Moving Checklist for Switzerland

A good moving checklist is very important for a move. Whether you are a checklist pro or you don't think much of checklists: this checklist will simplify your move and save you from trouble. Because a move is special in that only few people have a lot of experience with it. This moving checklist was tested and improved by the author himself during his own move.

Checklist: As early as possible

1. Carefully review the new lease agreement, possibly have it checked by a specialist (www.mieterverband.ch).
2. Terminate the old lease in due time and in the proper form (only once the new lease has been signed); the letter must reach the landlord at the latest on the last day before the start of the contractually agreed notice period. In the case of a termination outside the regular term, propose three equivalent replacement tenants to the landlord.
3. Arrange the handover date of the old apartment with the management.
4. Arrange the handover date of the new apartment with the new management.
5. Set the moving date.
6. Set the cleaning date.
7. Check whether the internet / TV provider also offers its services at the new place of residence and check the possible speed (this can be checked on the provider's homepage). If no reception is possible at the new location, the contract can be terminated outside the regular term.
8. Compare at least 2-3 quotes from moving companies via top-offerten.ch. Have the date and price confirmed in writing. (See article Hire a moving company).
9. Without a moving company: reserve a moving truck (pick it up the evening before moving day). Attention: very often, moving blankets to protect the furniture and tension straps to secure the furniture have to be rented separately.
10. Without a moving company: organize helpers for the move (attention: liability insurance for the helpers is advisable).
11. Compare at least 3 quotes from cleaning companies, have the date and price confirmed in writing.
12. Without a cleaning company: organize helpers for the cleaning (attention: liability insurance for the helpers).
13. Children: deregister from school / kindergarten at the old location and register at the new location.

1-2 months before the move

1. Clarify the exact handover time of the old apartment with the landlord.
2. Clarify the exact acceptance time of the new apartment with the landlord.
3. Report damages to the old rental property to the management and the liability insurance.
4. Request the floor plan of the new apartment from the landlord or measure it yourself, paying attention to room height and sloping ceilings.
5. Clear out the cellar, attic, garage, terrace (possibly order a second-hand shop / clearance service). Give away, sell, or dispose of furniture you no longer need.
6. Furniture repairs: arrange appointments with a furniture carpenter for defective furniture in need of overhaul. Bring it in before the move and arrange a pickup date for after the move.
7. Submit the available day off to your employer. In Switzerland, you are legally entitled to at least one day (max. 1 per year) for your move.
8. Obtain packing material. For the new apartment, get covering material for the floor during the move.
   • Depending on the moving company, the packing material can be obtained directly from the moving company with delivery. In some cases, even renting with delivery and pickup is possible.
   • From moving shops
   • Rental offers
   • Department stores: IKEA, TopTip, etc.
   • From friends / acquaintances.
9. Use up frozen and emergency supplies.
10. If necessary, select new furniture and order it directly to the new address. With new furniture, longer delivery times sometimes have to be expected.

2-4 weeks before the move

1. Carry out address changes, set up a mail forwarding order.
   • Bank / PostFinance / credit card institute
   • Residents' registration office (also necessary for dogs, if you own one).
   • Tax office
   • Crèche, kindergarten, school
   • Military / civilian service / civil protection, fire brigade
   • Employer
   • Road traffic office
   • Health insurance and insurances (review the insurances, adjust them if necessary).
   • Magazines and newspapers
   • Self-employed persons and pensioners: AHV compensation fund
   • Electricity, gas, and water utility (provide the exact moving date for reading the meter).
   • Telephone, internet, and TV (exactly on the moving date!)
   • SERAFE (radio and television license)
   • Clubs and institutions
   • Doctor and dentist
   • Home delivery services
2. Start packing: first the secondary rooms such as the cellar, attic, garage, terrace, then the office and living space. When packing, choose a sensible system so that the boxes can be brought to the correct room at the destination (labeling, numbering, colored stickers). Due to the risk of confusion, do not use garbage bags for packing. Paper bags are also rather unsuitable, as they stack poorly in the vehicle.
3. Packing information:
   • Load boxes to a maximum of 25 kg.
   • Stand books, records, and pictures upright if possible.
   • Stand porcelain, glasses, and plates upright and cushion them well.
   • Also label boxes on the side, so that the contents can be read even with entire stacks of boxes.
4. If necessary: have a parking space reserved with the police (or in some cases with the municipality) (old and new location).
5. Create a furniture layout plan for the new apartment, taking into account electrical, telephone, and TV connections. Make several copies for the move. Tip: draw the plan and the large furniture to scale, so that the planning works out. Large furniture can be cut out of separate paper, so it can be moved back and forth on the plan to find what fits best.
6. Check whether all keys from the previous rental property are present.
7. Inform the caretaker and neighbors.

