Moving in, Moving out - Proper Procedures and Etiquette

There are so many things to think about when moving house. It is considered one of life’s more stressful events,. Good planning and ensuring you are aware of the processes and procedures required at both your new and old residence will make a big difference to how the day goes. Following a few steps with our ultimate moving house checklist will help you start off on the right foot in your new home.

First step is prep

Firstly, a little preparation goes a long way! Having a simple moving checklist will make the moving process a smooth and simple one. By moving day, you should have all of your items packaged and wrapped where appropriate so as to avoid any additional stress. Whether you are enlisting the help of a moving company, friends, family or flying solo, we recommend labelling your boxes as this will help discern which contain fragile items or important documents you may need, which room to move it to and, wear and tear in the long run, make it easier to unpack.

Processes for buildings with lifts

If you are utilising a building lift when moving into or out of your home it is important to notify your real estate agent/property manager and Owners Corporation/Owners Corporations Manager (OC), at least 14 days in advance (the more notice you can give the better). This is strongly recommended so that management can inspect the lift interior prior to your move and record any existing damage to avoid disputes over responsibility and/or repair costs. This also gives them the opportunity to offer you or install protective lift curtains to avoid damage to the lift interior.

Additional benefits to notifying management of your move include:

• You may be able to request the reservation of a lift for your move-in day. If this is possible, they may assign you independent use of a single lift
• They may provide you with a master key for access to lifts during designated hours, assisting you maneuver your goods without the doors getting in your way
• They may be able to reschedule any planned building maintenance which would otherwise interfere with your move in/out
• They may use your notice to also notify other residents of your move - this may help eliminate any negative run ins with tenants unaware or inconvenienced by your move
• You can also be advised of any height limitations or parking allocation for moving vans to accommodate ease of access

Common Property - Common Sense

Living in a strata-titled property isn’t quite like other forms of real estate. There are by-laws and rules that govern what you can and can’t do, plus common areas that you share with others and need to take care of. With this in mind, some other important considerations on your move in day should be:

• Your new neighbours - avoid making enemies on day one by moving in during reasonable hours. We can assure you that your new neighbours won’t take kindly to being woken in the middle of the night if you’re causing a ruckus in the common areas.
• Be mindful to not block your neighbour’s access to roads, garages, or driveways.
• First impressions are important, so if you get the chance, introduce yourself to your neighbours and apologise in advance for any disruption which might be caused during your move.

Previous Residence

When bidding farewell to your previous residence it is important that you uphold your tenancy agreement and leave the property in the best possible condition or as near as possible to the condition prior to your living in it. This means repairing any damage that may have ensued (outside of the generally accepted 'wear and tear'). Do a very thorough clean and ensure that you do not leave behind any items other than the ones that were present when you moved in.

Utility providers

It is important to ensure that you notify all of your utility providers about your move out and move in date. Here is a quick checklist of what to do and who to contact:-

• Check with your real estate agent/property manager and OC/OC manager what utility services are included in your rental agreement and complex. Each state will have its own governing laws, so it is important to find all of this out before you start contacting your providers. It will also depend if the service is separately metered, as to how and who pays for the service
• Check if your apartment building has an embedded network. It is a private energy network within the building where the owner/operator will buy the energy from the retailer and then ‘on-sell’ it to the residents in the building. If it is supplied via an embedded service then it should be included in your tenancy agreement (please check your specific state for rules around this type of service)

Whether you are switching providers or changing address you will need to…

• Let your gas / electricity providers know your move out date at least 3 weeks in advance so that they can arrange the shut off and activation of your services at your old and new premises. They will also let you know if you need to be present at either end, and if a deposit is required
• Contact your telephone company to ensure you change over your landline if needed to your new address
• Get in touch with your internet provider and check what access you will have at your new address eg ADSL/nbn/Cable and ensure you have the right equipment to connect
• Regarding water / sewage it will depend on if it is separately metered and your states overarching laws, as to who pays for water. Generally, your landlord will pay for the supply service charges, however, it will depend on if it is metered separately or if your usage is more than the amount the landlord is billed for by their supplier. Therefore, it is important that you check with your states governing law and also the rental agreements with your landlord.

Additional Considerations

Some additional housekeeping procedures to consider for both moving in and moving out:

• Make arrangements with your new and old property manager to collect the keys for your new property and also of course to drop off keys for your old property. Make sure you know the process around where they are to be dropped off and if there is any paperwork to sign (eg proof/photocopies of the set of keys you are given)
• If you are moving with pets, consider having a friend or family member look after your fur baby on move day. This will eliminate stress on both you and your pet and will allow you to settle into the new apartment before introducing your pet to their new home
• Measure your large furniture items to ensure they will fit up stairwells and in lifts. Consider disassembling larger items to make your move easier.
• Before doing any maintenance or making any changes to your new apartment, ensure you have permission from your landlord and Body Corporate Committee/OC. Don’t assume that because you were able to do certain things in your previous rental that you can do the same in your new rental. Always check first.
• Consider checking your insurance and ensuring your furniture and belongings are insured while they are in transit
• And on that note, make sure you notify all of your insurers including car, home/contents and personal of your new address

Need more information on moving into a new address or out of a strata property? Contact our knowledgeable and experienced Ace Body Corporate Managers and they will be happy to help