Resources

DONE	6-8 WEEKS BEFORE MOVE					NOTES
	• Get Estimate from mover
	• Schedule mover
	• Determine furniture layout for new home
	• Arrange for school transfer
	• Ask for doctor and dental referrals; arrange for transfer of medical and dental records
	• Fill out change-of-address card with post office
	• Clean out all closets and drawers
DONE	4-6 WEEKS BEFORE MOVE					NOTES
	• Get packing supplies: boxes, packing paper, tape, markers
	• Have garage sale/donate unwanted items
	• Arrange for carpet and drapery cleaning
	• Arrange for house cleaning
	• Arrange for move of pets
	• Arrange for move of plants
	• Arrange for utilities (cancel old; start new):
		– Electricity
		– Gas
		– Water/sewer
		– Telephone/DSL
		– Garbage/recycling
		– Cable/satellite
	• Arrange for transfer of homeowner’s/renter’s insurance
	• Begin packing
	• Make travel arrangements
DONE	2-3 WEEKS BEFORE MOVE					NOTES
	• Set aside critical documents & items you will keep with you
	• Change address:
		– Family and friends
		– Newspaper
		– Magazines
		– Bank Accounts
		– Health, life and auto insurance policies
		– Credit card bills
		– Employer
DONE	1-5 DAYS BEFORE MOVE					NOTES
	• Get items from the cleaners, items at repair shop, items you have loaned to a neighbour
	• Empty ice maker in case of power shutdown
	• Clean refrigerator, stove and oven
	• Gather hazardous materials and arrange to transport
	• Pack a box of personal items that you will need immediately.
	• Have this box loaded last, or carry it with you in your car
	• Drain fuel from power equipment
	• Close out safe deposit box
	• Confirm travel arrangements
	• Confirm arrival time of movers
	• Have payment ready for movers
	• Gather and clean outdoor furniture
	• Return cable box, cable modem, DSL modem if necessary
	• Organize keys
	• Clean house
	• Finish packing
	• Organize and set aside those things that you are taking with you so that they are not loaded in the truck in error.
DONE	MOVING DAY					NOTES
	• Make sure walkways are clear of snow, ice, mud or other hazards
	• Double-check that all cupboards, closets, dishwasher and other appliances are empty
	• Give movers tour and instructions for what is being moved
	• Record utility meter readings (Gas, electricity, water)
DONE	WITHIN 30 DAYS OF MOVE					NOTES
	• Change address:
		– Driver’s license
		– Auto registration
		– Voter registration
	• Re-establish safe deposit box
	• Enjoy new home!

Many organizations will need to know of your change of address. The following is a checklist of who you may need to contact with regard to your move.

Utilities
• Electricity and Water:
Woodstock PUC
16 Graham St. P.O. Box 1598
Woodstock, Ontario
N4S 0A8
Business number: (519) 537-3488
Website: www.woodstockhydro.com email: info@woodstockhydro.com
You will need to report your present and future addresses and the moving date to the PUC. They prefer you make these changes in person between the hours of 8:30 to 4:30 Monday through Friday. You will be required to supply photo-identification.

• Gas:
Union Gas
109 Commissioners Rd.
London, Ontario
N6J 1X7
Business number: 888-774-3111
Website: www.uniongas.com/home/youraccount/movinginfo.asp.
Call the Union Gas office at the number above. They will ask for your present address, the address that you will be moving to, and the date of your move. After entering this information into their system they will make arrangements for their local representative to read your gas meter on the day of your move.

