Checklist for moving home in Switzerland: relocating worry-free

Prepare for moving day

• The main question is: should you do it yourself or hire a moving company? The costs of professional movers depend on a range of factors. The Comparis moving cost calculator is an easy way to work out your moving costs online.

• Clear out your apartment, storage spaces, cellar, garage, attic and garden:

  • Dispose of bulky and hazardous waste

  • Dispose of old or unneeded medication at the pharmacy or at a collection site

  • Donate or dispose of unwanted clothes

• Dispose of rubbish and unwanted furniture, or take furniture to a second-hand or charity store or sell it on the Internet.

• Preparing to move your pets: organize transport boxes and, if necessary, a temporary location for your pets to stay.

• Hire a removal van.

• If you have a piano, it is generally worth hiring professional piano movers.

• Check with the landlord whether you need to repaint the apartment.

• Hire or buy moving boxes or banana boxes.

• Rent a storage unit if you want to store belongings temporarily.

• Ensure that helpers have liability insurance:

  • Personal liability and home contents insurance covers damage caused by helpers during the move (if they are legally responsible for the damage).

  • The transport insurance of the moving company covers damages the company causes. Make sure that the sum insured is adequate.

Scheduling

• Set the moving date: be aware of official moving dates and avoid them if you can.

• Moving on Sundays and public holidays: coordinate with your landlord and respect quiet times.

• Ask your employer for time-off on your moving day (you are usually entitled to one day off, but ask for additional days if needed).

• Arrange the handover of your previous home with the landlord present.

• Arrange the handover date for your new home.

• Organize a plumber to move your washing machine (have it installed by a professional to protect yourself in case you need to claim on your insurance).

• Organize tradespeople to carry out any necessary repairs to your previous home.

3. Moving day

• Have tools and perhaps a cordless screwdriver handy for dismantling and assembly work, as well as nails and screws.

• Take cleaning materials and equipment with you (cloths, bucket, cleaning products, vacuum cleaner, etc.)

• Don’t forget tools for filling wall plug holes.

• Organize trolleys, blankets and straps to transport belongings securely.

• Prepare a first-aid kit for the move (better safe than sorry).

• Organize refreshments for the helpers.

• Reserve a parking space.

• Organize 1–2 lamps as well as light bulbs and extension cables so that you have a light source when you first move in, and install light fittings.

• Bring protective covers and boxes for moving and assembling furniture.

• Try to maintain a calm frame of mind.

• Keep pets with familiar objects (food bowl, blanket, etc.) in an empty room.

4. Cleaning your old home

• Most Swiss people will clean their old home themselves. It takes a lot of work. A cleaning company will save you many hours and will provide a handover guarantee. Quotes for a professional cleaning company to clean a 3-room apartment typically start at 800 francs. Request cleaning quotes now.

• Ask your landlord how you should leave the rental property: is a basic or deep clean required? Here are the most important points if you do the cleaning yourself:

  • Oven and hobs

  • Empty the refrigerator completely/defrost the freezer

  • Dishwasher and filter

  • Extractor hood and other air vents/ventilation valves

  • Toilet, shower/bathtub

  • Radiators, sills, shelves and door frames

  • Window cleaning

  • Floor cleaning

  • Garage, basement, attic, letter box and parcel box

5. Planning for after the move

Handover

• Compile the handover protocol together with the landlord and record defects during the inspection.

  • Did the landlord identify defects during the inspection? You can claim under your personal liability/household contents insurance.

  • Good to know: after making a claim, you may cancel your personal liability/home contents insurance within 14 days.

  • How much do I have to pay for any tenant damage? The lifespan table serves as a reference here.

• Hand over old keys (including any additional ones you have had cut at your own expense). Find out more in our article: “Lost keys: who pays?”

• Pick up your new keys.

Other points to note after the move

• Register with the local authority at your new place of residence.

• Reclaim your rental deposit if you have not already done so.

• Check the initial rent and contest it if necessary within 30 days.

• Start furnishing your apartment:

  • Install the first lamps

  • Hang up the first pictures

  • Furnish your living room

• Organize a small dinner for the people who helped you.

• Fit nameplates.

• Make sure that you have notified all the necessary authorities and service providers of your change of address.

• Re-register your dog within 10 days.

6. Comparis service: get moving and cleaning quotes

You can save a lot of time and money by hiring a moving and/or cleaning company. You can request up to five quotes for your move free of charge via Comparis.