The 8-Week Moving Checklist Countdown

The secret to a calm move is not packing faster — it is starting earlier and working in the right order. This eight-week countdown is built around how Ottawa moves actually unfold: when to book, what to pack first, and which boring admin tasks hurt if you leave them late. Printing it out and sticking it on the fridge is allowed.

8–7 weeks out: book and purge

This is the booking window. Call movers now — good crews fill month-end and summer dates fast — and get at least one written quote so you can compare like with like. Then start purging: closets, garage, the drawer of mystery cables. Everything you don't move is weight you don't pay for and boxes you don't pack. If you are on a tighter timeline, our last-minute move playbook compresses this whole checklist into survival mode.

6–5 weeks out: gather supplies and start packing

Order your packing supplies: small, medium, and large boxes, packing paper, quality tape, markers, and wardrobe boxes for clothes. Then start with the stuff you won't touch for a month — books, decor, off-season gear, the guest room. Label every box with the room AND a quick contents note; future-you will be grateful.

4–3 weeks out: the admin marathon

Book the elevator if you are in a condo — this one has a real deadline, because buildings fill their slots. Then work the address list: driver's licence, health card, banks, insurance, subscriptions, CRA if you want to be diligent. Arrange utility cutover so power and internet overlap by a day or two. And confirm your mover booking in writing with the arrival window.

2 weeks out: pack the kitchen and fragiles

This is when packing gets real. The kitchen is the slowest room to pack, so start it now — our kitchen packing guide has the full method. Wrap fragile items properly, photograph electronics setups before unplugging them, and start using up the freezer.

Moving week: the essentials box and final sweep

Pack one clearly-labelled essentials box per person: toiletries, chargers, meds, a change of clothes, bedding, snacks, and tools (screwdriver, box cutter, tape). Keep it OUT of the moving truck's depths — it rides where you can reach it. Clean as you go, defrost the freezer 24 hours ahead, and bag up the last of the garbage.

Moving morning

Be ready before the crew arrives: everything packed, paths clear, pets and kids' plans handled. Do a walkthrough with the crew lead — point out the fragile boxes and anything staying behind. Then check every room, closet, and cabinet before the truck leaves. Wondering what the day itself looks like? Our hour-by-hour moving day guide walks you through it.

Ottawa-specific items people forget

A few local wrinkles belong on every Ottawa checklist. If your move crosses into Gatineau, remember that leases and moving-day customs differ on the Quebec side — the early-July rush over the river tightens bookings for the whole region. Booking parking or dock space matters downtown, where a truck cannot simply wait at the curb. And if your move lands between December and March, add the winter lines to the list: a cleared path, salt by the door, and lamps unpacked early, because your new home will be dark by five. None of these take long — they just punish you if they are forgotten.

Frequently asked questions