Unpacking after a move: what to do first

Before the crew leaves

• Tell the crew which room is which, so every box lands in the right place.
• Have beds and large furniture rebuilt and placed where they’ll stay: moving them later is harder.
• Check the fridge and washing machine are in place, and that nothing is left in the truck.

The first night

• Open your essentials box: chargers, medication, toiletries, a kettle, snacks and a change of clothes.
• Make the beds.
• Set up the bathroom: towels, toilet paper, soap and a shower curtain if you need one.
• Check the hot water, the lights and the locks.

The first day

• Kitchen first: plates, cups, cutlery, a pan and the basics you cook with.
• Then clothes, so you’re not living out of a box.
• Plug in the fridge once it has stood upright for long enough (check the manual).
• Connect the internet early: it takes longer than most people expect.

The first week

• Living room, then kids’ rooms, then the study.
• Hang pictures and mirrors once the furniture is placed.
• Leave the storage, garage and decorations until last.
• Unpack one room completely before you start the next: half-unpacked rooms slow everything down.

Want it done for you?

In Sydney, our packers also unpack, at the same rate: $143/hr Monday to Thursday and $154/hr on Fridays and Saturdays for two packers, with a 2-hour minimum. They unpack the rooms you choose, so you can start living in the new place straight away.