Moving to a new home may not feel like a complicated task that warrants a lot of planning; however, moving to a new home requires a lot of thought, especially if you want the moving process to be efficient and smooth.
If you've recently purchased a new home and are worried about tackling the moving process, there's no need to panic! We've put together the ultimate moving checklist for homeowners in Canada. Feel free to reference this checklist when moving to a new house if you want the process to be quick, simple and stress-free.
Continue reading to learn more about how to move to a new home like a pro.
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The best checklist for moving to a new home in Canada
While putting together a checklist when moving to a new house, you should separate the list into five sections:
- Four weeks before the move
- Two weeks before the move
- One week before the move
- The day of the move
- After the move
Separating your list into five sections makes it easier to manage and prevents mix ups or confusion throughout the moving process.
Four weeks before moving
Although the big move may seem like a lifetime away, four weeks isn't very long. At this point, you should start to prepare for the move and deal with a handful of basic tasks. Adding these tasks to your moving houses checklist several weeks in advance will make your life much easier on your moving day.
Some things you should do four weeks before the moving day include:
- Create an inventory of your belongings and decide what you want to keep and what can go.
- Post your unwanted belongings online or host a yard sale to cut down on your unwanted goods.
- Donate old toys, clothing, etc., that you can't sell or give to a friend or family member.
- Ask your friends, family members and local businesses for old boxes, packing materials, etc., that you can use during the move.
- Properly dispose of items with unique requirements (lightbulbs, batteries, etc.).
Two weeks before moving
After taking care of the basic tasks listed above, you can start to tackle some of the essential moving-related tasks. If you choose to leave these tasks to the last minute, you may be scrambling to get them done later on.
Some tasks that you should take care of two weeks before the moving day include:
- Pack items that aren't used regularly (decorations, seasonal furniture, photo albums, etc.).
- Appraise high-value or antique items and store them in protective containers to minimize potential damage.
- Start contacting moving companies or rental car companies that offer moving vans.
- Contact your home insurance company or broker to let them know that you are changing your address.
- Ask your friends and family members if they are able to help you move more significant pieces of furniture.
- Book the day (or a few days) off work (you can do this four weeks in advance if your employer requires additional notice).
One week before moving
Once you hit the one-week mark, the move starts to feel very real. At this point in the moving process, you should add these tasks to your list of what to do when moving:
- Pack up all of your remaining belongings.
- Tape all boxes shut and stack them in an organized manner.
- Thoroughly clean your home (vacuum dust, mop the floor, throw away trash, etc.). If you don't have enough time to clean your home properly, consider hiring a cleaning service.
- Take photos of all of your furniture that is prone to damage. You can show these photos to the moving company or insurance provider if something breaks during the move.
- Take photos or videos of your electronics while unplugging them. You can reference the images when you set them up in your new home.
- Remove all food from your refrigerator and defrost the unit.
Once all of these tasks are taken care of, you can get some rest and mentally prepare for the moving day.
Moving day
The day has finally arrived! It's time to take action and move into your new home. Here are some things to do when moving to your new home:
- Label all boxes and decide which ones need to be loaded first and which can be loaded later on.
- Double-check all of your appliances and systems in your home.
- Double-check the cupboards, closets, etc., for items you may have forgotten.
- Disassemble beds and other large pieces of furniture.
- Clear all pathways for the movers. Doing this will minimize the chance of them injuring themselves during the moving process.
- If you've rented a moving van and are moving large items by yourself, ensure they are securely strapped to the side of the vehicle. Doing this will prevent them from falling over while you transport them.
- Prepare an emergency kit.
- Turn off all lights and water and adjust the thermostat to a neutral setting.
- Lock all doors and windows before leaving the house.
After moving to your new home
After all of the major tasks have been completed, you can finally relax…but not for long!
There are a handful of tasks that you need to take care of before you can officially say that you've moved into your new home. These tasks include:
- Unpack and set up your belongings.
- Leave a positive review of the moving company or rental car company if you are pleased with their service.
- Change the address on your driver's licence.
- Change the address on your car insurance policy.
