A senior relocation requires special care and thorough planning in order to make the transition to a new home stress-free and pleasant. Whether it’s a relocation to a senior-friendly apartment or a care home – with the right support and a structured approach, this stage of life can be managed in a relaxed manner. Our checklist will help you to think of all the important details and organize the relocation smoothly.
Table of contents
3 months before the relocation
- Inform family and friends:
Discuss the relocation with family or friends in good time to get support. - Viewing appointment by Umzugsservice Zürich GmbH:
To enable Umzugsservice Zürich GmbH to provide you with a professional estimate of all the work involved, we are happy to offer our valued customers a free and non-binding viewing appointment so that you can benefit from a serious and accurate quote. - Check the new living situation:
Visit the new home to make sure it meets specific requirements (accessibility, safety, emergency call systems). - Clarify whether you have a care degree:
If you have a care degree, check whether the relocation can be subsidized by the care insurance fund. - If moving to a nursing home:
Clarify how much space and capacity is available in the nursing home. - Start clearing out:
Go through your belongings and decide what you want to take with you, give away, donate or dispose of. - Terminate rental agreement:
Terminate the existing rental agreement in compliance with the notice period.
2 months before the relocation
- Notify change of address:
Notify public offices, banks, insurance companies, doctors, pharmacies and the postal service of your new address. Also submit a forwarding order to the post office. - Check insurance policies:
Check your insurance policies and adjust them if necessary (e.g. household contents insurance). - Organize clearing out:
If necessary, arrange for clearing out or bulky waste collection. - Plan household or apartment liquidation:
If necessary, plan the liquidation of the old apartment. - Request moving helpers:
If you are carrying out the relocation yourself, ask family, friends or professional moving helpers for support and hire a van. - Dismantle bulky furniture/kitchen:
Plan in advance which furniture needs to be dismantled. - Set up a no-stopping zone:
If necessary, set up a no-stopping zone for the relocation and observe the deadlines. - Check heavy-duty transportation or external lift:
If large or heavy furniture needs to be transported, check whether an external lift or heavy-duty transport is required.
1 month before the relocation
- Organize care services:
If necessary, plan care workers or domestic help for the new home. - Ensure medical care:
Look for new doctors, pharmacies and hospitals in the new area at an early stage. - Start packing:
Start by packing items that are rarely needed, e.g. decorations, books or seasonal clothing. - Plan the transportation of furniture:
Decide which furniture you want to take with you, sell or donate. - Secure valuables:
Make sure that valuable and sentimental items are securely packed and transported separately. - Use up stocks and perishable food:
Use this time to use up perishable food.
2 weeks before the relocation
- Label the boxes:
Clearly label all packed boxes with the room they are to go to in their new home. - Get moving boxes and tools:
Get sturdy moving boxes, furniture rollers and other tools for the relocation. - Have important documents ready:
Collect all important documents (e.g. rental agreement, medical reports, insurance documents) in a safe place. - Prepare the new apartment:
Create a furniture layout plan for the new apartment and prepare it (cover the floor with foil, clean the rooms).
1 week before the relocation
- Make the final preparations:
Pack the remaining items you still need before moving day. - Keep medication and necessities to hand:
Pack all necessary medications and other essentials separately for moving day. - Read the meters:
Plan to read the meters for electricity, water and gas on the day you move out. - Organize the handover of keys:
Talk to the landlord about handing over the keys to the old apartment. - Empty the letterbox:
Make sure that the letterbox has been emptied. - Defrost the fridge and freezer:
Start defrosting your refrigerators in good time.
Moving day
- Checklist for moving day:
- Check that all boxes and furniture are well packed.
- Read meter readings for electricity, water and gas.
- Ensure that all important documents and valuables are with you.
- Organize the handover of the keys to the old apartment.
- If necessary, clear out the cellar and attic.
- Don’t forget tools for special furniture.
- Carry important items with you:
Keep personal items such as ID cards, glasses, documents and keys to hand. - Provide catering for moving helpers:
Provide sufficient food and drink for the helpers.
After the relocation
- Arrival at the new home:
- Check that all the furniture and boxes are in the right place.
- Make sure that important items such as medication and clothing are immediately available.
- Aftercare:
Check all moved items for damage and report this to the moving company if necessary. - Age-appropriate furnishings:
Furnish your home in an age-appropriate way and install furniture. - Dispose of waste:
Dispose of any waste and packaging material. - Keep receipts and invoices:
Keep all receipts and invoices so that you can deduct them from tax if necessary. - Change your registration address:
Register the new address with the competent authority. - Put your name on the doorbell sign:
Put your name on the doorbell and letterbox. - Inform family and friends:
Let family, friends and acquaintances know your new address.
