Moving house in Tema or Accra: a practical checklist

Moving house is when good things get thrown away. Not because anyone wants to waste them, but because the truck is outside and the extra dining chairs will not fit.

Tema, Spintex and much of Accra have constant turnover: leases end, people move for work, families outgrow a flat. This guide is a practical moving house checklist for anyone moving within Ghana — how to plan it week by week, handle the transport, and give away what will not fit in the new place instead of leaving it behind.

If you are moving abroad rather than across town, see our guide for people relocating abroad from Ghana.

The decision is made under time pressure

Nobody plans to throw away a working microwave. It happens at the end of a long day, when the alternative is another trip. The fix is to make those decisions early, when you have the time to give things away properly.

Moving house checklist: four weeks out

• Measure the new place. Rooms, doorways and stairwells. The single most useful thing you can do is find out now which furniture will not fit.
• Go through every room and decide what is coming, what is going to someone else, and what is being thrown out.
• List the awkward things first. Wardrobes, beds and sofas take longest to find a taker.
• Book your transport if you know your moving date.

Three weeks out

• Give away what is not coming. On Givny, people nearby request what you list and collect it themselves. Our guide on how to donate furniture in Ghana covers measurements, photos and transport.
• Start packing the things you rarely use: books, decorations, spare bedding, off-season clothes.
• Collect boxes, sacks and wrapping. Supermarkets and shops often have spare cartons.

Two weeks out

• Sort out utilities. Check what you need to do about your prepaid electricity meter, water, internet and TV subscriptions at both the old and the new place.
• Tell people your new address: your bank, employer, children's school and anyone who delivers to you.
• Use up food in the freezer and the store room.
• Label every box with the room it is going to and a short list of what is inside. Unpacking is far faster when the loaders can put boxes straight into the right room.
• Photograph the back of your TV and router before you unplug them, so you know which cable goes where.

The final week

• Defrost the fridge and freezer a day before the move.
• Pack a first-night bag with toiletries, a change of clothes, phone chargers, important documents, some cutlery and a kettle.
• Take beds and wardrobes apart, and keep the screws in a labelled bag taped to each piece.
• Hand over anything you are giving away before moving day, so it is not in the way.

Transport

For a local move, most people hire a small truck — often a Kia truck — or a larger truck for a full house. A few tips:

• Agree the price, the number of loaders and the number of trips before moving day.
• Say which floor you are on, and whether there is a lift. A third-floor move with no lift is a very different job.
• Load heavy items first, and keep fragile boxes on top.
• Travel with the truck, or have someone you trust do so.

On moving day

• Keep valuables and documents with you, not on the truck.
• Check every room, cupboard and the store room before you leave.
• Take photos of the empty rooms at the old place, in case there are questions about their condition later.
• Take meter readings at both places.

Leaving the old place

Check your tenancy agreement for what state the rooms must be left in and what must stay behind. Leaving the place clean and empty makes it far easier to get any deposit back, and it saves your landlord from dealing with the furniture you left behind.

Frequently asked questions

How do I plan a house move in Ghana?

Start about four weeks before. Measure the new place, decide what is coming with you, give away what is not, book transport, and pack gradually, starting with the things you use least.

How much does it cost to hire a truck for moving in Accra?

It depends on the size of the truck, the distance, the number of loaders and the number of trips. Agree all of these, and the price, before moving day.

What should I do with furniture that won't fit in my new house?

Give it away early. List it on Givny with measurements and photos, and the person who takes it will usually arrange the collection.

What should I pack in a first-night bag?

Toiletries, a change of clothes, phone chargers, important documents, medication, some basic cutlery and a kettle.

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Moving soon? List what won't fit in your new place on Givny, and it will go to someone nearby instead of into a skip.