Moving homes can be an extremely busy time for anyone. Even with the best-laid plans, something can and most likely will slip through the cracks and leave you scrambling to rectify it at the last minute.
The average Canadian family moves homes 5 to 7 times in their lives, so this process might not be too familiar for some while being a regular occurrence for others.
If you are considering moving homes, whether by selling up and moving on to a new chapter or moving to a new rental, these tips can help you make sure you’ve covered all your bases and haven’t forgotten anything.
Address Changes
As soon as your move is confirmed and you have the keys to move in, it’s crucial to set up redirects for your mail and inform companies and services of your new address. This includes your driving license, your insurance companies, your doctor and healthcare providers, including dentists and opticians, your employers, credit card companies, and more. Taking this responsibility will ensure a smooth transition to your new home.
Canada Post offers a convenient mail forwarding service that can save you from the hassle of updating your address with every company. This service ensures that all your mail is redirected to your new property, giving you one less thing to worry about during your move.
Deep Cleans
Ideally, you will want to deep clean both properties, one prior to moving in and one once you have vacated the premises, especially if you are looking to get your rental deposit back. You can do this yourself or look for a house cleaning service that offers deep cleaning for end-of-tenancy or after-house move cleans. This gives you a fresh and clean start when moving on and ensures you’re leaving the property in the best condition possible.
Garbage Removal
Before you start packing, it’s a good idea to declutter your home. This will help you reduce the amount of items you need to pack and move, making the process more manageable. You can donate, sell, or dispose of items you no longer need. This could be via making multiple trips to your local waste facility or booking junk removal services to load up for removal; this is something you shouldn’t overlook for importance when moving out.
Essentials Kit
Prepping your essential kit is something you need to do for your house move. This is a kit with everything you need to have on hand at all times so it doesn’t get lost on the move. It can contain a variety of things, from medications to chargers, snacks, water bottles, batteries, keys, documents, etc. If you have items you cannot leave with others or need for health reasons or practicality, pack an essentials kit and keep it on you at all times. This will ensure you are fully prepared for any situation during your move.
It can be easy to overlook the importance of some tasks related to moving homes and focus instead on the major aspects, such as packing and dismantling, but looking at the bigger picture, planning as far ahead as possible, and paying attention to the small things can help make the transition much easier.
