Moving Checklist for BC

Moving Checklist

British Columbia

Moving your home is much like eating an elephant: You do it one mouthful at a time. Yes, it’s stressful and time-consuming, and it’s not something we look forward to with happy anticipation.

So, here’s a plan to get you through the most challenging days and make the journey to your new home as painless as possible. Use this handy checklist and before you know it you will be sitting comfortably in your new home, telling your friends just how painless the process was.

Now it’s time for action!

Phase One: Preparation

5 to 6 Weeks to Go

Declutter

Step one involves ditching sentimentality and embracing reality. So, get yourself a couple of boxes, fill them with all the stuff you won’t be taking, have a garage sale or donate to a worthy cause. Remember to set a date for when the clutter has been cleared. Right, there are six weeks to go. The garage sale is over, and the clutter is gone. We’re on schedule, so you can tick your first box off!

Conduct a room-by-room inventory, which you will need to give to the moving company so they can provide a quotation

Get the Green Building Project Checklist

Use this handy checklist on your next project to keep track of all the ways you can make your home more energy-efficient and sustainable.

The movers will need the following information:

Inventory of household contents – make this as comprehensive as possible by taking your time to go through each room and making a list. Remember, you will be using this list as you pack to keep a record of the boxes and their contents.

Determine the dates when you would like the move to take place. Remember, you may well get a better price if you can move mid-month.

If possible, arrange to move on a Thursday. This gives you Friday to check that the utilities are connected, and you have the weekend to begin to unpack.

Book a mover

If you’re moving locally or within the province, now is the time to search for a mover (though if you’re looking for cross country movers you’ll want to have started this process about 2 to 3 months earlier as they require longer booking time).

It’s probably not worth saving a few bucks hiring a subpar moving company when you consider they’ll be handling all your belongings, so choose wisely. When searching around for movers in Canada first try to get recommendations from friends, and perhaps check with local real estate agents that you trust. If you can’t get any suitable suggestions that way have a close look through online reviews until you find one that you feel comfortable with.

Let’s Start With the Business Side of Things

Inform the following of your change of address:

Canada Revenue Agency
Insurance companies – cancel your home insurance, or transfer it to your new address, and check if they will insure the move
Utility companies – terminate your services / internet providers
Update vehicle registration and driver’s licence with the ICBC
Schools – don’t forget to organize copies of school records
Terminate or transfer your gym membership to your new location
Update subscriptions to newspaper deliveries
Banks and credit card companies
Other services like gardening
Doctors, dentists and other medical services
Sporting clubs

Family and Friends

It’s important to sit down with the family to discuss the details of the move. Children need reassurance and details about the move. Young children are especially vulnerable to feelings of unease about the move, so do spend some time explaining why the move is necessary, highlighting the advantages of their new home. For them, it’s a whole new world: new home, new school, new friends.

Friends will want to spend time with you before you move. Try to arrange these events away from your house as you don’t need the added burden of hosting parties just before moving.

Items Relating to Your New Location

Confirm arrangements for new schools and clubs for the children
Hook-ups for utilities like gas, electricity, telephone and water
Garbage collection and recycling

Phase Two: Organization

4 Weeks to Go

Find a source for boxes. You’ll need more than you think – check with the movers if they can provide some.
Study the floor plan of the new house to see how your furniture will fit. This may be the perfect opportunity to replace some large items and buy furniture more suitable for your new home once you’ve moved in.
Large and heavy items like pianos need special arrangements, so discuss this with the movers, especially if you’re moving to an apartment with stairs or elevator access.
Time to start packing the items you’re not going to use for the next month or two. Out-of-season clothing can be packed away ready for the move.
Label each box and record it on your inventory list. Label according to the rooms in your new house and give them a priority rating (which are most important to open first) to give the mover instructions about where each box should be put.
Make arrangements for items you have loaned to friends and neighbours to be returned.

Phase Three: Groundwork

3 Weeks to Go

By now, boxes are beginning to pile up – neatly labelled and sealed. It’s also time to settle on the moving company and firm up the dates and times. Remember, they do this pretty much 24/7, so their advice is based on a lot of experience.

What You Need to Concentrate on Now

Collecting and storing valuables like jewellery and important documents and preparing them for the move
If you’re taking rugs and carpets, this may be the perfect time to get them professionally cleaned and packaged, ready for the move
Decide on houseplants you may want to take along with you or any outside plants
Arrange for the freezer to get unloaded
Arrange access for the cleaning services to attend to your new house on dates before the moving date

Some Considerate Items to Arrange for the New Residents of Your Old House:

Prepare a list locating the shut-off valves for water and gas and the distribution board for electrical switches
If you’re leaving any big electrical items or machinery behind, pack all the manuals together and leave them in a prominent place for the new residents
Prepare a list of companies that have undertaken any repairs to the house in recent years

Phase Four: Execution

1 to 2 Weeks to Go

With only a week or two to go, it’s time to start packing more items you can do without for a short time
Check for any prescriptions that may require filling before the move
Spend a quiet hour reviewing the inventory
Add important telephone numbers that you may need on the day of the move to the inventory list
Arrange for time off from work and confirm the arrangements with the moving company
Prepare an emergency bag for first aid items
Arrange for agents or new owners to pick up keys to the house

Items for the New House

Confirm access arrangements
Confirm with utilities for connections

The Day Before the Moving Truck Arrives

Defrost the deep freeze
Pack a box with essential items you may need, like paper towels, snacks for the kids, drinks (save the wine for later) and a couple of plates, knives, forks and glasses
Keep a few boxes open and empty for final items
Keep a small tool kit on hand – always useful

The Morning of the Move

Take down the curtains and pack them
Use your inventory list to check as the movers load each box
Once the movers have finished loading, have a good look through all the cupboards
Finally, switch off the lights, gas and water
Collect the house keys and leave them as arranged
Take a final walk through the house – you’re off to a new adventure!

Want to make your move a sustainable one? Check out our Guide to Sustainable Moving From Start to Finish.

Phase One: Preparation

Get the Green Building Project Checklist