MOVING · CANADA & U.S.

Moving into a new home: the complete checklist

Moving is mostly memory work — a hundred small things, each with its own deadline. Here they are in the order they actually need doing, from four weeks out to the first week in your new place.

Last reviewed 23 September 2026.

Four weeks out

Give written notice if you rent, and keep a copy with the date you sent it. Confirm the last day you are responsible for the old place — that date decides everything else.

Book movers or a van now; the end of a month is always the busiest week. Start a list of everything that has your old address on it: employer, bank, insurers, licences, subscriptions, your doctor, your child's school.

Two weeks out

Arrange the utilities. Electricity, gas, water, internet and waste collection each need either a transfer or a fresh account, and internet is the one that most often needs an installation appointment — book it first.

Set up mail forwarding, book any elevator or loading bay you need at both ends, and start running down the freezer. Order boxes before you need them, not on the day.

The week of the move

Pack an open-first box: kettle, mugs, toilet paper, soap, phone chargers, a torch, basic tools, medication, bedding and a change of clothes for everyone. Carry it yourself rather than putting it on the van.

Keep documents, keys, jewellery and anything irreplaceable with you. Label boxes by room rather than by contents, and write the room on the side so you can read it in a stack.

Moving day

Before anything comes in, photograph the empty place — every room, every existing mark, and the meter readings for gas, water and electricity. Note the readings in writing as well; it settles the first bill without argument.

Check that heating, hot water, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms all work. Test the alarms by pressing them, not by assuming. Find the water shut-off valve and the electrical panel before you need them in a hurry.

The first week

Change the locks, register for local waste collection, and update the addresses on your driver's licence, health coverage, bank, insurers and voter registration. Several of these have legal deadlines measured in days, not months.

File the paperwork while it is still in one pile: the lease or closing documents, the condition report, the inventory, utility account numbers, appliance manuals and warranties. This is exactly what My Home and My Vault in HAUSINE are for — the day you need the warranty is never the day you move.

Common questions

How far in advance should I start organising a move?

Four weeks is comfortable for most households. Give notice to your landlord within the period your lease requires, book movers or a van three to four weeks ahead, and start utility transfers two weeks out. If you are buying, work backwards from your closing date instead.

Who do I need to tell about my new address?

Your employer, your bank, insurers, the government body that holds your driver's licence and health coverage, your doctor and school, any subscription that ships something physical, and the tax authority. Mail forwarding through Canada Post or USPS buys you time but is not a substitute for updating the important ones.

Should I change the locks in a new home?

Yes, on the first day if you can, unless you know for certain the locks were replaced for you. Previous tenants, contractors, cleaners and former owners all had keys. Ask your landlord first if you rent — many will arrange it, and some tenancy agreements require their consent.

What should I photograph before I move in?

Every room, every existing mark, the meter readings, and the condition of appliances, floors and walls, all on the day you get the keys. Timestamped photographs are the single most useful thing in any later argument about a deposit or damage.

Official sources

Notice periods, deposit rules and utility transfer times differ by province and state. Check your own tenancy or closing paperwork for the dates that bind you.