Are You Moving to a New House? The ULTIMATE Moving To Do List!

Moving to a new house is the height of exciting. Until you realize that you forgot to call the utility company to ensure that your account was activated for move in day. But hey, moving in by candlelight is a thing, right? WRONG.

Actually, for a lot of people, moving is pretty stressful, particularly when you’re moving out of one place and into another in one day. Take some of that stress out of the process by making sure you have a solid TO DO list, printed and handy or on your phone, so that you don’t miss a thing! You’ll sleep better at night knowing you’ve checked everything twice!

There is an order to the list too. There are tasks you need to do that MUST precede another, so take heed and get to work! Like what? You can’t register the kids for school, for example, unless you have some form of ID with the new address on it. That’s a driver’s licence, a set of mortgage documents, or something ‘official’ (no, your People magazine subscription won’t cut it!)

Tasks to be done as soon as you have a confirmed sale and closing date

• Go through all of your stuff: if you’re going to get rid of or recycle some things, now is the time, rather than paying to have it stored / moved. Also, if you have expensive pieces of artwork, make sure they have been appraised and are properly insured. Take inventory of the larger / important / valuable items and take photographs of them.
• Get quotes and book your movers / storage and start collecting boxes and packing materials, including tape. Confirm anything that they will not move, so that you can plan for alternatives. For example, some movers will not move propane tanks for the BBQ. You may need space in the car for this or return them and get new ones when you arrive at your new home.
• Have ONE place to put all moving related receipts, if you’re moving for work. These are deductible!
• Speak to your insurance agent or broker to ensure you’re all set up with the transfer of house insurance, as well as address changes for auto and medical insurance policies.
• Go visit your new neighbourhood so that you know where things are: grocery store and their hours, coffee shops, any medical resources, schools and so on.
• Measure furniture and, if you can book a visit to your new home before closing, make sure it’s going to fit. While at the new home, take measurements of every room if you haven’t already and don’t forget to measure for new window coverings! You will be able to start shopping for new furniture, if you need any, with these measurements in hand! This is also a good time to decide if you’re going to have any work done to the house before you unpack, even if it’s just painting a few rooms. Take a lot of pictures so that you can plan colours! Make sure your pictures include ANY inclusions that will be coming with the house so that you can double check that they are the same and in good order when you arrive!

Tasks to be done about a month before moving

• Start packing! You do NOT want to leave this until the last second! Place boxes in rooms for older children, so they can start doing their own.
• Let any service providers know about the move, either because you won’t be able to use them going forward, or to see if they will come to your new address. This includes house cleaning, landscaping and so on.
• Decide what will go to storage, what will go in the moving van and what will go with you in the car. What should go with you in the car?
  • Valuables
  • Important electronics
  • Chargers
  • Important documents
  • Medications
  • Plan for a ‘cleaning box’: filled with cleaning supplies, trash bags, paper towels, scissors and a bucket and sponges. Even if the previous owners left the home spic and span, odds are you’ll want to go over a few surfaces yourself. Consider having a few basic tools handy, in case you need to remove a door or tighten up some screws! They will also handy for putting the furniture, that had to be disassembled, back together!
  • Plan for a ‘first night’ box. You don’t have to pack it yet, but have an idea of what you’ll want in it so that you don’t inadvertently pack those items. It will be impossible to find everything you might need in all the boxes, so having a ‘first night’ box ensures you have the essentials: linens and towels, water, snacks, toiletries, a few changes of clothes for everyone, pet supplies. (TIP: coffee, mugs, coffee machine… trust me.)

Tasks to be done at least two weeks before moving

• Start changing your address with all relevant companies and move your services (assuming you’re moving within the same city) or order new services.
  • Telephone
  • Cell phones
  • Utilities
  • TV / Internet
  • Credit cards
  • Banking
  • Insurance
• If you’re moving a fair distance, make sure to contact your pharmacy and have any prescriptions moved to one that is closer to your new location.
• File your mail forwarding notice with Canada Post.
• Start slowing down on grocery purchases!
• Check in with new schools if the kids will be starting right away!

Tasks to be done in the week before moving

• Confirm your movers and any installers / painters that you have booked. Remember that closing could happen later in the day so it’s best not to book any appointments earlier than the following day, after you move.
  • Consider requesting the services of a locksmith at the earliest opportunity, to change the locks on the home. You don’t know how many versions of the keys to your home are out there with the previous owner’s brother-in-law and so on!
• Pack larger items that you won’t need for the rest of the time you are in your current space. Only leave out that which is essential to everyday living!
• Dispose of any items that you won’t be moving like old paint cans, fuel cans; drain fuel from any machines like the lawnmower (after you’ve given your current lawn one last mow!)
• Clean the house from top to bottom (or get a service in to do a deep clean!) Don’t forget the garage!
• Make sure you have a moving plan for your pets! If you’re moving locally, it’s nice if they can stay with someone else for the duration of the move. So many pets get lost with doors open and movers going in and out! Plus, it’s VERY stressful for them.

Tasks to be done the day before your move

• Pack your ‘cleaning box’ and ‘first night box’ as well as your essentials that are going with you and have them ready to load up. DON’T pack your car in advance unless it is secured in a garage: that’s just an invitation to have it broken into.
• Review the plan and who is going in what car. Make sure everyone is on the same page.

Tasks to be done on the day of the move

• Take apart any final large pieces of furniture.
• Walk through the house a final time, top to bottom, to make sure everything is in order and you haven’t forgotten something!
• Make sure someone is at the new location to greet the movers when the close is confirmed, and to direct placement of items / boxes.
• Check all inclusions at the new house against the pictures you took previously to ensure everything is as it should be and there is no damage that was created during the previous owners move or that wasn’t disclosed.
• Unpack your ‘cleaning’ and ‘first night’ boxes, so you have the essentials you’ll need.
• Put up window treatments—even if they’re just temporary—on bedroom windows.
• Check that fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers are set up and working.

And don’t forget to enjoy your new space! It’s easy to get caught up in the craziness that is moving, but take the time to take a walk around your new neighbourhood, drop in at your local coffee shop and perhaps say hello to your new neighbours!