The Only Moving Checklist You Need in Edmonton

Woman moving and using boxes

Moving is a lot of work. If you’ve already found your new home in Edmonton, then you’re entering a busy time as you prepare for your move.

We’ve got you covered. Welcome to the only moving checklist you need for a smooth and low-stress move.

We’ve organized the process into week-by-week steps to make sure you stay on task.

Move to:
6 to 8 Weeks Prior to Your Move 4 Weeks Prior to Your Move 2 Weeks Prior to Your Move 1 Week Prior to Your Move The Day Before Your Move Moving Day

Moving Checklist

Here’s our moving checklist of everything that you must do, starting eight weeks before your moving date.

moving checklist calendar
Source: Unsplash by Jazmin Quaynor

6 to 8 Weeks Prior
  • Stroll through the house and make lists of:
    • What to keep
    • What to donate
    • What to sell
  • Make a budget for your estimated moving costs
4 Weeks Prior
  • Print your moving checklist
  • Find and book your movers
  • Purchase packing supplies
  • Start packing
  • Purchase insurance
  • Make a moving plan for your pets
2 Weeks Prior
  • Check furniture sizes to make sure that the pieces will fit in your new place
  • If your current home and/or new place needs cleaning before departing/arriving, book a service
  • Will you need time off work? Submit a request
  • Inform any contacts who need to know that you’re moving
  • Make arrangements for utility connections at the new home
  • Cut down on new food purchases and start using or discarding the food you currently have
  • Gather your important moving paperwork into an organized folder
1 Week Prior
  • Finish your packing other than items you’ll need during your last week before the move
  • Prepare a personal bag for the day of the move
The Day Before Moving Day
  • Confirm date and time of move with your movers
  • Pick up the keys to your new home or arrange to meet landlord/agent there on moving day
  • Disassemble furniture and unplug/disconnect appliances
Moving Day
  • Greet the movers and help them get started
  • Walk through your current home to make sure nothing was left behind
  • Supervise the unloading at your new place
  • Confirm the movers are done with their work, then pay and thank them
  • Clean the floors and surfaces before arranging furniture
  • Unpack large items and set up your furniture
  • Introduce yourself to your nearest neighbors
  • Enjoy the feeling of being in a new home!

What Are the Steps to Moving House?

Let’s get into all the tasks, big and small, for your move.

6 to 8 Weeks Prior to Your Move

Take a stroll through your home. Open every cabinet, look behind the couch, and so on. Have your notebook and pen in hand — it’s time to make some lists.

Decide What to Keep, Donate, Sell, and Discard

If you don’t tackle this task early, it’ll drive you crazy at the last minute. Most people are surprised to learn how much stuff they have.

Make lists that divide up your possessions into groups:

  • Items you’ll take to your new address.
  • Items to sell – For the few items worth the hassle of selling, Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are your best bets.
  • Items to dispose of — Look into recycling and disposal rules for electronics and hazardous liquids.
  • Items to donate -– This is a great time to send some unwanted, lightly used items to a second-hand store.

These groups will become to-do lists, as you tackle packing up and getting rid of your items in the weeks to come.

Create a Budget

Create a budget to form a rough idea of your total moving costs.

Consider all the costs associated with:

  • Hiring movers
  • Cleaning your current and/or new house
  • New furniture, appliances, and other items for the new home
  • Pet care
  • Utility connections and start-up fees

Of course, these expenses only relate to the move itself. If you’re still working through your real estate transactions, review our guides for buyers and sellers.

4 Weeks Prior to Your Move

Find a Moving Company

Unless you’re planning a DIY move, get a moving company.

There are lots of moving companies in Alberta. Browse some online reviews to see who you’ll trust handling your possessions.

Check out a list of the best movers in Alberta to find a larger, well-known company.

Get a written estimate and ensure you understand the terms and charges.

The mover should visit your home for the estimate; a phone call really doesn’t cut it. Be aware that movers aren’t allowed to charge you more than 110 percent of the estimate they originally provided.

Give the movers a detailed inventory of what you’ll need moved. That way, they can provide an accurate quote.

The average cost of moving is around $200-700 for a one-bedroom apartment or $700-$1,300 for a three-bedroom home.

Your base cost will depend on hours, the number of workers needed, fuel, and travel time. Rates will be higher on weekends and holidays.

Thinking about a DIY move? You’ll likely need a moving truck or van, and maybe a storage container.

You can rent a vehicle from a car rental company or a moving company. With a standard Class 5 Driver’s License in Alberta, you can operate any two-axle vehicle and tow a trailer.

Your vehicle provider may also rent you other items needed for a DIY move, such as:

  • Trollies
  • Moving Blankets
  • Straps and Ropes

Using these properly will help you move safely and efficiently.

Purchase Packing Supplies

Pick up some packing paper, tape, boxes, and bubble wrap. Your moving company may be able to supply you with essential packing items, or you can shop at an office supply or home improvement store.

Pack Your Belongings

It’s time to pack. Start with things you won’t need in the next few weeks. We’re talking about seasonal clothing, special occasion flatware, and the odds and ends lining the back of your closet.

Pack your valuables separately. These might include artwork, jewelry, and things with sentimental value. Photograph them before packing them up. That way, their current condition is documented in case any damage occurs during moving.

Check out some useful packing tips for valuables and fragile items. It’s wise to carry some of these with you personally rather than send them with the movers.

Mark boxes that contain fragile items and let the movers know to handle them carefully.

There are some items that movers won’t transport, due to law or standard policy. These rules can be stricter for interstate travel. Prohibited items include:

  • Motor oil
  • Gasoline
  • Paints
  • Fireworks
  • Poisons, such as weed killer
  • Car batteries

Plan to move these items yourself or safely dispose of them ahead of time. Check with your mover to see what their prohibited items checklist includes. Get the basics here.

