The short answer
Start six to eight weeks ahead. Declutter first, book movers early and plan for narrow streets, stairs and lifts. In moving week, take meter readings with photos, agree the key handover and clean the old home. In the new home, clean the windows before the furniture goes in, check the solar panels and have any chimney swept before winter.
Six to eight weeks before
Declutter first
The less you move, the quicker, easier and cheaper the move. Start with the garage, roof washroom and storage, then the main rooms, then bedrooms. Sort everything into keep, sell, give away and clear. Our full guide to decluttering before moving house has a room-by-room order.
Book movers
- Get quotes from more than one mover.
- Ask how they handle narrow streets, steep stairs and small lifts at both addresses.
- Ask what they include: packing, materials, dismantling and reassembly.
- Ask what cover they have for damage, and get it in writing.
- Book early if you are moving at a busy time, such as the end of a month or summer.
Plan for what you are not taking
- Offer furniture to family, friends or community groups. See where to donate furniture in Malta.
- Book your council’s bulky refuse collection for large items. See how to get rid of old furniture.
- Set aside paint, chemicals and gas cylinders. See hazardous household waste.
- For a lot of items, book a clearance for the week before the move.
Four weeks before
- Utilities. Contact your electricity and water account holder, internet and phone providers and any gas supplier about moving dates at both properties.
- Change of address. Make a list: bank, employer, doctor, schools, insurance, subscriptions and anyone else who writes to you.
- Measure. Check that large furniture will fit through the new home’s doors, stairs and lift. If not, decide now whether it is worth moving.
- Building rules. In apartment blocks, ask the administrator about lift use and moving times.
Two weeks before
- Pack non-essentials: books, ornaments, seasonal clothes, spare bedding.
- Label boxes with the room and a short list of contents.
- Keep documents together in one folder that travels with you.
- Use up food in the freezer and cupboards.
- Confirm the date and times with the mover and any clearance service.
Packing for Maltese homes
Maltese homes are often vertical, with steep stone stairs, narrow landings and tight turns:
- use smaller boxes for heavy things like books, so they can be carried down stairs safely,
- dismantle beds, wardrobes and tables in advance,
- wrap glass, mirrors and pictures well,
- protect banisters, door frames and floors in both homes with blankets and card,
- take down curtains and blinds before the movers arrive,
- keep a small box of tools, chargers, toiletries, kettle and mugs with you.
Moving week
Meter readings
On moving day, take readings of the electricity and water meters, and gas if there is any, at both properties. Photograph each meter showing the reading and the date. Send the readings to whoever needs them and keep a copy.
Keys and handover
- Collect every key, remote and fob for the old home.
- Agree a time and place for the handover with the buyer, landlord or agent.
- Write down what is being left in the property, with photos.
- If renting, go through any inventory together.
Clean the old home
Once it is empty, clean it properly from top to bottom: kitchen, bathrooms, floors, cupboards, sills, sliding door tracks and windows. For landlords or tenants, see the landlord checklist between tenants. If selling, see preparing a property for sale.
The new home
Before the furniture goes in
An empty home is the easiest time to:
- clean windows, frames and sliding door tracks, inside and out. See cleaning aluminium sliding door tracks,
- clean inside cupboards and wardrobes,
- check smoke and CO alarms work.
If there has been building work, see cleaning after building work and removing paint, cement and silicone from windows.
The roof
- Find the water tanks, meters and roof drains, and check the drains are clear before winter. See looking after a flat roof in Malta.
- If there are solar panels, ask the seller or landlord for the paperwork, note the inverter readings and book a clean if they are dusty. See how often to clean solar panels.
The chimney
If there is a fireplace or stove, do not assume it is ready. Have it swept and checked before the first fire. See chimney and stove safety before winter, and for older properties, using an old farmhouse fireplace for the first time.
Booking
We arrange clearance before you move, and window cleaning, solar panel cleaning and chimney sweeping for the new home, across Malta and Gozo. Get a quote for one or all of them.