Moving house tips

Best Day to Move in Australia

Justyn Harrison By Justyn Harrison May 27th

Best time to move house

Let me guess, you were scrolling through RealEstate.com or flicking through FairyFloss on Facebook and found a new place, now you’ve decided that you’re moving house.

With all the stress that comes with moving (cleaning, inspections, packing and unpacking, removalists, utility connections and more) the last thing you want to hear from us is that the day you decide to move house actually plays a large factor in cost, convenience and ensuring you have a smooth transition, sorry.

Even if your decision to move is last-minute, I’m glad you’re here, and this will hopefully give you all the insights you need to make your move hassle-free and cost-effective.

Moving House in Australia (Quick facts!)

House moves are never easy (duh), luckily, the clever chicken cooking up this article (me) has researched the best time to move house, so you don’t have to. I’ve based this on the two most important factors: cost and vibes (okay, not vibes, but it was fun to say). Before we jump into the details, here’s a brief overview of the Australian moving market, so that we’re on the same page. In 2019–2020, it was reported that 1.14 million Australian households moved at least once in the 12 months (that’s a lot of tape). More specifically, Budget Direct found through their data that most people move house in January. (Hold up, that’s not exactly the optimal time to move….you’ll see)  

Why is Janurary 'peak season'?

This is likely due to rental cycles ending and the height of Australian summer. This time of the year is the peak season for a reason. It boasts a favourable climate for moving into a new house (no rain pain), a break from school terms for movers with kids and a hotter rental market, but it has major downsides.

Best Month to Move House

Your moving date plays a factor in the cost of your move, especially if you are using removal companies or professional movers throughout the moving process. While they may give you a free quote, they won’t give you a free service (unlike MyConnect, shameless plug). Moving companies, like any business, have peak periods that coincide with peak moving times in Australia, and their prices often increase with the demand. This can be a major hit to your wallet, with average moving costs for a standard 3-bedroom house showing a price difference of almost $1,000 when comparing peak season averages with off-season prices.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a homeowner or a renter; that money belongs in your pocket. Peek a look at the table below for the average costs of moving services or removalist services broken down by season!

SeasonLocal movesRegional movesInterstate Moves
Summer (Dec-Feb)$1,200 – $1,800$1,800 – $3,000$4,500 – $7,000
Autumn (Mar-May)$1,000 – $1,500$1,500 – $2,500$4,000 – $6,000
Winter (Jun-Aug)$800 – $1,200$1,200 – $2,000$3,500 – $5,500
Spring (Sep-Nov)$1,000 – $1,600$1,600 – 2,800$4,200 – $6,500

Source: Best Rated Transport, UpMove, HiPages, YourMortgage, Sirelo Australia.

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Best Day to Move House (Spoiler: it’s a weekday)

I’m going to be as direct as I can here, weekends are for shucking oysters and Sunday wine bars, not for lifting your couch, early morning key pick-ups or trying to follow the step-by-step of a flatpack – that’s just facts. Another fact is that the day of the week you decide to move can make or break both your bank and your spirit. Sorry again.

Looking at the cost, traffic congestion, removalist rates and availability, the best day of the week to move house is Tuesday or Wednesday. You avoid the heavy demand (and heightened prices) of moving companies, the leisure, holiday and peak hour traffic of Friday afternoon and can avoid mid-morning rush hours with time off work.

The Results

(based on cost, vibes and a little research)

Best month(s): June – August
Best Day: Tuesday & Wednesday

Now that you know the month and day of the week you’re moving in, let’s plan the best housewarming party and offer you our free moving checklist to ensure your move is hassle-free!

Unfortunately, moving home comes with great cost, this is without factoring in van rental, essential packing equipment, if you need to take time off work, or babysitting if you have kids, and it is over the school holidays. There is a range of different service providers you can work with to help you get settled in your new home and have a stress-free moving day, and while taking into account the optimal time or day, we urge you to research companies to ensure you find support that fits into your budget.

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Justyn Harrison

Justyn Harrison

Marketing Coordinator

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