Planning your move

Moving checklist: from eight weeks before to your first evening

A good moving plan starts with keys, dates and clear responsibilities. This checklist takes you through eight weeks of preparation, moving day and your first tasks in your new home.

umzughilfen.de editorial team · Updated on 20/09/2026

Illustration: Hands reviewing a planning checklist beside packing materials. Not a customer reference.

Start by establishing your actual timeframe

The eight weeks are a planning aid, not a legal deadline. Your tenancy notice, property handover and access to the new keys all need to fit the schedule. Check your tenancy agreement before this point: your notice period may be longer than this calendar. Only commit to a moving date once access and handover dates are clear.

Keep a shared task list with four columns: task, person responsible, deadline and completed. Only mark an arrangement as complete once the relevant organisation or contractor has confirmed it. If you have less time, start with the short-notice plan at the end of this article.

Your timeline at a glance

When	Main outcome	Who handles it?
8 weeks before	Keys, handovers and the budget are agreed.	Your household and landlord
7 weeks before	The scope of the requested work is clear.	Your household and the company carrying out the work
6 weeks before	Applications and service arrangements are underway.	Your household, providers and local authority
5 weeks before	Your inventory has been revised and key dimensions checked.	Your household
4 weeks before	Materials and the labelling system are ready.	Your household or the agreed packing service
3 weeks before	Access arrangements and responsibilities are confirmed.	Your household, property management and the partner
2 weeks before	Your notification list and move-in documents are ready.	Your household and the person providing the accommodation
1 week before	The day's schedule and your first-evening bag are ready.	Your household and the partner carrying out the move

8 weeks before

Set a realistic schedule and budget

Note your move-out and move-in dates and any overlap between tenancies. Paying for two homes at once costs money, but it can make the schedule less pressured. If your new home will not be ready in time, agree an interim arrangement before booking the move.

Check confirmation of your tenancy termination, the start of the new tenancy and the key handover; resolve outstanding questions in writing.
Request time off or help. Do not assume your employer will automatically grant leave.
Separate your budget into transport, packing materials, furniture assembly, permits, possible temporary storage and overlapping costs.
Make an initial room-by-room list of furniture and heavy or fragile items.

What you should have settled: You know your realistic timeframe and which cost items still need to be clarified.

7 weeks before

Request comparable quotes and know who you will contract with

Give every company you approach the same information. Otherwise, you may be comparing different services. umzughilfen.de is a marketing and referral service: the quote, service contract, invoice and payment are handled directly between you and the independent partner identified before you enter into a contract.

List postcodes and locations, floor levels, lifts, carrying distances and your preferred date range. Provide full addresses when they are needed for planning or preparing a quote.
Prepare a furniture inventory and useful photographs; keep personal documents and people out of the pictures.
Clarify in writing who will pack, carry, dismantle and reassemble furniture, and supply materials. Discuss appliance connections or specialist work separately.
Check exclusions, waiting time, possible extra trips, changes and payment terms. The lowest quoted total alone does not answer these questions.

What you should have settled: You have a comparable scope of work and know the name and address of your potential contractual partner. An enquiry does not reserve a date.

6 weeks before

Arrange electricity, internet and parking early

These six weeks are an organisational lead time, not a general notification deadline. Arrange the electricity contract for your new home before you first use electricity there, and clarify the contract at your old address. Have the supply start date confirmed. The technical 24-hour electricity supplier switch on working days does not replace contractual notice periods or the need to make arrangements in good time; you cannot be assigned retrospectively to your preferred supplier.

Have the meter numbers and, where available, the market location ID (Marktlokations-ID) ready; ask your landlord or provider for the relevant details.
Tell your internet provider about the move, have them check the service available at the new address and agree a changeover date.
Check whether either address needs an authorised temporary no-parking zone. Ask the relevant local authority about application deadlines and how far in advance signs must be put up, and agree responsibilities with the partner.
As a local example, Mainz requires applications at least three weeks in advance and signs to be in place five full days before the date. These rules do not automatically apply in Idstein, Wiesbaden or other towns and cities; arrange the permit and sign placement correctly.

What you should have settled: You know which confirmations are still outstanding and who is handling each service arrangement or application.

5 weeks before

Take only what will fit in your new home

Measure large wardrobes, sofas and tables in particular, along with any narrow doorways and stair landings. A piece of furniture may fit in a room but not through the stairwell. Tell the partner carrying out the move about these tight spots before the scope of work is finally confirmed.

Draw a simple plan of the new rooms and mark where large furniture will go.
Agree firm collection dates for items you are selling or giving away before you start packing.
Clearly separate items you are leaving behind from those to be moved. Arrange waste disposal separately with the relevant organisation; umzughilfen.de does not currently offer waste disposal referrals.
Update the inventory and report changes to the agreed scope of work early.

What you should have settled: Your list now reflects what will actually be transported, rather than the entire contents of your original home.

4 weeks before

Get packing materials and agree a consistent labelling system

Start with things you rarely use. Label every box with its destination room, a short description of the contents and a consecutive number, for example “Kitchen · Glasses · 03”. The label should also be legible on one side of the box. When unloading, the destination room matters more than the room the box originally came from.

Get sturdy boxes and suitable protective materials; discard damaged boxes.
Distribute heavy items among smaller boxes, secure empty spaces and observe each box's stated load capacity.
Protect and label fragile items separately. Close boxes so they can be carried and stacked safely.
Keep documents, keys, valuables and regularly needed medication out of the normal packing process.

What you should have settled: Everyone understands the same labels and knows what should stay out of the moving boxes.