One week before the move

1. Discuss the details of the move with the moving company.
2. Discuss the details of handing over the old apartment with the landlord and the cleaning company and agree on the exact date.
3. If cleaning the old rental property yourself, obtain enough cleaning agents and material.
4. Depending on the transport situation, water large plants only sparingly (this can make a considerable difference in weight).
5. If possible, move valuable and fragile small items personally and separately.
6. Start packing in the living rooms. Completely empty furniture and drawers, remove shelves from dressers and shelving.
7. Depending on the agreement with the moving company, dismantle furniture, pack screws and small parts in plastic bags and store them separately, so that they are immediately at hand at the new location (under no circumstances pack them in a box, as in my own experience it will unfortunately always end up somewhere at the very bottom of the stack and impossible to find).
8. Remove nails, screws, and dowels from the walls and fill the holes with Moltofill / filler.
9. If necessary, carry out small repairs.
10. Organize care for small children.
11. If applicable, organize care for pets.
12. Plan the meals so that the refrigerator and the supplies are used up as much as possible.

One day before the move

1. Reserve a parking space, if possible to do yourself (at the old and the new location).
2. Set aside cleaning material and garbage bags separately.
3. Organize / provide refreshments for the move.
4. Label things that should not be moved clearly visibly, and collect them in one place if possible.
5. Set aside a cooler box for frozen products, possibly defrost the freezer.
6. Without a moving company: pick up the rental vehicle (bring your driver's license).
7. Pack important utensils for the new apartment within easy reach: toilet paper, soap, kitchen cloths, kitchen towel, garbage bags, cleaning material, tools, tape, pencil, extension cord, light bulbs / lamps.
8. If possible, already ensure lighting at the new location, so that you can still assemble and set up even after sunset.
9. Packing the entire household must be completed before the move. Usually the boxes are loaded first, and there is considerable extra effort if not everything has been packed yet.
10. Depending on the agreement with the moving company / cleaning company, obtain cash.

Takeover of the new apartment

1. Fill out the takeover protocol completely and keep a carbon copy.

Checklist: On moving day

1. Have cash ready depending on the agreement with the moving company (but be sure to pay only after the complete move).
2. Instruct the moving team (especially the team leader) precisely:
   • Walk through the entire apartment, cellar, attic, garage, simply everywhere where something is coming along.
   • Precise instruction and labeling of items that are not coming along.
   • Inform which items are fragile or valuable.
   • If necessary, inform what needs to be available first at the new location (this must be loaded last).
3. Without a moving company:
   • Load the moving vehicle intelligently: load last what is needed first. It is best to start with boxes. Secure large, heavy items well. Pay attention to the maximum weight and, for trailers, to the maximum drawbar load.
4. Carry out a control round yourself after loading the moving goods.
5. Leave behind enough lamps / lighting for the cleaning of the apartment.
6. In the new apartment:
   • Protect the floors (best with floor fleece, which must not be slippery).
   • Label the rooms (children's room, bedroom, office, etc.)
   • Hang up the furniture layout plan clearly visible.
   • Ensure lighting, install lamps (or have them installed).

Handover of the old apartment

1. Arrange with the cleaning company that someone from the company is present at the handover. Bring cash to pay the cleaning company.
2. Fill out the handover protocol completely and keep a carbon copy. ATTENTION: if you do not agree with complaints from the landlord on the handover protocol, then you must be sure to note this on the original, for example: I do not agree with the noted excessive wear of the carpet.
3. Return all keys to the landlord against a receipt (house keys, mailbox keys, garage keys, cellar keys, attic keys, etc.)
4. Report possible damages to the old apartment to your private liability / household insurance.

After the move

Within 3 days

1. Label the doorbell & mailbox.
2. Note the meter readings for electricity, gas, heating, hot water, etc.
3. With a moving company: inspect the furniture for damages not yet noticed and report them in writing to the moving company within 3 days after the move.

Within 10 days

1. Within the first 10 days, check the apartment for further defects and report them to the landlord by registered mail.
2. Re-register the vehicle documents and driver's license within 10 days, possible online.

Within 14 days

1. Register at the residents' registration office at the new place of residence, within the usual period of 14 days. If you own a dog, register it at the same time.

Within 30 days

1. Check whether the rental deposit of the old apartment has been refunded.
2. Check the health insurance premiums; the premiums depend on the place of residence and you may find a cheaper insurance at the new place of residence.