Moving in Quebec: 10 Steps to Prepare for Your Move Without Last-Minute Surprises

We almost always underestimate how much stuff we have accumulated in a house.

Then moving day approaches.

You open a closet you have barely looked at in five years and discover three boxes of cables, an appliance nobody remembers buying and enough drinking glasses to open a small restaurant.

But boxes are rarely what turn a move into a nightmare.

It is the decisions made too late.

The moving truck has nowhere to park.

The elevator was never reserved.

The freezer is still full.

Nobody knows who has the keys.

The dresser will not fit down the staircase.

And when a real estate transaction is involved, someone books the moving company before confirming exactly when they are supposed to leave the property.

The real challenge is usually not getting your belongings from point A to point B.

It is everything that needs to be decided before the truck arrives.

Whether you are moving in Saint-Laurent, Dorval, Lachine, Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, Longueuil, Saint-Hubert, Brossard, Saint-Constant or Mercier, good preparation can turn a potentially chaotic day into a much simpler operation.

Here are 10 steps to prepare for a move in Quebec without letting small details become expensive problems.

1. Start With the Moving Date, Then Work Backward

Your moving date becomes the anchor for everything else.

Once it is actually confirmed, build your moving checklist backward from that date.

Several Weeks Before Moving

Start to:

• compare moving companies;
• sort through your belongings;
• sell, donate or recycle what you no longer need;
• check parking requirements;
• reserve an elevator if necessary;
• collect boxes and packing supplies;
• plan your address changes;
• identify furniture that needs to be disassembled;
• measure important access points at your new home.

Two to Three Weeks Before

Start packing seriously.

Items you rarely use can already go into boxes.

This is also a good time to confirm anything that could slow down moving day:

• elevators;
• stairs;
• parking;
• building access;
• heavy items;
• oversized furniture.

One Week Before

Confirm the details with your mover.

Prepare your appliances.

Finish your important address changes.

Check parking at both properties.

Set aside anything you will transport yourself.

The Day Before

Your house should no longer be in:

“I should probably start packing.”

It should be in:

“Everything is ready to leave tomorrow morning.”

Moving day should be for moving.

Not deciding.

2. Use the Move as an Excuse to Finally Declutter

Every object you move costs you something.

Time.

A box.

Space.

Energy.

And if your movers charge by the hour, potentially money.

Ask yourself one simple question:

“Do I really want to pay to move this into my next house?”

Create four categories:

• keep;
• donate;
• sell;
• recycle or discard.

Be particularly critical about large items.

An old piece of furniture you no longer want does not suddenly become useful because it has a new postal code.

There is another benefit.

The less unnecessary stuff you move, the less likely your new home is to begin its life with boxes that remain unopened for the next three years.

Do not automatically move your old clutter into your new home.

3. Choose a Moving Company Based on More Than Price

A very low rate can look attractive.

Until unexpected charges start appearing.

Quebec’s Office de la protection du consommateur provides consumer guidance on choosing a mover and recommends taking precautions before entering into an agreement.

Before booking, ask:

• What is the rate?
• How many movers will be there?
• How many hours are estimated?
• Is travel time charged?
• Is there a minimum number of hours?
• Are stairs an additional charge?
• Are there extra charges for heavy objects?
• Is protective equipment included?
• What insurance coverage applies?
• How are damaged belongings handled?
• What are the cancellation terms?
• What could cause the estimated price to increase?

That last question matters.

You are not simply trying to discover the advertised price.

You are trying to understand what could change that price.

Compare the entire offer, not just the hourly rate printed in the largest font.

4. Give the Mover Enough Information to Provide a Realistic Estimate

“It should cost around $800” is not a very useful estimate if nobody asked where your piano is located.

The more the moving company understands before arriving, the more meaningful its estimate can be.

Tell them about:

• the starting address;
• the destination;
• the distance;
• the number of floors;
• elevators or stairs;
• the distance between the truck and entrance;
• the approximate number of boxes and pieces of furniture;
• appliances;
• particularly heavy items;
• furniture requiring disassembly;
• difficult access;
• pianos;
• safes;
• unusually heavy tables;
• furniture that may not fit through a staircase or doorway.

For a long-distance move, getting the details in writing becomes particularly important.

And if you are unsure whether something matters, mention it.

A surprise disclosed three weeks before moving day is something you can plan for. The same surprise discovered when the truck arrives can become an expense.

5. Deal With Parking Before the Moving Truck Arrives

Parking seems like a minor detail.

Until 8 a.m. on moving day.

The truck arrives.

Every nearby space is occupied.

Now it has to park farther away.

Every box travels farther.

Every piece of furniture travels farther.

And the clock keeps running.