Home Phone Service:
Bell Canada Customer Service Center
P.O. Box 920, Station A
Toronto, Ontario
M5W 1G5
Business number: 310-Bell (310-2355)
Call Bell at the number above anytime between 8 AM and 8 PM from Monday to Friday, or between 8:30 AM and 5:30 PM on Saturday. They will request your phone number, your present address, and the address that you are moving to. There is a minimum charge of $50.00 to move your phone service. If you need phone jacks installed or any other additional services from Bell, they can advise you of the cost. If you are receiving a new phone number, Bell can have a message placed on your old number notifying callers of your new number (Free).
For your convenience Bell has a "Move Notice" form you can fill out online and submit to their office. They will send you an email with confirmation of your order along with any additional charges above their $50.00 minimum. You can find the form at www.bell.ca/support/PrsCSrvGnl_Moving_Centre.page
Bell Wireless: www.bell.ca (Wireless Option, Support) or phone 1-800-667-0123

Roger’s
Home Phone: 1-888-ROGERS1 (1-888-764-3771) Website: Moves Concierge Email: go to website Contact Us section, by email.
Rogers Wireless: www.rwireless.ca

Telus Wireless:
1-800-558-2273 Website: Telus Account Management, www.mytelusmobility.com
5Fido: www.fido.ca or 1-888-481-FIDO (3436)

Fuel:
If furnace oil or propane fuels your residence you will need to cancel or change your delivery address with that company. In most cases the fuel company that delivers your fuel will take a measurement of your tank so that you are not paying for fuel you will not be using.

Medical
• Ministry of Health:
Before your move date you will need to file your change of address with the Ministry of Health so that your health card is up to date. Failure to notify the Ministry may affect your health coverage.
Online change of address using ServiceOntario website: http://www.gov.on.ca/ont/portal/!ut/p/.cmd/cs/.ce/7_0_A/.s/7_0_252/_s.7_0_A/7_0_252/_l/en?docid=STEL02_040172

Ministries Kiosk machines.
Below is a list of the closest locations:

Masonville Place
1680 Richmond St. S.
London, Ont.

White Oaks Mall
1105 Wellington Street
London, Ont.

Westmount Shopping Centre
785 Wonderland Rd. S.
London, Ont.

Cambridge Center
355 Hespler Road
Cambridge, Ont.

Fairview Park
2960 Kingsway Drive
Kitchener, Ont.

Waterloo Town Centre
75 King Street, S.
Waterloo, Ont.

NOTE: In order to use these machines properly you will need to have the health cards of all family members moving

• Doctor & Specialists :
Even on a local move it is best to contact your doctor so that he can update his file. You will also need to change your address with the Ministry of Health so that your health card is accurate.

• Dentist:
Contact your dentist office so that they can update your file. This is very important if you are changing your phone number.

Drivers License and Automobile Registration:
To change your address on your driver’s license and ownership, visit the Ministry of Transportation office closest to you. You will need to bring your license and ownership into one of the offices listed below and they will make the necessary changes. There is no cost for this service.
Online change of address using ServiceOntario website: http://www.gov.on.ca/ont/portal/!ut/p/.cmd/cs/.ce/7_0_A/.s/7_0_252/_s.7_0_A/7_0_252/_l/en?docid=STEL02_040172

For your convenience the Ministry Offices are listed below:
925 Dundas St. #3
Woodstock, Ont.
Phone: 519-537-3662
Business hours: Monday to Friday 9-5:00

37 King Street West
Ingersoll, Ont.
Phone: 485-3210
Business hours: Monday to Friday 9-5:00 (Closed between 12-1:00 for the lunch hour) 107 Concession Street East

Tillsonburg, Ont.
Phone: 842-5739
Business hours: Monday to Friday 8:15-4:30 (closed between 11:30-12:30 for lunch)

34-B Main Street West
Norwich, Ont.
Phone: 863-3430
Business hours: Monday to Friday 9-6:00 and Saturday 9-3:00

Change of Address with Canada Post:
By Phone: 1-866-607-6301
Outside Canada: (416) 979-8822 Canada Post supplies an online service for changing your address. Visit them at www.canadapost.ca (click on English or French option, go to Change my address and follow prompts)

