Most people remember their worst move in detail. The couch that wouldn’t turn the corner on a Grey Lynn villa staircase. The truck that couldn’t get down a right-of-way in Glen Eden. The box of kitchen knives nobody labelled. A good Auckland move mostly comes down to doing the boring parts early, so moving day is just lifting and driving.
This checklist works backwards from the day you get the keys. Adjust it to suit your timeline, but try not to skip the early steps. They are the ones that save the most stress later.
Six to eight weeks out: lock in the big decisions
Start with the date. If you’re renting, check your tenancy agreement for notice periods before you commit to anything. If you’re buying, settlement day is usually fixed, and the end of the month, along with Fridays, tends to book out first for movers. A midweek move is often easier to arrange and less hectic on the roads.
- Get quotes from two or three moving companies and ask exactly what is included: packing, materials, insurance, travel time and any stair or long-carry charges.
- Decide what you are not taking. Measure the new place and be honest about whether the eight-seater dining table will fit in a Hobsonville townhouse.
- Book time off work. Even a well-run move eats a full day, and unpacking takes longer than anyone admits.
Four weeks out: sort access and parking
This is the step Aucklanders underestimate most. A large truck needs somewhere to stop, ideally close to the front door. Walk both properties with that in mind.
- Check for clearways, bus lanes and yellow lines on both streets. In parts of the central city and inner suburbs you may need to talk to Auckland Transport about temporary parking or a road-use arrangement.
- If you’re moving into or out of an apartment, contact the body corporate or building manager. Many buildings want lift bookings, protective lift padding and a set loading window.
- Look at steep driveways, shared accessways, low branches and tight gates. Tell your movers about them now, not on the morning.
- Count the stairs. Two flights in a Mount Eden walk-up changes how long the job takes and how many people you need.
The more your movers know up front, the more accurate the quote and the fewer surprises on the day. Experienced house movers in Auckland will usually ask these questions themselves, but it helps to have the answers ready.
Three weeks out: start packing the things you won’t miss
Begin with books, off-season clothes, spare linen, the garage and anything sitting in the hall cupboard since the last move. Pack one room at a time and label each box on two sides with the room it’s going to and a short description of what’s inside. “Kitchen – baking trays” is far more useful than “Kitchen”.
Keep boxes to a weight you could carry down a flight of stairs yourself. Heavy items go in small boxes, light items in big ones. Fill gaps with towels or tea towels so nothing rattles.
Two weeks out: admin and utilities
- Arrange power, gas and internet for the new address. Fibre connections can take time to set up, so don’t leave this to the final week.
- Update your address with your bank, IRD, NZTA for your driver licence and vehicle registration, the Electoral Commission, your GP and insurance provider.
- Set up mail redirection with NZ Post for a few months.
- If you have kids or pets, sort out school zones, daycare and who is minding the dog on the day.
The final week: prepare for the weather
Auckland can deliver four seasons before lunch, and a morning shower on moving day is close to guaranteed at some times of year. Plan for it.
- Keep plastic covers or old sheets handy for mattresses and upholstered furniture.
- Lay drop cloths or cardboard at both front doors so wet boots don’t wreck the carpet.
- Wrap anything electronic before it leaves the house, not at the truck.
- Defrost the freezer at least a day before and leave it to dry with the door open.
Pack an “open first” box for each person: phone chargers, toiletries, medication, a change of clothes, a kettle, mugs, tea or coffee, toilet paper, a few tools and bedding for the first night. Put it in your own car.
Moving day
Be at the old house when the crew arrives and walk them through it. Point out what is staying, what is fragile and what goes on last. Keep important documents, jewellery, passports and hard drives with you rather than on the truck.
Before you leave, do a final sweep of every cupboard, the meter box, the garden shed and behind doors. Take photos of the empty rooms. They help if the bond or the condition of the property is ever questioned.
The first week in the new place
Set up beds first, then the kitchen. Everything else can wait. Check your boxes against your list while the details are fresh, and report any damage to your mover promptly. Then learn where the rubbish and recycling go, because Auckland Council collection days differ from street to street.
A move never goes perfectly, but a checklist turns most of the guesswork into a list of small, manageable jobs. Do them early and moving day becomes the easy part.
Written by the CityMove team, Auckland-based movers who help households move across the city and around the country. CityMove Ltd is at 16 Harrison Rd, Auckland, and can be reached on 0800 126 128.
