Home Move Checklist – From Sale to Settlement

4 Weeks to Go

•  Organize a folder for your moving documents.
•  Contact your preferred furniture removalist and make a tentative booking. Even if you’re just working with an approximate settlement date.
•  Buyer to check all measurements and boundaries are the same as those on title.
•  Property Valuation: The buyer’s lender may arrange for a valuation of the property.
•  Requisitions: Seller to answer requisitions if requested by the Buyer.
•  Consider the house you are moving to:
  •  What level is your new house on?
  •  Is there sufficient access for large appliances and pieces of furniture?

   

2 Weeks to Go

•  Continue to pack.
•  Insurance:
  •  Check your insurance policy – will it cover the move?
  •  Do you have Premises/Home and Contents Insurance for where you are moving to?
•  Start using up perishables and frozen foods.
•  Organize cutoff dates for phone, electricity, gas, and water.
•  Decide what to do with your children and organize a babysitter if necessary.
•  Inform of your intended change of address:
  •  Newspaper & magazine subscriptions.
  •  Businesses, colleagues.
  •  Other service providers.
  •  Tax office and other government authorities.
•  Cancel your memberships e.g., gym and video store.
•  Think about booking professional cleaners.

The Week of the Move

•  The seller gets Settlement time and date: Settlement time is usually only made final about 7 days before settlement. As soon as you are notified of the date, contact your removalist and other service providers immediately.
•  Pre-settlement Inspection: Buyer is entitled to make a Pre-settlement inspection at any reasonable time 1 week before settlement. The seller obliged to hand over the property in the same condition as when it was sold.
•  Ensure everything is packed except essential items.
•  Return your library books and rentals.
•  Use up all your perishable foods.
•  Keys: The Seller should provide all keys to the Selling agent (or sometimes it may be arranged for you to leave a spare set at the property for the Buyer to collect).

The Day Before the Move

•  Clean empty and defrost your fridge.
•  Wash and dry your dirty clothes.
•  Make sure you have access to things you will need during the move, wallet, keys, etc.
•  Pack a box of things you will need as soon as you arrive at your new home, i.e., the kettle, mugs, cutlery, paper plates and plastic cups, tea, coffee, sugar, long-life milk, breakfast items, garbage bags, toilet paper, bed sheets, and pillows.

Moving Day

•  Settlement Date: The balance of the purchase price paid to the seller, title of the property is transferred to the Buyer. Rates and charges are adjusted between the Seller and the Buyer.
•  Vacant Possession: Unless otherwise agreed the Seller’s property is to be vacant at the time of Settlement, the Buyer can usually obtain the keys and take possession.
•  Disconnect your phone, electricity, and gas.
•  Make sure that kids and pets are out of harm’s way.
•  Final Check:
  •  Cupboards, underneath sinks, on top of cupboards, and bathroom cabinets.
  •  Tighten taps.
  •  Turn off the power and water heater at the mains.
  •  Put out the garbage and recycling bins.
  •  Do a final walk-through with the removalists.
  •  Lock all doors and windows as you leave.