Moving to or from Toronto, ON or elsewhere in Canada, can appear pretty overwhelming at first, but if you sit down and map it out, breaking it into small manageable stages, it starts to appear less daunting. This plan is what is commonly known as a “moving checklist” and should list everything that needs to be done, each task’s level of priority and when each task needs to be completed by. The last thing we just mentioned (the deadline) is particularly important as it acts as a motivating factor and gets you to take action. Most people are procrastinators and will avoid doing something for as long as they possibly can (in this case, until a couple of days before the move), which can lead to a mad dash and poor preparation. It’s also important to be aware that there’s no one-size-fits-all moving checklist out there since every home move is different. This means that while you can use other moving checklists for inspiration, ultimately you’ll have to come up with your own. If you’re not sure of what sort of things you need to include in yours, we’re going to give you a helping hand based on our 30 years experience of being one of the best moving companies in Toronto and GTA.
Some of the Core Tasks that a Moving Checklist should include
As the expression goes “fail to prepare and prepare to fail.” You have to take your home move seriously otherwise the results could be disastrous. Some of the tasks that should definitely be on your moving checklist include the following:
Comprehensive Sort Through of Your Possessions
You aren’t going to be taking everything you own with you when you move. The vast majority of people build up a collection of, well, there’s no other way to describe it but “junk.” During the time that you’ve lived at your property, you’ve probably been guilty of a fair amount of hoarding and now is the perfect time to weed these items out and downsize. This has the added benefit of potentially lowering quotes from moving companies significantly. Go through absolutely everything you own and either put items in one pile for packing or another for “buy/sell/trade/dispose of.” Imagine your new home and ditch anything that you don’t think will “fit in.”
Contact Several Toronto Moving Companies
One item that should always feature on a moving checklist is “hiring a moving company in Toronto.” This is essential and depending on when you are moving (winter is considered to be pretty “dead” for Toronto movers), you will need to contact movers well in advance of your moving date as the good ones get booked up very quickly. Be as accurate as possible when providing them with details of your move over the phone (i.e. how much “stuff” you need to have moved) if you want to get an accurate estimate. There’s also a number of questions you should ask, such as how long they’ve been in business, whether they are fully licensed and insured and what types of equipment they will use to complete your move. Good movers now how stressful moving can be and will do everything possible to ensure you enjoy a smooth transition.
Purchase Packing Materials & Pack
You need to start packing well in advance as it’s more practical to take the “little by little” approach, rather than trying to get it all done in a single weekend. However, before you start packing, you’ll need to purchase a range of packing supplies (speak to your Toronto moving company as they may be able to “hook you up” with some discounted packing materials). We’d recommend you purchase sturdy cardboard moving boxes, bubble wrap, packing pellets and plenty of tape! We would also recommend buying permanent markers in several different colours to help you label each box after you’ve packed it, that way you’ll know where everything is when you “land” at your new place.
Notify All Important Parties of Your Imminent Move
Unless you actually tell people that you’re moving, how are they supposed to know? And if they don’t know, this means that they will continue sending mail to your old address, which will fall into the hands of the new owners or the landlord. This is not something that you want! Start by telling friends and family before contacting all financial institutions that you have dealings with, your employer, any magazines and newspapers that you are subscribed to, insurance companies and utility companies. Another task you should add to your moving checklist is to visit your local post office and set up a mail redirect service. This will ensure that mail from anyone you don’t remember to tell will be forwarded to your new address.
Confirm Arrangements for Your Moving Day
It’s common to book a moving company several weeks or even months in advance, meaning there can be a significant period of “non-contact” between your initial call and your moving day. It’s advisable to include a “confirmation call” on your moving checklist, just to double check that all arrangements are correct. Most Toronto moving companies will use this as an opportunity to explain exactly what’s going to happen on the day, so you sleep easy in the days leading up to your move.
Empty the Freezer Gradually and then Defrost
This is one thing many homeowners in Toronto, Etobicoke and Mississauga forget to include in their moving checklist and it often ends up costing them dearly. It’s usually not practical to take frozen food with you when you move home, which often results in throwing hundreds of dollars of food away. Rather than letting it get to this, a few weeks before your move you should ease off on grocery shopping and start cooking the food you have in your freezer instead! A separate task that should feature on your moving checklist is completely emptying, cleaning and defrosting your freezer (otherwise moving it could get very messy!). You need to do this at least 24 hours before the day of your move.
If you are moving home in the near future and are not sure what you should include on your moving checklist, give the pros at Europa Moving & Storage Toronto a call. We would be happy to provide you with any advice that you need and have over 30 years of industry experience.
About Europa Movers Toronto
Europa Movers Toronto is a professional moving and storage company operating out of Toronto, ON, providing high quality local and long distance moving services throughout Toronto, GTA, Ontario and across Canada. Thanks to our country-wide network we are also able to service our clients’ long distance moving needs throughout Canada.
Call Europa Movers Toronto (416) 604-9904 for a FREE Consultation in regards to your residential or office moving needs to and from the GTA and Metro Toronto area.
