Moving Calendar
Four weeks before moving
* Decide what you want to take, what you want to throw out, and what you want to donate to charity or sell.
* Start using up frozen food and staples. Don’t buy any more than is necessary before moving.
* Start planning your trip. Make airline reservations. Book hotels and rental cars.
* Arrange for important school, medical, financial, and legal records to be transferred.
Three weeks before moving
* Arrange to have your pets transported or boarded. Start preparing your plants for the move.
* Get back any items you have lent (and give back any items you have borrowed). Pick up any items that are being repaired.
* Dispose of flammable items such as paint, aerosol cans, and cleaning fluids.
* Send change of address information to the post office and other businesses.
Two weeks before moving
* Schedule a date for a service firm to disconnect and prepare the appliances you are moving.
* Start packing non-essential items.
* Arrange for a babysitter for moving day.
* Start planning to disconnect utilities.
* Draw up a floor plan for your new home and start planning your furniture arrangement. (It makes moving in twice as easy.)
One week before moving
* Finish packing suitcases and basic essentials. Make sure valuable documents, currency, and jewellery are in a safe and easily accessible place.
* Drain garden hoses, lawn mowers, and other machinery.
* Defrost and dry the fridge and freezer. Don’t forget to empty the defrost water pan.
* Take down items such as curtain rods, shelves, light fixtures, and mirrors that you are taking with you.
* Dismantle large power tools, such as lathes and grinders.
* Make sure all of your important papers, keys, medications, and plane tickets are available for the trip.
* If you are travelling a long distance by car, you may want to have the car serviced.
Packing day
* Leave a clear workspace for the packers.
* Identify fragile and valuable items, items you are taking with you, and items being left for the new owners.
Moving-out day
* Plan to stay home until the moving van has left.
* Tour the house with the van operator during inventory. Sign the bill of lading. Confirm your new address and delivery date. Check destination contact phone numbers.
* Do a final check for overlooked items. Make certain windows and doors are locked, lights are turned off, utilities are discontinued or turned off, and the keys are transferred.
Moving-in day
* Try to get to your new home the day before the moving van arrives. Make sure the utilities are connected. Take another look to see if where you want your furniture to go is correct.
* When the mover arrives, check items unloaded against the inventory. Make arrangements for installation of appliances. Confirm unpacking requirements.
Source: Royal LePage Canada