We're moving in!

After weeks of hunting, you’ve finally found the home you were looking for. House, condo or apartment – it’s going to be the perfect place for you and your family.

You’ve booked the moving company and you’re ready for the big day. On moving day itself and during the next few days, you’ll be busy unpacking, making improvements and decorating, and looking forward to enjoying your new residence as soon as possible. Here’s our advice to help your move go smoothly and according to plan.

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Before you move
After you arrive
In your own home at last!
Operation clean-up
Decor to reflect your tastes
Well-dressed windows
Smart lighting

Before you move

Once you know your new address and moving date, remember to inform all the institutions you deal with. Your home insurance company will make the necessary adjustments to your policy according to the value of your new residence. Notify your service providers – cable operator, electricity and gas companies, telephone and Internet providers, etc. – so that they can transfer your account to the new address on the specified date. Don’t forget to contact government departments. On their websites, you’ll generally find a section specifically for indicating changes of address and moving dates. Finally, be sure to inform Canada Post of your move so that they redirect mail to your new address.

Did you think to check the number of parking spaces and where they are? Remember that in town you often need a permit to park in the street. Permits can usually be obtained from the local municipal offices. If you get yours a few days before you move in, you’ll be able to park legally as soon as you arrive.

If you haven’t already done so on a previous visit to the new house, it’s a good idea to measure the spaces designed for electrical appliances, especially for the stove and refrigerator. This will avoid the trouble of bringing in appliances that don’t fit, and having to spend valuable time shopping for new ones, or finding yourself forced to make extensive changes to the existing fixtures, while the old appliances clutter up precious space.

Try to obtain a plan of the premises. If this isn’t possible, you can take the measurements of each room yourself and reproduce them to scale on graph paper. Then draw each piece of furniture to the same scale, cut them out and arrange them on the plan. This should help you plan your new decor and determine any work that needs doing and whether there are any new items you need to buy. Plus, once you’ve finished the plan, you can photocopy it and fix it to the door of each room so that the movers – or your friends – know where to place each piece of furniture.

After you arrive

When you arrive at your new home – having remembered to get the keys first, of course – the next important step is to check that the telephone company actually did connect your line. With the telephone in service, you’ll be able to make important calls if you need to. It’s unlikely you’re going to want to prepare any sort of meal either, in which case you’ll be glad of the phone to order in a meal.
Don’t try to do everything on the first day. Limit yourself to the few things that really cannot wait until the next day, such as:
  • Checking that all your belongings came with the move and that nothing was lost or forgotten
  • Reading the electricity meter
  • Changing the locks on all the outside doors
  • Plugging in the fridge and freezer (a couple of hours after you arrive)
  • Changing the batteries in the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors — you can never be sure when the previous occupants last replaced them
  • Unpacking bedding and towels, kitchen utensils and food.
To meet your immediate needs, keep an "emergency kit" handy, consisting of:
  • Light bulbs to replace missing or broken ones
  • Cleaning products, cloths, brushes, a mop and bucket, etc.
  • A small toolbox for the most common jobs – hammer, screwdriver, tape measure, drill, small nails, hooks and screws, etc.
  • Bags for collecting the day’s rubbish and recyclable materials, such as packing paper and empty boxes.

Finally, if the children are with you, you’ll find it very helpful to plan some activities for them and find a safe corner of the house where they can amuse themselves quietly.

In your own home at last!

During the days following your arrival, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with your new neighbourhood. Walk or drive around to locate all the services you might need, such as the school, church, library, police station, pharmacy, hospital, and dentist. Don’t wait for an emergency before finding a new doctor or dentist. Ask neighbours or colleagues for recommendations.

Draw up a list of important telephone numbers, including emergency numbers. Display the list in an obvious place in the house for everyone to consult if needed.

Operation clean-up

Most people move into accommodation that has already been lived in. If this is your case, you will most likely have to see to some small repairs and improvements before being able to decorate the rooms your own way.

The walls, ceilings, windows, door handles and stair rails probably all need a good clean before you can really feel at home. This may seem like a colossal task, but don’t let it overwhelm you – make life easier by tackling one room at a time, starting with the room you use most. That way, moving in won’t become a nightmare.
The kitchen
It’s probably the kitchen where you and your family spend the most time. So, start your cleaning here, and it won’t be long before you have a pleasant place where you can enjoy preparing and eating meals.

Use a mixture of water and bleach or coarse salt to get rid of any greasy marks on walls or shelves. You can use the same solution for cleaning the cabinets, inside and out. The range hood filter can be cleaned either in the dishwasher or by soaking it for an hour or two in boiling water and dishwasher detergent. Clean the refrigerator condenser coils, too.
The bathroom
Of all the rooms in the house, the bathroom deserves special attention, especially when you consider that it is used by all the family every morning and evening. Clean any splash marks on the ceiling using warm soapy water and a little bleach – allow about one cup per litre.
Get the floor sparkling clean by diluting some soap in a bucket of hot water, and liberally sponging it over the surface, leaving it to soak for 15 minutes. Give the area a good scrub with a scrubbing brush. Rinse and wipe dry.

