Master moving with our helpful packing and moving tips

Master Moving With Our Helpful Packing and Moving Tips

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Relocating to a new home can be a very stressful experience, but it doesn’t have to be with the proper preparation and packing methods. Whether you’re moving across Ottawa or the country, advance planning and organization are key to making your move smooth and less chaotic.

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Here at Parkview, we’ve been helping our clients move for over a decade. If you’d like to learn more about our award-winning moving services in Ottawa, get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.

Or call 613.425.0020 to book your free in-home estimate.

Moving Tips From Our Movers in Ottawa

Planning is the most essential part of any move. Be sure to start at least six weeks before your moving date to allow enough time for packing, cleaning, scheduling movers and more.

Here are some general tips for moving to get you started:

Create a Move Timeline

Map out major tasks like booking movers, emptying out closets, packing, cleaning, changing addresses and unpacking with specific dates so you stay on track.

Declutter

Go through your belongings and get rid of anything you no longer need or want by donating or discarding items. Less stuff means less to pack and transport.

Packing Tips for a Moving Survival Kit

Include snacks, water, essential toiletries, medications, phone chargers and anything else you may need during the move. Keep this safe and separate from your moving boxes!

Change Important Account Info

Make sure to update your address with the post office, banks, subscriptions, memberships, school, employer and other important contacts several weeks before moving day.

Pack a Moving Day Bag

In addition to the survival kit, you should pack a change of clothes, blankets, and any valuables you want to keep with you in your vehicle on moving day.

Protect Important Documents

Keep important papers like passports, birth certificates, tax returns, and insurance documents together in a secure, fireproof folder that is safe during the move.

Plan Your Driving Route

Map out your drive from your current home to your new Ottawa home ahead of time, noting stops for meals, gas or a break.

Book Professional Ottawa Movers

Get a quote and book professional Ottawa movers at least six weeks in advance to secure your moving date. Consider buying packaging materials and booking additional labour for packing.

Or call 613.425.0020 to book your free in-home estimate.

Kitchen Packing Tips

The kitchen is one of the most used rooms, so taking special care with packing dishes and small appliances will save you hassle later.

Here are some expert kitchen packing tips:

Pack plates, bowls and glasses individually in boxes lined with newspapers or bubble wrap for protection. Consider packing by type – all plates in one box, all glasses in another, etc. Fragile items like stemware or decorative glassware should be wrapped in clothes or towels and packed away from heavy items.
Drain liquids from cans, jars and bottles before packing and seal the lids securely to prevent spills. Organize pantry goods by category and place each type together in sealed boxes or containers to keep items separate.
Small appliances like toasters, blenders and coffee makers should be cleaned and packed in their original boxes, if possible, for safe transportation.
Wrap pots, pans and lids individually in paper or bubble wrap and place them together in one box.
Label each box clearly to ensure you know where each item is located after your move. For example – Kitchen Dishes, Kitchen Pots and Pans, etc.

Bedroom Packing Tips

Bedrooms accumulate lots of personal belongings, so streamlining what you take to your new Ottawa home (or elsewhere in Canada) is important.

Here are some tips for packing and moving items from bedrooms:

Remove items from dressers, nightstands, shelves, and closets before moving day. Pack clothes by category – shirts together, pants together etc. Pack the clothes you’ll need right away at the top of the boxes, so they are easy to access. Place shoes together in one large box lined with paper to protect them.
Pack bedroom linens separately from clothes so they don’t get crushed. Before boxing, wrap framed wall art, mirrors and fragile items separately with padding material like bubble wrap or towels.
Valuables like jewelry or important documents can travel in your moving day bag for peace of mind.

Bathroom Packing Tips

Bathroom items are small but plentiful, so you’ll want to organize supplies carefully.

Bundle supplies like towels, washcloths, and linens together and roll tightly. Group items like toiletries into one box lined with bags or paper and put medicine cabinet items in another. Shampoo bottles and liquid soaps can be placed inside zip-lock bags for added security before packing.
Fragile items like glass bottles and vases should be individually wrapped in towels or clothes and layered in boxes.
Keep frequently needed personal care items in your day-of-move bag for easy access.

Living and Family Room Tips

Living and family rooms involve larger furniture, which takes more preparation.

Disassemble furniture as needed and save any hardware in labelled bags for easy reassembly. Roll up rugs and secure them with tape or tie for transport. Consider cleaning before moving them to Ottawa.
Wrap mirror glass, lamp bases and fragile decorative items securely before packing. If possible, protect TVs, electronics and breakables with their original packaging or blankets and towels. Pack remote controls, chargers and cords together neatly in one accessible box.
Box up books by category, then wrap shelves if bookcases are being dismantled. Pack seasonal decorations or knick-knacks together to save storage space at the destination.

General Items From Outside

For your yard items, outdoor belongings and more:

Drain gas and fluids from tools before moving and secure appropriately for the drive. Bundle up garden hoses, secure outdoor furniture and BBQs for transport. Pack covers and manuals for easy hardware reassembly.
Pack patio umbrellas, outdoor accents and décor together in secure boxes for transport. Empty, clean and roll up swing sets and sandbox toys for compact transport.
Check municipal bylaws around items like compost bins if relocating within the city limits of Ottawa.

Streamline Your Move to and From Ottawa

Implementing a thorough decluttering process before packing for your move will make the process faster and easier. Going room-by-room, ask yourself:

Is this item broken or beyond repair? If it is, then consider tossing it.
Will I have space for this item in my new Ottawa home? If not, consider alternatives.
Is this important to keep? Sentimental items should still come.
Can I replace this item cheaply if needed later? If you can, then feel free to part with it.
Letting go of unnecessary belongings beforehand will save you money on packing and moving as well as storage costs.

Create a Master Inventory

It’s always a good idea to make a master inventory. Here are some practical ways to create a list for moving boxes:

Use a spreadsheet to list boxes numerically down the left column. Be sure to note the rooms, their contents, the colour code, and any remarks across each row. Keep some physical copies, too!
Mark any fragile or heavy boxes clearly for movers. Photograph or scan box labels and contents for digital records. Note special instructions like Fragile, etc.
Back up important documents and inventory lists in multiple formats and locations. As you pack, record the box details right away before sealing. List valuable and sentimental items separately for additional tracking. Designate box storage locations at your new home on the master (garage, upstairs, etc.).
A well-organized inventory makes boxes traceable if separated and speeds up unpacking at your destination. Thorough record-keeping eases an otherwise hectic process!

Change of Address Checklist

Create an Ottawa moving checklist like this to ensure notifications are submitted ahead of your Ottawa moving date:

Post office mail forwarding
Driver’s license, voter registration, car registration
Banks, loans, credit cards
Insurance providers (home, auto, life etc.)
Doctors, dentist, veterinarian, preferred pharmacy

The more time you allot between your intended move date and submitting changes, the smoother your transition will be. You’ll avoid missing bills or mail after moving to Ottawa.

Decluttering and Organized Packing Made Easy

With proper preparation using the tips above, your move to Ottawa or elsewhere in the country doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. Taking the time to declutter, sort and pack by room in advance allows you to break the process into manageable tasks. It also helps create an efficient and organized packing system for Ottawa movers.

Be sure to pack a moving day bag with essentials ready at hand. With diligent planning in advance, your moving day will run smoothly so you can settle comfortably into your new Ottawa home.

Schedule a Free Packing and Moving Quote

We hope you’ve found our packing and moving tips helpful. If you’d like a free, no-obligation quote for any of our packing, moving and storage services, please get in touch.

Or call 613.425.0020 to book your free in-home estimate.