What should you do before moving house?

Your moving house checklist at a glance

Plan a move in three stages. Weeks ahead, sort out dates, quotes and work on the new home. Next, handle utilities, gas and your address change. Then plan move day and the first week. Whether you call it moving or shifting, this shifting house checklist follows the same order. Not sure which trade handles a job? See which service you need.

Eight to four weeks before

These timings are suggestions, not rules. The only fixed lead times here are for utilities, your address change and new HDB flat defects.

• Confirm dates. Check that key collection and handover of the old home line up.
• Get quotes. Ask movers and cleaners whether each quote includes packing materials and disposal. Prices depend on the job; see the move-out cleaning cost guide.
• Arrange work. Book a handyman for repairs or shelves before you move in. Aircon servicing is also easier in an empty home.
• Plan the handover. If the old home needs cleaning before handover, compare move-out cleaning services.
• Sort belongings. Sell, give away or throw out what you will not take.

Utilities: electricity, water and gas

Electricity and water

Open a utilities account for the new home online with SP Group and schedule the turn-on. SP asks you to allow 7 business days after opening the account, and a 1-week lead time from your application date for a turn-on appointment. HDB BTO flats need no appointment to turn on electricity and water. Resale HDB flats and other homes get an on-site safety inspection, and the account holder or a representative must be present, unless an account is transferred with no interruption in supply.

Gas

Once your SP account is confirmed, SP's guide says to call City Energy on 1800 555 1661 to arrange a gas appointment. City Energy says only it or its appointed agents can turn on piped town gas. When gas supply is transferred to you from a previous occupant, it encourages an inspection by City Energy or a Licensed Gas Service Worker (LGSW).

Closing the old account

Close the account at your old home. If you buy electricity from a retailer, close that electricity account with your retailer. SP Group refunds any remaining security deposit after deducting the final bill; allow up to 30 business days.

Change of address

ICA says all IC holders must report a change of residential address within 28 days of moving into a new residence. Use ICA's e-Service for yourself alone or with up to 4 others. A PIN mailer is sent to the new address to verify the change, and successful applicants receive an address sticker by mail to paste on the back of the IC.

Then update banks, insurers, your employer and other services.

New flats, renovation and defects

Defects in a new HDB flat

HDB says new flats have a 1-year Defects Liability Period (DLP) from key collection. HDB asks owners to report items within 1 month of key collection and before renovation starts.

Renovating before you move in

If you renovate an HDB flat, HDB says owners must engage only contractors from its Directory of Renovation Contractors, and some works need a permit (see HDB renovation permits). General renovations are allowed from 9am to 6pm on weekdays and Saturdays, with none on Sundays and public holidays. Noisy works, such as demolishing walls, removing wall or floor finishes, cutting tiles and heavy and excessive drilling, are allowed from 9am to 5pm on weekdays only, and not on public holidays or the eves of New Year's Day, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Hari Raya Puasa and Christmas Day.

Move day and the first week

Before the day, ask your Town Council or management office: do you need to book the lift or protect it?

On move day, take meter readings at both homes. PUB's meter guide says HDB water meters are along the common corridor near the unit entrance (exposed or in a utility duct) or at the staircase landing below the unit. Check that the meter number matches the one on your SP Utilities app.

Before the furniture goes in, test lights, taps and the aircon, and note any damage. Keep an essentials bag with documents, keys, chargers and medicines. The new home move-in checklist covers the days after, and you can book furniture assembly for flat-pack items. Once you have moved in, the home maintenance calendar generator sets up a year of routine checks.

The full checklist

Here is the whole moving checklist for Singapore by timing. Timings are suggestions, except the official lead times shown.

Questions