Coffs Harbour is a beautiful relaxed coastal city situated right in between Sydney and Brisbane. It is known for its stunning white sand beaches as well as its rather iconic monument,
‘the Big Banana’, which is featured in the photos of thousands of tourists each year who come to visit the quiet city.
Whilst Coffs Harbour is commonly referred to as a city, it is more like a large town in the way that it operates and has a totally different vibe to Melbourne of Sydney. With a population of just over 70,000 people, this seaside hub operates at a much slower pace when compared with other, larger Australian cities.
To Rent or Buy?
The age-old question. Knowing the best option for you may sometimes seem confusing. Buying a home can bring with it the expectation that you will stay there for a long time whilst renting can mean that you have the flexibility to pack up and leave at a few weeks’ notice. Many people believe that money put towards rent is ‘dead money’, and that you are much better off putting your money towards paying off a mortgage.
Renting in Coffs Harbour
To rent a home in Coffs Harbour you will typically be set back around $500 per week for a four-bedroom house making renting in Coffs harbour more affordable than renting in Gold Coast or Brisbane. Choosing to rent when you first move to Coffs Harbour can be a great idea whilst you are just settling in and are not sure what area you would like to live in. If you are moving there from elsewhere in Australia, you may find it difficult to decide on what kind of house to buy first up and so renting when you first arrive is a great way of getting a taste of the neighbourhood without the commitment of buying a home.
Buying in Coffs Harbour
Much like the rental market, buying in Coffs Harbour is quite a bit more affordable than in other cities in Australia. You can own your own 3-bedroom home in Coffs Harbour
for around $460,000 compared to around
$673,000 in Brisbane. There are many positives when buying a house, namely that you are paying your own mortgage and not that of someone else as well as being able to make any adjustments and renovations that you want so that you can turn your house into your home. If you are wanting to purchase a home, then sites like
realestate.com.au and
domain.com.au will give you a good idea of what is available.
Cost of living in Coffs Harbour
Coffs Harbour is one of Australia’s more affordable places to live in Australia, with lower housing prices and lower cost of living than in cities like Sydney or Melbourne, both of which have a
famously high cost of living.
How to prepare for your move
Being prepared for moving day is the first step toward ensuring that you have a smooth and enjoyable experience and that you start off your new life in Coffs Harbour on a good note. Here are the key things that we recommend doing to prepare for your move.
- Make a checklist
- Alert your friends and family of your move
- Declutter your home
- Source packing materials
Make a checklist
The best way of keeping on top on things in any situation is by making a checklist and when you are moving home it is no different. Your checklist can serve as a kind of timeline for the things that you need to get done prior to move day. Section it off into times, 2 months before the move, 6 weeks before the move, 3 weeks, 2 weeks and so on. This will help you to avoid losing track of anything and even the possibility of getting any fines. (If you wait too long before alerting your post office of your move, they will charge you extra to forward your mail.) We took the time to prepare a
moving house checklist which you can use as a starting point for your own!
Alert your family and friends
When you are moving homes there is so much that you need to do and your mind is on a million things, meaning that sometimes even the most obvious things might slip your mind. Sure, your close family and friends might be aware that you are moving home, but there are so many more people that you need to alert outside of your inner circle.
Declutter your home
Decluttering is something that most people avoid doing around but when it comes time to move home it is inevitable. Holding on to old belongings and things that you have not used in years can increase the cost of your move exponentially as you are transporting items that you don’t want. To learn more about decluttering your home for a move you can read our article
here.
Source packing materials
Getting started early on sourcing your packing materials is a great way of being prepared and even keeping the costs down. Ask friends who have recently moved home if they have any spare boxes or protective materials. You may be surprised with what they pull out of their basement and you could end up saving yourself money in the long run.
Getting settled in, in Coffs Harbour
Once you have arrived in your new home, it is time to get settled in. Coffs Harbour is a great city as it is smaller and the people there have that country town welcoming vibe about them. Despite being a small city there is no lack of things to keep you entertained with a local tennis club, golf club and surf club where you will be able to mingle with and get to know the locals. To help yourself get settled in quicker, consider utilising a professional unpacking service where available. This will mean that you won’t be left with unpacked boxes 6 months into being at your new home.
Allied are Australia’s premier moving company. With over 40 locations in Australia and over 600 locations across the globe, we are perfectly positioned to deliver on your move, no matter whether you're moving from interstate or overseas. Give us a call on 13 25 54 today for a free quote or fill out the online quote request form.
