Start a month ahead, not a day ahead
Most moving disasters don't happen on moving day but weeks before — because nothing was planned. Spread your preparation over four weeks and D-day will just be about carrying boxes, not crisis management.
Four weeks before: take stock
Go through your flat room by room and write down what you're taking with you. For every larger item, note its dimensions — especially the width, because that decides whether it fits through the door and into the lift.
Deal with what you don't need straight away. Selling second-hand, giving things away or taking them to a recycling centre all take time. The sooner you start, the less you'll end up moving.
Three weeks before: boxes and materials
Work out how many boxes you need based on the size of your flat — twenty will do for a studio, while for a 3+1 flat you should count on more like forty. Add bubble wrap, packing tape and a marker for labels.
Start packing what you don't use: seasonal clothes, books, decorations. Label each box with the room it belongs in at the new flat — not with what's inside. That way nobody has to work out where to take it at the other end.
Two weeks before: transport and people
Book a van. Choose the date based on when your helpers are available, not the other way round. You'll know which size to choose from the volume of your furniture — you'll find an overview in our fleet.
Get firm commitments from your helpers. Two people can handle a 2+kk flat in half a day; a larger flat needs three or four. Always count on one person staying with the van.
The last week and D-day
A week before: paperwork
Cancel your energy and internet at the old address and set them up at the new one. Take photos of the water and electricity meter readings — it's the simplest proof if a billing dispute comes up later.
Prepare a first-night box: bedding, towels, chargers, medicines, toilet paper and tools for putting the bed together. Load this box last so it's the first one to hand when you unload.
The day before the move
Dismantle any furniture that can be taken apart. Put the screws in bags taped directly to the part they belong to — hunting for a single screw can hold you up more than the whole move.
Empty and defrost the fridge. It needs to be switched off at least four hours beforehand, and don't turn it on straight away after the move — the oil in the compressor needs to settle.
On moving day
Load the heaviest things first: furniture and appliances at the front against the bulkhead, light boxes on top and at the back. Strap the load down as you go, not just at the end.
Reserve a parking space in front of the building. In the centre of Prague it pays to arrive early, otherwise you'll spend half an hour looking for somewhere to park the van.
What people forget most often
The lift may not be available. In prefab tower blocks you often need to arrange it with the building manager, otherwise you risk carrying a wardrobe down the stairs from the seventh floor.
Leave yourself some spare time. Planning a move for two hours between two meetings is a sure recipe for stress. Feel free to take the whole day — you can rent a van from us for just a few hours, so the extra time won't cost you much.
