You have found your dream condo in Thonglor, signed the lease, and now you are staring at a blank calendar wondering what comes next. Moving into a new condo in Bangkok is not just about packing boxes and hiring movers. There are utilities to arrange, landlord documents to chase, neighborhood essentials to map out, and a hundred small things that make the difference between moving day chaos and a smooth transition into your new home. After years of watching expats and locals navigate this process, we have put together a checklist that covers everything you actually need to do before your keys arrive.

Confirm All Documentation Before Move-In Day

The biggest mistake people make is assuming the paperwork is done when they sign the lease. It is not. Contact your landlord or property management company at least two weeks before your move-in date and confirm you have copies of every single document. This includes the signed lease agreement, your passport copies, work permit copies, and any bank documents they collected during the application process.

For Thai nationals or long-term residents, you will also need to prepare for the TM.30 form, which reports your residential address to the immigration bureau. Your landlord should file this within 24 hours of your move-in, but do not assume they will remember. Ask them upfront if they handle this automatically or if you need to do it yourself at your local immigration office or online through the Immigration Bureau website.

One expat who rented a two-bedroom in Phrom Phong waited three months thinking her landlord had submitted the TM.30, then discovered she needed it for a visa extension. Confirm this in writing at least one week before your move date. Screenshot the confirmation message just to be safe.

Arrange Utilities and Services in Advance

Bangkok condos typically handle water and common area electricity through the building management, but you will need to set up your personal electricity meter, internet, and sometimes gas separately. Call ahead to find out which utility companies service your building. Most condos in central Bangkok are served by the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA), and you can register online or visit any MEA office near your BTS or MRT station.

Internet is where people often stumble. Bangkok has multiple providers, TRUE, AIS Fibre, and 3BB being the most common. Booking an installation appointment can take one to two weeks, so do this immediately after signing your lease. If you move in before the appointment, your landlord may let you use building WiFi as a temporary solution, but do not count on it.

A consultant who moved to a condo near Asoke on a Friday discovered the internet company had no appointments available until the following Thursday. She worked from a coffee shop for a week and spent an extra 2,000 THB on mobile data. Internet companies in Bangkok operate on their own schedule. Plan accordingly and book as early as possible.

Visit Your Neighborhood and Map Essential Locations

Do not wait until you arrive to figure out where the nearest convenience store, hospital, or BTS station is. Visit your neighborhood at least once before move-in day, ideally at different times of day. Walk around the soi where your condo is located and note the locations of 7-Eleven, pharmacies, good restaurants, and the nearest sky train or metro station.

Bangkok neighborhoods vary enormously even within a single district. A condo on Soi Thonglor 8 is walkable to the Thonglor BTS station, but a condo on Soi Thonglor 15 might be a 15-minute walk or require a motorcycle taxi. Knowing this before your move-in saves you frustration every single day.

Check where the nearest quality hospitals are. If you have a family, research the closest international hospitals. Bumrungrad International Hospital serves Sukhumvit residents, while Samitivej Hospital covers Sukhumvit as well, but response times vary by location. Having the address and phone number saved in your phone before day one is smart planning.

Set Up Banking, Insurance, and Address Changes

Once you have your condo address locked in, contact your bank and insurance providers and update your residential address. Thai banks like Kasikornbank and Bangkok Bank require address updates, and some will request a copy of your lease agreement as proof of residence. This is especially important if you need to apply for credit cards or loans later.

If you are an expat, notify your home country tax authority of your address change if you are required to file taxes. Contact your insurance broker to confirm your home and personal property coverage is still valid at your new address. Some policies have restrictions on certain neighborhoods or building types, so this is not a formality.

One family moved to a high-rise in Phetchaburi and only discovered six months later that their home insurance did not cover condos above the 20th floor. They had to switch policies retroactively, which cost them extra. Update everything in writing and keep copies.

Prepare a Moving Day Survival Kit and Utilities Checklist

Arrange your movers at least one week in advance. Bangkok moving companies like Vilavada Relocation and Bangkok Removals are reliable but book up fast, especially on weekends. Confirm the exact time, bring cash for any cash-on-delivery tips, and make sure the movers know whether your building allows them to use the service elevator and at what times.

On moving day itself, pack a "first night" box with essentials: toiletries, phone chargers, one set of clean clothes, important documents, passport, and a basic medical kit. Do not assume you can unpack everything on day one. Most people spend the first night exhausted, with boxes everywhere, and grateful just to have a shower and a bed.

Walk through your condo with the landlord or property manager and take photos of the condition of every room, every appliance, and any marks or damage on walls. This takes 30 minutes but protects your deposit. Most condo leases in Bangkok require you to return the unit in the same condition, and without photographic evidence, you might lose money at the end of your tenancy.

Get to Know Your Building and Meet Your Neighbors

Every Bangkok condo has its own personality, rules, and unwritten social norms. Visit the front desk on your first day, introduce yourself, and ask how things work. Which elevators go to which floors? What time is the gym open? Is the pool maintenance schedule actually followed? Do you need to register guests, or is that building folklore? Ask the staff, not Google.

Most Bangkok condos have Facebook groups for residents. Join them, read through recent posts, and get a sense of what issues people talk about. These groups are gold for finding out which restaurants deliver, where to park visitors, and what to expect during rainy season in your specific building.

• 4 weeks before: Book movers, arrange internet installation vs Critical
• 2 weeks before: Confirm all documentation with landlord, visit neighborhood vs Critical
• 1 week before: Register for utilities, update banking and insurance, prepare moving kit vs High
• Move-in day: Walk through with landlord, photograph condition, confirm TM.30 filing vs Critical
• First week: Join building Facebook group, meet staff, register with immigration if required vs Medium

Moving into a condo in Bangkok is manageable if you break it down into steps and start early. The key is not to leave anything to chance. Landlords, utility companies, and building management all operate on their own timelines, and the earlier you engage with them, the smoother your move will be. Start this checklist as soon as your lease is signed, work through each section methodically, and you will walk into your new condo on moving day knowing you have covered everything. Average rent in central Bangkok neighborhoods like Thonglor, Phrom Phong, and Asoke ranges from 25,000 to 45,000 THB per month for a one-bedroom, and that investment deserves a move-in process that actually works.

Finding the right condo and making sure your move-in goes smoothly are both parts of settling into Bangkok properly. When you are ready to search for your next place, Superagent makes it simple. We list verified condos across Bangkok with real photos, actual availability, and landlords who respond. Take the stress out of your next move by browsing Superagent today.