MOVING TIPS

Have a box or backpack with everything you’ll need the day of the move, and the night and morning after, and bring it with you in the car or as checked luggage on the plane. Include items like toiletries, a change of clothes, sheets, towels, shampoo, soap, paper towels, coffee mugs and paper plates. Include important papers like insurance policies, birth certificates, etc. And don’t forget a big blanket or sheet to sit on so you can have a “picnic” and not worry about dirty floors.

Clothes, special toys and blankets, books, photos, toothbrushes and pyjamas – ensure they have easy access to everything they need to feel at home in their new space.

Assign each room in your new place a colour. (Red for the kitchen, blue for the master bedroom, etc.) Put a sticker of the appropriate colour on each box – and a corresponding sticker on the door of each room. It’s a great way to avoid confusion, especially if movers can’t tell which is “Remi’s room” and which is “Kensie’s room.”

Vital kitchen stuff, linens, kids’ items and other things you’ll need right away should be loaded last and unloaded first. Mark them clearly.

Have someone you trust take care of kids and/or pets for the day. That way they won’t get stressed out by the upheaval, and you won’t have to worry about them getting underfoot.

Give yourself a "time cushion". If possible, don’t move in the same day the previous owners are moving out. If you have some extra time, you can also go into the empty house and clean or paint prior to moving in.

Do one last walk-through to make sure you haven’t missed anything. Don’t forget closets, cupboards and crawl spaces or that secret hiding spot under the loose floorboard.