Moving House Checklist - South Africa (2026)

Moving house is one of life's most stressful events - but a good checklist makes it manageable. Use this complete South African moving guide to stay on track from 6 weeks out to moving day.

6 Weeks Before Moving Day

• Book your truck or moving service. Use QikTruck's instant quote to compare vehicle sizes and lock in a date. Good slots fill quickly on weekends and month-end.
• Give notice at your current property. Most leases require 1 calendar month's written notice. Check your lease agreement.
• Start decluttering. Donate, sell or discard anything you haven't used in 12 months. Every item you remove reduces your moving cost.
• Collect packing materials. Get boxes from supermarkets, liquor stores and hardware shops. Buy bubble wrap, tape and markers.
• Notify important parties of your new address: employer, SARS, CIPC (if business), banks, medical aid, insurance, school/university.

2-4 Weeks Before Moving Day

• Start packing non-essentials - books, décor, seasonal clothing, spare linens.
• Label every box with contents and destination room. Use colour-coded tape per room.
• Arrange utilities at your new home: electricity (Eskom/municipality prepaid), water, internet (book fibre installation early - it takes 2-4 weeks).
• Cancel or transfer utilities at your current home.
• Change address with the DLTC for your driver's licence and vehicle licence disc.
• Confirm your booking with QikTruck and verify vehicle size. Measure large furniture against doorways and stairwells at the new property.

Moving Week

• Pack room by room. Complete one room before starting the next.
• Disassemble large furniture (beds, wardrobes) and keep all screws in labelled bags.
• Pack a "first night" box with essentials: phone charger, toiletries, change of clothes, coffee, kettle, bedding. This box goes in last and out first.
• Defrost your fridge 24 hours before moving. Clean out kitchen cupboards and pantry.
• Back up important documents to cloud storage: ID, lease, certificates, insurance policies.

Moving Day

• Be ready before the driver arrives. Everything should be packed and labelled.
• Do a final walk-through of every room, cupboard, garage and garden before the truck leaves.
• Check meters at both properties - take photos with a timestamp.
• Direct the driver on where each box and item goes in the new property - use your room labels.
• Check your goods against your inventory as items are unloaded. Note any damage immediately.
• Return keys and get written confirmation from your previous landlord.

After Moving Day

• Set up your internet and utilities within 48 hours.
• Update your address with your medical aid and health insurance.
• Register with a local GP if you've moved to a new area.
• Introduce yourself to neighbours - particularly important for security purposes.
• Update your home contents insurance policy to cover the new address and any new items.

Moving Cost Guide

* Estimates for local moves in Johannesburg. Prices vary by city and distance.

Frequently Asked Questions