Moving Checklist & Week-by-Week Moving Timeline

Moving to a different home is both exciting and stressful, and when people decide to pack up and move, they can quickly get overwhelmed. Fortunately, with a proper timeline and a good calendar, it's possible to take much of the stress out of relocating or buying a new home. Here's a moving timeline that can help.

Start Preparing As Early As Possible

You can start preparing for a move even before you have a firm moving date. As soon as you know you're going to move, complete tasks like:

• Locating important documents
• Returning borrowed items
• Settling outstanding bills at local businesses
• Starting an item inventory
• Discarding items you know you won't be taking, selling, or giving away
• Donating/selling items you know you don't want as you have the opportunity to do so

These will help you whether you move six months or six weeks from now—or even if you end up not moving at all. It's basically spring cleaning.

Eight Weeks Before Moving

Plan your moving date to give you at least two months to prepare. Moving is a LOT of work.

If you're hiring professional movers, here's what you need to do eight weeks out:

• Finish your item inventory. You need to know what stays and what goes to get accurate moving quotes, even if you aren't packing anything yet.
• Research moving companies. Check reviews, credentials, and insurance.
• Get multiple quotes in writing. Don't trust any company that gives you a quote without seeing what you're moving.
• Book a mover. The farther out you can book, the better rates and dates you're likely to get.
• Start a moving binder. Keep things like contracts, receipts, and inventory lists in one place.

If you're not hiring professional movers:

• Finish your item inventory and decide what stays and what goes.
• Investigate self-moving options like rental trucks and U-Hauls.

Either way:

• Run a cost-benefit analysis on moving furniture (or any other items you use but aren't attached to). Yes, replacing it is a hassle, but you don't want to accidentally pay thousands extra to move a couch worth $500.
• Measure doorways and rooms in your new house, if possible. This lets you more effectively make decisions about furniture.
• Have specialty items that require separate moving plans, like an exotic pet, large safe, or piano? Start researching logistics.
• Research logistics for your new city. Find out details for utility carriers, moving truck regulations (especially if you're moving to a high-rise), how to transfer your car registration, potential healthcare providers, etc.
• Notify your landlord, if applicable, and confirm lease termination terms.
• Notify your employer(s) if the move will cause disruption in your work schedule.
• Continue decluttering. The more stuff you get rid of now, the easier packing will be.
• Start planning packing strategy. Packing always takes longer than you think it will.
• Start using up consumables, like food, bathroom products, etc. Only buy new consumables if you'll use them in the next few weeks.
• Start talking to kids about the move. It's a big change, so keep open communication throughout the process.

Six to Seven Weeks Before Moving

• Start finding places to donate items to, especially large items that require pickup. This can range from posting on community Facebook groups to finding out the rules for local charities.
• Sell valuable items you're not keeping. Take good-quality photos, write clear descriptions, and post them on Facebook Marketplace and other online channels. You can also sell in person at local consignment stores.
• Arrange a garage sale for less valuable items. 10% of original price is a good rule of thumb to get things sold fast.
• Find out what moving expenses might be deductible.
• Make a list of everyone you need to tell about your move and everywhere you need to update your address. Bank, schools, subscriptions, insurance, friends, family, etc.
• Retrieve personal records from doctors, dentists, schools, vets, etc.
• Schedule vet checkups and vaccinations if necessary.
• Purchase packing supplies.

Packing supply list:

• Boxes—ideally sturdy ones with handles. Small ones for heavy items like books, big ones for bulky but light items
• Consider specialty boxes for items like glassware and electronics, and vacuum seal bags for items like bedding (if you're not using it as padding)
• Packing tape
• Permanent markers
• Stickers, if color-coding
• Box cutter/utility knife
• Bubble wrap
• Stretch plastic wrap
• Moving blankets/furniture pads
• Furniture covers/mattress bags
• Basic tools (disassembly and reassembly)
• Garbage bags
• Small plastic bags (keep screws and other small items with their associated furniture)
• Padlock (for the truck, if necessary)
• AirTags or similar trackers (if you want to be able to track boxes in-transit)

Keep in mind that soft items like clothes and towels can pull double duty as padding. You can also find free boxes by asking around at local businesses—try bookstores, electronics stores, and grocery stores.

Your movers should have ratchet straps, dollies, hand trucks, and the like. If you're DIY moving, consider renting some.

Don't leave empty space in boxes. Fill it to keep things from moving around and possibly breaking during transit.

When labeling boxes, specific is better: "heavy," "light," "this side up," "fragile," specific room labels, and "unload first" help inform movers while loading/unloading, and things like "pots and pans" are more useful than "kitchen" when unpacking.

Label multiple sides and the top of every box, especially with important information like "fragile."

