The Complete Moving Day Checklist: What to Do Before, During, and After Your Move

Moving is one of those tasks that somehow manages to be both completely predictable and totally overwhelming at the same time. You know the date. You know the destination. And yet, when the day arrives, half the kitchen is still not packed, nobody can find the tape, and the cat is hiding under the bed.

The difference between a chaotic move and a smooth one almost always comes down to preparation. Not heroic, all-night-before-the-move packing sessions — but steady, week-by-week planning that gets each task done at the right time.

This checklist walks you through everything you need to do before, during, and after your move. It is designed for Ontario residents and accounts for the specific logistics of moving in this province — from parking permits and condo building rules to utility transfers and address changes with Canadian institutions. Print it, bookmark it, or screenshot it. Your future self will be grateful.

Six to Eight Weeks Before Your Move

Start by setting your moving date and booking your movers. Professional moving companies in Ontario book up quickly during peak season — June through September — so the earlier you confirm, the better your chances of getting the date and crew size you need. If you are moving on a weekend or near the end of the month, book even earlier.

Begin decluttering your home. Go room by room and sort your belongings into four categories: keep, donate, sell, and discard. The less you move, the faster and cheaper the process. This is the stage where you deal with the garage, the basement, the storage closet that has not been opened in three years, and the kitchen gadgets you bought with good intentions but never used.

If you have items to sell, list them now on Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, or similar platforms. Donate usable items to local charities — many in Ontario will pick up furniture and clothing for free if you schedule in advance.

Start collecting packing supplies. You will need more boxes, tape, and packing paper than you think. If you are planning to pack yourself, begin gathering materials now. If you are hiring professional packers, confirm the booking and what materials are included.

Notify your landlord if you are renting. Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act requires 60 days written notice to end a tenancy on a month-to-month lease. Check your lease terms and give notice promptly to avoid complications.

If you have children, contact their current and future schools to arrange records transfers. If you are moving to a different school board or district, start the registration process early.

Four to Five Weeks Before Your Move

Start packing non-essential items. Seasonal clothing, books, decorations, guest room contents, and rarely used kitchen items can all be boxed up well ahead of moving day without disrupting your daily life.

Label every box clearly. Write the destination room and a brief description of contents on the top and at least one side. Use a colour-coded system if it helps — coloured tape or markers for each room makes unloading much faster.

Arrange your address change with Canada Post. You can redirect your mail online through the Canada Post website. This ensures mail sent to your old address gets forwarded to your new one for the duration you select.

Update your address with critical accounts: your bank, credit card companies, the Canada Revenue Agency, your employer, Service Ontario for your driver’s licence and health card, your insurance providers (home, auto, life), and any subscriptions or recurring deliveries.

If you are moving into a condo or apartment, contact the building management to book your freight elevator and loading dock time slot. Many buildings in Toronto, Mississauga, Vaughan, and other GTA cities require at least one to two weeks notice. Ask about insurance certificate requirements — your moving company can provide this.

Arrange for utility disconnection at your old address and connection at your new one. In Ontario, this typically includes hydro (your local utility — Toronto Hydro, Alectra, Hydro One, etc.), gas (Enbridge), water (usually through your municipality), and internet or cable.

Two to Three Weeks Before Your Move

Continue packing room by room. Focus on one room at a time and finish it before moving on. This prevents the half-packed chaos that makes the final days before a move so stressful.

Confirm your moving company booking. Call or email to verify the date, arrival time, crew size, truck size, and any additional services you have arranged (packing, junk removal, furniture disassembly, etc.).

If your move requires a street parking permit for the moving truck, apply now. In Toronto, temporary on-street parking permits can be requested through the City of Toronto website. Other Ontario municipalities have their own processes — check with your local municipal office.

Arrange for pet and child care on moving day. Moving day is hectic, and having young children or pets underfoot makes it harder for everyone — including the movers. If you can arrange for a family member or friend to watch them for the day, it makes a noticeable difference.

