Moving checklist: what to do in the 30 days before you move
Thirty days before a move, four things cannot wait: booking the crew, ordering your internet transfer, arranging the change of account holder for electricity, water and gas, and starting to get rid of what you are not taking. Do them in that order and the final week is just packing the everyday things. The move itself is the easiest part to settle: a two-bedroom flat costs approximately €300–450 (van €55/h and mover €20/h) and is done in a morning.
Below you will find the week-by-week plan in a table, what to do with each utility, the change-of-address steps (Correos, DGT, Tax Agency, padrón) and the list for the last few days.
Week-by-week moving plan
| When | Tasks |
|---|---|
| Week 4 (days 30–22) | Set the date, request quotes with photos, book the crew, give notice to your landlord, start throwing out and selling |
| Week 3 (days 21–15) | Order the internet transfer or new line, arrange the change of account holder for electricity, water and gas, get boxes and materials |
| Week 2 (days 14–8) | Pack what you do not use daily, set up Correos’ Reenvío Postal, update your address with your bank, insurers and employer |
| Week 1 (days 7–1) | Pack kitchen and bathroom, dismantle furniture, defrost the fridge, confirm time and access with the crew |
| Moving day | Photograph the meters at both flats, final check of cupboards, hand over keys |
| Afterwards (15 days) | Empadronamiento, DGT, Tax Agency, health centre, get your deposit back |
Week 4: date, movers and decluttering
Start with the date, because everything else hangs on it. Saturdays and the end of the month fill up first; if you can move on a weekday morning, you get to choose the time.
- Request a quote with photos. Send photos of each room, the floor and whether there is a lift at both ends. That is enough to work out the hours and the crew. On our apartment movers in Valencia page we confirm the price before you book.
- Decide between movers or just a van. If someone can help you load, a van with driver is enough; we compare both options in our guide to van hire in Valencia with or without a driver.
- Throw out before you move, not after. Every item that is not going to the new flat is paid time you do not need. Large pieces you no longer want can go beforehand through furniture removal.
- If there is a gap between flats, book a storage unit now: our guide to storage units in Valencia explains how to choose one and what price ranges to expect.
- Give your landlord notice as your contract requires, and ask how the inspection for returning your deposit (fianza) will work.
Week 3: electricity, water, gas and internet
When you leave a rented flat, the usual step is not to cancel utilities but to change the account holder (cambio de titular): the contract passes to the next tenant or the landlord and supply is not interrupted. Cancelling and reconnecting generally costs more and takes longer.
| Utility | What to do | How far ahead |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity (luz) | Change of account holder with the supplier; have the CUPS code from your bill to hand | 1–2 weeks |
| Gas | Change of account holder; if supply has been cut, an inspection of the installation may be required | 2 weeks |
| Water (agua) | Change of account holder with the water company serving your municipality; they usually ask for your DNI/NIE and rental contract or title deed (escritura) | 1–2 weeks |
| Internet and mobile | Transfer the line to the new address or order a new one; installation can take from a few days to several weeks | 3–4 weeks |
Two details that save arguments: photograph every meter on your last day in the old flat and your first in the new one, and agree in writing with the landlord who requests each change. Exact requirements depend on the company, so confirm them on its website or by phone.
Week 2: packing and change of address
This is box week. Start with things you will not touch for days: storage room, books, decorations, out-of-season clothes. A two-bedroom flat needs around 35–50 boxes; our guide on moving boxes and how to pack has the table by home size and a seven-day plan.
At the same time, get the change of address moving:
- Correos: Reenvío Postal. Redirects your post to the new address for 1, 2, 3, 6 or 12 months. You need to arrange it at least 72 working hours in advance. It is a paid service: check the current price on the Correos website.
- Bank, insurers, employer and subscriptions. Change the address in each app so parcels and new cards reach the right flat.
- Online shops and couriers. Update your default address before the next order ends up at your old door.
Week 1: the last seven days
- Kitchen and bathroom, keeping only what you need for one day.
- Dismantle the obvious: bed, tables, shelving. Put screws in bags taped to each piece.
- Empty and defrost the fridge 24–48 hours before and leave the door open.
- Confirm with us the time, both addresses, the lift and where the van can stop.
- Pack a first-day box: documents, chargers, bed linen, towels, medicines, toilet paper, a change of clothes and the new keys.
- Leave the old flat clean and photograph its condition for your deposit.
After the move: padrón, DGT and Tax Agency
- Empadronamiento (registering at your address). Register on the padrón of your new municipality, or update your address if you stay in the same city. You need it for the health centre, schools and many other procedures; check the requirements on your City Council’s website.
- DGT. Notify your new address within 15 days on the online portal or in the miDGT app, so notices about your licence and car reach you. If you own a car, check its registered address too.
- Tax Agency (Agencia Tributaria). Update your tax address (domicilio fiscal); if you are self-employed, with form 036.
- Health centre (centro de salud). Ask to be assigned to the centre that covers your new address.
How MoveValencia helps
Send us photos, the date and both addresses on WhatsApp or through the form on the website. We will help you work out the hours, you receive the quote before booking, and we confirm the final price before work starts.
