15 Ultra-useful Tips When Moving Apartments

By Karen Thorogood | June 9, 2023

Moving apartments might seem straightforward, but if you don’t plan properly, it can quickly become a stressful and chaotic experience. Whether you’re moving across town or into the unit next door, the following practical tips will help you stay on top of everything and settle into your new place with less hassle.

Start Planning Early

The sooner you start, the smoother things will go. Begin your moving prep at least six weeks before the big day. Make a checklist that includes:

  • Booking removalists or van hire
  • Sorting and decluttering
  • Notifying utility providers
  • Gathering packing materials
  • Organising time off work if needed

Treat your move like a mini project. Having a timeline with weekly tasks makes it all feel manageable.

Declutter Before You Pack

Don’t take items you no longer use to your new apartment. Moving is the perfect opportunity to declutter. Go through your clothes, kitchenware, books, and furniture. Ask yourself what you actually use and what can be:

  • Donated
  • Sold
  • Recycled or thrown away

Fewer items to move means fewer boxes, less time packing, and a lower moving bill.

Get Your Supplies Sorted Early

Start collecting or purchasing packing supplies well in advance. You’ll likely need:

  • Sturdy moving boxes in different sizes
  • Packing tape
  • Bubble wrap or newspaper for padding
  • Labels and markers
  • Ziplock bags for small items like screws or cords

Having everything ready before you begin packing avoids last-minute panic.

Pack by Room and Label Clearly

Pack one room at a time and label each box with both the room it belongs to and a short list of contents. This will help you—and your movers—know exactly where each box goes in the new place.

Consider numbering your boxes and keeping a separate inventory list. That way, you can easily check if anything goes missing during the move.

Set Aside an Essentials Box

Pack a box with all the things you’ll need on your first night:

  • Toiletries
  • A change of clothes
  • Bed linen
  • Towels
  • Chargers
  • Snacks and basic kitchenware
  • Medications
  • Cleaning supplies

Keep this box with you instead of loading it onto the truck so you can access it immediately when you arrive.

Organise Utilities in Advance

Don’t leave things like internet, electricity, or water to the last minute. Before moving day:

  • Arrange the disconnection of services at your old place
  • Schedule connections at your new apartment
  • Notify your bank, insurer, and any subscriptions of your new address.
  • Set up a mail redirection if neede.d

Taking care of this early means you won’t be stuck in your new place without Wi-Fi or hot water.

Measure the New Space

It might sound obvious, but many people move only to find that their furniture doesn’t fit. Before moving:

  • Measure your furniture and compare it to the layout of your new apartment
  • Check doorways, stairwells, and elevators
  • Plan where each major item will go ahead of time

This avoids frustration on moving day and ensures everything fits where it’s meant to.

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Don’t Forget About Pets and Kids

If you have pets or young children, arrange for their care during the move. The noise, commotion, and unfamiliar surroundings can be stressful for them, and having them out of the way will make it easier for you to focus.

Protect Valuables

Keep important documents, jewellery, passports, and any fragile or high-value items with you, not in the moving truck. You should also take photos of fragile items before packing them, just in case you need to make an insurance claim later.

Clean Before You Move In

Access the new apartment before your moving day to give it a thorough clean. It’s much easier to clean a space, and you’ll feel more comfortable unpacking into a place that feels fresh and ready.

Ask for Help

Don’t try to do everything yourself. Whether it’s friends helping you pack or professional removalists handling the heavy lifting, support makes all the difference. If you’re hiring movers, be sure to:

  • Book well in advance
  • Read reviews and compare prices.
  • Check what’s included (e.g. insurance, packing materials, assembly/disassembly)

Final Thought

Moving into a new apartment doesn’t have to be stressful. With a bit of planning, some smart packing, and the right help, the whole process can be quicker, safer, and less exhausting.

Need a hand with your next move? Get in touch with our team for a professional, no-fuss apartment relocation service.

My partner and I have just used Optimove removals for a double move – stuff out of my house to storage whilst another truck at his place to bring his furniture and belongings to here and more to storage. We went with them based on price and a promise of ‘great care’

The removalist service has been fantastic. The boys all moved fast on both crews, were so easy to deal with, and I’ll be honest I can’t remember the last time I saw everything plastic and or blanket wrapped so well to completely protect everything we have. I would HIGHLY recommend these guys. Jacqueline Nagle

“By far the best removalists I have used. Adam and Chris were fantastic. On time, polite, energetic, fast and careful with all of my furniture. Reasonably priced and very efficient .” Jessie Mariee Watson, 29 August 2016

“I couldn’t have been happier with my choice of Optimove to shift a lot of my precious belongings into storage. The removal team phoned me to give an estimated time of arrival and when they arrived no time was wasted. The 2 removalists were fast and efficient. I was very impressed and would certainly recommend them to anyone looking for removalists and would have no hesitation in employing their services again.” Sue Bertram, 19 August 2016

“Best removal company we have ever used. Optimove removals is a great moving company, two nice lads who moved at a good pace. Everything was well looked after and arrived in perfect condition. Very good prices, next time you are looking to move to a new location check these removalists out. Better than a hiring a truck and moving your own stuff by a long way. On time, polite, no hidden costs – the most energetic men ever!!!!!” Kirsten Maria Corin, 2 August 2016

“On Saturday just gone, Adam and Chris from Optimove did an outstanding job in moving us from Burleigh Heads to Cornubia. They worked tirelessly without stopping for 5-6 hours until the job was done, whilst taking absolute care of all our possessions. They were friendly, honest and just downright good blokes. I high recommend Optimove.” Glen Read, 18 July 2016

“Just wanted to take a second to say a big thank you to the team at Optimove. The guys that arrived on the day were so friendly, helpful and professional. I couldn’t believe that when they said everything would get wrapped and protected that it actually happened. I have moved several times in the past but I found these guys definitely stood out amongst the rest with their speed and professionalism…” Carly Turner, 9 July 2016

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