Moving checklist

Stress less, move better with Shurgard's moving checklist.

Moving is always stressful, but at Shurgard we want to help you ease that stress as much as possible. Use our moving checklist for a smooth move.

3 months before

Terminate your rental contract
Let your landlord know about the move if you are in rented accommodation.
Arrange school transfer
Arrange for your children’s transfer to their new school if necessary.
Visa
Check the expiration date of your travel and visa documents.

Research and book moving company
Look up quotes and book your moving company or start asking your relatives and friends for help.
Check insurance policy
Check the moving company's insurance policy: does it cover the goods that you pack yourself?
If you own especially valuable goods, take them for a value estimate for insurance purposes.
Take measurement
Thoroughly measure your new home: see if your old furniture, carpets, curtains etc. will still fit or buy new ones if needed. Make sure larger pieces of furniture will fit through the doors.
Arrange temporary accommodation
Make sure you arrange for temporary accommodation if your new home will not be ready on the day you move out.

Send out a change of address
Let the following know about your new address: your employer, utility providers (electricity, gas, phone...), bank, post, doctors, TV subscription, deliveries etc...
The Royal Mail offers a mail forwarding service.
Arrange subscriptions
Arrange the internet, phone and cable TV subscription for your new home.
Sort and purge
Go through every room of your house and decide what you’d like to keep and what you can get rid of.
Buy moving boxes and packing supplies
Purchase moving boxes and packing supplies like silk paper, bubble wrap, tape...
Start packing
Begin with stuff that you use least frequently. Make sure you label the boxes. Add items of special value such as jewellery and important files to a safe box that you’ll personally transport to your new home.
Check out Shurgard's packing tips and pack like a pro.

Make a request for leave
Ask for time off work on the moving day.
Arrange babysitter
If you have kids or pets, arrange for someone to look after them during the move.
Clean up food supplies
Go through your food supplies and throw away everything that has passed its expiry date.
Contact moving company
Re-confirm the arrangements with the moving company, just to be on the safe side.
Arrange parking
If needed, arrange parking for the removal van or cars during the move out and move in.
Break it down
Start dismantling larger pieces of furniture.
Book storage
Check out our self-storage options and book a unit if necessary.

Move into storage
If you have booked extra storage space, this is the time to move your stuff to your storage unit.
Check out Shurgard's storage tips to make the most our of your storage unit.
Get your keys
Make an appointment to collect the keys to your new home.
Clean your new home
Arrange for a thorough cleaning of your new home or ask friends to help you with it.
Pack your suitcases
Aim to finish your general packing a few days before your moving date.
Pack suitcases for everyone in the family with enough clothes to wear for a few days.
Set aside some essentials
Pack a bag with water, snacks, first aid kit, keys, chargers, moving documents, assembly instructions, leaflets for food delivery...
Set aside a box with some clean towels, bed sheets, toiletries and kitchen utensils for the first few nights.

Defrost the freezer
Empty the fridge and defrost the refrigerator.
Double-check the details
Reconfirm the moving company’s arrival time and other details.
Provide exact, written directions to your new home. Include contact information, such as your mobile phone number.

Verify
Make sure that the moving truck that shows up is from the company you hired.
Take inventory
Before the movers leave, sign the inventory list and keep a copy.