How a shared-flat move differs from a family move
A single person, or a group of friends and colleagues, usually moves fewer things: a bed, a wardrobe, a fridge, a washing machine, maybe a screen and a stack of boxes. The difficulty is organisation, not volume. Who owns the fridge? Who pays? Who will be at the door when we load? Will everything go to one address or will the roommates split up? These questions slow a move down and cause arguments far more than the furniture ever does.
So our plan for shared housing starts by tidying information before tidying belongings. If you are moving a whole family flat, the apartment moving page fits you better. Here we cover shared living: rooms in a joint flat, staff accommodation, or friends renting together.
Common kinds of shared housing
- A joint flat with private rooms: each person has a room while the lounge and kitchen are shared. Separate shared items from personal ones before any loading.
- A room with several beds: common in budget housing. Bunk beds need dismantling and their parts numbered.
- Company-provided accommodation: the employer owns the inventory, so someone must represent them at handover.
- One person leaving a flat the others keep: we touch only that person's belongings.
- A group starting a new flat: they furnish it with second-hand pieces from several sellers.
Before the appointment: sort and agree
Three things save the most time if roommates finish them before we arrive:
- A written list of what moves, with the owner's name beside each piece. If an item is shared, say so and say who receives it.
- One representative, who talks to us and decides when opinions clash, so we never get contradictory instructions.
- A schedule showing who will be present at pickup and who at delivery, and whether it fits everyone's shifts.
If you cannot agree on a piece, leave it behind until you settle it. Moving an item by mistake and then moving it back costs more than waiting.
Boxes and wrapping in shared rooms
Personal belongings need closed boxes labelled with the owner and destination. Write the name on two sides of each box, not only on top, because boxes get stacked. In shared flats clothes, small appliances and kitchenware mix together, so pack by room rather than by type to make unloading easier.
If you do not want to pack yourself, our packing and wrapping team can do it, which helps if you work long hours. Partial wrapping, such as only appliances and glassware, can be agreed too.
Furniture that gets dismantled
Student and bachelor flats often hold simple pieces that still need taking apart: bunk beds, multi-door wardrobes, study desks and TV stands. Screws and small fittings disappear easily. We bag the hardware for each piece and tape it to the piece, and number the parts so reassembly is quick. See furniture disassembly and assembly and bedroom disassembly for detail.
Shared appliances: fridge, washer, water heater
Fridges and washers are the most moved items and the most argued over. If it is yours, settle that beforehand. Practically:
- Empty the fridge and leave the door open long enough for it to dry, and do not switch it on the moment it arrives; let it settle first.
- Drain the washer hoses and secure the drum with its transit bolts if you still have them.
- Let ovens and small appliances cool, and clean them of food residue before wrapping.
More on careful handling is in electrical appliance wrapping.
Split moves: different destinations
When a lease ends, one roommate may go to a new flat, another back to family and a third to other accommodation. We arrange the truck so each person's items form their own group and are unloaded at their own address. We need clear addresses and the order of stops, because every extra destination adds time. If destinations are far apart, two trips may be better.
Timing around shifts
Bachelors often work different shifts, so it can be hard to gather everyone at once. Pick a slot when at least one person is present at each site, and leave written instructions and keys with someone you trust. Weekends, the start of the month and lease-end dates are the busiest, so book early.
Handing back the old flat
Before leaving, check that every roommate has taken what is theirs and that fixtures owned by the landlord, like built-in AC units in some flats, stay in place. Photograph the empty flat. Responsibility for damage or cleaning may fall on all tenants jointly, so agree who will do the handover.
Mistakes we see often
- Not recording who owns each piece: it causes arguments at unloading.
- Leaving packing to the last night: loosely taped boxes open in transit.
- Several people calling us: contradictory instructions slow the job.
- Forgetting small personal items: chargers, papers, car keys. Keep them in a bag with you.
- Ignoring lift rules: some buildings limit moving hours.
- Skipping photos when handing over: it is hard to defend yourself later.
Price factors
We do not publish fixed prices. Cost depends on the number of pieces, the floor and lift, the number of destinations, whether dismantling or packing is needed, the distance and the date. If you are splitting the bill with friends, ask us to list each group's items so you can divide fairly. Read how pricing works on furniture moving prices.
If you only have a few items
If you are moving a piece or two, a full crew is unnecessary; our single-item moving service is a better fit. If you need a gap between two homes, see furniture storage in Jeddah.
Loading order in a shared flat
We load large heavy items first and smaller ones after, marking each group with a colour or a note. If each roommate has a room, we empty rooms one at a time, not all at once, so boxes do not mix. On arrival we unload in reverse and each roommate, or their representative, shows where things go. If a roommate is missing we do not leave their items somewhere unagreed; we stop and call whoever represents them.
Heat, dust and cramped flats
Shared flats are often crowded, with narrow passages and furniture against walls. Jeddah's heat and humidity can leave dust on surfaces and a stale smell in closed wardrobes. Before loading, open wardrobes and drawers, air the rooms and empty everything so pieces are lighter and drawers do not slide out. Pack clothes in bags or boxes instead of leaving them hanging on furniture. In summer we start early where possible so the crew is not working at midday in a closed truck, and we suggest you keep heat-sensitive items such as chargers, batteries and medicine with you.
Shared lifts and high floors
Many residential buildings have one small lift for several flats. Tell neighbours or management in advance and ask whether moving hours apply. We measure the lift to decide which pieces pass whole and which must be dismantled. A large bed or a four-door wardrobe may need full dismantling while boxes pass easily. For tall buildings see towers and high floors.
If the number of items changes on the day
It happens often: roommates discover they have more than they thought or someone decides to take an extra piece. Tell us before the crew arrives if you can. If not, we try to fit it, and if the volume grows a lot we may suggest an extra trip or truck and agree any cost change with you first.
How to start
Message us on WhatsApp with an approximate list of items, the number of destinations, the floor and lift at each site, whether you need dismantling or packing, and a proposed date. We reply with a few short questions and agree a plan that suits all roommates.
Buying second-hand furniture from several sellers
Many shared households furnish a flat with used pieces from classified ads or from people leaving the city. Before we collect anything from a seller, check that the piece will pass the door and lift at both ends, that its condition matches the description, and that the key fittings are present. If a piece is sold dismantled, ask the seller for all screws, cams and keys. We can collect items from several sellers in one trip and assemble them in your flat if you want. We cannot make up for a part that was never handed over, but we will warn you before loading if we notice something missing.
Keeping the peace during the move
A tidy move depends on small agreements: who holds the keys, who pays the crew, which rooms are loaded first, and what happens if a disagreement arises about a piece. Write these down in a group chat so everyone can see them. If a dispute starts on the day, we pause that piece and carry on with everything else rather than force a decision, because it is easier to collect one item later than to undo a wrong delivery.
Frequently asked questions about shared housing moves
Can you move several people from one flat to different destinations?
Yes. We group items per destination, but need clear addresses and the stop order. Each extra stop adds time and cost.
Can one roommate represent the others?
Yes, if you agree on one person who speaks for the group and decides when needed.
Do you dismantle bunk beds?
Yes. We number the parts and bag the hardware on each piece so reassembly is quick.
Is it worth hiring you for just one person with a few items?
Yes, we suggest the lowest-cost option for the volume, including single-item moves.
Should I pack myself?
You can, and we explain how to seal and label. We also offer packing if you do not have time.
Do you work at weekends and at the start of the month?
Yes, subject to availability, but these are busy periods so book early.