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The Sunshine Coast is a lovely place to live. However, if you fancy swapping the beaches, mountains and hinterland for the bright lights, iconic sites and job opportunities that define city life, then thereโs no better place than Sydney.
But while the thought of starting a new life in the big city can be incredibly exciting, itโs worth remembering that moving home is one of the most stressful things you can do.
This is particularly true for people with a disability, as the logistics of relocation are a lot more complicated for them.
So, how can you successfully navigate a move to Sydney from the Sunshine Coast with a disability?
Whether it be for work, a relationship, to be closer to family and friends, or simply a change of scene, here are some tips we hope youโll find useful.
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Find suitable accommodation
Unless (or even if) you have someone you can stay with temporarily when you arrive in Sydney, you are going to have to find suitable accommodation at some point that accounts for your disability.
Thankfully, several sources, including local real estate companies and the New South Wales government, can point you in the right direction of various initiatives that can help.
Perhaps your best starting point, though, is to contact a disability housing provider, who should have a range of suitable listings available for you to peruse.
One great option to consider is supported independent living or SIL accommodation in Sydney with United For Care. They offer a range of properties across the city, including in Bondi Junction, Liverpool, Merrylands and Darlington.
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Declutter
Once you have found somewhere to live, you will need to get organised and start to pack. However, before you do this, it is worth taking the time to declutter your possessions.
Although this might seem like a chore, it is a very worthwhile exercise because it will reduce the number of things you will have to take with you to Sydney.ย
It is important to be ruthless when decluttering in preparation for an out-of-state move. Therefore, you should sell, donate to charity, and recycle everything you donโt intend to take with you.
For any other items you donโt want, make sure you have them responsibly disposed of.
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Start packing
Having decluttered, you can start to pack. To do this effectively, you will need to source boxes and packing materials.
It is also worth drawing up a checklist of all the important tasks you need to do and taking a strategic, room-by-room approach to packing your things away safely and securely.
If you are not able to do this yourself or call in the assistance of family and friends, you can always enlist the help of a specialist removal company.
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Source Removalists
Talking of a removalist company, you will need to find one who can transport your possessions from the Sunshine Coast to Sydney.
There are quite a few around. So, take the opportunity to get some quotes and do your due diligence about the capabilities and professionalism of the company, based on reviews from other customers with disabilities.
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Leave your old home and travel to your new one
You will need to arrange a day to vacate your current property with the removalists, as well as other interested parties, such as the real estate if you were renting on the Sunshine Coast.
Once your possessions have been picked up by the moving company and sent to Sydney, you will need to travel to your new home.
Whether this is by flying or driving is something you will need to finalise, along with the necessary travel requirements, taking into account your disability, before you leave. However, it is important for you to arrive at your new property before the removalists do, to ensure the moving-in process goes smoothly.
As Sydney is over 1000 km from the Sunshine Coast, be sure to take one last opportunity to visit your favourite spots, such as Mooloolaba Beach, the Sunshine Plaza or Maroochy Bushland Botanic Gardens.
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Move In
Once you have the keys and the removalist firm arrives with your possessions, you will need to start the process of moving into your new home.
Some removalist companies can unpack items for you as part of their service. But if you would rather not pay for that, you will need to organise it yourself.
Again, the best way to do this is through a strategic room-by-room process. It’s a good idea to start with the kitchen and your bedroom first because it means you will at least have somewhere to cook and somewhere to sleep while the rest of the house is getting sorted.
Once you have unpacked all your belongings, donโt forget to responsibly throw out all of your rubbish. The last thing you will want to do is start cluttering up your new home again.