A typical moving list reminds you about the change of address and cardboard boxes, but water and appliances are easy to forget. Then the dishwasher waits weeks to be connected at the new home, or an open connection is left behind in the old one. This checklist follows the moving timeline and focuses on everything related to water, pipes and appliances.
Four weeks before the move
- Book removal help. The most popular days, such as the turn of the month and weekends, go first. You can book the move, for example, from our partner Mover.fi.
- Make the notification of move. You can make it at the earliest three months before the move, and one notification goes to both Posti and the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV).
- Electricity, home insurance and internet. Make a new electricity contract and move your home insurance and internet subscription to the new address.
- Rented flat. Check the notice period in your tenancy agreement and agree on handing over the flat with the landlord.
Two weeks before
- Check the connections at the new home. Is there a valve under the sink and a dishwasher outlet on the trap? Does the washing machine have its own valve and a floor drain? Ask the previous resident or the landlord for photos.
- Book appliance disconnection and connection. Dishwasher disconnection costs €47.06 and connection at the new home €125.50; washing machine connection costs €78.44. See appliances when moving.
- Leak tray. Many housing companies and insurers require a leak tray under the dishwasher. If the new home has none, it is easiest to fit during connection – read more about dishwasher leak trays.
- Housing company. Tell the maintenance company or property manager about the move and ask how parking for the van and use of the lift are arranged.
One week before
- Find the washing machine's transport bolts and the appliance manuals. See our guide to moving a washing machine.
- Use up the food in the freezer and plan to defrost it a day before the move.
- Pack a separate box with first-day essentials: towels, toilet paper, washing-up liquid and a torch.
Moving day at the old home
- Close the valves of the washing machine and dishwasher if they have not been disconnected yet.
- Take a photo of the water meter reading if the flat has its own meter.
- Check that no tap is left dripping and that no open connections are left under the sink.
- Do the move-out cleaning or make sure the booked cleaning is confirmed.
First day at the new home
- Find the main stop valve. Find out where the water to the flat is shut off – the flat's own stop valve is often in the kitchen, the bathroom or a hallway cupboard. See what to do in our article on a water leak at home.
- Look under the sink. A damp cabinet floor or a stain under the trap means a leak.
- Test the taps and toilet. Does the toilet keep running or a tap drip? Small faults are easiest to fix right away.
- Read the water meter and take a photo of the reading.
- Report faults straight away. In a rented flat, report any defects to the landlord in writing at the start so that they are not later blamed on you.
Once the machines are in place, we connect them to water and drain and test them. Send a photo of the sink cabinet or the washing machine spot, and we can see in advance what the connection needs.