The challenges of moving interstate: Everything you need to know

Any house move is a stressful process but when you are one of the estimated 340,000 people who move interstate each year, there are some extra degrees of difficulty.

Searching from a distance

The internet is a powerful tool when looking for a property but 360 degree views are no substitute for seeing a house in person.

Malcolm Gunning, president of the Real Estate Institute of Australia, agrees that caution is needed: “Understand that when you look online only the best aspects of the property are shown.”

Enlisting family and friends to inspect a property on your behalf can be a great help, but for those with no connections to the new area, online platforms such as Airtasker might be just the answer.

Whoever you ask will have an easier job if you provide a clear list of requirements and questions. Face-time or other video-call options are invaluable. “This often takes place, it’s fine,” says Gunning.

Try before you buy

Gunning strongly advises renting before buying in your new location. “Never move and buy a house straight away,” he says. “You are more likely to make decisions that aren’t based on a depth of knowledge. Renting helps you take stock of the area.”

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If you have no option but to buy from a distance, Gunning recommends engaging a buyer’s agent. “They know the area well and have connections with [real estate] agents,” he says. “It seems like a lot of money, but in the overall scheme of a purchase, it is not.”

If two of you are making the move, make use of the “divide and conquer” plan – one person moves up and searches for a property while living in a hotel or with friends, and the second person continues packing and makes the move later.

The state of real estate rules

Real estate rules and conventions vary from state to state. With rentals, standard periods vary, as do bond amounts and in-advance rental required.

Differences are more marked with buying. For example, NSW allows “guzumping”, a practice where another buyer can make a higher offer on a property even after you have paid a deposit. NSW also requires you to register your intention to bid before an auction takes place (no impulsive buys like those cavalier Victorians!)

Differences are often a case of “you don’t know what you don’t know”, so do online research. Some real estate agents will be savvy about the differences, but according to Gunning most agents are “area-centric”. As well as a buyer’s agent, enlisting the services of a conveyancer local to your new area can be very helpful.

Moving day

Moving day can become moving-week when your journey includes crossing a state border. It can also be very expensive.

Joe Lopino, executive director of AFRA, the peak industry body for furniture removalists, agrees that an interstate move is the perfect opportunity for serious decluttering, as every square metre will add big dollars to your move costs. “If I was moving interstate, I’d be ruthless about what I was taking with me,” he says.

Clarity about inventories, contract arrangements and insurance are even more important with interstate moves, according to Lopino, because of the potential for multiple providers to be involved. “The truck that picks up is not necessarily the one that delivers. Often rail is part of the journey,” he says (or boat if your move includes Tasmania).

You might be tempted by lower prices offered for “backload” services, however, this is only an option if you can live without your belongings at either end for a considerable time. Lopino urges use of a removalist company rather than a generic broker-style website. “These are a high-risk environment,” he says of the latter. “You have no guarantee of where your goods are at any time.”

When booking a company, opt for removalists based in the area you are moving to, as this can result in a cheaper move, especially when moving from a city to a regional area.

If your move is temporary, consider using storage while living more lightly in your new state. It’s not cheap so isn’t recommended as an alternative to making some hard decisions. And don’t underestimate what a big job it will be to sort it all out later, especially if your move becomes permanent or if you move on elsewhere.

There’s also the option to “do it yourself”. One-way truck rentals can be cost-prohibitive but, for smaller loads, there are several brands of one-way enclosed trailer rentals that have depots all across the country.

The challenges continue

Finding somewhere to live and the physical process of moving are just the first hurdles in a series of challenges.

You’ll need to get a new driver’s licence, change your car registration and update your insurance policy.

If you have children you’ll have the added challenge of getting to know the different states’ education systems, including age cut-offs.

But once these challenges subside, and they will, you’ll be able to enjoy the positives of your interstate move. There’s nothing quite like making new friends, finding the perfect cafe and getting out of your comfort zone, something only a big move will do.