Remote Work Moving: How Aussies Are Turning Their Sea Change Dreams into Reality

Discover how remote work is reshaping Australian moving trends. From sea changes to tree changes, learn why Aussies are swapping city life for regional bliss in the WFH era.

6 min read

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Key takeaways

• Remote work is dramatically reshaping where Australians choose to live, with many opting for sea changes and tree changes.
• Regional areas are seeing an influx of city dwellers seeking more space, affordability, and lifestyle benefits.
• The shift to remote work has significant implications for the moving industry, including an increase in long-distance and interstate moves.
• While the regional move offers many benefits, there are challenges to consider, such as internet connectivity and social adjustment.
• The future of work and moving is likely to be more flexible, tech-driven, and lifestyle-oriented than ever before.

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Remember the days when your biggest morning commute decision was whether to risk the last of the milk in your coffee? Well, buckle up, because the world of work has gone and done a complete 180 on us.

Picture this: It's early 2020, and you're sitting in traffic, contemplating the meaning of life (or more likely, wondering if you remembered to turn off the hair straightener). Fast forward a few months, and you're sitting at your kitchen table in your tracksuit pants, contemplating the meaning of life (or more likely, wondering if anyone would notice if you turned your camera off for the rest of this Zoom call).

Welcome to the brave new world of remote work, ushered in by the global pandemic of 2020. Your commute is now measured in steps rather than kilometers, and "business casual" means remembering to wear pants during video calls. But here's the kicker: This shift isn't just changing how we work—it's flipping the script on where we live. And let me tell you, it's a game-changer.

The great Australian un-tethering: When WFH means 'wherever from home'

Remember when choosing where to live meant balancing your desire for a backyard against your tolerance for soul-crushing commutes? Those days are now as outdated as your Year 10 haircut (you know the one).

Remote work has essentially taken a giant pair of scissors to the invisible tether connecting our homes to our workplaces. And just like that time you decided to cut your own fringe, people are embracing this newfound freedom with a mix of excitement and "what have I done?"

The siren call of the regions: Where 'tree change' isn't just a fancy name for an air freshener

So, what happens when you tell a bunch of city dwellers they can live anywhere? Turns out, a lot of them start eyeing those idyllic country towns and beachside communities they used to visit on long weekends. The impact of remote work on housing choices is clearer than the water at Bondi on a good day: regional relocation is booming. In fact, this trend is part of a larger urban exodus we're seeing across Australia, like a reverse Gold Rush, but with better Wi-Fi.

Why are so many embracing the tree change or opting for a sea change? Well, grab a cuppa and let's break it down:

1. More bang for your buck: City real estate prices often make you wonder if you accidentally stumbled into a luxury yacht showroom. Regional areas? Not so much. Suddenly, that deposit you've been saving might actually buy you a whole house instead of a fancy parking spot for your non-existent car.
2. Space: The final frontier: After months of WFH in a shoebox apartment where your bed doubles as your office chair, the idea of a dedicated home office (that isn't also your bedroom, living room, and occasional yoga studio) starts to sound pretty appealing. Hello, rural relocation! Goodbye, accidental unmute during important calls while your neighbour practices their death metal vocals.
3. Nature on tap: There's something to be said for being able to go for a bush walk or beach stroll without having to plan it like a military operation. It's no wonder the work from home lifestyle changes are pushing people towards greener pastures. Who wouldn't want to trade traffic jams for kangaroo spotting on your morning jog?
4. The simple life: Some people are just over it. "It" being everything from crowded public transport to the constant background hum of city life. They're ready to trade their lattes for lifestyle, their food delivery for homegrown veggies. (Just wait until they discover how hard it is to grow tomatoes, though.)

But wait, there's a catch (isn't there always?)

Before you start packing your bags and googling "how to grow your own avocados" (spoiler alert: it's harder than you think), let's talk about the potential pitfalls of this tree change/sea change business:

1. Internet: The good, the bad, and the "why won't this page load?": Nothing puts a damper on your remote work dreams quite like realizing your new town's idea of high-speed internet is a possum running messages between houses.
2. The great takeaway famine: Late-night food cravings hit differently when the nearest restaurant closes at 8pm... and is a 30-minute drive away. Hope you like cooking!
3. Social life reboot: Making friends as an adult is hard enough. Now try doing it in a town where everyone else has known each other since kindergarten. Time to brush up on your small talk and baking skills – nothing says "be my friend" like a homemade dessert.
4. The great outdoors... is very outdoorsy: That charming local wildlife might seem less charming when it's setting up camp in your roof. Turns out, possums are terrible roommates.

If you're considering a move, make sure to check out our guide on 5 mistakes to avoid when moving to a new home. Trust me, future you will thank present you for the heads up.

What this means for the moving industry: Long-distance moving, Australian style

All of this relocating kerfuffle is shaking up the world of moving faster than you can say "Where did I pack the kettle?" Here's what's going down:

1. Long-distance relationships: Movers are seeing more long-haul moves as people decide that if they're going to move, they might as well go big or go home. (Or in this case, go big TO home.) Long-distance moving in Australia is becoming the new normal. If you're planning an interstate move, check out our ultimate guide to moving interstate in Australia. It's got more tips than a porcupine in a balloon factory.
2. Seasonality schmseasonality: The old rules about moving seasons are going out the window faster than your plans for a quiet weekend. People are moving when it suits them, not when the school calendar says they should. January moves? Why not! December relocations? Bring it on!
3. Full service, please: When you're moving your entire life across the country, suddenly the idea of paying someone to pack your stuff doesn't seem so extravagant. In fact, it sounds downright luxurious. "You mean I don't have to tetris my life into boxes? Sign me up!"

Crystal ball time: The future of moving and flexible work living arrangements

If I had a dollar for every time someone claimed to predict the future accurately, I'd have enough money to afford a studio apartment in Sydney. But hey, let's give it a go anyway:

1. The rise of the digital nomads: Why settle for one tree change when you could have many? We might see more people embracing a nomadic lifestyle, hopping from one idyllic location to another. Today Tasmania, tomorrow the Top End!
2. Tech-savvy moves: Virtual reality home tours? AI-powered moving quotes? An app that magically packs and unpacks your boxes? Okay, maybe not that last one (yet), but technology is bound to make moving easier and more efficient. 
3. Lifestyle-driven decisions: As work becomes less about where you go and more about what you do, we'll likely see more people choosing their homes based on lifestyle factors. Surfing every morning? Mountain biking on weekends? Living in a town where everyone knows your name (for better or worse)? The world's your oyster. Or your flat white. Or your soy decaf latte with an extra shot. You do you.

Wrapping it up: Embracing the remote work property market shift

So there you have it, folks. Remote work isn't just changing our Zoom backgrounds—it's changing the entire landscape of where and how we choose to live. Whether you're dreaming of a sea change, a tree change, or just a change of scenery that doesn't involve staring at the same four walls, the world of remote work has cracked open possibilities that were once the stuff of "maybe someday" daydreams.

And hey, if you do decide to take the plunge and join the work from home relocation revolution, remember that Find a Mover is here to help. We can't promise to make packing fun (let's be real, nothing can do that), but we can at least make sure your stuff gets from point A to point B without you losing your mind in the process. Don't forget to check out our ultimate moving house checklist to keep your move more organized than your Nan's recipe box.

Happy moving, and may your new home office have better wi-fi than your old one! Welcome to the brave new world of remote work moving—where your office view is limited only by your imagination (and your internet connection). Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a Zoom call to attend... from my hammock.