Change of address checklist:

• Personal contacts—family, friends, clubs, etc.
• Employer(s)
• Schools, daycares
• Landlord (if applicable)
• Healthcare: doctor, dentist, vet, health card
• Utilities: phone, cable, internet, electricity, water, natural gas
• Financial institutions: banks, lenders, credit card companies
• Insurance companies
• Lawyer/notary
• Subscriptions (newspapers, streaming services, memberships, etc.)
• Driver's license, vehicle registration
• Post office (set up mail forwarding)
• Canada Revenue Agency
• Benefits: Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, Employment Insurance

Four to Five Weeks Before Moving

• Submit a Change of Address form to the post office. Set up mail forwarding to your new address.
• Contact current utility companies to arrange service disconnect. Arrange the disconnect for the day after moving day.
• Contact new utility companies to arrange connection. Arrange this for the day before you move in.
• Notify home security of your move, if you have a monitored system
• Start packing lesser-used items. If you won't use it in the next month, box it.
• If you haven't already, arrange transportation for pets, plants, and other items that won't go on the moving truck.

Two to Three Weeks Before Moving

• Make travel arrangements—plan your route for hotel rooms, gas stations, meal breaks, etc. (If you're taking a plane, don't schedule it for move-out day in case of unexpected delays.)
• Gather important documents and valuables in one place. These should travel with you, not on the truck.
• If your bank doesn't have branches in your new location, arrange to switch banks.
• Moving to a high-rise? Call and ask about their move-in regulations like reserving the elevator.
• Keep packing.

One Week Before Moving

• Tie up loose ends—pick up dry cleaning, get your car serviced, retrieve items borrowed from you, empty your safe deposit box, do your last loads of laundry, etc.
• Set aside and/or clearly mark anything that's not moving so it doesn't get put on the truck by accident.
• Disassemble large furniture that's making the move.
• Defrost your fridge and freezer.
• Disconnect major appliances and prepare them for the move.
• Confirm moving day arrangements and clear up any last-minute changes.
• Confirm pet and childcare arrangements for moving day.
• Finish packing.
• Pack a "first night(s)" box for each person moving. These go with you, not on the truck.
• Pack an "open me first" box with items like cleaning supplies, basic tools, and light bulbs. This should also go with you or be loaded last, since you'll want to clean the house before unloading.
• Start packing travel bags. Travel clothing, snacks, water bottles, car entertainment, etc.
• Withdraw cash for mover tips and last-minute expenses.
• Start cleaning for move-out.
• Say goodbye to your neighbours. Exchange contact information.
• Take some time to rest and go over things, so nothing falls through the cracks.

Night Before Moving

• Pack last-minute items like toiletries, cell phone chargers, prescriptions, etc.
• Final walkthrough—double check every room, drawers and cabinets, storage areas, etc.
• Recycle or store leftover packing supplies.
• Get a good night's sleep.

Moving Day

• Make sure pets and young children have a place to be that's not underfoot. Pets especially should be secured; the last thing you want is a stressed-out pet running away.
• Record utility meter readings.
• Leave garage door openers and keys for the next owner—your agent may handle this on closing day.
• Designate someone to be available for mover questions.
• Double-check all mover documentation (bills, inventory list, etc.).

It's easy to overlook box loading order in the chaos of moving day, but letting the truck be loaded willy-nilly is definitely a moving mistake. Quick moving truck loading guidelines:

• Boxes loaded first will be unloaded last
• Heaviest items should go closest to the front (toward the driver) and on the bottom, so load those first
• Disassembled furniture takes up less space and protects furniture legs
• Make sure boxes on the bottom are sturdy and completely filled so they aren't crushed
• Stack boxes to the ceiling and try not to leave space in between—the goal is zero load shifting in transit
• Use straps to secure furniture and stacks of boxes as you go; wrap stacks with stretch wrap for extra sturdiness

When You Arrive at Your New Home

• Deep-clean before any furniture is unloaded. It's much easier when the home is empty. Go room-by-room to avoid holding up unloading.
• Unpack a bathroom, bedrooms, and kitchen first.
• Childproof if needed.
• Change the locks. The previous owner might not have collected their spare keys.
• Register your car and update your driver's license.
• Meet neighbours and explore your new neighbourhood.

How Soon Should Planning Begin?

Moving is overwhelming—especially if you're selling your house at the same time! But a clear timeline turns it into a series of manageable steps. By spreading tasks out over several weeks, you avoid a last-minute rush and give yourself time to handle details like paperwork, packing, and service transfers without unnecessary stress.

The key is to start earlier than you think you need to. You'll find out you have way more stuff than you thought you did. You'll get exhausted sooner than you think. Little things you forgot will keep cropping up. It's practically inevitable, so build your timeline with that in mind.

No two moves follow the exact same schedule, but a structured timeline gives you a reliable framework to stay organized. Adjust it to fit your situation, keep a running checklist, and tackle tasks one stage at a time. With the right preparation, your move can shift from chaotic to controlled, and you can start the next chapter in your new home on the right foot.