A little planning helps lighten the load on moving day
Your offer to purchase has been finalized and now you're ready to start packing! There are a lot of things to do between now and moving day, but if you approach the job methodically, everything should go smoothly on the big day.
Leading up to moving day
Contact a reputable moving company and go over all details, such as costs and availability.
Contact your lawyer and confirm where and when your keys are being picked up.
Arrange insurance for your new home.
Take inventory of your belongings before they're packed, in the event they get lost and you need to file an insurance claim later.
Start using up food items so that there is less to pack and possibly spoil.
Register your children at their new schools and arrange for necessary day-care.
Locate all hospitals, police stations, veterinarian, fire stations and any other amenities in your new neighbourhood.
Familiarize yourself with street parking by-laws in your new neighbourhood.
Ensure your hydro, phone, cable and gas utilities are ordered or transferred.
Fill out a change of address card for the post office and let your family and friends know your new address and phone number.
Inform all credit card companies, newspaper and magazine deliveries of your new address.
Renew your driver's license and auto registration with your new address.
On moving day
Double-check all closets, drawers, shelves, attic and garage to ensure they are empty.
Carry all important documents, money and jewellery. Don't leave them to the mover.
Pack toys, games or special items for the kids to keep them busy during the move.
Pack a separate box of basics you'll need on move-in day, such as tools, paper products, household cleaners, etc.
Don't pack paint, bottles of bleach, gas cans or other inflammables. It is against the law for movers to transport flammable and combustible materials.
Use strong boxes and containers that can be secured tightly. Purchase special boxes for dishes, wardrobe and other special items.
Pack audio-video equipment in their original boxes if you have them. Label cables and tape all screws to the body of the equipment.
Avoid loading more than 50 pounds into one box.
Label each box and indicate the following: (a) Which room it should go in (b) Whether it is fragile (c) If it should be loaded last so it will be unloaded first.
Cushion contents with packing material such as bubble wrap, newspaper or tissue. Save room by using towels and blankets to wrap fragile items.
Pack books tightly on end in small boxes. If musty smelling, sprinkle talcum powder between the pages and wrap the book before packing. Leave stored for a couple of months to eliminate the smell.
Have rugs and draperies cleaned before moving and leave them in wrappings for the move.
