Start planning one to three months before moving day. Review your lease, give written notice, book your movers or truck, and reserve the building's elevator and loading window early. Then follow a week-by-week plan for packing, utilities, inspections, and a first-night box. The sections below give you the dates, tasks, and records that protect your deposit.
TL;DR:
- Number each box and log its contents by room, then photograph valuables and electronics with serial numbers before movers take them.
- Reserve elevator and loading access at both buildings, then get a written quote that accounts for stairs, waits, parking, and insurance coverage.
- Compare the unit with your condition report, photograph each room, attend the final inspection, and provide your forwarding address in writing; deadlines vary by province.
- Keep bedding, medications, chargers, documents, and basic cookware in a first night box in your own vehicle, in case movers arrive late.
Table of Contents
- 1. Your apartment move checklist at a glance
- 2. Room-by-room tasks to work through
- 3. Pack smart and build a first-night box
- 4. Coordinate with your building and verify your movers
- 5. Protect your deposit with a thorough move-out inspection
- 6. Budget for moving costs and setup costs
- 7. Settling in: what to do after you move
- 8. Do you need a permit or building approval in Abbotsford?
- 9. Where most renters go wrong
- 10. Let us handle the heavy lifting
- FAQ
- Sources
1. Your apartment move checklist at a glance
A good plan starts early. CMHC's moving out guidance describes a timeline that begins one to three months before you leave, though the exact notice period depends on your province or territory. Use this scan-friendly outline to see which block of work belongs where.
- One to three months out: Review your lease, give written notice, book movers or a truck, and start decluttering.
- Four to two weeks out: Order packing supplies, confirm utility transfers, measure furniture and doorways, and reserve elevators at both buildings.
- One week out: Pack nonessentials, assemble the first-night box, finalize your inventory, and confirm the mover's arrival time.
- Moving day: Inspect loading areas, photograph every room, and supervise loading and unloading.
- Right after: Run a condition check in the new unit, give your landlord a forwarding address in writing, start utilities, and update your addresses.
Measuring early sounds fussy, but it saves real trouble. A sofa that clears your old doorway can still jam in a new stairwell. Write the dimensions down and keep them in your phone.
2. Room-by-room tasks to work through
The checklist below runs in the order most renters find easiest: big declutter first, then rooms you use least, then daily-use spaces last.
- Declutter before you pack. Sort everything into keep, donate, sell, and recycle. Take a photo of each donation drop-off and keep the receipt for tax records.
- Closets and storage. Empty these first, since they hold things you rarely touch. Bag seasonal clothing and label by season.
- Living room. Photograph the back of your TV and entertainment setup before unplugging so you can rewire it later. Bag cables and tape the bag to the device. Disassemble shelving and keep hardware in labeled bags.
- Bedrooms. Strip beds, bag linens, and take the frame apart. Tape screws to the headboard or keep them in a bag marked with the room name. Pack clothing in wardrobe boxes or keep it on hangers in large bags.
- Bathroom. Move toiletries last. Seal liquids in zip bags, and pack a small kit of daily-use items to travel with you.
- Kitchen. Use up pantry food before the move. Defrost the fridge and freezer before the move, and leave doors propped open so water and odor do not build up. Wrap knives and glassware individually.
- Create your inventory. Number every box and log its contents on a spreadsheet or notes app. Photograph valuables and electronics, including serial numbers.
- Do a final sweep. Check closets, cabinets, the balcony, and storage lockers. Open every drawer once more.
A numbered inventory is the single habit that pays off most. The Office of Consumer Affairs recommends keeping a room-by-room inventory and numbering boxes so you can spot missing or damaged items before you sign for delivery. If you want a longer runway, our house moving checklist lays out a detailed plan that works just as well for apartments.
3. Pack smart and build a first-night box
Pack the way you will unpack: by room, with the heaviest items in the smallest boxes. Label each box on the side, not the top, with the room, contents, and box number.
For fragile items, wrap each piece separately, stand plates on their edges, and fill gaps with paper so nothing shifts. Keep screws, brackets, and small hardware in labeled bags taped to the furniture they belong to.
Supplies to order ahead of time:
- Boxes in small, medium, and large sizes
- Packing tape and a tape gun
- Permanent markers and labels
- Mattress covers
- Bubble wrap and packing paper
- Furniture blankets or moving pads, if your mover does not supply them
Your first-night box should hold:
- Bedding and a pillow for each person
- A towel and basic toiletries
- Phone chargers and a power strip
- A kettle or a pot, a pan, plates, cups, and utensils
- Keys, important documents, and medications
- A small toolkit with a screwdriver, a utility knife, and a flashlight
- Paper towels, trash bags, and all-purpose cleaner
Pro Tip: Keep the first-night box in your own vehicle, not on the truck, so the essentials are with you even if the movers arrive late.
4. Coordinate with your building and verify your movers
Apartment moves fail at the building level more often than at the packing level. CMHC's moving day guidance points to elevator access, loading zones, and utility activation as the items to confirm before the truck arrives. Do this homework weeks ahead.
- Reserve the elevator and loading zone at both the old and new building. Ask your property manager about booking windows, deposits, and any rules about pads on walls.
