Moving House Checklist for Cape Town
A practical, week-by-week moving checklist tailored to Cape Town and the Winelands — from City of Cape Town utility transfers to packing the last box on moving day.
6 weeks before — plan the move
- Confirm your move-out and move-in dates with your landlord, transfer attorney or estate agent.
- Get 2–3 quotes from Cape Town moving companies. Ask whether they charge by the hour or by load — narrow streets in Bo-Kaap, Vredehoek and Woodstock often add time.
- Book Stack Box moving boxes for the week of your move. Weekly packs cover bachelor to 4-bedroom homes and include a utility dolly.
- Start a room-by-room inventory so you know how many boxes you actually need.
4 weeks before — sort and declutter
- Donate or sell what you're not taking. The Haven, SPCA and Ladles of Love take good-condition goods across Cape Town.
- Photograph electronics before unplugging so you can rewire them at the new place.
- Order any specialist packing supplies you need (mattress bags, TV boxes, bubble wrap).
- Tell your medical aid, bank and SARS eFiling profile about the address change.
2 weeks before — utilities and admin
- Submit your City of Cape Town utility transfer via the e-Services portal — water, electricity and rates take a few working days to switch.
- Book a final municipal meter reading for your move-out date.
- Update your address on your driver's licence, vehicle registration and Home Affairs profile.
- Redirect post with the South African Post Office or update online retailers (Takealot, Woolworths, Checkers Sixty60).
- Notify your fibre provider (Vumatel, Openserve, Frogfoot) about the move — installations in the Winelands can take 7–14 days.
1 week before — pack
- Stack Box delivers your crates to your door — start with out-of-season clothes, books and décor.
- Label each crate by room and priority. The lids clip closed so nothing spills in transit.
- Pack a 'first-night' crate with kettle, mugs, chargers, bedding and toiletries.
- Empty, defrost and dry your fridge and freezer 24 hours before the move.
- Withdraw cash or prepare EFT details for the movers' tip.
Moving day
- Walk the movers through the home and point out fragile crates.
- Use the included utility dolly for heavy loads — one dolly saves hours on stairs and long corridors in complexes.
- Take final meter photos before you lock up.
- Do a final sweep of cupboards, the geyser cupboard and the garden shed.
- Hand over keys, remotes and gate tags to the agent or new owner.
The week after
- Unpack the kitchen and bedrooms first — leave the garage and study for the weekend.
- Book your Stack Box collection when you're done — we collect from your new address across Cape Town and the Winelands.
- Register for load-shedding alerts in your new suburb (EskomSePush).
- Introduce yourself to neighbours and body corporate; get the Wi-Fi and gate codes sorted.
Skip the cardboard step entirely
Stack Box delivers heavy-duty reusable moving crates to your door across Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Paarl and Somerset West. Every pack includes a utility dolly. Week one is a set price; every extra week is 50% off.