5 Things You Might Forget to Think About While Packing

There’s a million things to think about when moving from one house to another. It’s one of the most stressful experiences a family can go through, especially if the move is poorly planned. That’s why you need to do as much as possible to prepare before the move date rolls around. Some essential packing tips and notes will make for a hassle-free move.

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Essential Packing Tips: A big part of your moving process is packing, whether you’re relocating in Canada or not. You can’t just throw everything in boxes and hope it all makes it to your new place okay. Be purposeful about where you put things and how you organize – it’ll make your life much easier on the other side of the move.

Even if you pack very carefully, there are some things that will probably slip your mind. Here are five of the big ones to think about ahead of time so your life isn’t as stressful during the move.

1. Where’s Your Important Paperwork?

You don’t want your vital documents (birth certificates, passports, diplomas, etc.) shoved in with the rest of your belongings. Plus, you might need to access certain documents like financial information, car papers, or house deeds and agreements. Designate a specific box or binder to house all of these essential items and personal records so that no matter what happens, you know you have your important documents in a safe place you can easily locate.

If you have other valuables you’re worried about losing, like jewelry or sentimental items, you may want to stick them in the same box as your paperwork. It’ll give you piece of mind during the chaos of the move.

2. Have You Looked Into Utility Setups at Your New Place?

Many people become so consumed by the process of packing that they forget to think about what their new home will be like when they arrive. When you’re unpacking at the new destination, you’ll want your air conditioning, heating, and water to be working properly as soon as you walk in the door.

If you’re moving into a new home without an air conditioning system in place, or a home with an older system, you’ll want to connect with a local HVAC company to get your system tuned up or replaced.

Besides your heating and cooling needs, you’ll also need to follow through with any other setups that need to be conducted, like water, electricity, internet and cable. Experts recommend turning on your new home utilities a few days before you arrive.

3. Do You Have Clothes to Wear and Toiletries to Use?

Don’t plan on unpacking everything during the first day at your new house. It takes time to get settled, but there are some things you’ll need to access before others. Make things simple by keeping a set of clothing in an easy-to-access place in case of any delays. That way, you don’t feel pressured to find things in boxes immediately.

You’ll also want to pack basic toiletries and medications to use within the first few days. Gather your prescriptions, make up, toilet paper, and essentials to keep together. You may also want to pack your shower curtain with the toiletries so you can shower the first day you’re in your new house.

4. Are You Sorting Items by Their Current Locations or Future Destinations?

When you’re packing up your old home, don’t just think about boxing things up room by room. Consider where the items will go in the new residence, then pack accordingly. This will make it easier to put boxes in their correct location when you arrive.

You should also label the boxes accordingly so that movers, family members, and other helpers know exactly where everything is and where it’s going. We often recommend color coding boxes by the room they’ll go in when you reach the new house. You could categorize by item type, but we typically find that to be more confusing upon arrival.

5. Have You Changed Your Address Yet?

The sooner you can update your service providers about your change of address, the less room there is for error. You want all of your bills and addresses to wind up at the right place. Head to your local post office to grab a change of address form and arrange for mail forwarding. This should be done at least a few days before moving into your new home, but preferably over a week in advance.

1. Driver’s licence and/or vehicle permit
2. Health card
3. Outdoors Card
4. Ontario Photo Card
5. Enhanced driver’s licence
6. Ontario student assistance program (OSAP)
7. Businesses
8. Corporations

There are many services you’ll need to update about your change of address. Car insurance companies, utility services, banks, credit card companies, phone services, internet services, doctors, schools, and government agencies all need to know that you’re moving to a new residence. It takes time to update your info with all of these companies and organizations, so start ahead of time and minimize the stress of handling issues later on.

Remember to Coordinate Your Packing Efforts With Your Moving Company

No one likes moving. It’s a long and stressful process – no matter how you look at it.

There is no worse feeling than losing track of something important while you are changing residence. While something getting lost is almost inevitable, the goal is to minimize the risk and make the move as smooth as possible with proper planning.