Get Moving with this Ultimate Checklist
Moving is exciting but it can also be stressful, especially if ill-prepared. To minimize anxieties and enjoy a (relatively) hassle-free day, it’s important to plan in advance.
The first thing you need to determine is whether you are going to hire movers to transport your possessions or rent a truck and DIY. Ultimately, your decision comes down to how much work you want to take on and what you can afford.
Regardless of what you choose, there are a number of tasks you can tackle before the ‘big day’ to ensure a smooth move. By getting a head start and staying organized, you will make it through this process unscathed and be ready to enjoy your new home.
One to Two Months Before Moving
- Plan your moving method (truck rental, hiring movers, etc.) and get cost estimates.
- Book the movers, if needed.
- Measure furniture to make sure it will fit in your new home and through the doors. The last thing you want to do is invest time, money and effort into moving furniture from one home to another to only find out it does not fit.
- Edit your belongings. Decide what stays, what can be donated or sold and what needs to be ditched. Throw away ‘junk’ and organize and/or label the rest accordingly.
- Properly dispose of household chemicals and flammable products, such as paint and aerosol cans.
Three Weeks Before Moving
- Donate items you are not taking with you to charity, sell them online or host a garage sale.
- Make arrangements for kids and/or pets to be looked after on moving day.
- Stock up on cardboard boxes so you can start packing. Be sure to label all boxes (colour-coding them, if necessary) with the room they belong in and what they contain.
- Plan the disconnection and connection of utilities.
- Complete necessary change of address forms (driver’s licence, health card, insurance, credit cards, etc.) and schedule mail to be forwarded to your new home with Canada Post.
- Start using up frozen food and staples.
One Week Before Moving
- Finish packing.
- Find a safe place to store your valuables on moving day. Insure anything that is expensive, priceless or breakable when using a moving company. If you are moving a computer, do a quick backup of important files just in case something happens in transit.
- Prepare a bag of essentials so you don’t have to go searching through boxes on the first night in your new home. Items to include are pyjamas, extra clothing, toiletries, bed sheets, cleaning supplies, toilet paper and any medications you need.
- Clean out appliances.
- Arrange cleaning of your existing home on moving day, if not doing it yourself.
- If moving to a condominium, reserve the elevator with the building’s property management company.
- Reconfirm the moving date and time with those involved.
Moving Day
- Take movers/helpers through your home to inform them of what to do.
- Once furniture is moved out, make sure the home is cleaned.
- Walk through the empty place to ensure nothing is left behind.
- Turn off lights and lock all doors and windows before leaving.
- Be at your new home when the furniture arrives so you can direct movers on where to place it.
- Have basic tools handy for assembly of furniture.
- Consider changing the doorknob/lock on exterior doors. This provides an added sense of security as you do not know who may still have keys to the home.
