A home shifting checklist splits the move into stages so nothing is left to the last day. About two months before, give your landlord notice and confirm the new flat. A month before, book the shifting service and clear out what you will not take. Two weeks before, start packing and arrange technicians. On the day, supervise loading, take meter readings and hand over the keys. After the move, unpack by priority and update your address. Inside Dhaka, a standard flat usually costs Tk 8,000 to Tk 12,000 to move with a local mover, plus Tk 2,000 to Tk 3,000 for packing, according to The Daily Star.
Use the list below in order, and tick items off as you go.
Home shifting checklist at a glance
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 2 months before | Give notice, confirm the new flat, set a budget |
| 1 month before | Book movers, measure the new flat, sort and sell or give away |
| 2 weeks before | Buy packing materials, pack what you rarely use, book technicians |
| 2 to 3 days before | Pack most rooms, label boxes, use up food, update your address |
| 1 day before | Defrost the fridge, pack an essentials bag, confirm the movers |
| Shifting day | Supervise loading, check every room, take meter photos, hand over keys |
| First week after | Unpack by priority, check for damage, clean, settle bills |
Two months before shifting
Give your landlord notice
Tell your landlord in writing that you are leaving and on which date. In January 2026, Dhaka North City Corporation said either side can end a residential tenancy with two months’ notice, and that advance rent should be limited to one to three months, UNB reported. Agree now how your advance will be returned or adjusted against the last month’s rent, and keep your rent receipts until it is settled.
Confirm the new flat
Sign the agreement for the new flat and get the handover date in writing. Check that the rent, advance and service charges are written into the agreement. If the new flat must be painted or repaired, ask for it to be finished before your move date, not after.
Set a budget
Write down what the move will cost: the shifting service or truck, labour, packing materials, technicians for AC and gas, cleaning, and any overlap where you pay rent on two flats. A budget also tells you whether a full-service mover or a truck plus your own packing makes more sense.
One month before shifting
Book the shifting service
The start and end of the month are the busiest days for movers, so book early if your date falls then. On Truck Lagbe you can book a shifting service up to 30 days ahead, and vendors usually start sending bids within 60 minutes. When you request a quote, give the floor number, whether there is a lift, a rough list of items and how close a truck can park. Those details decide the price more than distance does.
If you only need transport, renting just a truck and doing the packing yourself costs less, but you will have to arrange labour too. Inside Dhaka, trucks longer than 12 ft can only be booked for city trips after 10:00 PM on Truck Lagbe, so plan a night move or use a pickup or a 12 ft truck if you need to move in daylight.
Measure the new flat
Measure the doors, stair landings, lift and the lane outside. A sofa, wardrobe or double bed that cannot turn on a stair landing will need to be dismantled, so tell the movers in advance. Note where each large piece will go, so the movers can place it straight away.
Sort, sell and give away
Go room by room and decide what to keep, sell, donate or throw away. Every item you leave behind is one less to pack, carry and pay for. Old newspapers, bottles and broken appliances can go to a local scrap buyer, and clothes in good condition to people who need them.
Make an inventory
List the large items and count the boxes as you pack them. The inventory helps you get accurate quotes, check that everything arrived and raise a claim quickly if something is missing or damaged.
Two weeks before shifting
Buy packing materials
You will need cartons in two or three sizes, packing tape, bubble wrap, newspaper or paper rolls, rope, plastic bags for screws and fittings, and markers. Many shifting services bring cartons and wrap if you ask when you book.
Start packing what you rarely use
Begin with books, seasonal clothes, decorations and spare kitchenware. Keep everyday items out until the last days.
Book technicians and services
Arrange the people you will need around shifting day:
- an AC technician to uninstall and reinstall the unit;
- a gas line or cylinder connection at the new flat;
- an internet and cable provider to move or start your connection;
- a carpenter to take apart and refit beds and wardrobes;
- an electrician for lights, fans and the water pump;
- a cleaner for the old and new flats.
Keep their phone numbers in one list and confirm the time with each one the day before.
Two to three days before
Pack and label every box
Pack room by room and number every box. On each one, write the room it goes to and a short list of contents, and mark boxes with glass or electronics as fragile. Put heavy items such as books in small cartons, so a box can be lifted safely. Tape screws and bolts in a bag to the furniture they came from.
Pack fragile items separately
Wrap plates, glasses and crockery one by one, stand plates on their edges and fill the gaps with paper so nothing moves. Take glass tabletops and mirrors off their frames and wrap them with corners protected. Pack the TV in its original box if you still have it, or wrap the screen in a blanket and keep it upright.
