House Shifting Checklist: 10 Things to Do Before Moving Day

Most moving-day stress is not caused by the moving — it is caused by the things left undone before it. A little planning turns a chaotic shift into a calm one. Here is the checklist our supervisors wish every family followed, laid out by when to do each thing.

Two weeks before

• Declutter honestly. Every kilo you donate, sell or bin is a kilo you do not pay to move. Start with the loft, the store room and that one cupboard everyone avoids.
• Book your movers and lock the date. Get a free survey and written quote so the price is fixed, not guessed. Month-ends and Sundays fill first.
• Tell your society. Ask about the move-in/move-out rules, lift booking and any deposit — most delays happen at the gate, not the truck.

One week before

• Sort papers and valuables. Keep jewellery, cash and documents in one bag that travels with you — never in the truck.
• Plan appliances. Defrost the fridge a day ahead, arrange AC uninstallation, and note what needs reinstalling at the new home.
• Update your address for bank, gas, deliveries and any subscriptions.
• Use up perishables and open food — they should not travel.

One day before

• Pack an OPEN-FIRST box: phone chargers, a change of clothes, medicines, basic toiletries, the kettle, tea and biscuits. This box saves your first night.
• Charge your phone and keep the moving supervisor's number handy.
• Confirm the slot and the parking spot for the truck at both ends.

On moving day

• Do a final walk-through — check the loft, balcony, behind doors and the geyser cupboard.
• Keep the keys, the OPEN-FIRST box and valuables with you.
• Note the carton count as it loads, and again as it unloads, against the packing list.

That is really it. A good moving company handles the heavy lifting, the packing material and the transport — your job is mostly to declutter early and keep the essentials with you. If you are moving within the city, our local shifting team finishes most homes in a day; for a move to another city, the domestic shifting process explains timelines and insurance.