Mover’s checklist
What do you need to keep in mind when moving? Read these tips for a smooth move!
There is a lot to remember when moving, and the process can be exciting—sometimes even stressful. Check out our moving checklist for tips on a smooth and worry-free move!
Well in advance of the move:
Sell your home or terminate your lease agreement.
Once you have found a new home, it is time to give up your old one.
Remember to terminate your lease agreement in good time. The notice period for rental properties depends on the specific lease agreement, but it is usually 1–2 months. You can verify the notice period in your lease agreement.
If you live in an owner-occupied apartment or a property you own and plan to sell it before buying a new one, it is advisable to take action well in advance. Sales periods vary significantly by region, and recently, they have often been quite long. It is best to start the sales process early and be prepared for the fact that it can take months.
When selling a property, remember to specifically mention electricity, district heating or gas connections, and water connections in the deed of sale. These are considered movable property and must be transferred to the new owner as part of the sale. Including them in the deed of sale makes it easy to transfer the contracts to the new owner’s name with the local energy or water company.
Decide on the moving date and the time for the final cleaning
It is a good idea to decide on the moving date well in advance. Arrange professional moving services or ask acquaintances for help as soon as the date is set. You should also check your collective agreement to see if you are entitled to a paid moving day. Inform your employer of the date so you can secure the necessary time off.
If you plan to hire a moving company and can choose the date yourself, a weekday in the middle of the month is a good option. Many moving companies offer lower rates when the move does not fall on a weekend or at the turn of the month, periods when demand is typically high.
In addition to the actual move, make sure to allow enough time for the final cleaning. You can do the cleaning yourself or hire professionals. If you purchase cleaning services, you may be eligible for a household tax deduction.
Submit a notification of move to the Local Register Office and Posti.
Once you have decided on your moving date, submit a notification of move to the Local Register Office and Posti. You can conveniently submit the notification to both the Local Register Office and Posti via the joint online service provided by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency and Posti.
You can get a free one-month mail forwarding service from Posti to have your letters redirected to your new address. You can also purchase the service for a full year; this ensures that all mail delivered by Posti is forwarded to your new address for that period, even if it was addressed to your old one.
Information about your new address is transmitted from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency to most official bodies, but not all of them receive it automatically. Therefore, remember to notify other relevant parties of your new address as well. Inform your employer or educational institution, as well as your children’s school or early childhood education provider. Other parties that need your new address include magazine subscription services, organizations you belong to, and companies whose services you use or from which you order products for home delivery. And, of course, there are the relatives and friends with whom you wish to share your address.
Set up a new electricity contract for your new home and terminate the old electricity contract for your previous home
It is advisable to arrange an electricity contract for your new home in advance to ensure that the power is on the moment you need it.
Please note that an electricity contract does not transfer automatically—electricity contracts are always specific to both the residence and the individual. Therefore, in addition to setting up a new contract, you must remember to terminate the contract for your old home.
You can set up an electricity contract up to three months in advance. However, it is advisable to arrange a new contract for your new home at least two weeks before your moving date. If your new home has its own solar power system, you can also set up a purchase agreement at the same time, allowing you to benefit from the system’s output right from the day you move in.
If you have forgotten to arrange your electricity contract or need the power turned on immediately for any other reason, please contact our customer service by phone. Our experts are available on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can find our contact details here.
If you live in Kerava or Sipoo, we will connect the electricity to your home on the day your electricity contract takes effect. If you have signed an electricity contract with us for a location elsewhere in Finland, the local distribution network company is responsible for connecting the electricity.
Secure home insurance and other agreements
Arrange home insurance for your new home and set up other necessary services, such as an internet connection; if you are moving into a detached house, also arrange contracts for district heating, waste management, and water supply. If you have purchased your new home, notify the energy company of the new owners of the electricity and other utility connections as specified in the deed of sale. Also, submit the relevant forms and applications to Kela if you are a Kela customer.
Shortly before the move
Start packing and get moving boxes
It is a good idea to start packing well in advance so you don’t have to fill boxes on moving day itself. Moving boxes can be purchased or rented, and cardboard boxes can often be obtained for free from grocery stores.
When packing, you will need packing tape to seal the boxes, a pen to label their contents, and bubble wrap or old newspapers to protect your items. A hand truck is also helpful for moving larger items, such as household appliances.
If you have hired a moving company, you can also order additional services—such as extra protection for your furniture during the move or even a full-service package covering everything from packing to the final cleaning.
Notify the property manager and other parties of the move
Notify both the incoming and outgoing property managers about your move. It can take some time to get your name on the door, so it is best to provide notification as soon as you know your moving date.
At the same time, it is a good idea to find out about sauna slots, laundry rooms, and parking spaces for the new apartment, if you need them. For instance, there may sometimes be a waiting list for the housing company’s parking spaces, so it is worth inquiring about them well in advance.
Protect your home’s surfaces for moving day and check for any defects
Protect surfaces in both the old and new apartment, such as door frames and flooring, from damage. Take photos of any defects in both the new and old apartments, such as stubborn dirt, broken items, or other issues worth noting, and report them to the property manager.
After the move
- Check that the smoke alarms in your new home are working.
- Return all keys from your old home. Remember to include any separate keys for storage units or shared facilities.
- Finally, ensure that the move-out cleaning has been carried out thoroughly in your new home.