In Montréal, requirements can vary depending on the borough and how the truck will occupy the street. The City of Montréal provides information about parking a moving truck, including procedures that may apply when reserving space.

If you are moving elsewhere in Greater Montreal or the South Shore, check directly with the municipality involved.

Most importantly:

Check both addresses.

The truck needs reasonable access for loading.

It also needs reasonable access for unloading.

If you are moving into or out of a condo, check:

• permitted moving hours;
• elevator reservations;
• protection required in common areas;
• syndicate or building rules;
• applicable deposits or fees.

Perfect organization at your old property does not help much if the truck reaches the new building and nobody is allowed to use the elevator.

6. Pack for the House You Are Moving Into, Not Just the One You Are Leaving

Here is an excellent way to make unpacking miserable:

Put two plates, one shoe, your insurance documents, three books and your phone charger in the same box.

You save five minutes today.

You lose forty tomorrow.

Pack according to destination.

Label every box:

ROOM | CONTENTS | PRIORITY

For example:

KITCHEN | Plates and glasses | FRAGILE

or:

PRIMARY BEDROOM | Bedding | OPEN FIRST

If the new property has several floors, you can even add:

MAIN FLOOR

UPSTAIRS

BASEMENT

That helps movers put boxes in the right place immediately.

Use smaller boxes for heavy items such as books.

Save larger boxes for lighter belongings such as blankets, cushions and clothing.

And do not overload them.

A smaller box that reaches the destination intact is much more useful than an enormous box whose bottom decides to retire halfway up the staircase.

Pack with unpacking in mind.

7. Prepare One Box That Never Goes on the Moving Truck

There is one box more important than all the others.

Your first-24-hours box.

Keep it with you.

It might contain:

• medication;
• important documents;
• chargers;
• toilet paper;
• soap;
• towels;
• clothes for the next day;
• cleaning products;
• basic utensils;
• bottled water;
• snacks;
• coffee;
• pet food and supplies;
• basic tools.

Also keep important personal belongings with you, such as:

• keys;
• wallet;
• laptop;
• jewelry;
• documents related to your real estate transaction;
• anything you absolutely do not want buried somewhere in the truck.

Think about your first evening.

You are tired.

The house is full of boxes.

You just want to take a shower, charge your phone and sleep.

Everything you need to get through that first evening should be accessible without opening twenty boxes.

8. Change Your Address Before Your Brain Is Occupied by 47 Identical Boxes

Moving does not end when the sofa reaches the living room.

Your address exists in many places.

The Quebec government’s Service québécois de changement d'adresse allows residents to notify several participating Quebec government departments and organizations through one service.

You should also consider updating your address with:

• your bank;
• credit card companies;
• insurers;
• employer;
• Internet provider;
• mobile phone provider;
• subscriptions;
• healthcare professionals when relevant;
• schools or childcare services;
• companies that regularly send you mail.

Make a list.

Check off each organization as you update it.

Your memory already has enough work to do with all those identical boxes.

9. Prepare Appliances and Large Furniture Properly

Appliances sometimes require more preparation than homeowners expect.

Before moving day:

• empty and clean the refrigerator;
• plan to defrost the freezer when necessary;
• drain appliances containing water;
• disconnect appliances according to the applicable manufacturer instructions;
• secure moving components when required;
• measure doors and passageways;
• determine which furniture needs to be disassembled;
• identify particularly heavy objects.

For a dishwasher, washer, dryer or appliance requiring a specialized connection, follow the manufacturer's instructions or use the appropriate professional.

Take photos of furniture and appliances before they are moved.

Do not take only one general picture.

Photograph the sides and surfaces most likely to be damaged as well.

If something happens during transportation, you have a much clearer reference showing its condition beforehand.

10. On Moving Day, Your Goal Is to Eliminate Decisions

Moving morning is no longer the time to decide what stays and what goes.

Those decisions should already be finished.

Your job now is to make the move as easy as possible.

Before the movers arrive:

• clear hallways and entrances;
• protect floors where necessary;
• keep pets somewhere secure;
• make sure boxes are closed;
• disassemble anything that was supposed to be taken apart;
• make sure the truck has access;
• keep your essentials with you.

If possible, have one person at the property you are leaving and another at the destination.

At the new property, quickly tell the movers where furniture and boxes belong.

Having a dresser placed on the correct floor immediately is much more pleasant than realizing the next morning that it needs to go up two flights of stairs.

The more decisions you make before moving day, the fewer decisions you have to make when you are tired, rushed and surrounded by boxes.

How Far in Advance Should You Book Movers in Quebec?

There is no universal deadline that works for every move.

But the more popular your moving date is, the less you should wait.

