Moving Tips

It is easy to forget something during this high activity period. See our list of tips to avoid bad surprises.

Health care and insurance

Insurance: Write down the serial numbers of all of your electronics, and take photos of your most precious belongings in case they are damaged or stolen during the move.
Health care: Ask your doctor and dentist to recommend other practitioners near your new home, and have your prescriptions transferred. Ask for copies of your medical and dental records as well as your prescription history.

Transporation and travel

The move: Reserve a rental van or call movers. If necessary, arrange to place your goods in temporary storage.
Travel: If needed, make airline, bus, rental-vehicle and hotel reservations.
Domestic animals: Make necessary arrangements to move your pets.

Personal belonging

Inventory: Prepare a list off furniture, appliances and personal belongings that you want to keep and other items you would like to get rid of.
Sidewalk sale or donations: Hold a sidewalk sale or give items to your friends or family members. Call a charitable organization or recycler to pick up any items you would like to discard.

Begin packing

Off-season items: Coats, clothing, sports equipment and holiday decorations.
Decorations: photos, paintings, vases, candles, decorative objects, souvenirs, etc.
Bedding and bathroom accessories: Extra bedding, blankets, pillows, towels and toiletries.

Change of address

Post office: Fill out a change of address form at the post office so your mail will be forwarded to your new address.
Services: Notify your satellite-television and Internet service providers of your move. If you subscribe to one or more Bell services, notify them of your move as early as possible. Have your services transferred to your new address: electricity, gas, fuel oil, water, and home and wireless telephone.
Insurance and financial: Notify your insurance company (vehicle, home, life), financial institutions (RRSP, bank account, savings), credit card companies (Visa, MasterCard, etc.), department stores where you have cards (Sears, The Bay, etc.), investment broker and financial advisor.
Subscriptions: Be sure to give your new address to any newspaper or magazines you subscribe to, either electronically or on paper.
Don't forget to notify any professional associations to which you belong, your school commission (for school taxes), your dentist, doctor, employer and your children's school. Last, you must give your new address to any public services and other government organizations.
Perishable foods: Consume any perishables to avoid having to pack them or having them spoil during the move.

Begin packing

Office: Books, magazines, software, little-used office equipment.
Entertainment: CDs and DVDs, videocassettes, board games, video games and toys.
Kitchen: Recipe books, extra covers, fondue or sushi sets, infrequently used small appliances: the grill, toaster oven, deep fryer, mixer, etc.
Tools, material and small equipment: All items stored in the garage, attic, shed and closets as well as any little-used items.

Personal belongings

Home appliances: If required, have your appliances serviced before your move.
Valuables: Pick up any valuables left in your safety deposit box. Make copies of all important documents before mailing them or bringing them to your new home.

Transportation and travel

Reservations: Check and confirm all preparations (moving and travel).
Helping hands: Ask for help on the day of the move and consider any special needs your baby or pets may have.

Finish packing

Everyday items: Clothing, office and kitchen items, bedding and bathroom accessories. Leave only essentials for the last week.
Furniture: Disassemble any items that could be damaged. Protect and cover feet, corners, handles and drawers.

Cardboard boxes: Ideally all the same size to facilitate stacking and transportation. Light and medium-weight items, such as bed, bath and kitchen accessories, decorations and clothing can be packed in boxes.

Tape dispenser: Handy for closing box bottoms and sealing them. Obtain one dispenser for each person packing to speed up work. Don't skimp on the tape!

Plastic and wooden boxes: Perfect for heavier items such as dishes, books, office and stereo equipment, the home theatre, tools, etc.

Newsprint, old sewing patterns, paper tools and recycled rags: A good way to pack fragile items such as glassware, dishes, and candles or other decorations.

Padding boxes: Use towels, sheets or clothing as packing material. It's environmentally friendly, too!

Bubble pack and sheets of plastic: Handy for protecting furniture and fragile items and for packing several items side by side.

Protecting fragile items: Wrap fragile items like glassware and dishes individually.

Labels and permanent markers: Essential items for labelling boxes. Mark all four sides, since there is no way to know how boxes will be stacked!

Labels identifying contents: In smaller letters, indicate the contents of each box so you can prioritize unpacking.

Identify boxes containing fragile items: Write "FRAGILE" on boxes. You can also buy brightly coloured self-adhesive labels to clearly identify the boxes in question.

Destination room: Clearly indicate on each box which room it should go into in order to be able to find them quickly and put them in the right place.

Group items: Place items used in the same room in the same box to make packing and unpacking easier.

Distribute weight: Pack heavier items in small boxes to avoid breakage and avoid having boxes that are too heavy to lift.

Tool box: Contains tools for disassembling and assembling furniture, doors, handles, etc.

Disassembling equipment: Place detachable parts of furniture or lamps in a plastic bag. Attach the bag directly to the item with tape so the parts don't get lost.

Utility (X-acto) knife: Handy for opening boxes quickly and precisely.