Transition Checklist

Check Yourself

You know that feeling, after your bags are all packed for a vacation, where you’re certain you’ve still forgotten something critical? When making the transition to a new home, that feeling of “Did I remember my…” can be even more intense. There’s a long list of stuff to remember when making that transition, from simple (packing clothes) to less obvious but still crucial (like changing your internet service). We’re here to help, with a checklist of helpful tips to think of prior to your move, to make your transition as seamless as possible. 

Update Your Info – Everywhere

This is an annoying, but very necessary evil of moving. The pain of updating all your billing information when you lose a credit card? It’s like that, but even more detail oriented. Some of the accounts you’ll have to update when you move include: Driver’s License and Health Card, your work info, banking information (it may be helpful to also change your local branch, if you prefer to do in person banking), any bills you get mailed to you (or this would be a great time to go paperless and do online billing!), library card, tax accounts, Amazon delivery address, newspaper/magazine delivery and more. You can buy mail forwarding from Canada Post https://www.canadapost.ca/cpc/en/personal/receiving/manage-mail/mail-forwarding.page#price to cut down on some of the pain. And, if you update your driver’s license, there’s no need to update your voting information – a new voting card should be mailed to you at your new address when the time comes. 

Internet and Cable

They are not notoriously fast at internet and cable companies, so getting a spot for the technician to come to your home may take longer than you imagine. It’s best to book a spot a few weeks (or even a month or more) ahead of time to ensure you’ve got service as soon as possible. It may be a good time to attempt to renegotiate or explore other providers before the move.

Hydro

You will also have to set up an account with your hydro provider for your new address, but this is simpler, as you typically won’t need a technician to come to the property to turn on the juice. 

Cash Out

On moving day, you’ll be busy with a hundred small tasks that come up – you won’t have time to run to the bank. Having some cash on hand will be helpful, not only to tip the movers who are doing the (pardon the pun) heavy lifting, but also for any other contingencies that may come up along the way: needing something at a convenience store (gum and water come to mind), getting lunch somewhere that may not take credit (although that’s rarer than ever, these days) or if, worst case scenario, there’s some issue with your credit card on moving day. 

Pets

If you have pets, make plans for them in advance. The night before your big move, you can take them to a friend’s house or to a kennel/vet, since moving day will be way too exciting for them and distracting for the movers. You will also want to make sure their vaccination records are up to date and even get them new ID tags that reflect their new home. 

Confirm, Confirm, Confirm

If you got a reservation at Alo https://torontolife.com/tag/alo/, or any other hot Toronto restaurant, you wouldn’t just hope you still had it two months later when it came to dine. You would say “Yes” to the myriad of text confirmations the restaurant sends, and even make sure day of to answer that “Are you still coming?” phone call some restaurants make. All that is to say, do the same with your movers. After you make the appointment, say 3-6 months in advance, call again one month in advance to confirm its still on (and re-confirm their pricing estimates). One week out and a few days before, do the same thing. There’s nothing worse than being all packed up to move and having the moving company say, “We’ve got no record of your transaction!”

Prescriptions

The week (or even longer) after your move is the last time you want to run out of a necessary prescription. The week before, head to the pharmacy to load up on anything you may need for the foreseeable future. It is better to be prepared early than frantically searching Google Maps for the closest Rexall! Pharmacies are also yet another place that updating your information will be helpful. 

Transition Checklist

If you have some behemoth furniture or appliances you’re bringing with you (and even if not), measure beforehand. Measure the items, measure the doorways, measure tight hallways and anywhere else you think may be a sticking point. Movers can sometimes work miracles, but they can’t break the laws of physics. If something simply won’t fit, you’ll have to make other plans.