In Quebec, the period around July 1 is particularly associated with residential moves.

If you are moving during a high-demand period, start your search early.

The same applies if you have:

• a large house;
• a piano;
• unusually heavy belongings;
• a long-distance move;
• complicated access;
• very little flexibility with your date.

The ideal time to start searching for movers is generally not when you suddenly realize your move is next Saturday.

How Much Does It Cost to Move in Quebec?

This is one of the first questions people ask.

Giving one universal price would be misleading.

Moving costs can depend on:

• time of year;
• distance;
• number of movers;
• total hours;
• quantity of belongings;
• stairs;
• elevators;
• heavy objects;
• disassembly;
• packing;
• parking;
• distance between the truck and property.

So the best comparison is not simply:

“Who has the lowest hourly rate?”

Ask instead:

“What will my total move probably cost, and what could make that amount increase?”

That is a much more useful comparison.

A lower hourly rate can still result in a higher final bill when additional fees and extra hours accumulate.

Should You Pay a Deposit to a Moving Company?

This is a question more people should ask.

Before paying a significant deposit, understand exactly what you are agreeing to, the cancellation conditions and what happens to your money if the move cannot proceed as planned.

Quebec’s Office de la protection du consommateur provides consumer advice about hiring professional movers, including precautions to take before the move.

Understand the agreement before you pay.

What Should You Do If Unexpected Moving Charges Appear?

Do not automatically assume you have to accept any amount presented to you.

Go back to the agreement.

What was originally included?

What charges were explained?

What changed?

What does the written estimate or contract say?

This is exactly why a sufficiently detailed agreement matters from the beginning.

Verbal conversations can be remembered differently. A clear written agreement leaves much less room for improvisation.

What Should You Check Before Leaving Your Old Home for the Last Time?

Before closing the door, do one complete walkthrough.

Do not simply walk through the rooms.

Open things.

Every closet.

Every cabinet.

Every drawer.

Check:

• the garage;
• the shed;
• the basement;
• storage areas;
• the refrigerator;
• the freezer;
• the dishwasher;
• the medicine cabinet;
• the balcony;
• the yard;
• storage lockers;
• condo storage spaces.

Then take a few photos showing the general condition of the property.

If you are the seller, make sure anything that was supposed to remain with the property under your transaction is still there.

And anything that was supposed to leave has actually left.

That final walkthrough takes a few minutes.

Driving 75 kilometres to retrieve something you forgot takes considerably longer.

Moving After Selling a House: Do Not Choose Your Moving Date Too Quickly

This may be the most important part of this checklist for someone moving because of a real estate transaction.

There can be several dates to understand.

The notary appointment.

Possession.

Occupancy.

Key delivery.

Your own purchase, if you are buying another property.

Do not assume these moments are automatically interchangeable.

Do not book your moving truck based on an assumption.

Make sure you understand the dates established in your transaction before making commitments with:

• your moving company;
• Internet provider;
• utilities;
• cleaning company;
• friends or relatives helping you move.

This becomes even more important when you are selling one property and buying another.

Two transactions.

Two sets of dates.

One moving truck.

Your furniture.

Your keys.

And ideally, no period when your sofa has nowhere to live.

So the better question is not simply:

“What day do I want to move?”

It is:

“When can I actually leave one property and enter the other?”

Clarify that before booking.

Your First Night Deserves a Plan Too

People spend a lot of time planning how to leave.

They spend much less time planning how to arrive.

After several hours of moving, however, you probably will not want to unpack the entire house.

You will want the house to function.

Before opening dozens of boxes, make sure you can access:

• a bed or bedding;
• towels;
• toilet paper;
• soap;
• water;
• basic food;
• medications;
• chargers;
• essentials for children;
• pet supplies;
• clothes for the next day;
• coffee for the morning.

The decorative picture frames can wait.

Your first night does not need to be organized. It just needs to work.

A Successful Move Starts Long Before the Truck Arrives

The perfect move probably does not exist.

There may be a box in the wrong room.

A piece of furniture that is heavier than expected.

A charger that disappears for twenty minutes.

But many stressful and expensive problems can be avoided.

Before your move, remember:

Plan early.

Declutter before packing.

Compare movers based on the complete offer.

Get the important details in writing.

Check access and parking at both properties.

Take care of your address changes.

Keep your essentials with you.

And if your move is connected to both a sale and a purchase:

Understand your transaction dates before booking the truck.

Moving becomes much easier when the truck is not the beginning of your organization.

It is the final step.

The right decision. At the right time. For the right reasons.

Jonathan Cabana
Residential and Commercial Real Estate Broker
eXp Québec
Greater Montreal | South Shore
(514) 476-0730