Frequently Asked Questions About Moving in Kenya or Moving and Storage FAQs | Space Move
Pricing and Quotes FAQs
Most house moves in Nairobi cost between KSh 15,000 and KSh 60,000. A bedsitter or studio starts from around KSh 12,000, a 2-bedroom house averages KSh 20,000 to 35,000, and a 4-bedroom home can reach KSh 60,000 or more. The final price depends on the volume of your items, the distance, and the services you need. Request a free quote and we will give you an exact figure for your move.
Within Nairobi, expect roughly KSh 15,000 to 25,000 for a 1-bedroom, KSh 20,000 to 35,000 for a 2-bedroom, and KSh 37,000 to 45,000 for a 3-bedroom house. These figures cover a standard move with packing, transport, and arrangement at your new home. Homes with many delicate items, or moves to nearby towns like Kitengela, Thika or Athi River, cost slightly more. A free survey gives you the exact price.
Five things shape your moving cost. First, the volume of your belongings, since more items need more crew and a bigger truck. Second, the distance between the two houses. Third, the floor level, because a 5th floor walk-up takes more time than a ground floor house. Fourth, packing services and materials. Fifth, special items like pianos, safes or large fridges. Tell us everything upfront and your quote will be accurate.
Moves involving several flights of stairs may cost slightly more because they take extra time and manpower. If your building has a lift, let us know so we can book it with your caretaker for moving day. If it does not, tell us the floor number when requesting your quote. That way the price you get already covers the stairs, and nothing changes on moving day.
The price we quote after a survey is the price you pay. We carry out a pre-move survey exactly so there are no surprises later. The only time a price changes is if the job changes, for example if you add items that were not in the survey or request extra services on the day. If that happens, we agree on the new cost with you before we proceed.
No. Your written quote shows everything: labour, transport, packing materials and any special handling. We do not add surprise fuel charges, staircase fees or offloading fees at the end. If anything about your move could attract an extra cost, such as a piano or a difficult access road, we tell you at the survey stage and include it in the quote before you commit.
We ask for a deposit to confirm your booking and secure your moving date, with the balance payable once the move is complete. You can pay by M-Pesa, bank transfer or cash, and we issue a receipt for every payment. Be cautious of any mover who demands full payment before touching a single box. A reputable company only collects the balance after the work is done.
Yes. Our quotes are inclusive of 16% VAT as required by Kenyan law, and we issue an ETR receipt for every job. If you are moving for work and your employer is paying, or you run a business and need to claim VAT, share your KRA PIN when booking and we will include it on your invoice. Corporate clients receive full compliant documentation.
Yes, and the difference can be significant. End of month, the first days of a new month, weekends and December are peak periods in Kenya because most leases end then. Demand is high and prices rise. If your dates are flexible, moving on a weekday in the middle of the month can save you 10% to 30%, and you get first choice of moving slots.
Yes, every quote starts with a free survey and it costs you nothing. We can visit your home in person, do a quick video call walk-through, or send you a simple form to list your items. The survey lets us see exactly what is moving, so your quote is accurate and moving day runs smoothly. Be wary of movers who quote a final price over the phone without seeing anything.
Booking and Scheduling FAQs
Book 2 to 3 weeks before your moving date for the best availability. If you are moving at the end of the month, over a holiday weekend or in December, book even earlier because those slots fill up fast. Early booking also gives you time for the survey, packing materials delivery and any estate paperwork. That said, if your plans are urgent, call us. We often accommodate short-notice moves.
Yes. We understand that life does not always give notice. A sudden job transfer, a landlord dispute or a security concern can force you to move immediately. Call us in the morning and, depending on crew availability, we can have you packed and moved the same day. Emergency moves are priced like normal moves based on volume and distance, though availability is easier to guarantee on weekdays.
Yes to both. Weekend moves are popular with working families and we operate fully on Saturdays and Sundays. Night moves are also possible and are common for offices and businesses that cannot close during working hours. Night moves may cost slightly more because of extra security arrangements and overnight allowances for the crew. Whatever time works for you, we will plan around it.
