a Wollongong-based team, and we treat every move like it’s our own family’s. Whether you’re shifting across the suburb or doing a bigger interstate move from Wollongong, we’ll give you a straight answer, an honest quote, and a crew that actually turns up and does the job properly. If you’re searching for a reliable removalist near me in the Illawarra, that’s us.

Knock over the things to do before you move on this list, and your moving day will be about as stress-free as moving gets. And if you’d like a hand with the heavy part, we’re only a call away.

Frequently asked questions

How far before you move should you start preparing?

Ideally about 8 weeks out. That gives you time to book a good Wollongong removalist, declutter properly, and update your address without a last-minute panic. Even 2–3 weeks is enough to get the essentials done if you’re organised.

What’s the first thing to do before you move?

Set your moving date and book your removalist. Almost every other job — packing, cleaning, address changes — gets scheduled around that date, so locking it in first makes everything else fall into place.

What do people most often forget before moving day?

Redirecting their mail, updating their address with the bank and the electoral roll, defrosting the fridge, and disposing of hazardous items the truck can’t carry. Our checklist above covers all four.

How much does a removalist in Wollongong cost?

It depends on the size of your home, access, and how well it’s packed. The more prep you do, the less it costs. For real numbers, see our Wollongong removalist cost guide, or get in touch for an honest quote on your specific move.

Get an honest quote for your move

Planning a move around Wollongong or the Illawarra? Tell us a little about your place and your moving date, and we’ll get straight back to you with an honest quote. Fill in the form below or call us on 1300 015 050.

Related services from Premier Removalist

While you’re getting organised, our local team can take the hardest jobs off your hands — see our professional packing services, secure furniture storage for when your dates don’t line up, and same-day removals if you’re short on time.