Complete Moving Checklist for Expats Relocating to Gurugram (2026)

Quick Answer: Use a checklist and follow a sequence: housing first, then SIM, then UPI, then deliveries. For furnished rentals, sign an inventory annexure with photos at handover. Test your commute in real hours, and save emergency/fraud reporting channels before you need them.

Key Takeaways

Before arrival: shortlist housing and confirm move-in rules and inventory.
Week 1: SIM, UPI, one delivery flow, and a full inventory walk-through.
Week 2: commute test in real hours and lock in routines.
Always: avoid OTP/screen-sharing scams and use official reporting channels.
Want a verified furnished shortlist? Contact us.

Moving day checklist (representative image)

Furnished apartment living room (representative image)

Want a verified furnished shortlist?

Share your move-in window, budget, and office location. We will recommend expat-friendly societies and verified furnished listings.

Your relocation folder (set this up once)

Direct answer: A single, organized folder reduces stress when every service asks for documents. Keep it simple and consistent.

Relocation folder checklist

Passport scan and visa/permit scans (as applicable)
A few passport-size photos (requirements vary by service)
Your Gurugram address template (society + tower + flat + landmark)
Lease/offer letter copies (when available)
Emergency contacts list and your employer/relocation contact

Packing (for the first 7 days)

Direct answer: Pack to stabilize your first week, not for perfection. A calm first week reduces expensive last-minute purchases.

First-week essentials to pack

Universal power adapter and one good power strip
A small meds kit (your regular essentials)
Light layers (office AC + seasonal temperature swings)
Backup payment method (card) and a small amount of cash
A note with your address template and landmarks

Before you arrive (Week 0)

Direct answer: Your relocation is easier when you decide housing early and confirm the move-in process. "Surprises" usually happen around rules (lift booking, timing windows) and inclusions (what is actually provided in the unit).

Week 0 checklist (before arrival)

Shortlist 2 to 3 societies based on commute + essentials
Confirm the exact unit (not only the society) and furnishings/inclusions
Ask for a signed inventory list (annexure) for furnished rentals
Confirm move-in rules: lift booking, gate passes, allowed timing windows
Write your address in an Indian format you will reuse everywhere (society + tower + flat + landmark)

15-minute apartment tour (repeatable checklist)

Direct answer: A 15-minute tour checklist beats a 90-minute "maybe" tour. You are not trying to notice everything. You are trying to avoid the common regrets: noise, poor ventilation, unreliable backup behavior, and unclear inclusions.

15-minute tour checklist

Bedroom test: stand quietly for 30 seconds (noise + privacy)
Bathroom test: run water and check pressure + drainage
AC test: run each unit briefly (cooling + unusual noise)
Backup test: ask what works during backup (fans/lights/AC)
Internet: router location and provider feasibility
Furniture check: stability, stains, and functional storage
Inventory proof: confirm the signed list matches what you see

Move-in week (Week 1)

Direct answer: Week 1 is about unlocking daily life: SIM (OTP), payments (UPI), and one reliable delivery address. Do a full inventory walk-through and log issues in writing.

Week 1 checklist (move-in week)

Activate an Indian SIM (OTP-based verification depends on it)
Enable UPI through your bank app and test a small payment
Test one food delivery and one grocery order end-to-end
Save society security and building management contacts
Complete a full inventory walk-through with photos and condition notes

Arrival day (Day 0)

Direct answer: Arrival day is about stability, not productivity. You want one safe route home, one working payment method, and one reliable way to communicate.

Day 0 checklist

Get to your accommodation safely and save your route in Maps
Save your address template (society + tower + flat + landmark) in Notes
Confirm tomorrow's move-in plan (timing windows, lift booking, gate pass)
Charge your phone and keep a backup power plan (power bank / adapter)
Send a short status update to your employer/relocation contact

Move-in day script (30 minutes that saves weeks later)

Direct answer: A calm move-in is mostly logistics: timing windows, lift booking, and a written handover checklist. Use a short script so you do not forget high-value checks.

Step	What to do	Output you keep
Before unpacking	Take a quick video walkthrough (timestamped)	Proof of condition at handover
Inventory walk-through	Match items to the annexure and add condition notes	Signed list + photos
Keys and access	Count keys, remotes, cards, stickers	Count confirmed in writing
Quick tests	Water pressure, AC start, basic lights	Fix list if anything fails
Written fix list	Log issues and agree on dates	One message/email thread

First 48 hours (Day 1 to Day 2)

Direct answer: Your first 48 hours should eliminate unknowns. The goal is a working SIM, a working payment flow, and a clear move-in handover checklist.

Day 1 to Day 2 checklist

Activate SIM and verify your number works for OTPs
Enable UPI (or your primary payment flow) and test a small amount
Do one small delivery to validate your address and gate rules
Walk the building: locate gate, lift, parking, and garbage disposal process
Confirm who handles small fixes (owner, society, or service vendor)

Watch Out

If anyone asks for OTPs or remote-access apps for "support" or "KYC updates", stop. Use official bank channels and official reporting systems.

First-month stabilization (Week 2 to Week 4)

Direct answer: Once basics work, stabilize your routines: commute, errands, and a simple home-service path. Avoid adding too many apps and subscriptions too early.

Week 2 checklist

Test commute in your real travel window (weekday)
Save pickup/drop landmarks that drivers recognize and security accepts
Confirm internet feasibility and router location
Choose one home services path (society vendors or a service marketplace)

Week 3 to Week 4 checklist

Review your spending and adjust your budget based on real usage
Set a recurring routine for groceries (one premium option + quick-commerce backup)
Create a short emergency contacts list for your household
Optional: add lifestyle apps or memberships once your basics are stable

Week 5 to Week 8 (optimize, do not expand chaos)

Direct answer: After month 1, you can optimize without adding chaos. Improve one routine at a time: commute, groceries, home services, and health. Avoid changing too many variables at once.

Week 5 to Week 8 checklist

Review your commute and pick one improvement (pickup landmark, timing, metro last-mile)
Consolidate home services into one trusted path (cleaning + repairs)
If you are staying longer: confirm renewal timeline and notice period early
Optional: build a short social routine (one recurring meetup or activity)
Update your emergency contacts list with any new numbers you rely on

Standard lease baseline (so you are not surprised later)

Direct answer: Many furnished rentals in this corridor follow a common baseline: 2 months security deposit and an 11-month first lease term. What varies is maintenance, notice, renewal, and who pays for servicing and repairs, so confirm those in writing.

Term	Common baseline	What to verify
Base rent	Listing-specific	Is maintenance included or separate?
Security deposit	2 months base rent	Refund timeline and deduction rules
First lease term	11 months	Notice and renewal timeline
Inventory annexure	Signed list + photos	Condition notes and replacement rules

Examples from our live inventory:

Confirm in writing (to avoid budget surprises)

Direct answer: Two apartments can have the same rent and very different total monthly cost. The difference is usually in maintenance, repairs, and what is included. Confirm these in writing (lease or signed annexure).

Topic	What to confirm	Why it matters
Maintenance	Included or separate; monthly amount	Changes monthly baseline
Repairs/servicing	Who pays for AC/appliances	Furnished homes need clarity
Deposit return	Timeline and deductions process	Most disputes happen here
Inventory annexure	Signed list + photos + condition notes	Protects both sides
Society rules	Delivery/visitor/move-in rules	Determines daily friction

Pro Tip

If you want a stricter checklist, use: Expat lease checklist.

Utilities and internet (quick checklist)

Direct answer: Utilities depend on the building and provider, but the goal is the same: know what is billed separately and make sure internet is stable where you will work.

Utilities and connectivity

Electricity: confirm the provider for your unit and how billing is handled
Backup power: ask what works inside the apartment during backup (fans/lights/AC)
Internet: confirm feasible providers and router placement for your work room
Water: ask if there are known outage patterns (management or residents)

Home services and staff (reduce friction early)

Direct answer: Many expats feel stress when daily home routines are unclear. Decide one cleaning path and one maintenance path early (society vendors vs a service marketplace) and keep the process documented.

Home routine setup

Pick one cleaning path (society vendor or marketplace) and document timings
Ask how domestic help is onboarded (security checks and entry rules vary)
Save the escalation path for maintenance (owner vs society vs vendor)
Keep a short list of appliance servicing contacts (AC, washer, RO if present)

Pro Tip

If you want help building your first-month routine (cleaning, groceries, maintenance), ask for it when you request your shortlist. It reduces day-1 chaos.

Quick local directory (first-month essentials)

Direct answer: Save one reliable option for each: pharmacy, clinic/hospital path, and a supermarket. Start with our directory and verify hours/entry rules before you rely on it.

Start here: Quick local directory.

Furnished apartment handover (the inventory checklist)

Direct answer: For furnished rentals, the inventory annexure is your best protection. It should be signed at handover and include photos and condition notes.

Inventory annexure essentials

Appliances: AC, fridge, washer, microwave (make/model if available)
Counts: keys, remotes, access cards, parking stickers
Condition notes: scratches, dents, stains (document before move-in)
Photos: wide shots and close-ups of existing marks
Replacement rules: what is wear-and-tear vs chargeable damage

Your essential app stack (keep it small)

Direct answer: Choose one app per category and test it. Do not install 20 apps in week 1.

Category	What it solves	Common options
Transport	Commute tests and last-mile trips	Uber, Ola
Food delivery	Week 1 meals and busy days	Swiggy, Zomato
Groceries	Essentials without learning every store	Blinkit, Instamart, Zepto
Home services	Cleaning and small repairs	Urban Company, society vendors
Maps	Landmarks and navigation	Google Maps, Apple Maps
Communication	Day-to-day coordination	WhatsApp

Safety and fraud reporting (official resources)

Direct answer: RBI has warned consumers about fraud. If you suspect financial fraud, report quickly using official cybercrime channels.

Fraud avoidance

Never share OTPs or UPI PINs
Never install remote-access apps for "support"
Ignore "KYC update" links and open bank apps directly
Report suspected fraud quickly

Want a shortlist faster? (copy/paste template)

Direct answer: A structured request gets you better options faster.

Item	Your answer
Move-in date	___
Lease length	___ months
Family size	___
Budget range	INR ___ to ___
Office location	___
School (if any)	___
Must-haves	example: quiet bedroom, strong backup, pet-friendly

Get verified options in our 4 societies

We focus on furnished rentals in IREO Grand Arch, M3M Heights, Conscient Elevate, and Emaar Digi Homes. Share your move-in window and we will send a shortlist.

Request Shortlist

FAQs

What should I do first after landing?

Direct answer: Housing stable, SIM active, UPI working, one delivery flow tested. Then everything gets easier.

How do I avoid being overwhelmed?

Direct answer: Limit your shortlist and your app stack. Two societies and three units is enough to decide.