Moving Home in Sharjah with Laila Movers: A Practical Guide to Packing, Timing and Choosing the Right Movers

If you have ever moved in Sharjah, you know how difficult the task of packing and unpacking boxes can be. The building watchman requires a copy of your tenancy agreement before he will allow a truck into the building. The SEWA account has to be closed prior to the return of the deposit. There is the sofa that fits through the old door and won’t fit through the new one! Then there’s the hot afternoon!

This guide is for all those who are moving into, out of, or moving across Sharjah, whether they are from an Al Nahda flat to a villa in Al Rahmaniya, Sharjah to another emirate, or vice versa. It includes some of the things that need to be sorted before moving day, how to assess a moving company, and the small things that trip people up.

Start with the paperwork, not the boxes

In Sharjah, the lifting is not the major cause of moving stress; it’s the admin. Tackle these first, and the rest will fall into place.

Building permissions and the move-out letter

Nearly every apartment building in Sharjah requires notice before one would move. Larger buildings in Al Taawun, Al Khan and Al Majaz may require a formal move-out request and a copy of your Emirates ID as well as a damage deposit that is refunded once the move-out is complete. Inquire with the building management what items they require at least a week in advance. If the tower has a service lift, reserve it, rather than turning up on the day and hoping!

Utilities and the deposit

Your SEWA account is linked to the property, so a final reading and clearance must be done before you are gone. If you are asking for the disconnection, ask a few days before you move out and have the landlord sign a copy of it; it is one of the documents that most landlords require prior to releasing the security deposit. Opening the new SEWA account early means that you don’t end up in a dark apartment on the first night when you move to another property in Sharjah.

Tenancy contract and landlord clearance

Read through the terms of the contract before signing. Most Sharjah leases require the unit to be returned “Painted and Cleaned,” and some will designate specifically who they will accept the painting for the unit from. Make sure to explain this up front; otherwise, the moving company will either wait for painters to finish or go home, in both cases, costing you more money than needed.

Decide how much you actually want to do yourself

Again, there is no right answer; it depends on how much you own, how far you are traveling, and how much time you have.

Self-packing is good for a studio or a one-bedroom with relatively small furniture. You order cartons, tape, and bubble wrap from a packaging provider in Industrial Area, pack the cartons over the course of a couple of nights, and hire a truck and workforce simply for loading and delivery. It’s a lower-cost option, but you take the risk — if the box of crockery comes in pieces, then it’s your problem.

Full service moving is better for families, villas and fragile or valuable items. The crew packs, labels, loads, transports and unpacks. A good team will be able to take apart beds and wardrobes, wrap them with blankets and stretch film, and set them up at the other end. A full-service crew is usually able to complete a move into a three-bedroom house in Sharjah in one day, while a DIY move may take a weekend.

For full services, consider hiring a trusted  Movers and Packers in Sharjah that packs their own belongings instead of outsourcing this task. It’s a no-brainer: if you have the same firm doing both packing and transport, there’s less one to blame if anything has been broken along the way, and claims are settled sooner.

What a good quote looks like

That’s where most people get burnt. You will only get a vague idea from a quote on the phone that is “AED 800 for a two-bedroom”. Ask for a written quote, and check that it covers the following:

• A detailed Inventory or a site survey. Anyone who does an estimate on a three-bedroom villa without having a look at it or getting a list of the rooms is just guessing. Predictions turn into surprises during move day.
• Number of crew and truck size. Two men with a pickup is not the same service as four men with a 3-tonne truck. This can be called a “one trip”.
• Packing materials. Do they provide cartons, bubble wrap, and blankets free, or do you have to pay for these separately? Are they new or reused?
• Disassembly and reassembly. Beds, Wardrobes, Dining tables, and TV wall mount. Many quotes offer this; others consider it an extra.
• Pocket and lift charges. If the lift will not fit in either building or the building has no lift, the crew will carry the wardrobe up the stairs. Be sure to ask if this is included in the price.
• Insurance or damage cover. Ask, “What happens if something is broken? We do not accept the answer ‘we are very careful ‘.” A written damage clause is.

It is advisable to obtain two or three written quotes and compare line by line instead of the bottom line when comparing Movers in Sharjah. The actual cash price is often more expensive than an advertised price with the extras thrown in on the day, but can be cheaper if the price is slightly higher and the materials, assembly and fitting are included.

Packing tips that actually save time

Some of the lessons drawn from people who have relocated more than once in Sharjah:

• Label by room and priority, not just contents. A box of kettle, mugs and a knife has “Kitchen – open first” written on it, whereas 12 identical boxes have “kitchen misc.
• Take a picture of the cables before unplugging. TV, Router, sound bar — one photo = twenty minutes of guessing.
• Always have an essentials bag on hand, as opposed to inside the truck. A few papers, chargers, meds, a jacket, a favorite toy, and some change for tips and purchases.
• Bag the screws. If the crew is taking down a bed, have them attach the hardware bag to the headboard with tape. It is the most frequently cited reason for the refrain “we can’t put this together tonight”.
• Don’t pack what you are going to throw away. The obvious time to dispose of, donate, or sell furniture that you’ve been wanting to get rid of is during a move. There are a few charities and second-hand furniture buyers in Sharjah that will collect.

On moving day

Check with the crew over the premises before they do anything. Identify breakables, delicate items, items that require special attention, and anything that isn’t going. Then let them work; a good crew has a system, and if you disrupt it, they will slow down.

Arrive at the new location before the truck, have permission for the move-in, and have the lift scheduled. As items are received, tick off the items from the inventory and record any damage on the delivery note before the crew departs. It’s much more difficult to raise it up a day later.

More information is available at:https://lmovers.ae/en/

Contact number 0566585072