3 weeks before

Check access and assign firm responsibilities

Walk through the route from the parking space to the apartment at both addresses, either in person or as a planning exercise. Check more than just the floor level: a long route through a courtyard, a small lift or building works can significantly affect the move. Follow up on permits now, rather than the night before.

Ask property management whether use of the lift, vehicle access or shared areas needs to be agreed in advance.
Measure narrow points and send photographs to the partner carrying out the move; document existing damage in the stairwell.
Appoint a contact person at the old address and another at the new one. Keep a shared list of phone numbers and appointments.
Arrange care for children and pets away from carrying routes. Give friends or family helping with the move only tasks agreed in advance.

What you should have settled: Every task has someone responsible for it, and any outstanding permissions are clear.

2 weeks before

Prepare address updates and move-in documents

Make your own list covering your bank, insurers, employer, school or nursery, ongoing contracts and shops you regularly use. Mail redirection can help, but it does not replace updating your address directly with important organisations. Which organisations need to know depends on your household.

Note the new address and the appropriate date for each organisation to make the change; keep the confirmations.
Arrange the accommodation provider's confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) in good time and check the procedure at your new registration authority.
As a general rule, you must register your residence within two weeks of actually moving in — not two weeks after signing the contract. Check the official procedure early.
If the accommodation provider refuses to issue the confirmation or does not provide it in time, notify the registration authority without delay.

What you should have settled: Your documents are easy to find, and no registration or notification steps will be overlooked after you move in.

1 week before

Confirm the arrangements and prepare for your first night

Confirm the start time, contacts, access arrangements and agreed work with the partner. Report any additional furniture or changed circumstances now. Pack for your first night as though the other boxes will be inaccessible until the next morning.

Prepare a clearly visible label for each room in your new home that matches the labels on your boxes.
Prepare appliances according to the manufacturer's instructions. Arrange any required transit restraints and qualified help with connections in good time.
Label screws and fittings for each piece of furniture; if dismantling furniture yourself, photograph the connections beforehand.
Add return times for rented vehicles, keys, boxes or equipment to the day's schedule.

What you should have settled: You will not need to negotiate basic responsibilities on moving day.

The day before: a final check

Work from your inventory rather than adding more boxes without keeping track. Keep the personal items you have packed separately clearly identifiable.

Charge phones, save contact details offline and check the keys for both homes.
Check the number of boxes and any special items; resolve outstanding arrangements with the partner.
Keep stairs and walkways clear. Agree protection for floors and doorways.
Have water, simple refreshments and weather-appropriate clothing ready.

Moving day: clear handovers instead of shouted instructions

Go through the scope of work together at the start. Point out fragile items, existing damage and any boxes that should be loaded last or unloaded first. Agree any additional work before it is carried out.

Record meter readings, meter numbers and the visible condition of both properties, including the date.
Keep documents, means of payment, keys and valuables with you; do not leave them among the boxes.
At the new home, show where each room is and check delivered items against your list.
Take clear photographs of any issues or damage, record them in writing and report them promptly to the company contracted to carry out the work. A message sent only to the referral service does not replace this.
Check the old apartment, any additional rooms or storage areas and the letterbox; record the property's condition, meter readings and keys returned in the handover report.

Your first evening: unpack only the essentials

Your priorities are a usable bed, a clear route to the bathroom and what you need for the next morning. Decorating can wait. Do not leave heavy boxes where they will be in the way at night.

Bedding, towels, toilet paper, soap and toothbrushes.
A change of clothes, personal medication and familiar items for children or pets.
Water, a simple meal, cups and some cutlery.
Chargers, a lamp, essential tools and your most important documents.
A dedicated place for all keys where you can find them again.

After moving in: finish outstanding tasks

As a general rule, register your residence within two weeks of moving in and complete your address updates. Check confirmations from utility providers and keep handover reports, quotes and invoices together.

Unpack each room using the inventory; return borrowed materials and equipment on time.
Document any damage as soon as you find it and check the specific legal and contractual reporting deadlines. Do not wait until everything has been unpacked.
Assign a responsible person and a new deadline to any unfinished tasks.

Section 17 of the Federal Act on Registration (Bundesmeldegesetz): residence registration

Only seven days left? Set your priorities

Shorten the preparation period, but still clarify who you are contracting with, access arrangements and safety. If a permit or service connection cannot be ready in time, you need an alternative agreed with everyone involved.

Today: secure keys and handover arrangements, make an inventory and ask what help is available.
Also today: clarify electricity, internet and local parking requirements. Do not assume the street will be clear or a permit will be issued in time.
Next: pack one defined area each day, obtain materials and postpone unnecessary extra projects.
By the day before at the latest: confirm the scope of work and contacts, pack separately for your first night and keep access routes clear.

Frequently asked questions about planning a move

Are eight weeks of preparation compulsory?

No. The calendar is a practical guide. Your tenancy agreement, public authorities, providers and contractors may have different or longer lead times. Check these first.

Does an enquiry through umzughilfen.de already count as a booking?

No. We put you in contact with a partner. A binding contract is formed directly between you and the partner identified beforehand, through that partner's quotation and acceptance process.

Do I always have to notify my electricity provider six weeks before moving?

The technical 24-hour supplier switch does not introduce such a general notification requirement. Nevertheless, arrange your contract early, before you first use electricity at the new address; the specific contractual terms and termination conditions still apply.

Official sources and review date

Checked on 20 September 2026. The linked sources are in German. Check local requirements and contractual terms for your own move; this timeline does not replace those checks.