Interstate moves are the ones most likely to have a genuine gap — your old settlement date, your new one, and the day an interstate removalist can actually deliver your belongings don't always line up, especially over a long distance.
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How to do it
- Check your actual dates first — settlement day, removalist delivery day, and the day you can physically get keys aren't always the same day on an interstate move.
- Book a short-stay option near your new place, not just anywhere in the city — being close by saves real hassle on moving day itself.
- Ask your removalist directly whether they offer short-term storage if your new place genuinely isn't ready — some do, as part of the same booking.
- Book earlier if your move falls around a peak period — short-term accommodation books out around the same busy periods your movers do.
- Factor in what you'll need with you during the gap — if your belongings are in transit or storage, pack a separate bag with essentials so you're not without basics for however many days the gap runs.
It's also worth checking cancellation terms before you book, in case your settlement or delivery date shifts by a day or two either side of what you originally planned for.
Working out how long you need it
- Count from the day you hand back your old keys to the earliest of your new lease start, settlement, and the day your removalist can deliver.
- Add a buffer for the delivery leg. Interstate trucks run on set schedules, so ask your interstate removalist for the delivery date in writing before you book a stay.
- Choose cancellation terms to match how firm those dates are. A slightly dearer flexible booking is cheaper than paying twice if settlement moves.
- Book a stay you've verified. Pay through the booking platform or a business you can check, rather than by direct transfer to someone you found in a listing, and check Scamwatch for current scams.
If your belongings will be waiting too, sort short-term storage at the same time, and see our interstate moving guide for the wider timeline.
Common mistakes
- Assuming settlement day and delivery day will automatically line up — confirm both against the calendar rather than trusting it.
- Booking accommodation on the wrong side of the city for your new address.
- Leaving it until the week of the move, when both movers and short-term stays are hardest to book.
Related tasks
If you already know there's a gap, mention it when you're getting quotes for your interstate removalist — see if short-term storage can be bundled into the same booking.
Frequently asked questions
- How long should I book temporary accommodation for?
- From the day you hand back your old keys to the latest of your new lease start, settlement and furniture delivery, plus a buffer. Get the removalist's delivery date in writing before you lock in the stay.