Moving guide
Your Metro Vancouver moving preparation guide
A little preparation makes moving day faster, calmer and cheaper. Here's a practical timeline — plus tips for fragile items and what movers can't transport.
Countdown to moving day
A simple week-by-week plan
Follow this timeline and you'll arrive at moving day organized, not overwhelmed.
Two weeks before
- Confirm your moving date and book your movers
- Reserve the elevator and loading bay with your building or strata
- Start using up food, cleaning supplies and other consumables
- Order or gather boxes, tape and packing materials
- Create a simple room-by-room labelling plan
The week before
- Pack room by room, labelling each box by its destination room
- Empty and secure dresser drawers and filing cabinets
- Set aside a clearly marked box of first-night essentials
- Confirm parking access at both the pickup and destination
- Defrost the fridge and freezer if they're coming with you
The day before
- Finish packing everything except your essentials box
- Disconnect and prepare appliances (washer, dryer, fridge)
- Charge your phone and keep chargers handy
- Confirm the crew's arrival window and building details
- Set aside valuables and documents to carry with you personally
Moving day
- Be ready for the crew at the start of your booked window
- Do a walkthrough to point out fragile or priority items
- Keep pathways, elevators and driveways clear for loading
- Keep valuables, medication and documents with you
- Do a final check of every room, closet and cupboard before leaving
Protecting fragile items
- Wrap dishes individually and stack plates on their edge, not flat
- Fill empty space in boxes so nothing shifts in transit
- Keep boxes of books small — they get heavy fast
- Photograph electronics before unplugging so you can reconnect easily
- Label fragile boxes clearly on the top and sides
Short on time? Our packing and unpacking service handles the fragile items for you.
What movers can't transport
For everyone's safety, some items can't go on the truck. Plan to transport these yourself or dispose of them properly before your move:
- Propane tanks and gas cylinders
- Gasoline, oil and other fuels
- Paint, solvents and aerosols
- Fireworks and ammunition
- Corrosive or flammable chemicals
Keep irreplaceable valuables — cash, jewellery, passports and key documents — with you personally on moving day.
Metro Vancouver tip
Reserve your elevator early
If you're moving in or out of a condo or apartment, most buildings require you to book the service elevator — and sometimes a loading bay — through your strata or building manager. Reserve it as early as you can, confirm the exact time window, and share it with us. It keeps the move efficient and avoids paying the crew to wait for elevator access.
Get your moving quoteReady when you are
Ready to plan your move?
You handle the prep — we'll handle the heavy lifting. Request a free quote and lock in your date.