Montreal Moving Checklist: From Booking to Key Handover

Once the addresses are confirmed

Prepare an inventory, review building rules and request quotes for the same services. Record landlord or management contacts for both properties. Decide whether you will pack, arrange help for children or pets and identify furniture that needs assessment.

• Confirm the move date and key handover
• Reserve building access and check parking procedure
• Update address-dependent accounts and services
• Agree the complete written moving scope

Before the final evening

Sort donations and disposal early. Finish room labels and make a last-night essentials bag. Keep cleaning materials outside the truck. Verify who disconnects appliances and that any plumbing or electrical work is assigned to an appropriate qualified person.

On moving day and after delivery

Walk through the inventory with the crew and identify fragile or excluded items. At the new address, direct cartons by room and check visible condition and counts. Record concerns promptly according to the agreed reporting process; do not wait until every box is unpacked to mention an obvious issue.

A moving timeline you can actually use

Treat the dates below as a planning sequence, not mandatory booking deadlines. Start earlier when July 1, special furniture or a restricted building slot is involved. If you have less time, work through the same dependencies in order: possession, access, booking, packing and handover. Do not spend the first week buying cartons while the destination elevator remains unreserved.

Build a two-address access sheet

Write one sheet for the departure and one for the destination. Include the contact person, key location, permitted arrival time, parking point, floor, stair layout and elevator reservation. Add the distance from the truck to the entrance, even if the building has no stairs. A long passage through a courtyard can change the handling plan as much as an extra floor. Send changes to the mover instead of relying on a note left for the crew on moving morning.

Make the first evening manageable

Mark a few cartons “open first” with bedding, towels and basic kitchen supplies. Keep those separate from the personal bag that travels with you. Place cleaning equipment where you can reach it before the final property inspection. Photograph each empty room and note meter or utility readings where appropriate. At the new home, direct the first load to clear room zones so boxes do not block the entrance and force the crew to move them twice.

Avoid the common last-hour problems

A move becomes harder when the customer is still packing, the keys are with someone who has left, or furniture at the destination is already blocking the receiving route. Assign one available decision-maker at each end. Keep children and pets away from active loading paths. If you discover damage, photograph it, identify the inventory item and use the agreed reporting process; an accurate record is more helpful than an uncertain recollection several days later.

Make fewer decisions on moving day

The most useful moving tips remove decisions from the busy loading period. Choose what is moving, where it will go and who can authorise a change before the crew arrives. Mark rooms at the destination and prepare a simple furniture plan. Confirm where keys are collected and when the property can be accessed. Share photographs of tight access and large furniture rather than expecting the team to discover every constraint at the door. Keep a single coordinator available so instructions do not change from one person to another. If children or pets are present, arrange a supervised place outside the handling route. Separate ordinary household belongings from essential personal items and goods the company will not carry. These preparations help the move progress without requiring a series of rushed household decisions while furniture is already being loaded.

Keep one reliable record of the moving arrangements

Store the written quote, scope, inventory, access instructions and day-of contacts together. Record updates as they are agreed and identify which version is current. A change in furniture, elevator slot or possession date can affect several parts of the plan; tell the coordinator rather than treating each change as a private household detail. Before pickup, compare the record with the actual packed goods. At delivery, use the same item or carton references when checking the shipment. Keep proof of authorised changes so the final invoice can be compared with the work agreed. If a concern arises, describe the item, timing and issue clearly through the company’s written reporting procedure. A coherent record is more useful than scattered messages that leave the family, crew and receiving building with different instructions.

Prepare a realistic first day in the new home

Prioritise a usable sleeping area, bathroom essentials and the equipment needed for the next work or school day. Direct furniture to its intended room before cartons block the route. Keep basic cleaning supplies accessible and confirm utilities separately from the moving booking. Do not schedule every installation and visitor around an arrival hour that has not been confirmed. If the delivery window changes, update the receiving contact and building arrangements promptly. Inspect the shipment using the inventory and follow the reporting process for discrepancies rather than discarding evidence while unpacking. Keep packaging until you know what the agreed claims procedure requires. Your first day does not need to finish the entire household. It needs clear routes, essential rooms and an organised way to find the next items you need.

Move preparation decisions

Assign each decision to a person and keep its confirmation in one place.