Start eating through your freezer and pantry. There is no point moving six months of frozen food across town. Plan meals around what you already have and minimize grocery shopping in the final weeks.

Take measurements at your new home. Confirm that your large furniture — bed frames, sofas, dining tables, bookshelves — will fit through the doorways, hallways, and staircases at your new address. If something will not fit, plan for disassembly or make alternate arrangements now.

One Week Before Your Move

Pack your essentials box — or bag — for each family member. This is the box you keep with you on moving day, not on the truck. It should include phone chargers, medications, toiletries, a change of clothes, basic kitchen supplies (a few plates, cups, utensils, paper towels, a kettle), important documents, and snacks.

Finish packing everything except the items you will use in the final days: bedding, basic kitchen items, daily toiletries, and your essentials box contents.

Disassemble furniture that needs to come apart. Bag all hardware (screws, bolts, Allen keys) and tape the bag to the corresponding piece of furniture so nothing gets lost. If your moving company is handling disassembly, confirm that this is included in your booking.

Clean your old home as you go. Wipe down shelves and surfaces as you empty them. If you are renting, you will want the place in good condition for your final inspection.

Do a final walkthrough of your current home. Check every closet, cabinet, shelf, drawer, and storage nook. Look behind doors, inside appliances (items stored in the oven or microwave are commonly forgotten), and in outdoor storage areas like sheds and garages.

Confirm your new home is ready. If you are taking possession of a new property, confirm the closing date and key pickup details with your lawyer or real estate agent.

Moving Day

Be up and ready before the movers arrive. Have your shoes on, your phone charged, and your essentials box packed and set aside.

Do a final sweep of the home before loading begins. Check all rooms one more time. Common forgotten items include things left in dishwashers, items hanging on the backs of doors, contents of medicine cabinets, and outdoor items on balconies and patios.

Be available to direct the crew. Your movers will have questions — which items are fragile, which boxes go to which rooms, which furniture needs special care. Be present and accessible so they can work efficiently.

Protect your floors and walls. A good moving company will lay down floor runners and use door frame padding, but if you notice high-traffic areas that are not protected, speak up.

Before the truck leaves, do one last walkthrough of your old home. Check every room, every closet, every cupboard, the garage, the shed, the balcony, and the backyard. Once the truck is gone, coming back for a forgotten item is a headache you do not need.

At your new home, direct the movers to place furniture and boxes in the correct rooms. This saves you from having to move heavy items again later. Refer to your box labels — if they are clearly marked, the process goes quickly.

Once the truck is unloaded, inspect your belongings for any damage and note it immediately. Take photos if needed. Report any issues to your moving company the same day.

The First Week After Your Move

Unpack your essentials box first. Set up your bed, get the bathroom functional, and make sure the kitchen has the basics you need for your first meal and your first morning coffee.

Unpack room by room, starting with the rooms you use most — kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms. Leave guest rooms, storage areas, and decorative items for later.

Test all utilities and systems. Run every tap, flush every toilet, test every light switch, check the furnace and air conditioning, and make sure your internet is connected and working.

Update your address with any accounts you missed during the pre-move phase. Common ones that get overlooked include loyalty programs, online shopping accounts, professional associations, alumni networks, and magazine subscriptions.

Introduce yourself to your neighbours if you are comfortable doing so. Knowing the people next door or down the hall is useful for practical reasons — understanding garbage and recycling schedules, parking etiquette, and building-specific quirks.

Break down your moving boxes and recycle them. Most Ontario municipalities accept flattened cardboard in curbside recycling. If you have a large volume of boxes, check your local waste collection guidelines for bulk recycling.

Finally, take a breath. Moving is exhausting. Give yourself permission to leave some boxes unpacked for a few days. The guest room closet can wait.

Need Help With Your Move?

Moving Co. provides professional moving services across Ontario — from packing and wrapping to loading, transport, and unloading. We also offer junk removal for the items you decide not to bring, furniture assembly for everything that needs to go back together, and the kind of careful, respectful service that makes moving day manageable. Contact us for a free, honest quote.