You’ve found your perfect home and successfully navigated the home-buying journey. Now, all that’s left is to prepare for your moving day!

To help make your move as smooth as possible, we’ve compiled a handy checklist of things to do before, during, and after the big day.

Two Months Before Your Move

Create a “Moving” file folder to hold all your important documents, including checklists, receipts, contact information, estimates, and other relevant paperwork.
Start researching moving companies and/or moving truck rentals. Ask around and get recommendations from friends and family. Contact a few companies to obtain quotes that you can compare. Be sure to ask if they’re available on your moving date.
In your existing home, go through each room and decide what to keep and what to discard. The fewer items you have to move, the better, so now is a great time to purge and declutter.
Proactively pack any non-essential items, such as out-of-season clothes or decorative knick-knacks that you won’t need anytime soon.
Stockpile cardboard boxes, storage totes, and reusable bins for the move.

Six Weeks Before Your Move

Start making a packing plan and timetable. Identify which rooms you want to pack first, leaving essential household items until the end.
Purchase packing supplies, including boxes, markers, packing tape, and bubble wrap. If you have many breakable items, such as dishes and vases, consider specialty boxes and packing materials.
Arrange for drapes or curtains to be installed in the new location.
If your kids will be changing schools, notify their existing school and make arrangements with their new one.
If you need to change your doctor or dentist offices, obtain copies of all your records.
If you’re donating any old clothes to a non-profit organization like Diabetes Canada, contact them and arrange a pickup. If that service isn’t available in your area, take unwanted items to your local thrift store’s donation centre.

One Month Before Your Move

Once you’ve confirmed your possession date, clear up any outstanding documents with your bank and lawyer.
Contact your home insurance provider and arrange to have insurance on your new home beginning on the date of the move.
Reserve the moving truck or moving company for your specific day.
Notify Canada Post of your new address and set up mail forwarding.
Call your internet/phone/cable provider to arrange installation dates for as soon as possible after you move. Do the same with utilities such as water, gas, and electricity.
Start using up the food in your freezer so you don’t have to move it.
You can now start packing items that you won’t need in the month ahead. Label each box clearly with the contents and intended room – for example: “Holiday decorations – basement.” Mark boxes containing breakable items “Fragile” on all sides.

Two Weeks Before Your Move

Make sure any final payments on rent or mortgage are up to date, as well as any other bills.
Make meals using the perishable food items in your fridge and cupboards. You don’t want to have to move them, and you can always buy new ones when you get to your new home.
Begin preparing and cleaning all appliances, such as your fridge, oven, washer, and dryer.
If you have area rugs, send them to get cleaned. You can have them delivered to your new home, fresh and ready.
Get the floor plan for your new home. This will come in handy when planning the actual move. Make extra copies you can hand out to any professional movers and friends who are helping.
Make arrangements to take care of your pets on moving day. While you could move them with the rest of the house, you may find it easier to board them for a day or two and bring them in once everything’s settled down.
Chase down any items that are out being repaired or cleaned. Also return anything you’ve borrowed from neighbours or friends.
Obtain your Canada Post community mailbox key.
Back up the contents of your computer, just in case anything goes wrong.
Book time off from work to manage the move.

One Week Before Your Move

Take down any curtains, blinds, or shelves you’re planning to take with you.
Time for some serious packing. Box up everything except for the plates, food and utensils you’ll need for the last few days.
Confirm the details (arrival time, address, parking, etc.) with your moving company.
Drain fuel from lawn mowers and other machinery, and safely dispose of it.
Create an “Essentials Box” that contains everything you’ll need for the first few days in your new home, including:
A change of clothes and toiletries (including medication, if needed) for each family member
Any must-have stuffed animals or comfort items for young children
Toilet paper
Paper towels
Light bulbs
Flashlight
Garbage bags
Cleaning supplies
Bathroom supplies – towels, soap, shampoo
Bedroom supplies – sheets, pillows, blankets
Pet food (if applicable)
Charging adapters and cords for electronic devices

The Day Before Your Move

Do a final check of closets, cupboards and other storage areas for stray items, including unused moving supplies.
Pack the last few remaining items. Verify the number of packed boxes with the moving company.
If large appliances (such as the fridge, stove, washer and dryer) are being moved, ensure that they are unplugged and ready to go.

Moving Day

Get an early start. Things will go more smoothly if you allow lots of time and don’t feel rushed.
During the move, keep personal items and valuables with you at all times, including your wallet, ID, phone, and jewelry.
Have a stash of snacks and water bottles on hand to keep everyone fueled up.
Advise movers of the top-priority boxes that should be loaded last and unloaded first.
Once the movers have loaded up the truck, do a final check to make sure nothing is left behind.
Turn off all lights and appliances before locking up.
Make sure you’re ready at the new house or arrange for someone else to be there to take delivery. Otherwise, you could be charged for waiting time.
Keep a written inventory of the boxes so you can verify that everything has been delivered.
Check everything for damage while unpacking, and document any damage that occurs.
Begin the process of unpacking and making the space feel like yours!

After The Move

Once you’re all moved in, consider the following next steps:

Ensure your appliances are properly installed and functioning.
Change your locks or make extra copies of keys.
Introduce yourself to your new neighbours.
Get involved in your community – check out local events and activities to get to know the area better. Follow any community social media feeds.
Check with Canada Post for any extra mail being held for you.
Update your change of address with Revenue Canada.
Use this helpful “Change of Address” checklist to notify other relevant people and organizations – for example, your employer, credit card company, bank, magazine subscriptions, and so on.
Confirm your garbage/recycling collection area and day.
If changing schools, arrange to take the kids for a tour of their new school.
If you’ve moved to a different province, research any differences in local laws or tax rules.

These tips and timelines can help you have an organized and efficient move to your new home. Although the process can be stressful at times, remember that it’s just a temporary inconvenience. Soon enough, everything will be in place and you’ll be busy making new memories in your new home.