Just call us as early as you can and we will move your booking to a new date at no charge, subject to availability. Plans change, house handovers delay, and we understand that. The earlier you tell us, the easier it is to secure your preferred new slot, especially during end-month peak periods when the calendar fills quickly.
You can cancel your booking by contacting us before your moving date. If you cancel with reasonable notice, we refund your deposit or hold it as credit for a future move, whichever you prefer. Very late cancellations, such as on the morning of the move after the crew has been dispatched, may attract a fee to cover costs already incurred. We will always explain the terms clearly when you book.
Most moves within Nairobi are completed in a single day. A bedsitter or 1-bedroom typically takes 3 to 5 hours from packing to arrangement. A 2 or 3-bedroom house takes 6 to 9 hours. You can have breakfast in your old house and dinner in your new one. Larger homes, long distances or houses with difficult access may need more time, and we will tell you this at the survey.
We agree on an arrival time with you when confirming the booking, and most moves start between 7:00 am and 9:00 am. An early start means we beat Nairobi traffic and finish while there is still daylight to arrange your new home. Your move coordinator will confirm the exact time a day before and share the crew leader's contact so you can reach the team directly.
Packing and Preparation FAQs
Yes. We come with everything needed for a safe move: strong cartons, bubble wrap, wrapping paper, stretch film, tape and thick mover blankets for furniture. Packing materials are included in a full-service quote, so you do not need to hunt for boxes around Nairobi. If you prefer to pack yourself, we can also sell or deliver materials to you before moving day.
Yes, packing yourself lowers your quote and many clients do it. We simply load, transport and offload. Two things to keep in mind. First, boxes you pack yourself are harder to cover for damage claims because we cannot verify how items were wrapped. Second, leave fragile and bulky items like the TV, mirrors and glassware to us. Our crew wraps them properly at no stress to you.
Yes, please empty drawers, wardrobes and cabinets before moving day. Full furniture is heavier, harder to lift safely and items inside can shift and break in transit. Pack the contents into cartons instead. If you run out of time, tell the crew. We can wrap drawers shut with stretch film and move lighter units as they are, but empty furniture always travels safer.
Switch off and defrost your fridge at least 12 to 24 hours before the move, then wipe it dry so it does not leak in the truck. For the washing machine, disconnect it, drain all water from the hoses and drum, and keep the hoses in a labelled bag. If your machine has transit bolts, fit them to protect the drum. Our crew handles the lifting and secure wrapping.
For safety and legal reasons, we do not carry gas cylinders, fuel, paint, chemicals or other flammables in the truck with your goods. We also advise you to personally carry cash, jewellery, title deeds, passports, certificates and daily medication. These items are irreplaceable or sensitive, and keeping them with you removes all risk. Everything else in your house, we move.
Yes. Our crew disconnects your cooker, washing machine and wall-mounted TV at the old house and reconnects them at the new one. We also take down and remount the TV bracket. For DSTV and Zuku dishes, we safely detach and transport the equipment, and can arrange reinstallation and signal setup at your new home so you are watching your programmes the same evening.
Yes, this is part of our standard service. We dismantle beds, wardrobes, dining tables and wall units that cannot pass through doors or stairways safely, wrap every piece, and reassemble everything at your new house. All bolts and fittings are kept in labelled bags taped to the furniture they belong to, so nothing gets lost between houses.
Start a week early. Give your landlord or caretaker notice and clear any pending rent or service charge so your exit is smooth. Sort your items and give away what you no longer need. Confirm access rules at both houses. Set aside a bag of essentials: chargers, toiletries, a change of clothes and important documents. On the day itself, just be present to direct the crew. We handle the rest.
Yes, we move houseplants within Nairobi and on most local routes. We load them last, keep them upright and offload them first so they spend the least time in the truck. Water them a day before, not on moving day, so the pots are not dripping. For long-distance moves, very large or delicate plants may be better transported in your own vehicle, and we will advise you honestly.
Moving Day
You are welcome to help with light tasks like directing the crew and confirming the inventory, and many clients do. For safety and insurance reasons, only our trained staff handle heavy lifting and only crew members ride in the truck. We recommend you travel ahead to the new house so you can receive the team and show them where everything goes.
