Moving Checklist

 

Counting Down

In order to ensure a smooth relocation, it’s never too soon to begin planning for your move!  Get the whole family involved in the move and spread some of the responsibilities to each person – including the kids!  This checklist will assist in ensuring nothing has been overlooked or omitted from your planning.  Let’s relieve a bit of the pressure and anxiety!

 

Eight Weeks Before

  • Contact your mover to make arrangements for moving day.
  • Remove items from your attic, basement, storage shed, etc.
  • Start to use up things you can't move, such as frozen foods and cleaning supplies.
  • Contact the Chamber of Commerce or visitors and tourism bureaus in your new community for information on your new city – we can help with links and phone numbers.  If you’re staying within the same city, perhaps there is a new community association to reach out to.
    • City of Moncton – 506-853-3333
    • City of Dieppe – 506-877-7900
    • Town of Riverview – 506-387-2020
    • Village of Salisbury – 506-372-3230
    • Village of Petitcodiac – 506-756-3140
  • If you're moving at an employer's request, verify what expenses and responsibilities are theirs and which are yours.

 

Six Weeks Before

  • Contact your accountant for information on what moving expenses may be tax-deductible
  • Begin to inventory and evaluate your possessions. What can be sold or donated to a charitable organization? What haven't you used within the last year?
  • Make a list of everyone you need to notify about your move: friends, professionals, creditors, subscriptions, government agencies, etc.
  • Obtain a mail subscription to the local paper in your new community to familiarize yourself with local government, community, and social news and activities.  Alternately, you may need to cancel a current subscription.
    • Time & Transcript – 506-859-4905
    • L’Acadie Nouvelle – 506-383-1955
  • Locate all auto licensing and registration documents.
    • Service New Brunswick – 1-888-762-8600 OR 506-856-3303
  • If some of your goods are to be stored, make the necessary arrangements now.
  • Contact schools, doctors, dentists, lawyers and accountants and obtain copies of your personal records. Ask for referrals where possible.

 

Four Weeks Before

  • Obtain a change-of-address kit from the post office and begin filling out the cards – Canada Post offers 3 month, 6 month, or 1 year mail rerouting options at different prices.
    • 1-900-565-2633 or www.canadapost.ca - to find your new postal code
    • 1-800-267-1177 – for Super Keys and general inquiries
  • Arrange special transport for your pets and plants.
  • Contact utility and related companies for service disconnect/connect at your old and new addresses. However, remember to keep phone and utilities connected at your current home throughout moving day.
    • NB Power – 1-800-663-6272
    • Bell Aliant – 1-888-214-7896
    • Rogers Cable – 506-850-5599 (Tony)
    • Bell ExpressVu – 1-877-439-8502
    • Enbridge Gas – 1-866-994-2762
  • Contact insurance companies (auto, homeowner's or renters, medical, and life) to arrange for coverage in your new home.

  • Let your home insurance company know the particulars of the new address and moving date in order to relocate your insurance to your new home.This may mean cancelling if your current insurance provider does not cover your new community.

  • If you're packing yourself, purchase packing boxes. Pack items that you won't be needing in the next month.

  • Plan a garage sale to sell unneeded items or arrange to donate them to charity.

  • If you're moving out of or into a building with elevators, contact the building management to schedule use of the elevators.  If the building is a condominium, you may need to also arrange visitor parking passes, find out garbage bin location, and get put onto the entrance security panel.

 

Three Weeks Before

  • Make travel arrangements and reservations for your moving trip. However, don't make plane reservations for the same day that you're moving out. House closings are often delayed, and other unexpected situations often arise.
  • Collect important papers (insurance, will, deeds/titles, stocks, etc.).
  • Arrange to close accounts in your local bank and open accounts in your new locale if necessary.  New accounts can be set up by going into your bank.  No need to change accounts if you stay with the same bank - just change address information.  New cheques with new address usually take 1-2 weeks to arrive, but temporary cheques can be issued for the interim.

 

Two Weeks Before

  • Have your car checked and serviced for the trip. Also, make sure that your automobile is prepared (filled with the necessary antifreeze/coolant, for example) for the type of weather conditions you'll be traveling in.

 

One Week Before

  • Settle any outstanding bills with local merchants.
  • Don't forget to withdraw the contents of your safety deposit box, pick up any drycleaning, return library books, etc.
  • Take pets to the veterinarian for any needed immunizations. Get copies of pets' records.
  • Drain gas and oil from power equipment (lawn mowers, snow blowers, etc.)
  • Give away plants not being moved.
  • Prepare specific directions to your new home for your moving company. (Include your itinerary, emergency numbers, etc.)

 

Two to Three Days Before

  • Defrost your freezer and refrigerator. Block doors open so they can't accidentally close on pets or children.
  • Have your major appliances disconnected and prepared for the move. (If using a moving consultant, they can help with arrangements for a third party to provide these services.)
  • Pack a box of personal items that will be needed immediately at your new home. Have this box loaded last or carry it with you in your car.
  • Organize and set aside those things that you're taking with you so that they don't get loaded on the van in error.
  • Contact your moving consultant to confirm arrival time of the moving van, as well as to notify him/her of any last-minute details.

 

Moving Day

  • Your van operator and crew arrive at the agreed upon time. Make sure that someone is at home for any enquiries the van operator may have with respect to your shipment.
  • Record all utility meter readings (gas, electric, water).
  • Read your bill of lading and inventory carefully before you sign them. Keep these - and all related papers - in a safe location until all charges have been paid and all claims, if any, have been settled.

 

If you require additional moving information, please do not hesitate to contact me.