Make room for the move.
The practical moving home guide
From listing your home to collecting the keys, dates can change. Here’s a simpler way to plan the space, timing and decisions in between.
One move.
Two separate clocks.
The time it takes to find a buyer and the time it takes to transfer a property are different. Your moving date sits somewhere between them.
6 days
Average time a home spent on the market in FNB’s Q2 2026 figures.
weeks
Typical conveyancing window from signed offer to registration.
These are separate estimates, not an end-to-end forecast for every move.
Give buyers space to see the home.
A few practical changes can make the rooms feel easier to picture, without clearing out your whole life at once.
Clear the visual clutter
Start with counters, spare rooms and the garage before listing photos.
Keep what you still need
Put possessions you want to keep aside without forcing a rushed decision.
Pack once where possible
Early sorting means less work during the final week.
When the dates
don’t match.
Your sale, purchase, rental and moving truck can all follow different schedules. A little breathing room keeps the handover manageable.
Leaving before arrival?
Keep furniture together while you wait for the new place to be ready.
Dates moved again?
Give yourself flexibility if registration or occupation shifts.
Moving in stages?
Take the essentials first, then bring the rest once you know what fits.
It’s the stuff that makes moving feel heavy.
In a survey of 2,000 British homeowners, people named these practical challenges most often.
UK survey; respondents could name more than one difficulty. These are not South African figures.
What to do, and when.
A quick checklist to keep the practical decisions ahead of the deadline.
Sort for photos
Clear the rooms buyers will see. Sell, donate or store what does not need to be there.
Ask about dates
Check the likely registration window with your conveyancer and identify linked transfers.
Book the logistics
Confirm movers, storage and which belongings go directly into the new home.
Move in stages
Bring the essentials first. Unpack the rest when the rooms are ready.
Storage that fits
your kind of move.
Choose hands-on access to your own unit, or compact wooden pods that can come to you.
Self storage
- ✓Your own storage space, your own key
- ✓Bring your items to a Cape Storit site
- ✓Access your belongings when needed
Valet storage pods
- ✓Compact, mobile wooden pods
- ✓We can bring a pod to you, or you can come to us
- ✓Stored securely until you need it back
People who have
made the move.
From people who stored with us while they moved.
G★★★★★ 4.8 from 144 Google reviews
The easiest and quickest move in I’ve ever had!! The staff are incredible, so helpful and sweet and the move in process was as easy as can be!
JJustine BrinkPaarden Eiland · Review on Google
They came to my house and assisted in loading the units and transporting them to their facilities, very easy and convenient. They are easy to communicate with and give great service.
MMoneen BooyseJohannesburg · Review on Google
...the pod access and availability to wait after hrs during my move on Sat 29 Aug... was truly appreciated. The cost was also way more reasonable than other storage places.
CColette ApollesMaitland · Review on Google
The whole process, from booking to moving my things in, was easy and straightforward. The facility feels secure, and access has always been hassle-free.
SSelina EichelbrönnerMaitland · Review on Google
My son is studying in Cape Town and he moved out of a student house at the end of November, and we had to store his things until we found him a new place in February... their rates were considerably lower than other places I requested quotes from.
SSonne GerberMaitland · Review on Google
Since my first interaction with Ameerah, she made sure my storage unit was booked immediately and maintained clear communication until I moved in. The access is simple and secure—highly recommended!
OOdile FransmanWoodstock · Review on Google
Moving and Storage: Common Questions
How long before my move should I book storage?
As soon as you have a listing date, if you are decluttering to sell. If you are storing for the gap between transfers, book once your offer is signed and you have asked your conveyancer for a realistic registration date. Valet pods can usually be arranged at short notice; drive-up units are far tighter and worth booking early.
How long will I need it for?
Most moving customers store for one to three months, which is roughly the length of a transfer. Because rental is month to month with two weeks’ notice, being wrong about the length costs you very little.
What happens if my registration date moves?
Tell us and we will move the booking. Transfer dates slip for reasons nobody controls — a rates clearance certificate, a bond condition, a linked sale further up the chain.
Is storage cheaper than occupational rent?
Usually, yes — but it depends on what was negotiated. There is no fixed formula in South African law: occupational rent is agreed in the offer to purchase, and commonly lands somewhere between 0.55% and 1% of the purchase price per month. On a R2 million home that is roughly R11,000 to R20,000 a month. Storing the contents of an average house costs a fraction of that, so the comparison worth running is storage plus short-term accommodation against occupational rent on a house you no longer own.
How much space does a three-bedroom house need?
Usually five to eight pods, or a 10m² to 15m² unit. It depends entirely on what is going in — send photographs of each room or use our storage calculator and we will size it before you pay anything.
Should I store everything, or only some of it?
Only what does not need to be in the new house on day one. Most people store the garage, the books, the spare-room furniture and anything seasonal, and move the rest straight across.
Do I need to pay a deposit?
No. Cape Storit does not take a deposit at any of our sites. You pay your first month’s rental, sign the storage contract, and move in.
Can I get to my things while they are in storage?
Yes. A drive-up unit is yours to visit during your site’s access hours. If your goods are in valet pods, give us notice and we will have your pod at the front ready for you.
What can’t I store?
Hazardous, illegal and perishable items are not allowed. Defrost and dry the fridge, drain the fuel from the mower, and ask us first if you are unsure about something.
Is insurance provided for the goods stored in my unit?
Cape Storit does not provide insurance coverage for the goods stored inside your unit. While we insure the storage facility itself, it is your responsibility to obtain insurance coverage for your stored belongings. We highly recommend that you secure insurance coverage to protect your goods against potential risks or damage. Please consult with your insurance provider to explore suitable options for insuring your stored items.
Make the move
feel lighter.
Tell us what you’re moving and when. We’ll help you choose a practical storage option.