Every piece of furniture is wrapped in thick mover blankets and stretch film before it leaves your house. Mattresses and sofas get protective covers. On both ends of the move, we lay floor runners along the walking paths and pad doorways and staircase rails where needed. This protects your deposit at the old house and keeps your new house spotless before you have even settled in.
We deal with gated estates and managed apartments every week, so we know the drill. Tell us the requirements when booking: gate passes, a clearance letter from your caretaker or landlord, lift booking, or approved moving hours. We prepare our vehicle details and crew IDs in advance for the security desk. Your job is only to get the clearance letter. We handle the rest at the gate.
Yes. Your goods are loaded onto one truck, the truck is closed and it drives directly to your new home. We do not transfer items between vehicles or combine your goods with another client's shipment mid-journey. For long-distance moves, the same crew that packs you travels with the truck and offloads at the destination, so accountability stays with one team throughout.
Yes, a full-service move ends with your house set up, not with boxes on the floor. We reassemble the beds, arrange the seats and furniture where you want them, set up the kitchen, place clothes back in wardrobes and reconnect your appliances. Before we leave, we walk through the house with you to confirm everything is in place and collect the used packing materials.
Stay available to answer questions and make decisions, especially about what goes where in the new house. Keep your essentials bag, documents and valuables with you. At the old house, do a final walk-through of every room, including the balcony and store, before the truck leaves. At the new house, direct the crew room by room. Beyond that, relax. The heavy work is ours.
Special Items
Yes. Pianos, safes, treadmills and other heavy items need special equipment, extra manpower and trained handling, and we provide all three. Tell us about these items during the survey so we plan the right crew size and tools, and so the cost is included in your quote upfront. Heavy items are wrapped, strapped and secured separately in the truck to protect them and everything around them.
Fragile items get individual attention. Glassware and crockery are wrapped piece by piece in paper and bubble wrap, then packed upright in reinforced cartons. Artwork, mirrors and framed photos are wrapped in bubble wrap and corner-protected. Antiques and high-value pieces can be custom-crated on request. Every fragile carton is labelled and loaded on top, never under heavy boxes.
We can help you plan pet relocation and, for local moves, transport caged pets like birds in the supervised cabin area, never in the closed cargo section. For cats and dogs, we recommend they travel with you in your car, where they feel calm. For long-distance or international pet relocation, we connect you with trusted pet transport specialists and coordinate the timing with your move.
Yes, we arrange vehicle and motorbike transport, mostly for long-distance and cross-border relocations where driving yourself is not practical. Cars are moved on a flatbed or car carrier, and motorbikes are strapped and padded in the truck. Share your vehicle details during the survey and we will include the transport cost in your moving quote as one combined package.
Yes. We relocate servers, printers, safes, medical equipment and industrial machines using the right tools: trolleys, skates, ramps and lifting straps. Sensitive electronics are anti-static wrapped and padded, and machines are secured to prevent any shifting in transit. For offices, we coordinate with your IT team so equipment is shut down, moved and reinstalled in the correct order.
Yes, we do single-item moves every week. Whether it is a fridge you bought second-hand, a sofa set going to a relative, or one bedroom's worth of items, we send a small crew and an appropriately sized vehicle so you are not paying for a full truck. Single-item moves within Nairobi are quick and affordable. Just send us a photo of the item and both locations for an instant quote.
Storage
Yes, we offer secure storage for both short and long periods. Store your goods for a few days between houses, a few months while you travel or build, or longer for business stock and office assets. There is no fixed maximum period. Your items are inventoried, wrapped and stored in our facility, and you simply tell us when you are ready for delivery.
Very safe. Our storage facility has 24-hour security, CCTV coverage and controlled access, so only authorized staff enter the storage area. Your goods are wrapped, palletized and kept off the floor, and the facility is routinely fumigated to keep pests away. Every item is recorded on an inventory list that you sign, and the same list is checked off when your goods are released.
Yes. If you need to retrieve a document, a suitcase or any item from storage, contact us and we will arrange an access visit or pull the item for you. Because goods are professionally packed and stacked, access works by appointment rather than walk-in. If you expect to need certain items during the storage period, tell us in advance and we will pack them last and keep them accessible.
