Moving Between Provinces: A Checklist

Relocating between provinces, whether it's Cape Town to Johannesburg, Pretoria to Durban, or any other long-distance move, involves more planning than a local move. This checklist covers the key steps.

Six to Eight Weeks Before

• Get quotes from at least two or three moving companies experienced with interprovincial moves.
• Start decluttering room by room to reduce your load and cut costs.
• Research schools, medical aid networks and municipal services in your new city.

Three to Four Weeks Before

• Confirm your moving date and get written confirmation of the quote, including insurance cover.
• Begin collecting packing materials or confirm your mover's packing service.
• Notify your bank, medical aid, insurer and any subscriptions of your upcoming address change.

One to Two Weeks Before

• Arrange for utilities to be disconnected at your old address and connected at your new one.
• Pack a separate box of essentials for the first few days in your new home.
• Confirm access arrangements, such as parking and lift bookings, at both properties.

Moving Day and After

• Do a final walkthrough of your old home before the truck departs.
• Keep valuables, documents and medication with you rather than on the truck.
• Once you arrive, register with your new municipality and update your address for deliveries and voter registration.

A long-distance move takes longer to plan than a local one, so starting early gives you room to compare quotes properly and avoid last-minute stress.