- Confirm parking. A truck that cannot get close adds labor time and cost.
- Get a written quote. Check whether you are dealing with the mover itself or a broker, and compare what each quote includes: labor, stairs, elevator delays, packing, and disassembly.
- Verify insurance. Ask for the mover's insurance certificate, find out whether replacement-value protection is offered, and read the exclusions before you pay a deposit, as the Office of Consumer Affairs advises.
- Plan for stairs and waits. Long carries and shared-elevator lineups can add time, so tell your mover about them up front.
Our guide on how to choose movers explains how to compare coverage rather than headline price, and our piece on when to book movers covers lead times and building rules.
5. Protect your deposit with a thorough move-out inspection
The strongest evidence is the kind you create before you hand back the keys. Compare the unit with your original move-in condition report, then photograph or video every room, including existing marks and repairs. CMHC's inspections guidance explains why: signed condition documentation creates a baseline if normal wear is later disputed.
- Give your forwarding address to your landlord in writing and keep a copy.
- Attend the final inspection and ask for a signed copy of the report.
- Clean the oven, fridge, bathroom, floors, and inside cabinets.
- Patch small nail holes and replace burnt-out bulbs where your lease expects it.
- Return every key, fob, and parking pass, and photograph the handover.
British Columbia's tenancy guidance tells tenants to compare the unit with the original inspection report, photograph every room, record the forwarding address in writing, and take part in the final inspection. Deposit-return timing follows provincial rules, so check the page for your province before you leave.
6. Budget for moving costs and setup costs
Cash-flow pressure usually comes from setup costs that arrive before your old deposit comes back. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada's worksheet lists the categories worth tracking, with columns for estimated and actual spending.
- First and last month's rent, where applicable, and the security deposit
- Utility deposits or account fees, plus internet setup
- Movers or truck rental
- Boxes, tape, and other supplies
- Mail forwarding
- Furniture, kitchen basics, linens, curtains, and cleaning products
Keep moving costs and setup costs in separate columns so you can see what the move itself costs versus what the new place needs. Stagger big purchases after the move, get quotes in writing, and use storage between homes only when your dates truly do not line up. Our storage in transit guide walks through that decision.
7. Settling in: what to do after you move
Work through these in order of urgency, since some lapses can interrupt services.
- Notify government, bank, employer, insurer, healthcare providers, and subscriptions. The federal change of address page shows which organizations to update, though exact deadlines depend on where you live.
- Set up mail forwarding so nothing is missed while records catch up.
- Check that power, water, and internet are active, and look over the unit and your belongings for damage from the move.
- Follow up on confirmations. Make sure billing addresses are updated and register new appliance warranties.
British Columbia residents should check the applicable deadlines for address changes. Our post on BC address changes offers more information.
8. Do you need a permit or building approval in Abbotsford?
Most apartment moves in the Abbotsford and Fraser Valley area need no city permit, because you are moving belongings, not building anything. The approvals that matter most come from your building, not from city hall.
Start with your property manager or strata council. Many buildings require you to book the elevator, pay a refundable move-in or move-out deposit, and move during set hours. Strata buildings often have written bylaws on this, so ask for a copy. Some also require proof of insurance from your mover.
If your truck will block a lane or you cannot use a private loading zone, contact your municipality, whether that is Abbotsford, Mission, Langley, or Maple Ridge, and ask whether temporary parking or street-use rules apply. We cannot list every local requirement, since rules vary by street and change over time, so confirm directly with your building and city before moving day.
Put every confirmation in writing and keep it with your moving documents. If you hire us, tell us what your building requires when you book, and we will plan the move around those windows.
9. Where most renters go wrong
In my view, the apartment move rarely fails because of tape or boxes. It fails at the elevator booking, at the insurance question nobody asked, and at the empty-handed inspection where no photos exist to back up the tenant. Reserve building access first and verify your mover's coverage second. Record every room on video before you return the keys. If time is tight, book your movers and pack the first-night box, and the rest will fall into place.
— Jack W.
10. Let us handle the heavy lifting
2 Friends Trucking & Moving can take the building-level logistics off your plate. We run apartment and condo moves with careful handling and clear communication.
- Apartment and condo moving, plus local and long-distance moves
- Packing, loading, and unloading
- Furniture moving and storage moving
A mover helps most when your elevator window is tight, you have heavy pieces, or your timeline is short. Tell us your dates and building rules, and we will plan around them. Request a quote through our local moving page.
FAQ
How early should I give notice before moving out?
Give written notice as early as your lease and provincial rules require, which commonly falls one to three months before you move. The exact period depends on your province or territory, so check your lease and the CMHC moving out page before sending notice.
How do I protect my security deposit?
Compare the unit with your move-in condition report, photograph every room, and give your forwarding address in writing. Attend the final inspection and keep a signed copy of the report.
What belongs in a first-night box?
Pack bedding, towels, toiletries, chargers, basic cookware, keys, documents, medications, and a small toolkit. Keep the box with you rather than on the truck.
When should I book movers for an apartment?
Book as soon as you know your move date, since elevator windows and weekend slots fill up first. Our guide on when to book movers covers typical lead times and building rules.