Although the infographic below was created by a company that services Australia, we think it’s good advice that applies to moving in Texas as well. Both places are known for wide open spaces, unique accents, friendly laid-back people, and a love of country music! To keep up with other useful tips like this one, be sure to follow us on Facebook.

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5-8 Weeks to Go

• Clean out the garden shed and roof gutters
• Run down supplies of frozen and perishable food
• Sell large appliances that you will not take
• Keep a list of incoming mail and notify change of address
• Tell your friends and relatives that you’re moving
• Prepare an inventory of everything
• Notify your children’s school and make any necessary transport arrangements

4 Weeks to Go

• Begin setting aside any important documents such as medical and school records
• If renting, notify your landlord

3 Weeks to Go

• Notify your change of address with local utilities and any other service providers
• Arrange the sale of any vehicles that will not be going with you

2 Weeks to Go

• Notify the bank
• Arrange transportation of family pets

7 Days to Go

• Redirect your mail to your new address through the post office
• Change address on license and registration for vehicles

5 Days to Go

• Finalize utilities including disconnection and connection at new address
• Confirm new phone numbers and date of connection
• Collect any items being serviced (e.g. dry cleaning or shoe repairs)
• Cancel any subscriptions and deliveries (newspaper, food, etc.)
• Return any rental items from the library/video store

3 Days to Go

• Cancel any domestic services (e.g. lawn mowing, cleaning, etc.)
• Empty trash bins and clear out the garage
• Properly dispose of flammables, fuel, and cleaning supplies

1 Day to Go

• Defrost fridge and freezer; wash out interior of fridge
• Make sure gas, electricity, and water meters have been read

On the Big Day

• Carry all important documents with you
• Make sure all taps, gas, electrical switches and lights are turned off
• Lock doors and windows and collect all keys
• Double check that nothing has been left behind

Some Important Considerations When Moving

• Kitchen – Food and liquids: discard any open and unsealed goods
• Laundry – Appliances: disconnect from power and water supply
• Living areas – Refer to the manufacturer’s specifications for guidance on preparing electronic items for transport
• Outdoors – Clean down garbage bins, lawn mowers, tools and other outdoor items
• Plants – Donate any plants when moving long distances
• Dangerous goods – The following cannot be moved: cooking oils, cleaning solvents, aerosol cans, matches, pesticides, paint, thinners, oil, fuel/gasoline, kerosene, turpentine, weed killers, swimming pool treatments containing liquid chlorine (be sure to remove any fuel or gas from lawn mowers, heaters, lamps, etc.)

Keep a Survival Pack of Items You’ll Need Immediately

These items should be packed in a separate box, appropriately marked and placed at the read of the load to ensure that it is one of the first items unloaded. To ensure nothing is left behind, it is essential that at the completion of loading you do a final check of your home.

• Electric kettle / coffeepot
• Coffee mugs
• Coffee / tea
• Teaspoons
• Toilet paper
• Favorite toys for young children
• Soap
• Corkscrew
• Bottle / can opener
• Torch
• Knife
• Paper plates
• Tissue
• Clean clothes
• Screw driver
• Hammer

Image Credit: Grace Removals Group via visual.ly

The Austin Relocation Guide offers answers to the top 20 questions asked about Austin, the 4th most populous city in Texas and the 11th in the U.S. We’ve selected our top five from their list of frequently asked questions – what we consider the most important things you should know before moving to Austin. Knowing what the weather in Austin is like is particularly important, as it may affect your decision on what time of year to make your big move from other cities in Texas.

While we realize that jobs are one of the main reasons people move to Austin, there is also a wonderful array of things to do in town, whether it’s a night out on the town for dinner or live music, or exploring the outdoors at one of Austin’s many rivers and creeks or the hike and bike trails. If you decide that Austin is the right city for you, be sure to check out our moving services.

1) Weather in Austin

Austin usually has hot, humid summers and mild winters. On average, temperatures reach the 90s (in degrees Fahrenheit) 116 days per year Lake Travis and the 100s 18 days per year, with the highest ever recorded being 112 degrees. Winter temperatures occasionally drop below freezing, but usually hover in the low 40s or high 30s. Snowfall is rare in Austin, and precipitation averages about 34 inches per year.

2) Getting a Job in Austin

In April of 2013, Forbes named Austin the second best city for finding employment. Austin’s unemployment rate is only 5.3%, and employment is growing in the healthcare and technology fields, fueled by the number of quality higher education institutions.

3) Best Shopping in Austin

South Congress Avenue, or SoCo to the locals, features music venues, art galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and food trucks. The Domain, another great shopping area, is 700,000 square feet of shops, most featuring local independent designers. The Second Street District is lined with eclectic, friendly, and often eco-friendly boutiques.

4) Activities in the Austin Outdoors

Austin’s “Violet Crown” refers to the purple glow of the hills surrounding the city just after a winter sunset. These hills can be explored via the Violet Crown Trail System, which starts in Zilker park and ends 30 miles south in Hays County. Zilker ParkThere are three man-made lakes nearby: Lake Austin, and Lake Walter E. Long are stocked for recreational fishing, and Lady Bird Lake offers recreational water sports, as well as biking and hiking trails for land-lovers. Austin’s “secret stretch” of the Colorado River, near Roy Guerrero Park, offers fishing, water sports, and the Colorado Wildlife Sanctuary.

5) Nightlife in Austin

Nightlife in the Live Music Capitol of the World is dominated by–you guessed it–live music venues. There are tons of concert clubs throughout the city, one of the most popular being The Continental Club. For those who are looking for something a little darker in their nightlife, ghost tours of Austin’s haunted sites are available as well. Another great Austin experience can be found on the Congress Avenue Bridge, where hundreds of bats billow from below the bridge, into the dusky sky like smoke.