Use up food and plan meals
Stop buying groceries a week out and use up frozen and fresh food. Plan simple meals or a takeaway for shifting day and the first night.
Update your address
Tell your bank, mobile operator, children’s school, office and online delivery apps about the new address. You can also update the address on your national ID card through the Election Commission once you have moved.
The day before shifting
- Defrost and dry the fridge, and leave the door open so it does not smell.
- Pack an essentials bag for each person: clothes for two days, medicine, chargers, toiletries, documents and some cash.
- Put all keys for the old flat in one labelled box or envelope.
- Keep valuables, jewellery and important papers with you, not in the truck.
- Call the shifting service to confirm the time, the number of labourers and the truck size.
- Charge phones and power banks.
On shifting day
Confirm and guide the movers
Call the movers in the morning to confirm they are on their way. Keep one family member at the old flat to guide them on which items go first and one at the new flat to show where things go.
Check the loading
Heavy furniture and appliances should go in first and at the bottom, with lighter boxes on top. There should be padding between pieces of furniture, and the load should be tied down. Fragile boxes should ride on top or be held by someone. Keep an eye on glass items until they are in the truck.
Before you leave the old flat
Walk through every room, cupboard, balcony and the roof. Take photos of the electricity, gas and water meter readings and of each room’s condition, then hand over the keys and get a written note that the flat was returned.
At the new flat
Have the movers put furniture and boxes in the right rooms the first time. Check the inventory as items come off the truck, and note any damage before the movers leave. Set up the beds first, so everyone can sleep that night.
After shifting
- Unpack by priority. Start with the kitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms, then the rest.
- Check for damage. Open fragile boxes first and report any damage to the shifting service quickly.
- Set a deadline. Give yourself a week to finish unpacking so boxes do not linger for months.
- Clean. Clean the kitchen and bathrooms before you unpack them.
- Sort out bills and registration. Recharge the prepaid electricity meter or check the meter number, and give your details to the landlord for the tenant information form the Dhaka Metropolitan Police asks for.
- Meet the neighbours and save the numbers of the guard and the building manager.
How much does house shifting cost in Dhaka?
The price depends on how much you move, the floor and lift, the distance, the truck size and whether you need packing and labour.
| Option | Typical cost (Tk) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Local mover, within Dhaka | 8,000 to 12,000 | Truck and labour for a standard flat |
| Packing, added | 2,000 to 3,000 | Packing work, materials often extra |
| 1 ton pickup only | 800 to 2,200 | Transport only |
| 3.5 ton, 14 ft truck only | 1,500 to 2,800 | Transport only |
Mover and packing prices are from The Daily Star (2025, updated April 2026). Truck prices are from Truck Lagbe’s Dhaka fare chart of September 2026, before diesel rose to Tk 135 a litre, so expect bids at the top of each range.
A one-room flat often fits in a 1 ton pickup, while a two or three-bedroom flat usually needs a 14 ft truck or larger. The guide to picking a truck that fits your flat goes through each size, and anyone moving out of a bachelor mess can usually do it in one small pickup.
Book your home shifting with Truck Lagbe
More than 25,000 families and offices use Truck Lagbe’s shifting service every year, according to the company. You enter the pickup and drop-off points, floor numbers, items and truck access, and verified vendors send bids with truck, labour and packing. You can pay in cash or online. Book a full shifting service with labour and packing, or download the Truck Lagbe app to book from your phone.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I start planning a house shift?
About two months before, which is the notice period most landlords expect. Book movers at least a few weeks ahead, and earlier for the start or end of the month.
How much does it cost to shift a house in Dhaka?
Moving a standard flat within Dhaka with a local mover costs about Tk 8,000 to Tk 12,000, plus Tk 2,000 to Tk 3,000 for packing, according to The Daily Star.
What should I pack first when shifting?
Things you rarely use, such as books, seasonal clothes and decorations. Pack the kitchen and daily clothes last, and keep an essentials bag with you.
Can I shift with a large truck during the day in Dhaka?
Not on Truck Lagbe for city trips. Trucks longer than 12 ft are booked for trips inside Dhaka after 10:00 PM. Pickups and 12 ft trucks can move during the day.
How much notice should I give my landlord?
Two months. Dhaka North City Corporation’s January 2026 guideline says either side can end a residential tenancy with two months’ notice.
