Okay, so you’ve purchased the home of your dreams (or at least a step in the right direction), and the closing date is in two months. Now what? Well, now you’ve entered the inevitable planning stage. It may seem like two months is far down the road, but it isn’t, moving day will be here before you know it and there’s plenty to do.

Moving and the days leading up to it don’t have to be stressful ones, so we have compiled a moving day checklist to help keep you on schedule and keep your stress level to a minimum while doing it!

8 Weeks Before

Research movers

Start by asking around for recommendations. Family and friends who’ve recently moved are obviously the best place to start, but you can also ask your real estate agent, workplace colleagues, or even post the question to your social channels, like Facebook or Instagram. Ask them to describe their most recent moving experience and ask specific questions like, How was the customer service? Was the cost reasonable? Were there hidden fees? Were they professional? Finally, do a local search online and read reviews. Great companies always get Google reviews!

Sort and purge

A move is always a great time to purge! Begin in the most cluttered areas of your home like the basement and the garage. Sort through everything and start making keep, donate, and throw away piles. Even rent a dumpster or hire a junk away service to really clean out the unwanted or unused items in your home. Taking absolutely everything with you on your move is a mistake and you’ll be happy to start with a clean slate. It will also help you once you start packing.

Create a digital folder or binder for moving day

Fill this folder with quotes, receipts, and other documents as you progress. This is also a good place to keep all to-do lists and inventory of each room as you start sorting and eventually packing. It’s good to have one place to go to when needing to keep yourself on track.

Request time off from work

It may only take a day or a weekend to move all your physical items to your new place, but it will definitely take much longer to get settled. If your work schedule allows it, it’s always a good idea to take two days before a move to get all the last-minute details and packing sorted out and two days after to organize and make your new home functional.

Find a school for the kids

If you are moving within the same school zone that your children are currently attending, then this one isn’t a concern. But, if you are moving zones are cities, you’ll want to do some research on the schools in your new home’s area and begin the process of enrolling them.

Talk with your landlord

Those who are renting will need to talk to their landlord. In most cases, it’s required for a tenant to give two months’ notice before moving out. If you have given last months’ rent when you signed your lease agreement or a damage deposit, don’t forget to utilize this money for your move.

6 Weeks Before

Sort and purge

You are not imagining it, this is listed twice, and for good reason. Sorting through years of household items and deciding what to get rid of is a big job and requires weeks of work. If it’s on your list in different time segments, it gives you the time and space to do it without the added stress of having to accomplish it in a short period of time.

Ask friends and family for help

If you’re asking anyone for help during the move, you should ask them at least 6 weeks in advance. You’ll want to ask them early so they can block the date in their calendars.

Find a new doctor, dentist, and vet

Are you moving to another city or province? Then you probably want to look for a new doctor and dentist. Or at least narrow down your options to a couple of candidates.

Pet owners should also find a veterinarian in the area to know where to bring their pets in an emergency. Be sure to also bring your pet’s vet record.

Order Supplies

Order moving boxes and other supplies such as tape, Bubble Wrap, and permanent markers. Don't forget to order specialty containers, such as dish barrels or wardrobe boxes.

Collect free boxes

You can buy boxes to store your belongings — or you can save money by recycling used containers from the neighborhood. In addition, restaurants, liquor stores, groceries, office supply stores, and other local businesses should have free boxes to spare.

4 Weeks Before

Begin packing

Start packing the things that you use most infrequently, such as the waffle iron and croquet set. While packing, note items of special value that might require additional insurance from your moving company. Make sure to declare, in writing, any items valued over $100 per pound, such as a computer. Clearly label and number each box with its contents and the room it's destined for. This will help you to keep an inventory of your belongings. Pack and label "essentials" boxes of items you'll need right away.

Gather all your records

If you haven’t done so yet, gather all financial, legal, and medical records in one place. Secure them in a folder and leave that somewhere you won’t forget. Place them near your birth certificates and passports so you can grab every important document you have in one go.

Notify your insurance company

You’ll want to notify your insurance company of your pending move so an agent can update your records.

Find an internet provider

Not having an internet connection is such a pain. So, call an internet provider that serves the area where you’re moving and schedule an installation. Slots tend to fill up fast, so you’ll want to act on them immediately.

Notify service providers

Let your gardener, housekeeping, and other service providers know you are moving. If you’re moving far away or don’t think you’ll no longer need their services, they need to be informed in advance so they can find new clients.

