5 weeks before moving

• Tour your house, including attic, garage, storage-shed and decide what items should be discarded or donated to charity. Consider a garage sale.
• Contact your moving agent and request an accurate estimate of your moving charges. Remember, local and long distance moves have peak periods, so book early for discounts.
• Begin to use up frozen food and staples. Buy only what will be used before moving. It is inadvisable to move frozen goods on the van over long distances.
• Make your travel reservations for the trip – airline, hotel, rental-car.
• Arrange for transfer of records. SEE PERSONAL CHECK LIST.
• Contact current doctor, optometrist, dentist for a referral to new provider in new community.

3 weeks before moving

• Arrange transportation of pets including kennels. Check with vet.
• Start preparing your plants for the move.
• Return library books, video- tapes and other borrowed items. Collect anything lent or out for repairs/layaway.
• Dispose of flammables – paint, matches, pressure cans, cleaning fluids, etc.
• Set a date with reliable service to prepare your appliances for the move.
• Notify post office, schools, insurance, and mail order accounts of your pending change of address. SEE PERSONAL CHECK LIST.

2 weeks before moving

• Draw up a floor plan of your new home and indicate furniture placement. It makes moving in twice as easy.
• START packing if you have planned to do yourself versus moving company packing for you.
• Plan to discontinue utilities, delivery service, etc. Arrange connection of utilities at the new home.

1 week before moving up to moving day

• Prepare for car trip. Finish packing all suitcases and basic essentials. Plan to carry with you valuable documents, currency, and jewelry.
• Drain water from garden hoses and oil/fuel from power mower and other machinery.
• Defrost and wipe dry fridge and freezer. Don’t overlook the defrost water pan.
• Take down curtain rods, shelves – items permanently attached. Dismantle large power tools such as lathes, grinders, etc.
• Prepare a list of first-minute items you will need upon arrival at your new home.
• Verify delivery address with mover. Advise where you can be reached. Make a final inspection of the house before leaving. Check rooms and closets. Turn off lights and lock up tight.

PERSONAL CHECK LIST

• House/car insurance (notify for change of address)
• Medical records (arrange transfer to new physician)
• Optometrist records (arrange transfer to new optometrist)
• Dentist records (arrange transfer to new dentist)
• Cancel club memberships
• School records (arrange transfer to new school)
• Bank records
• Veterinarian records
• Legal contracts
• Credit card companies (notify for change of address)
• Magazines (notify for change of address)
• Vehicle registration (notify for change of address)
• Government (old age security, property assessment, Canada Revenue Agency, family allowances, etc) (notify for change of address)
• Church
• Newspaper (cancel subscription)
• Lawyer
• Library
• Union
• Stock broker/financial advisor (notify for change of address)
• Friends (notify for change of address)
• Relatives (notify for change of address)
• Department stores credit cards (notify for change of address)
• Cancel existing utility companies service (water, cable, phone, electricity, gas)
• Maid service (cancel service)
• Lawn/snow service (cancel service)
• Garbage collection (cancel service)
• Diaper service (cancel service)
• Nursery service (cancel service)
• Life insurance (notify for change of address)
• Associations (notice of withdrawal from association or transfer to association in new community)