Moving Checklist for Vancouver Residents

4–6 Weeks Before

• Book your moving company — weekends and month-end dates fill 2–3 weeks out in Vancouver
• Give written notice to your landlord (BC law requires one full rental period of notice for most tenancies)
• Contact your new landlord to confirm move-in access, elevator booking procedures, and parking arrangements
• Start collecting boxes — liquor stores, grocery stores, and Buy Nothing groups are free sources
• Inventory high-value items and photograph electronics and furniture for insurance purposes
• Research storage options if you have an overlap gap between move-out and move-in dates

2–3 Weeks Before

• Begin packing non-essentials: books, off-season clothing, decorations, spare linens
• Disassemble furniture you can take apart in advance (IKEA pieces, bed frames)
• Arrange mail forwarding through Canada Post (canadapost.ca)
• Notify your bank, employer, and subscription services of your new address
• Transfer or cancel utilities: BC Hydro, FortisBC, Telus/Shaw internet, strata fees if applicable
• Book elevator access at your new building if required — strata buildings often have a booking window and a security deposit

Moving Week

• Confirm arrival time and address details with your moving company
• Prepare an essentials bag: chargers, toiletries, a change of clothes, medications, and documents you will need on arrival
• Defrost the fridge and freezer at least 24 hours before the move
• Disassemble remaining furniture and label all boxes by room
• Protect floors in both properties — movers should bring floor runners, but confirm in advance
• Do a final walkthrough of your old place: check all closets, storage lockers, and parking stalls

After the Move (First Week)

• Update your BC driver's licence address with ICBC (icbc.com) — required within 10 days of moving in BC
• Update vehicle registration address with ICBC
• Update your address with the CRA (canada.ca/cra) for tax purposes
• Update BC Services Card address if applicable
• Register your new address with Elections BC if you moved ridings
• Set up internet and utilities at the new address if not already done
• Check your BOSS Moving confirmation email — your receipt includes the booking details for your records

Vancouver-Specific Notes

End-of-month moves (the last week of the month) are by far the busiest for movers in Vancouver. Most BC residential tenancies end on the last day of the month, which concentrates demand into a very short window. If your move date is flexible, moving mid-month typically means better availability, faster booking, and sometimes faster service on the day.

Strata buildings — which cover the majority of Vancouver condos — often have specific move-in windows (common: 8 AM to 8 PM) and require security deposits of $200–$500 that are returned after move-in inspection. Get this process started as early as possible. Some buildings only have one elevator designated for moves, and it books up.