Do you notice any mould on the grouting between the ceramic tiles? To get rid of it, there’s no better way than by scrubbing the grout using an old toothbrush and a paste made from 500 ml baking soda and 125 ml warm water. You’ll need a certain amount of patience, but you should soon be able to get the shower or bath looking as good as new.

Clean the bathroom fittings with a product specifically designed for the purpose. Make sure that everything is working properly, that faucets aren’t leaking and that the ceiling fan is in good condition – take the opportunity to clean out all the accumulated dust. It’s also a good idea –and more hygienic – to replace the toilet seat and shower curtain. It’ll make it feel more like your own bathroom and less like living in someone else’s place.

When it comes to hooking up the washer, take the precaution of turning off the power supply first. Make sure you check where the hot and cold water taps are. Ensure that the dryer outlet is clean and that the duct is free of lint. Have a mop and bucket on hand to wipe up any water spillage quickly.
Living room, bedrooms and corridors
Though they are less prone to dirt and mould buildup, the living room, bedrooms and corridors, as well as wardrobes and shelves, all deserve a good clean nonetheless, even if it’s simply so that they become yours and you feel completely at home. Soapy water will suffice for cleaning all the surfaces – walls, ceilings and floors. If you have a carpet, ideally you should have it cleaned before your arrival or during the first few days after you move in.

Decor to reflect your tastes

As you are cleaning each of your rooms, you’ll have time to look at them in detail and to note any jobs that need doing or any minor repairs. Take the time to prepare the area properly before embarking on any decoration work. Generally, it is recommended to work from the bottom up, i.e. starting with the floors and continuing up to the ceiling.

The main rule to follow when planning a new decor is to aim for harmony in colours and forms. Here’s a tip: take an object that you really love, such as a piece of fabric, a cushion or a picture, and design your decor around those colours.

You can also create harmonious colour combinations using the colour families produced by most paint manufacturers. These pre-selected palettes are designed with perfectly blending colours.
Floors
Do you plan to keep the existing flooring in each room or change it? There is a vast choice available in wood laminate, carpet, new tile, stone or hardwood flooring. Look at your different needs, taking into account how the room will be used, and the care and maintenance the different materials will require. For example, "floating" laminate flooring or ceramic tiles are good options for the kitchen, because they are simple to install and easy to clean, as well as looking very stylish. If it’s sound insulation you’re looking for, carpeting or area rugs may be a wise choice in other rooms.
Walls
Walls require good preparation. After cleaning them, remove nails, fill holes and cracks, scrape away any peeling paint, and sand uneven surfaces. Well-prepared walls will make it easier for you to plan their final decoration and finishing. Wallpaper, mouldings, coving, wainscoting or paneling: take a look around your renovation centre to see the wide array of options and combinations available.
If you are going to repaint, you will need to apply a coat of primer to improve the adherence of the new topcoat and help cover the old colour. Choose the paint finish according to the function of the room. In the kitchen and bathroom, where humidity levels are higher, you should use pearl or semi-gloss finishes, which are much easier to clean. You might also decide to take the opportunity to refresh or replace the cabinet doors and counters while you are redecorating these rooms.

In the living room and on ceilings you can use flat finishes, with the possible exception of the trim, which will gain from a gloss finish.

Well-dressed windows

Give priority to the bathroom and bedroom windows, as these rooms require more privacy. Simple blinds will suffice if you can’t put up colour-coordinated fittings right away.

Before dressing your windows, make sure they are in good condition. Wooden frames may be in need of attention (strip, sand and varnish them if needed). You should also ensure that the windows are airtight. If repairs are needed to stop drafts, do them right away as this will have a direct impact on energy bills.

There’s a multitude of possibilities for window treatments: horizontal or pleated blinds, slatted or wood shutters, cotton drapes, sheers, valences… Each option has its advantages and each creates a different atmosphere. Don’t be afraid to blend different styles and to ask for expert advice if needed.

Smart lighting

Don’t overlook the lighting. There are various lighting options to enhance the beauty and elegance of your decor. There are no hard-and-fast rules about lighting, just one essential consideration: your personal tastes. Choose the type of lighting depending on the atmosphere you want to create, the function of the room, as well as the colour of the walls.

Visit your home renovation store for inspiration. Look at the display stands and colour palettes in the paint department, pick up some creative ideas and get helpful advice from our decoration specialists.
Moving house involves a myriad of tasks and means juggling several things at the same time. The key to a successful move lies, therefore, in good planning. Turning a new home into a comfortable, cozy retreat is not as complicated as you might think; it’s simply a question of analyzing your needs and giving voice to your tastes and inspiration. Happy moving!
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