Every task on the sheet
All 35 below. The ordering matters more than it looks: pest control before curtains, curtains after the deep clean, internet the day after the move.
1 · Two weeks before the move
- Society move-in permission, lift booking and time window confirmed
- Packers briefed on lift dimensions and any staircase turn
- Electricity meter transfer or new connection applied for
- Piped gas connection or cylinder transfer arranged
- Water meter reading recorded with the outgoing occupant
- Internet installation booked for the day after the move, not the day of
2 · The week before
- Deep clean of the finished flat, including inside cabinets
- Pest control done while the flat is still empty
- Curtains and blinds measured and installed after the deep clean
- Loose furniture delivery slots staggered across two days
- Appliance installation slots booked: AC, chimney, geyser, purifier
3 · Move day
- Common areas and lift protected before the first carton arrives
- Meter readings photographed on arrival
- Cartons labelled by room and set down in the right room, not the hall
- Fragile items and artwork moved last and unpacked first
- Mattress, bedding and one bathroom made usable before dark
4 · First week
- Every socket tested under load with the appliance that will live there
- Water pressure checked at every outlet at peak hour
- Drains run for five minutes each, watching for slow flow
- AC cooling checked against room size and the drain checked for backflow
- Doors and drawers re-checked after they have settled and been used
- Any snag found written into the list and sent in one message, not five
5 · Society and administration
- Share certificate, maintenance account and society records updated
- Intercom, parking allotment and vehicle sticker arranged
- Domestic help and driver police verification submitted
- Emergency contacts and the building's plumber and electrician numbers saved
- Home insurance updated for the new contents value
6 · End of the first month
- Second snag walk done after a month of real use
- Retention released only once the second list is closed
- Maintenance schedule set up for hardware, sealants and filters
- Warranty documents filed digitally with purchase dates
How to sequence the move
- Book the society lift slot before the packers. A confirmed packer and an unavailable service lift is the most avoidable move-day failure in Mumbai.
- Photograph the meters on arrival. Electricity, water and gas readings on the day, with a timestamp.
- Make one bedroom and one bathroom usable before dark. Everything else can wait a day.
- Send snags in one message, not five. A single consolidated list gets actioned; a drip of messages gets triaged.
Three headaches it prevents
- An internet technician who cannot get in on move day. Booking it for the following day costs nothing and saves an afternoon.
- Curtains measured before the deep clean, then fitted over dust and re-taken down.
- Retention released before the second snag walk. A month of real use finds faults a handover walk never will.
Download the checklist (PDF) →
Pair it with the handover checklist and read the snag list and handover guide.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I book the society lift?+
At least a week, and confirm it in writing with the secretary or the manager. Many Mumbai societies allocate service-lift slots by the hour and restrict moves to weekdays. A verbal confirmation from a watchman is not a booking.
Should pest control happen before or after the move?+
Before, while the flat is empty. Treatment reaches skirtings, cabinet interiors and wall junctions that become inaccessible once furniture is in. It also means you are not clearing a kitchen you have just filled.
When should curtains be measured?+
After the flooring and the deep clean, and after the rods or tracks are fixed. Measuring against a rough opening and fitting against a finished one produces curtains that are two inches short, which is not adjustable.
What should the first-week fault sweep cover?+
Every socket tested under load with the appliance that will live there, water pressure at every outlet at peak hour, drains run for five minutes each, AC cooling against room size with the drain checked, and doors and drawers re-checked after they have settled.
Why does the second snag walk find more?+
Because a month of use loads the joinery, cycles the hardware, wets the bathrooms daily and puts the electrical points under real demand. Alignment settles, soft-close mechanisms reveal themselves and seepage has time to appear. It is the more useful of the two walks.