Items easily left behind during a move

A final check is easier when it follows a list rather than memory. The five groups below are practical prompts from everyday household moving: dishwasher contents, money or valuables set aside, chargers, stored belongings and children's toys. They are not a statistical ranking of what people forget most often.

Use the list before packing starts and again after the main furniture has moved. Decide who will check each area and distinguish between belongings going with you and items that must remain under the property handover arrangements.

Empty the dishwasher and check kitchen storage

Dishes and cutlery can be overlooked when they are inside an appliance rather than visible in a cupboard. Plan the final dishwasher use so you have time to empty it and pack the contents before leaving. A reminder on your moving checklist can help prevent a finished load from being forgotten.

Check whether the appliance itself is going or staying, but make a separate decision about what is inside it. Do not assume the crew will open an appliance to inspect the contents or that an appliance remaining at the property should retain your dishes.

Keep immediate kitchen essentials together so they are not washed, put away and then overlooked during the last round of packing. The kitchen guide helps sequence those final tasks.

Account for money and valuables set aside

Review any places where you have put money, jewellery, documents or other valuables for safekeeping. Keep that review private and use an appropriate personal record if needed. This is a prompt to account for belongings, not advice to conceal valuables in the home or label their location publicly.

Decide how important items will travel and who is responsible for them. Keep items travelling with you separate from ordinary moving boxes so helpers do not load them by mistake. Check that the personal bag or case is with the intended person before departure.

If something cannot be found, pause and retrace the preparation steps while access to the property is still available. Avoid accusing helpers or the moving team based only on an incomplete check. Record the facts and follow the appropriate reporting process if there is a genuine concern.

Look for chargers and small electrical accessories

Sockets behind desks, beds and other furniture can conceal chargers or power accessories. Check them once the furniture has been moved and the area is safely accessible. Do not pull cords blindly or reach into an unsafe space to finish the checklist.

Keep cables and accessories associated with the device they serve. A labelled pouch or another suitable arrangement can prevent a necessary part from disappearing into a miscellaneous box. Keep an immediately needed charger with your personal essentials.

Check the preparation instructions for equipment being moved and tell the team about anything still connected. Do not assume removal staff will disconnect every device or know which cable belongs to which household member.

Review infrequently used storage areas

Built-in cupboards and less frequently used storage can be missed because their contents are outside the normal packing route. Make an inventory early enough to arrange access and appropriate handling rather than discovering the goods when the truck is ready to leave.

Attics and crawlspaces may be difficult or unsafe to enter. Do not enter an unsafe area or ask an unprepared helper to do so. Arrange suitable assistance and tell the mover where goods are located so any additional preparation can be discussed.

Mark an area as checked only after its relevant contents have been accounted for. If access cannot be completed before moving day, record that unresolved task and agree a later arrangement. Do not quietly remove it from the list because it is inconvenient.

Include children in a supervised toy check

Children may put toys in places adults would not think to search. Ask about favourite items early and check safely accessible furniture, cupboards and play areas together before the main loading begins. Keep the process away from active carrying routes.

Set aside a small group of familiar items for the journey or first evening, according to the family's needs. Make clear which bag contains them and who will carry it. This reduces the chance of a favourite toy being packed again after it was deliberately set aside.

Do not ask children to search behind moving furniture or in unsafe spaces. Have an adult complete the final check once the area is clear. The aim is to account for belongings without interfering with the moving team's work.

Close the check before handing over

Walk through each room after loading and check the spaces exposed by removed furniture. Compare any unresolved notes with the inventory. Confirm what stays with the property using the leave-behind guide and the applicable handover arrangements.

If something is found late, tell the crew and confirm whether it can be added to the load. Do not hide an extra item in an already packed box without checking its suitability. If departure has already occurred, contact the relevant property or moving contact to agree access or collection.

For a move involving Perth, see the Perth interstate service. Call 1800 500 584 to discuss the inventory, access and any unresolved collection arrangements before moving day.