Maintain Insurance Coverage

Consider your insurance needs as they change with your move – home, contents, and car.

Contact your insurers to provide them with your new address.

Discuss any new insurance needs, such as those that may have shifted due to your new location. These could include removing or adding parts of your policy based on regional concerns such as security or natural disasters.

Make Moving Plans for Pets

get free moving tips for pet care in your moving house checklist
Source: Pexels by Pixabay

You might need a plan for your pets if it won’t work to have them with you during the move.

Pet sitting websites like Care and Rover can connect you to a local sitter. Those platforms are useful when you just need a few hours of care.

If you’re new to the area, find a new vet. It’s best to do this before you need veterinary care. That way, you’re ready for an emergency.

2 Weeks Prior to Your Move

Make Sure Your Furniture Fits in Your New Home

Call your movers and confirm your plans.

Determine who will dismantle and reassemble your furniture — you or the movers. See what level of service your movers cover.

If you have furniture assembly needs that your movers won’t cover, ask them for a referral. Some handymen/women specialize in furniture assembly for Ikea furniture or other niche assembly needs.

Consider whether you’ll need any temporary or permanent storage.

Can your largest items fit inside your new home? Make sure to:

  • Measure the dimensions of any large or oddly-shaped items, such as couches or dressers.
  • Measure the tight spaces, such as doorways and stairways.
  • Chat with your movers about which items will be most difficult to transport.

Sweep, Scrub, Mop

cleaning house to get through your moving checklist
Source: Pexels by Karolina Grabowska

Get started on some deep cleaning in your current home.

Discuss your maintenance obligations with the landlord or real estate agent. Plan for professional cleaning if needed.

Notify Contacts of Your Move

Update your address with the government agencies that serve you. Then change your listed address with your:

  • Driver’s license and vehicle registration
  • Family and friends
  • Mail subscriptions
  • Bank
  • Employer
  • Electoral District

Then set up post office mail forwarding through Canada Post.

Arrange Utility Service and Installations

Arrange an end of service with the utility providers for your current address. Confirm your obligations for returning any hardware.

Schedule utility connections for your new residence. Be sure to get all major utilities turned on by moving day so that you don’t have to spend any time without essential services.

Organize Key Paperwork and Schedule Time off Work

Set up a moving house folder. Use it for all of your important papers like your moving checklist, lease agreement, and movers’ contract. Label the folder clearly.

Also, organize all of your important non-moving documents in a safe place. Avoid misplacing anything essential, such as:

  • Birth certificates
  • Passports
  • Financial, legal, and medical records

Will you need time off work to handle moving tasks? Submit your request now, with two weeks’ notice.

Use Up Your Perishable Foods

Start working through your frozen and perishable foods. Slow down purchasing new food.

Make a meal plan for the next two weeks. Gather some recipes that can utilize what you already have in your fridge, freezer, and cabinets.

1 Week Prior to Your Move

Finish the Packing Process

You want to have all of the household packing done before the big day. Have everything boxed, with lids sealed.

Don’t forget about your laundry. Collect any laundry, dry cleaning, or tailored items that you have out in shops. Get everything cleaned so you aren’t moving dirty laundry.

Return library books and any borrowed or rented items. Make sure that any service contracts like landscaping or newspaper delivery have been concluded or transferred.

Prepare one personal bag per family member. In it, stash a change of clothing, toiletries, phone charger, and other items that you’ll need during or right before moving.

The Day Before Your Move

Confirm the Day and Time with Your Movers

Time for a day-before check-in with the movers, to confirm your:

  • Appointment time
  • Cost and payment method
  • Mobile phone contact number

Obtain Your New Keys

Collect your new house keys from your landlord or agent. Or make a plan to meet them at your new address on the day of the move.

Confirm with any responsible parties that the new home is clean and ready for your arrival.

Disconnect and Dismantle Appliances and Furniture

Disassemble any remaining furniture. Place brackets, screws, etc. in labeled ziplock bags. Take photos as you dismantle so you have a guide when you reassemble.

Deep clean your appliances and disconnect the ones you’re done using. Defrost and clean your freezer. Turn off the hot water.

Moving Day

It’s here, at last!

Consult your day-of moving checklist:

In the Old Home

  • Welcome the movers to their job site and give them a tour. For a DIY move, pick up your truck or van.
  • Politely observe the movers while they load the truck, keeping an eye out for damage. For a DIY move, carefully start your loading.
  • Clean up the floors and surfaces as each room is cleared out. Photograph the empty room for proof of good condition.
  • Take a final walkthrough, making sure nothing is left behind. Lock the doors and windows.

In the New Home

  • Politely observe and supervise the movers as they unload the truck. Get items moved directly to the rooms where they’ll be placed.
  • Pay, thank, and tip the movers after confirming they’ve finished.
  • Clean up floors and surfaces before arranging your furniture.
  • Keep an eye out for damaged items. If you encounter any, photograph them and contact the movers.
  • Introduce yourself to your nearest neighbors. No need to delay, do this on day one and start building your new community.
  • Breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy your new home!

You Can Do This!

moving checklist and free moving tips
Source: Pexels by Andrea Piacquadio

Moving is a challenge. But, if you stay organized and don’t procrastinate, you’ll have a smooth transition.

We hope this moving checklist helps. Be sure to peruse our blog for other topics related to your move, like answers to your mortgage questions and what you should know before listing your address on Airbnb.

And if you’re still considering your move or real estate transaction, we’ve got you covered. Best Edmonton Real Estate is the top online hub for home buyers and sellers.

Contact us today to get started with your move.

Featured Image: Freepik by prostooleh

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