2 Weeks Before

Assess your new place

After securing a moving company, you can do the additional step of going to your new place and figuring out the logistics of the move.

What streets should the movers take? Where can they park when they get there? Is there heavy traffic in the area that can affect the move? Is there a service elevator they can take if you’re moving to an apartment or condominium that’s several stories high? Are there moving requirements in your new place? These are some questions you should ask yourself before attempting to move in.

Pack items every day

Make sure to pack a few items you don’t need access to every day as you approach moving day. These could include jewelry, wine glasses, books, and other non-essentials.

You might surprise yourself at just how much you were able to pack by the time you’re about to move.

Measure your furniture

Worried about your furniture not fitting through the door? Don’t wait until the last minute to find out. Measure your furniture to see if it will fit. It’s also a good idea to figure out how to move the furniture out of the house. Some furniture needs to be positioned a certain way to get them through doorways, stairs, and hallways. Again, you should think of this ahead of time.

1 Week Before

Get rid of perishable items

You’re probably not going to bring perishable items with you. So, schedule a meal plan to eliminate food that could turn bad. The same can be said about items in your pantry. Canned products are challenging to carry around in bulk. Better to eat them now or donate them to charity.

Recycle or dispose of flammable, corrosive, and poisonous items

This is very important. If you have corrosive, flammable, or toxic materials, you should learn how to get rid of them safely. You don’t want harmful materials to stay in your old house as you move out.

Set up mail forwarding

If you’re still receiving mail through Canada Post, you should consider mail forwarding. Let them know where to send your mail from now on. You can also consider opening a PO box near your new residence if you need more time to settle.

Update your driver’s license & Health Card

You can update your driver’s license to reflect your new address with the help of Service Ontario.

A Few Days Before

Take photos of your wiring setups

Those not particularly tech-savvy might want to take photos of their electronics and how they’re wired together. This will make reattaching cables faster once you set them up in your new place. You can even label each cable end to know which device and socket they belong to remove all the guesswork.

Disassemble your furniture

You can start taking apart furniture you won’t use until after you move. When disassembling furniture, you’ll want to place all the screws and other hardware in one container or plastic bag. If there are too many pieces, place the pieces that belong together into smaller bags before placing them into a larger one. You can also take pictures or record videos of the disassembly process for reference later on. That will make reassembly much quicker.

Make minor home repairs

If you want to get your security deposit back (and who doesn’t?), you should assess your home to see if there are minor repairs that need to be done. This can include minor paint touch-ups or removing nails from the walls. This still applies even if you haven’t been renting. The new homeowner will appreciate the effort.

Find a babysitter

If you have a child/children, you might want to arrange for a babysitter to drop by when you reach your new home. You’ll have your hands full while unpacking. So, it’s best to have someone else take care of your children while you unpack and get settled. It’s even better if you could have a relative drop by to help.

Back up your computer

Computers are one of the hardest things to move around because they are sensitive. So, before you pack your desktop computer, make sure you back up your files to an external storage device or through the cloud.

Withdraw cash

You might need some money on the day of the move (for handing out tips to your movers, for example). It’s better to be prepared.

The Big Moving Day

Clean your new place

If you can, go to your new place and clean it up before moving in. Everything will feel much more organized and a joy to put items in their new spots when it’s clean.

Protect your floors and carpets

Don’t damage the floors as you move things around the house. Your movers will likely do this but it’s a good thing to have on your radar and can save your old and new floors in the long run.

Work with the movers

Answer any questions that they might have. Let them know where boxes and furniture need to go as soon as you arrive at the new place. Point out one spot to put all boxes marked “Essentials” as they will be the first ones you will need to unpack. And remember to give them a tip, everyone appreciates acknowledgement for a job well done.

Unpack the essentials

What are the essentials? You can start with your beds, curtains, and toiletries. After moving around all those boxes, you’ll want to take a bath and nap.

Put up curtains

You’re going to want some privacy right away as you settle into your new home. Make sure you put up some curtains or shades and make that bath and nap even more enjoyable.

Go grocery shopping

After you have ordered take-out for the friends and family that have been so kind to help you with the move, go grocery shopping! Stock up on food and other necessities. You may not feel like to doing a large haul after moving all day but get at least enough to last you the first few days. This will save you from having to order out as you unpack your belongings.

Moving is a big deal with a lot of things to consider. Take the worry out of who to hire to take you safely from one home to another. From free no-hassle quotes to packing supplies, packing, and reliable, safe movers, Birds Moving is the company to call for all your moving needs!