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Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Homebuyers Checklist — A Newcomers’ Guide and Workbook
Preparing to Move
Moving can be a very busy and hectic time especially if you’ve been renting for a few years and will now be moving into
your new home. Use the following checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything during your move to your new home.
CHECKLIST: Planning Your Move
2 to 3 weeks before you move:
❑ Buy boxes and other moving supplies
❑ Donate or throw away unwanted items
❑ Take toxic household cleaners, old paint and other
chemicals to your local Toxic Waste Centre (search
website for location)
❑ Make any necessary travel arrangements or reservations
❑ Notify your children’s’ old school and register at their
new school
❑ Contact Canada Post to forward your mail to your
new address
❑ Arrange for telephone service at your new home
❑ Arrange to return any Cable TV equipment to your
cable company
❑ Transfer your car insurance and license plates if needed
❑ Get copies of all medical, dental and veterinary records
Contact or send change of address cards to:
❑ Driver’s license, Health cards, Insurance ❑ Employer(s), doctor, dentist
❑ Magazines and other subscriptions ❑ Memberships
❑ Canada Customs and Revenue Agency ❑ Bank accounts and credit cards
1 to 2 weeks before you move:
❑ Return anything you have borrowed
❑ Arrange for your major appliances to be moved
(if you will be taking them with you)
❑ Safely dispose of any flammable materials
❑ Arrange to disconnect utilities at your old home and
connect utilities at your new home
2 to 7 days before you move:
❑ Find out what you can bring with you if you are
traveling by car, bus, train or plane
❑ Pack a suitcase or small box with the clothes and
other things you will need for the first few days in
your new home
The day before you move:
❑ Take down your curtains and curtain rods
❑ Empty and defrost the refrigerator and clean the stove
❑ Pack all of your personal items except for anything
you will need tonight and tomorrow
❑ Collect all your keys and keep them in a safe place
Moving day:
❑ Keep your paperwork where you can find it
❑ Pack all your bedding linens, toiletries, etc
❑ Do a final “walk through” to check every room, closet
and cabinet to be sure you aren’t forgetting anything
❑ If you hired a moving company, walk through your
home with the supervisor to make a list of all your
boxes and belongings
❑ Clean your old home or apartment and inspect it with
the landlord
❑ Confirm your new address with the moving company,
and ask what time they will be arriving
❑ Make sure you know how to contact your new
landlord or superintendent