Moving tips
These helpful tips can help you stay organized and save time.
- Put heavier items in multiple smaller boxes rather than in one large box to prevent the box from becoming too heavy and breaking.
- Pack electronic equipment such as stereos, TVs, and computers in their original boxes with their original packing material or purchase special electronics-specific boxes.
- If possible, take your furniture apart to make it easier to move, and make sure you put all nuts, bolts and screws in a small bag and tape the bag to the furniture.
- Keep tools you'll need to reassemble furniture in a separate box that is clearly marked.
- Keep items from the same room together as much as possible. This will make it easier to sort the contents after you move.
- Label all boxes, large or small with a brief contents summary (e.g. linen & fine china) and the room it belongs to (e.g. kitchen).
- Keep an inventory list of each box and its contents. This will be necessary if a box goes missing and you need to make a claim.
- Do not pack jewellery or important legal documents; take these with you in your car.
These tips can help make sure the whole family is ready for the big move.
- Talk to your kids. Let them know about the move as soon as possible. Explain where you’re moving and why. Let them ask questions and express their feelings.
- Keep a positive attitude toward the move. Reassure them that they’ll make new friends and join new clubs or sports teams etc.
- Familiarize your children with the new area using maps, pictures, and even visiting the new community if possible.
- Make the move an adventure for your children. Let them to pack their own things. Participating in the move will help them adjust more easily to their new surroundings.
- For older children, encourage them to gather phone numbers or email addresses of friends so they can keep in touch.
- With toddlers, keep things and routines familiar. Set up their new room similar to their old room; keep activities and feeding schedules the same.
These tips can help make your pet’s transition a little easier.
- Get your pet accustomed to travelling. Take them for short trips in the car if you’re driving. If you’re flying, have your pet get used to sitting in a pet carrier.
- Shortly before the move, your pets may become nervous because of all the unusual activity. Keep your pet's routine, such as feedings and walks, as normal as possible in the week before moving.
- Make certain your pet is wearing proper identification and any required license tags in case they get lost.
- Take all the familiar and necessary things your pet will need from day one in your new home: food, water, medications, bed, litter box, food and water bowls, and health records.
- After the move, give your pet time to adjust to the new neighborhood before you let them roam freely.
