How to use this checklist
Moving goes wrong in small ways: an elevator nobody booked, a truck with nowhere to park, a kettle packed at the bottom of a box. This checklist puts each task where it belongs in the weeks before the move. If your date is closer than four weeks, start at the stage you are in and pull forward anything you have missed.
If you are moving in less than two weeks, the last-minute moving page explains how FleetGo handles short-notice dates.
Four weeks out
- Confirm your moving date with your landlord, buyer or seller, and with the building at both ends.
- Request a moving quote. Include every room, large items and access details; the guide to how moving estimates work explains what affects the price.
- Decide whether you will pack yourself or book packing services.
- Start clearing out: sell, donate or recycle what you will not move. Every item you drop is time you do not pay for.
- Collect boxes, tape and markers if you are packing yourself.
- Book time off work for move day and, if possible, the day after.
Two weeks out
- Condos and apartments: book the elevator and loading area at both buildings. See the condo elevator booking guide.
- Houses: work out where the truck will park, and check your municipality's rules if it needs to stop on the street.
- Arrange to cancel or transfer electricity, gas, water, internet and home insurance from your moving date.
- Set up mail forwarding with Canada Post, and start updating your address with your bank, employer and other accounts.
- Pack rooms you use least: books, seasonal clothes, decorations, storage closets.
- Measure large furniture and the doorways, stairs and elevator at the new home.
One week out
- Confirm your booking, arrival window and crew size with the mover.
- Pack everything except the items you use daily, and label each box with its room and contents.
- Use up frozen and perishable food.
- Plan for children and pets on move day so the path stays clear.
- Disconnect and drain appliances that need it, or arrange for someone to do so; disconnecting appliances is the customer's responsibility unless arranged otherwise.
- Gather important documents, medications, jewellery and valuables to carry yourself.
The day before
- Pack your essentials box (see below) and keep it out of the moving area.
- Empty and defrost the fridge and freezer.
- Take apart anything you have chosen to dismantle yourself, and bag the screws with each piece.
- Confirm elevator bookings, the loading dock and parking for the truck.
- Collect keys, fobs and parking passes for both homes.
- Charge your phone, and keep the mover's number handy.
Moving day
- Be ready before the arrival window, with boxes sealed and a clear path to the door.
- Walk the crew leader through the home, and point out fragile, valuable and oversized items.
- Review and sign the agreement. The billable start time is recorded after this.
- Stay reachable while the crew loads, and do a final check of every room, closet and cupboard before the truck leaves.
- At the new home, tell the crew where each room's boxes and furniture go.
- Before the crew leaves, check that items are placed where you want them, and raise any concerns with the crew leader.
Condo and house moves need different preparation
A condo or apartment move is shaped by the building: elevator booking windows, loading docks, move hours and building rules. The crew's time depends on how quickly they can get from your door to the truck, so the elevator booking is the most important item on your list. Book it early, and make sure the window is longer than the estimated move time.
A house move is shaped by space and stairs: garages, basements, sheds and attics hold more than people expect, and long driveways or steep steps add carrying time. Walk through those spaces when you list your inventory. If the truck must park on the street, check the local rules for your city. FleetGo's residential moving and condo and apartment moving pages explain how each is planned.
If you are moving more than 100 km
Long-distance moves need the same checklist, started earlier. FleetGo does not price moves over 100 km on the hourly local model; each one is reviewed manually and quoted as a flat rate based on the route, your inventory and access at both ends. Request that review at the four-week mark or sooner, so the quote, date and truck are settled before you give notice or book elevators.
Plan to be without your belongings for longer: pack a larger essentials bag, keep documents and medications with you, and confirm who will meet the crew at the destination. See long-distance moving for how these moves are planned.
Your essentials box
Pack one box or bag that travels with you, not on the truck, with everything you need for the first night and morning:
- Medications, glasses and important documents
- Phone chargers and a power bar
- Toiletries, towels and toilet paper
- A change of clothes and bedding for each person
- Kettle, mugs, a few utensils, snacks and water
- Basic tools: screwdriver, box cutter, tape
- Pet food and children's comfort items
After the move
- Check that the utilities are on, and take meter readings.
- Unpack bedrooms and the kitchen first.
- Finish updating your address, including your driver's licence and health card through ServiceOntario if you are moving within Ontario.
- Report any visible damage to the crew leader before they leave; FleetGo asks for written claims within 48 hours of the move.
Planning a move for an older relative? FleetGo's senior moving service is built for slower, more careful moves. When you are ready, request a free quote.