Moving Tips
This detailed check list will help you in preparing and planning for you move. Feel free to print it, and check the boxes off as you move through the different stages.
6 weeks
- Tour your home (include your attic, garage, storage space, etc.) to determine what items you will be shipping. Have a garage sale or donate items you will not be shipping to a charity. Reducing your shipment size will reduce your moving costs.
- Make travel arrangements, flight, hotel, vehicle rental, etc.
- Start using up all extra food stocks: frozen food (cannot be shipped) and canned food. This will reduce the weight of your shipment and your shipping costs.
4 weeks
- Contact a Great Canadian Agent to arrange for an estimate.
- Notify Post Office of your new address.
- Mail change-of-address cards.
- Notify all accounts, such as mortgages, banks, leases, business or credit accounts of your new address.
- Notify schools.
- Return library books, DVDs, and other borrowed items and collect items loaned.
2 weeks
- Dispose of all flammables, aerosols, paint, propane tanks, etc.
- Start packing (if you are planning to do some or all of it yourself).
- Arrange to disconnect your utilities, etc.
- Arrange to connect utilities and phone at your new home.
1 week
- Arrange for a baby sitter on moving day.
- Set up a specific area in your home for items you are taking with you personally.
- Finish packing.
- Label all boxes with your name and the name of room you would like them moved into.
- Drain water from garden hose and all oil & fuel from power mower and machinery.
- Arrange to have all your major appliances serviced before moving day.
The day before
- Empty refrigerator and freezer, defrost and wipe down.
- Clean and air your range.
- Finish packing all personal items.
Moving day
- Make sure someone is available to answer your mover’s questions.
- Sign/Save copies of the Bill of Lading. Make sure your correct address, phone numbers and email address are in the delivery address section.
- Keep vacuum out to clean areas where furniture used to be.
- Complete a final inspection of your home with your mover, make sure all rooms, closets, etc. are empty.
- Contact Great Canadian Van Lines Dispatch to obtain your final moving costs so you can have the proper payment ready on your delivery date.
- Keep your Great Canadian Van Lines registration number handy in case you need to track your shipment.