Your Moving Checklist: 8 Weeks Out to Moving Day
15,000+ moves since 1999 taught us what people forget. Here's the week-by-week list, from booking the truck to the first night in the new place.
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Most moving stress comes from timing, not boxes. The people who call us in a panic all missed the same few steps. The elevator wasn't booked. The utilities were still in their name. The essentials box got buried in the truck. This checklist fixes that, week by week, for any move in Surrey, BC or the rest of Metro Vancouver.
Print it, stick it on the fridge, and cross things off. If you'd rather hand the whole thing to a crew, call (604) 721-4555. Free estimate, fixed quote, and movers who have done this 15,000+ times since 1999.
“The fixed price they quoted was the best quote we got. Tarek took full responsibility on the day. Including an upright piano.”
Chris A. · Google review“Moved our 6-bedroom house in just one day. True experts.”
Wilfredo M. · Google review8 weeks out: lock in the big pieces
Good movers book up fast at month-end and in summer. Book yours first, then plan everything else around that date. Two to four weeks is the working minimum, and our FAQ on how far ahead to book movers in Metro Vancouver has the details.
- Pick your moving date. Mid-week and mid-month have the most open slots.
- Book your movers. Get a written, fixed quote, not a phone guess.
- Give notice to your landlord, or confirm your possession date.
- Start a move folder for quotes, receipts, and paperwork.
- Walk the house. Decide now what you won't take.
4 weeks out: paperwork and address changes
Address changes take longer than people expect, so start them now. BC has a one-stop tool at addresschange.gov.bc.ca that updates several government services in one sitting. Work through the rest one by one.
- BC Hydro: transfer or set up service at the new address.
- FortisBC: same for gas.
- ICBC: update your driver's licence and vehicle registration.
- CRA: update your address so benefits and tax mail follow you.
- Doctor and dentist: ask how to transfer records if you're switching clinics.
- School records: request the transfer for the kids' new school.
- Canada Post mail forwarding, plus banks, insurance, and subscriptions.
- Order boxes and tape, or book packing services and skip the tape gun.
2 weeks out: the building and the stuff
This is the week strata rules bite. Most condo and apartment buildings in Metro Vancouver want the elevator booked and a move fee paid before they hand over the key.
- Book the elevator with the strata or building manager at both buildings.
- Ask about move-in fees, deposits, and allowed moving hours.
- Book your internet install at the new place. Slots fill fast.
- Eat down the freezer. Frozen food travels badly.
- Plan for pets and plants. They do best in your car, not the truck.
- Line up a sitter for kids and pets on moving day.
- New place not ready yet? Book storage to cover the gap.
Moving week: pack smart, confirm twice
Pack room by room and label every box with the room and what's inside. Then confirm the details with your movers: both addresses, elevator times, parking, and anything unusual like a piano or a treadmill.
- Finish packing everything except daily basics.
- Label boxes on the side, by room. Mark the open-first boxes.
- Set aside documents, jewelry, and medications to move yourself.
- Defrost the fridge and freezer 24 hours ahead, and dry them out.
- Sort out truck parking at both ends.
- Charge your phone, and keep the chargers out of the boxes.
Moving day: your only job is decisions
With a good crew, moving day is mostly answering questions. What goes, what stays, which room. Walk the lead mover through the house before loading starts, then stay reachable.
- Do a walkthrough with the crew before the first box moves.
- Point out fragile pieces and anything not going on the truck.
- Keep kids, pets, and coffee cups out of the walk path.
- Final sweep: closets, dishwasher, crawl space, behind every door.
- Take photos of the empty place and the meters before you lock up.
- Walk the new place with the crew so boxes land in the right rooms.
First night: the essentials box
The essentials box rides in your car, never in the truck. It holds everything your family needs before a single moving box gets opened.
- Bedding, towels, and a change of clothes for everyone.
- Toilet paper, soap, toothbrushes, and medications.
- Phone chargers, a lamp or flashlight, and basic tools.
- Kettle, mugs, snacks, and pet food.
- Keys, the lease, your quote, and the move folder.
What your neighbours say
“Two full five-ton trucks loaded and unloaded with no damage. Terek is the king of Tetris.”
Kevin, Cloverdale to Vancouver Island · Google review“They moved our stuff from Vancouver to Virginia and did an awesome job. Everything was on time.”
Evan N. · Google review“Tarek and his crews have moved us at least 5 times. All my precious items wrapped securely.”
Giulia · Google reviewCommon questions
How far in advance should I book movers in Metro Vancouver?
Two to four weeks for most local moves, and more for month-end, summer, or long distance. Month-end dates go first because most leases turn over on the 1st. If your date is fixed, book the movers before anything else on this checklist.
What should I not pack in the moving truck?
Keep documents, jewelry, medications, keys, and chargers with you, plus anything irreplaceable. Most movers won't take propane tanks, gas cans, or open liquids either, so ask when you book.
Do I need to empty dressers before the movers come?
Ask your movers first. Light clothing can often stay in a sturdy dresser for a local move. Empty anything fragile, heavy, or spillable, and empty everything for long distance or storage moves.
What is a strata move-in fee in BC?
Many stratas in BC charge a fee or a deposit to book the elevator and protect the hallways. Amounts vary by building. Check your bylaws early, because an unpaid fee can hold up your move-in day.
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