Moving preparation checklist

A successful move is won in the weeks before. This is the exact timeline we give our customers — follow it and moving day will be stress-free.

16 weeks before: decide

Request your quotes and confirm your date. Hourly moves are booked by time slot (morning or afternoon): mention any elevator or key-handover constraints.
Decide what is actually moving. On average, 20 to 30% of a home's contents haven't been used in a year — every box you don't move is billable time you don't pay.
Read your lease and condo rules: elevator deposit, permitted hours, required floor protection.
If you're leaving a rental, send written notice to your landlord within the deadlines set by the Tribunal administratif du logement.
Inventory your special items (piano, safe, aquarium, marble table, exercise bike) and declare them in your quote right away.

Book the elevator at BOTH addresses. Many buildings only allow one move per day and slots are reserved 2 to 4 weeks ahead.
Check truck parking at both addresses. If the street is narrow or metered, request a temporary occupancy permit from your borough (see our parking guide).
Gather supplies: boxes in uniform sizes (small for books, medium for kitchen), packing paper, 2-inch tape, markers, wardrobe boxes.
Sell or donate large furniture that isn't coming. Montreal ecocentres accept furniture and appliances free for residents.
Arrange childcare, a sitter or boarding for kids and pets on moving day: a nervous dog underfoot slows everyone down.

Start with rarely used rooms: guest room, books, décor, off-season clothes, garage and shed.
Do your address changes in one go with the Service québécois de changement d'adresse (SAAQ, RAMQ, Revenu Québec, Élections Québec in a single form), then Hydro-Québec, internet, bank, insurance, employer and school.
Plan the Hydro-Québec transfer: end service at the old address the day after the move and start at the new one the day before — you don't want to move in without power.
Use up or give away frozen food. A freezer must be empty and defrosted 24 to 48 hours before it moves.
Confirm the details with us: exact addresses, floors, booked elevators, heavy items, estimated box count. Anything that changes the duration, we'd rather know beforehand.

Disassemble what you can (beds, shelving, tables) and put the hardware in a sealed bag taped to the piece.
Photograph your cable connections (TV, computer, router) before unplugging: reconnecting will be twice as fast.
Prepare the appliances (see our guide): washer drained, fridge defrosted, dryer disconnected.
Return borrowed items, pick up the dry cleaning, empty the locker and the mailbox.
Confirm the key handover time and access to the new place. A move waiting on keys is billable time spent doing nothing.

Finish the boxes and label them on two sides: destination room + contents + "FRAGILE" or "OPEN FIRST" when needed.
Prepare a "first night" box you carry yourself: important papers, medication, chargers, toiletries, sheets, toilet paper, a mug and a kettle.
Empty dressers of anything heavy or breakable. Clothes can stay if the piece is sturdy.
Clear the paths: hallway, balcony, stairs, entrance — nothing on the floor between the door and the truck.
Re-read your confirmation email: arrival window, addresses, balance due, contact person. Keep your phone charged and on the morning of the move.

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