Storage is billed per month, based on the volume of space your goods occupy. A one-bedroom household costs less than a full four-bedroom home. If your new house is not ready in time, you only pay for the extra weeks you need. Ask for storage pricing during your moving survey, and we will quote the move and storage together so there are no separate surprises.
We cannot store perishables like food, anything flammable such as gas cylinders, fuel or paint, and live plants or animals. These items spoil, attract pests or create safety risks for everything else in the facility. We also advise you to keep cash, jewellery and critical documents with you rather than in storage. Furniture, electronics, boxes, appliances and business stock are all welcome.
Yes, this is one of our most requested services. If you must vacate your current house before the new one is ready, we pack and collect your goods, hold them safely in our facility, and deliver everything on the day you get your keys. Your items stay wrapped and untouched between collection and delivery, and you pay one combined price for the move and the storage days.
Long Distance, Office and International
Yes, we handle moves to and from all 47 counties. Long-distance moves cost more than local ones because of fuel, road tolls, driver allowances and sometimes an overnight stop. As a guide, a full household move from Nairobi to Mombasa typically starts from around KSh 80,000. We plan the route, travel with your goods and set up your new home on arrival, whichever county it is in.
Yes, we relocate clients across East Africa, including Kampala, Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Kigali. Cross-border moves involve customs paperwork at the border, and we prepare the inventory and documentation for you so clearance is smooth. Your goods travel in one sealed truck from your old door to your new one. Allow a few extra days of lead time for the paperwork.
Yes, office relocation is one of our specialties. We plan the move with your team in advance, label everything by department, and move over a weekend or at night so your business closes on Friday and opens Monday in the new office. Workstations, files and IT equipment are packed in sequence and set up in the same order, so your staff walk in and simply resume work.
Yes, we handle international relocations by sea and air freight. We pack your goods to international shipping standards, prepare the customs documentation, and manage the freight to your destination country, where a partner team clears and delivers. Sea freight is affordable for full households, while air freight suits smaller, urgent shipments. Start the conversation early, as international moves need more lead time.
Yes, we move clients upcountry every month, including to homes off the tarmac. During the survey, tell us about the access road so we plan the right vehicle. Where a large truck cannot reach the house, we use a smaller shuttle truck for the final stretch. During the rainy seasons we schedule around road conditions. Wherever home is, we will get your goods there safely.
Insurance, Trust and Safety
Yes, we offer goods-in-transit insurance to protect your belongings while they are in our care. It works like any cover: your goods are valued before the move, and if anything is damaged or lost in transit, you are compensated. Insurance is still rare in the Kenyan moving industry, so always ask any mover about it before booking. We will explain the cover and cost clearly in your quote.
Report it to your move coordinator immediately, ideally during the final walk-through while the crew is still present. We record the issue, assess the damage and resolve it through repair, replacement or compensation under your insurance cover. Our packing standards make damage rare, but when something goes wrong we own it and fix it. You will never be left chasing us after the truck leaves.
Yes. Our crews are our own trained employees, not casual labourers picked up for the day. Every team member goes through background checks before joining, wears uniform and carries identification on every job. This matters because you are trusting strangers inside your home with everything you own. You can ask any crew member for ID, and your coordinator shares the team list before moving day.
Yes. We are a fully registered Kenyan company with valid business permits, insured vehicles and tax-compliant operations, and we can share our registration documents on request. A physical office you can visit, a written quote, and proper receipts are things every genuine mover should offer without hesitation. If a mover cannot show you these basics, keep looking.
Watch for these red flags. A final price given over the phone without any survey. A demand for full payment before the move. No physical office you can visit. A quote far below every other company. No written agreement or receipts. Genuine movers survey first, quote in writing, take a deposit only, and get paid the balance after the job. When in doubt, visit the office and ask for registration documents.
Ready to get your moving quote?
Get a free, no-obligation moving quote in under 60 seconds. Space Move Kenya responds within 2 hours with a fixed price. Affordable movers in Nairobi with no hidden charges.