Skip to main content

5 tips to make your move a success

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

✔ A stress-free move is all about planning and organizing before the big day.

✔ Getting rid of stuff you don’t need before you move could save time, effort, and money.

✔ Estimate the cost of your move so you don’t get surprised by unexpected bills.

Every year over 2 million Canadians pack up their belongings and move to a new home. It’s a time in life when you’re excited about starting a new chapter, but also overwhelmed with everything that has to get done. It can be stressful, time-consuming and expensive. Here are five tips to help you manage your move, plan ahead, stay on budget and have a stress-free moving day.

1. Start planning early

To ensure a smooth move, get organized as soon as possible. Identify what can be done weeks or months ahead of time. This will help you manage your time and make room for other important tasks that can’t be done in advance or might be more last minute. For example, if you need to hire a mover, start getting cost estimates earlier than later. Moving companies are quite busy (especially during the high season) and book up months in advance. By contacting them early, you’ll have more choices and might avoid paying a premium for a last-minute booking.

Put all key dates in a calendar and create alerts on your phone so you don’t delay making a decision or miss a deadline.

2. Set a budget

Moving can be expensive. Whether it’s a local or a long-distance move, you need to plan for the cost of movers or trucks, moving equipment, boxes, tape, and feeding helpers on the big day. If you can’t cover all the costs, it’s good to know ahead of time. Preparing a budget will help you to do that. Remember, surprises can happen. It’s important to calculate a cushion in your budget in case of the unexpected.

If you feel like your move is going to cost more than you can afford, you might want to look for a personal loan. Canada Moving estimates the average cost to move locally between $650-$1500, while long-distance is more like $2,000-$5000.[i]

3. Move it or lose it?   

The weeks and months leading up to a move are a great time to declutter. With time, we accumulate a lot of things, whether it’s clothes, decorations, or kitchen gadgets that we don’t use as often as we thought we would. The list goes on. Getting rid of what you don't need gives a second life to your old stuff and could save you time and money if you’re planning to hire movers because they often charge by the hour. Here are a few ways to lose it instead of moving it:

  • Make one pile of stuff that can be donated to charity.
  • Host a clothing & stuff party and let your guests take anything you don’t want.
  • Make a few bucks with a yard sale.
  • Sell things like appliances on online marketplaces.
  • Toss out stuff that can be recycled (check local government websites to see what gets recycled, reused or goes into the garbage).

4. Make a checklist

Checklists are an easy way to make sure you don’t forget anything. Plus, you can use them for almost everything. They are practical because you can see what has been done and what is left to do to get ready for the big day. There are lots of online tools and checklists you can use and customize around the specifics of your move.  

Start your checklist

Even if you have great memory, write it down. Nothing keeps a move on track like a great “to-do” list. Start with these common tasks.

  • Research movers and get three quotes.
  • Contact service companies (utilities, cable, insurance) to schedule shut-off or switch service to your new address.
  • Change the address on your Driver’s License and Health Card.
  • If you rent, give your landlord notice (based on the rent agreement).
  • Forward mail to your new address.
  • Start looking for boxes or ask family, friends and neighbours if they have any.
  • Get packing materials like tape, markers, labels, packing paper and bubble wrap.
  • Determine if you need any permits for street parking.

5. Protect your sensitive information

From junk drawers to filing cabinets and bookshelves, you may have your important papers and documents in different places. Before your move, gather them in one place (hard copies or digital) and don’t pack them in case you need them on moving day or shortly after. Put them in a safe place like a purse, laptop bag or even in a hidden spot in your car. Then, only move personal and sensitive documents (Passport, Social Insurance Number, health card etc.) yourself.

We can help before or after your moving day

Whether you hire movers, do it yourself, or rely on the help of friends and family, there will be expenses on moving day. And making your new place feel like home may take a small budget.

If you think the cost of a move might put a burden on your finances, we can help you borrow what you need to ease the transition into a new place and deal with unexpected expenses. Connect with an easyfinancial representative at one of our 400 branches, or call 1-888-502-3279.

Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice on any subject matter.

[i] Canada Moving website. What’s the average cost of moving? Viewed March, 2024. Source.