CANADIAN RELOCATION
10 TIPS FOR PLANNING YOUR MOVE

Moving to a new home or city is an exciting adventure but can come with it's share of stress. The best way to reduce that stress is to plan, plan, plan. We've put together the top 10 tips for your move and we've complied a lot of checklists, planners and moving advice that can help you before during and after your move.

10-16 Weeks Before Your Move

1. Research
Start learning about your new city or community to learn more about schools, associations and clubs, places of worship and shopping. Rental properties are hard to come by so starting your search early is important. If you are purchasing a home, connecting with and evaluating prospective realtors should be another focus. You can start your search for this an much more information in over 50 cities in Canada.

2. Write a Moving Budget
Costs for a move can pile up quickly, especially if you're moving to a new city or province. Shipping, gas, insurance and hotels can put quite a strain on a family budget. Your budget will ultimately determine whether you will hire professional movers or do the packing loading and unloading yourself. Start familiarizing yourself with the cost of moving, you may determine that saving a few dollars for the move may allow you to hire professional movers. style.

8-12 Weeks Before Your Move

3. Ask for Help
Ask for moving help well in advance. Once your friends and family commit to helping you, be sure to periodically remind them of your move date. If you are hiring professional movers, start requesting quotes from multiple movers so you can take time to compare apples to apples. Movers don't always price the same items as part of the standard quote, it may take a few conversations or emails with them to make sure you're getting exactly what you want. Handing your belongings over to strangers to pack and transport is never easy. Understanding how to select a good moving company can make your decision a little simpler.

6-8 Weeks Before Your Move

4. Notifications and Referrals
Contact your doctor and dentist and inform them of your move. If you haven't selected a new doctor in your new town, request referrals from your current doctor. Once you have made your selection, arrange to have your medical records transferred. Note that most physicians require you to submit a signed letter before receiving records. Notify school officials of your move. Before your move day, try to arrange a parent-teacher conference to learn more about your child's strengths and weaknesses. This information will be good to pass along to your child's new teacher.

4-6 Weeks Before Your Move

5. Garage Sale
You need to decide which of your belongings you will move and which you do not want to take with you. Start cleaning out your closets, bookcases, garage and storage and pack them in boxes marked Garage Sale. Put the word out on social media or Kijiji aheaf of time.

6. Address Changes
Start making a list of where you have to change your address. Some provinces allow you to change your address online and inform utilities, local governments etc with one click. On top of that you'll need to contact Revenue Canada, your bank, insurance and many more. Here's a checklist to help you remember. If you do mail forwarding through Canada Post, you will ensure that any address changes you miss won't slip through the cracks.

7. Start Packing
Packing always takes longer than you expect, so get started early! Start by packing all the things you will not use or need the month before you move. You'll be surprised ho easily you can get by with a pot, a skillet and a plate, glass and cutlery for each member of the family. Make a game of it with the kids and pretend you are camping, this will encourage them to get involved with packing and the dishes! Mark boxes with the name of the room you are moving them too and if you are packing breakables in a box be sure to mark it "Top Load Only" so that who eaver is moving the box knows not to stack other boxes on top of them. Moving can be overwhelming for kids. Involve them by letting them pack their own belongings. Encourage them to draw/paint on the moving boxes.

1-3 Weeks Before Your Move

8. Utility Disconnect
Contact gas, elctric, water and internet to schedule the disconnect. Be sure to leave them all connected until the day after you move.

9. Moving Truck Parking
Plan parking by ensuring that your moving company has a convenient place to park. Mark off the parking area with cones or chairs. Better yet, obtain a city parking permit to make sure the space remains open.

10. Trash Removal
Make arrangements for final trash and recycling pickup. You'll most likely have trash to clean up the day like pizza boxes and trash that just appears when all the boxes have been loaded into the moving truck. Ask neighbors if you can leave trash or recyclables with them with or if you have time, drop off trash at the local dump.

Find more moving information, planners, checklists and tips in our moving centre: