An ordinary move takes one household from one address to another. A move after separation splits one household into two, and that changes almost everything about the day. There are two sets of keys, two trucks or trailer loads, two sets of utility accounts and often two very different moods in the same hallway. A clear checklist will not make the day easy, but it can keep it orderly and short.
Two to three weeks out
- Agree on the list of who takes what. Go room by room and write it down, including the less obvious things: the ladder, the spare fridge in the garage, the good scissors, the lawnmower. Disputes on moving day are almost always about items nobody thought to mention.
- Pick the date and the timing. If both people are leaving, stagger the pickups by a few hours so two crews are not fighting over the driveway. If one person is staying, arrange for them to be out, or in one room, while the other packs the truck.
- Arrange transport. Movers in the main centres often book out on Fridays and at month end. A trailer hire for a small flat might cost NZD $80 to $150 a day; a two-person crew with a truck for a three-bedroom house can run from several hundred dollars to well over a thousand, depending on distance and stairs.
- Sort out childcare and pets. Children and dogs underfoot make a stressful day harder. A grandparent’s house or a friend’s backyard for the day helps everyone.
The week before
Pack the shared spaces last. Kitchens, linen cupboards and garages are where the splitting gets fiddly, so leave enough time to go through them together or with an agreed list. Label boxes by destination as well as by room, for example “Flat, kitchen” or “House, kids’ room”, using different coloured tape for each household.
Book the utilities. Electricity, broadband and gas need to be connected at the new place and either transferred or disconnected at the old one. Make sure accounts in joint names are updated so nobody is left paying for power at an address they no longer live in. Set up mail redirection through NZ Post for each person separately.
Check insurance. Contents cover usually needs updating when belongings move to a new address, and the person leaving may need a new contents policy altogether. If the house itself is staying in joint names for a while, talk to the insurer about who is living there and who is responsible. The guide to house insurance claims when the owners have separated covers some of the awkward situations that can arise. The Natural Hazards Commission explains how natural hazard cover links to private home insurance, which is worth understanding before the paperwork changes.
On the day
- Pack a first-night box for each household: kettle, mugs, toilet paper, phone chargers, bedding, a change of clothes, medications, basic tools.
- Walk through each room before the truck leaves and check against the written list.
- Take photos of the empty rooms, meter readings and any damage, with the date visible.
- Hand over keys, garage remotes and alarm codes in person, and note who now holds which set.
- Do a final sweep of the shed, roof space and under the house. Paint tins, tools and garden gear are the most commonly forgotten.
Looking after people as well as boxes
It is normal for emotions to spike when the furniture leaves. Keep conversations on the day practical and short. If something on the list is disputed, set it aside, note it and deal with it later rather than arguing in front of the movers or the children. A neutral friend helping each person can lower the temperature. And eat something; people forget to have lunch on moving day more often than they forget the fridge.
Frequently asked questions
Should both people be there on moving day? Not necessarily. If things are tense, it often works better for one person to be away while the other packs, with a friend present to confirm items against the agreed list.
Who cancels the shared utilities? Whoever’s name is on the account needs to make the change. Do it a week ahead with a specific date, and get final meter readings on the day.
What if we cannot agree on certain items? Put them in storage or leave them where they are until the wider property arrangements are settled. Get independent advice if the disagreement is about valuable items.