Moving guide
The BC moving checklist
Moving goes smoother when the big things are booked early and the small things aren't left for the last night. Here's a week-by-week checklist for moving in British Columbia, from booking the elevator to telling ICBC.
Moving to another province? See interprovincial moving for the extra paperwork.
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6 to 8 weeks before
Get the big pieces booked
- Book your movers. The end of the month and weekends fill up first, because that's when most leases turn over.
- Decide what isn't coming: sell, donate or give away furniture you won't use.
- Start a list of every account and service that has your address.
- Moving to another province? Check the new province's rules for health coverage, driver's licences and vehicle registration (see interprovincial moving).
4 weeks before
Lock in the building and the parking
- Book the elevator and loading bay at both buildings through the strata or property manager, and check move hours and any move fees.
- In the City of Vancouver, plan a temporary street occupancy permit if the truck needs curb space; the City's moving guide puts it about a week before moving day.
- Start packing the rooms you use least.
- Set up mail forwarding with Canada Post.
2 weeks before
Sort out the house
- Set up utilities at the new place and cancel or transfer the old ones: electricity (BC Hydro or your local utility), natural gas if you have it, internet and phone.
- Arrange childcare and pet care for moving day.
- Use up frozen and perishable food.
- Measure big furniture against the new home's doorways, stairs and elevator.
- Confirm the details of your move with your movers.
Moving week
Pack the essentials
- Pack a first-night box: kettle, toiletries, chargers, medications, bedding and a change of clothes.
- Empty and defrost the fridge and freezer the day before.
- Set aside documents, valuables, keys and medications to carry yourself.
- Confirm parking or the loading bay for the truck.
Moving day
Walk it through
- Be there when the crew arrives and show them what's going and what isn't.
- Check every room, closet and cupboard before you leave.
- Hand over keys, fobs and parkade passes.
- At the new place, tell the crew which room each piece goes in.
After the move
Tell the people who need to know
- ICBC: change the address on your driver's licence or BCID within 10 days of moving (ICBC), and update your vehicle insurance.
- Health Insurance BC (MSP): report your new address right away (Province of BC).
- Canada Revenue Agency: update your address as soon as possible (CRA).
- Other federal services don't share your new address with each other, so update each one you use (Government of Canada).
- Your bank, employer, insurance companies and subscriptions.
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