Moving can be stressful, but these tips will help you ensure ‘Moving Day’ goes as smoothly as possible. 

After a long search, many open houses, and possibly even a bidding war, you found the perfect home! Now, all you can do is dream about settling into your new digs. However, before you start selecting your wall colours, it’s essential to ensure you’re ready for the move. With the stress of packing and planning, here are some everyday tasks that people often overlook.

Scope out your new neighbourhood - GPS is a great tool, but navigating a new area on the day of your move can add stress. Knowing where a few key locations are, like the nearest bank branch or ATM, can help you on moving day. If your tools are all packed away or if you discover that the previous tenants took all the light bulbs with them, you’ll want to know where the closest hardware store is. If you have friends to help you move, you’ll want to know where you can order decent pizza or some tasty takeout on that first night when you’re so exhausted you can barely lift your fingers to dial.

Create ‘Open me first’ boxes - The last thing you want to do is frantically search for something important like your kids' medicine amidst a sea of identical cardboard boxes. When it comes to things you use daily, make sure to put them into boxes marked as essentials. Then move them yourself instead of letting a mover pack them away – that way, you’ll know exactly where they are at all times.

Change your address - You might remember to forward your mail, but that doesn’t mean you can slack off on changing your address. Some address changes can’t wait — such as your driver’s license, car and home insurance, bank and credit accounts, and your health card. While you’re at it, let your employer and the federal and provincial governments know you’ve got a new place.

Think about your pets - The last thing you need on moving day is a family pet getting lost or hurt. The disruption to animals’ routines, like packing and new people in their space (like movers), can agitate your fur babies, making them more likely to run and hide or even run away. Add to that the doors left open by movers, and your moving day can get severely off track. If possible, consider sending your pets to a kennel or leaving them with a friend on moving day. Then, when you arrive at your new home, make sure you have all their stuff unpacked for their return.

Clean your new place - The previous owners might claim they had the house professionally cleaned before handing over the keys, but sometimes professionals miss a spot or two. Before hauling in boxes and furniture, open up drawers, appliances, and closets to ensure they are clean. If the fridge still has a sticky orange spot near the back, it will be easier to clean when you don’t have a cooler full of food next to you and movers everywhere. Keep cleaning supplies on hand on moving day, just in case.

Take the time to plan, ensuring you can focus on enjoying your new home.