Subscriptions
Below are a few of the magazines that you may presently receive along with contact information to let them know of your new address.
• Magazines:
• Sports Illustrated: 1-888-806-4833 Website: www.sicustomerservice.com
• Reader’s Digest: 1-800-310-6261 or 1-866-236-7789 Website: www.readersdigest.ca/cs.html
• National Geographic: 1-800-647-5463 Website: www.ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm (customer service link)
• Macleans: 1-800-268-9119 or (416) 764-1300 Website: www.macleans.ca (subscriber services, Renew)
• Mens Health: 1-800-666-2303 Website: www.menshealth.com (Help, manage your subscription)
• Chatelaine: 1-800-268-6812 or (905) 946-0084 (Toronto) Website: www.chatelaine.com (Subscriptions) E-mail: service@chatelaine.com
• Time Magazine: 1-800-843-8463 Website: www.time.com/customerservice
• Flare: 1-800-268-6823 or (905) 946-0084 (Toronto) Website: www.flare.com (Customer service)
• Canadian Business: 1-800-465-0700 Website: www.canadianbusiness.com
• Today’s Parent 1-800-567-8697 or( 905) 946-1914 (Toronto) Website: www.todaysparent.com

Newspapers:
• Woodstock Sentinel Review: (519) 537-2341 or FAX: (519) 537-3049 Website: www.woodstocksentinelreview.com
• Norwich Gazette: (519) 863-2262 or FAX: (519) 863-3229 Website: www.norwichgazette.com
• Tillsonburg News: (519) 688-6397 or FAX: (519) 842-3511 Website: www.tillsonburgnews.com
• London Free Press: 1-800-265-4100 or Fax (519) 667-4503 Website: www.lfpress.com/customerservice/ E-mail: custservice@lfpress.com
• Toronto Star: 1-800-268-9213 or (416) 367-4500 Website: www.thestar.com E-mail: circmail@thestar.ca
• Toronto Sun: 1-800-668-0786 or (416) 947-2111 Website: www.torontosun.com (services) E-mail: suncirc@sunpub.com
• The Globe and Mail: 1-800-387-5400 or (416) 585-5000 or Fax: (416) 585-5102 Website: www.globeandmail.com (customer care) E-mail: circulation@globeandmail.ca
• The Financial Post: 1-800-387-9011 or (416) 947-3200 or Fax: (416) 350-6601 Website: www.financialpost.com (subscription service) Email: Custserv@nationalpost.com 1-800-668-7678

Clubs and Organizations
It is best to notify the clubs and organizations that you are involved in so that they can make the necessary changes to their membership role. Some of the organizations that you may need to contact are listed below:
• Beavers, Scouts, Brownies, etc.
• Book, Tape or CD club
• CAA
• Chamber of Commerce
• Church
• Library Fraternal Financial
• Accountant
• Banks
• Brokers
• Credit Cards
• Mutual Fund Companies
• Trust Companies

Insurance Companies
You must contact all of the Insurance Companies that you have a policy with to notify them of your address change. In some cases you may need to fill out a form to verify the information but in most cases a phone call will do. Remember to notify your Home Insurance Company in plenty of time before your move as you will likely need to give the Bank or Trust Company the policy number and information to finalize your mortgage agreement. Below is a checklist of the various Insurance Companies you may need to call.
• Life
• Auto
• Disability
• Home
• Group Health
Other
• Schools
• Veterinarian

We have done our best to help you with the various places you will need to call. Be sure to double check that you have notified everyone. A good way to double check is by noting the address your mail has been sent to after your move. With notifying Canada Post, they will re-route your mail to your new address if the person sending it has put your old address on it. When you notice this, you can write the sender a little note or send along one of your change of address cards you received in your change of address package from Canada Post.

Add Moving Pets

 If you have a pet or pets, keep them calm by assuring they are away from all the activity on moving day. Placing them temporarily in a cage or an out-of-the-way area in your home (such as a secondary bathroom or bedroom) will assure they are not under foot nor prone to wander and be lost. Also, if possible, making arrangements for a friend or family member to watch your pets is a great way to keep them out of the way and safe.

Add Moving Plants

If you are moving locally, we can transport your live plants as part of your move if we have adequate space left on our truck to do so.

They should be set into boxes with the tops left open for air supply and we can load them at the end of our truck so they will be unloaded first at your new residence.

Larger plants or trees can be moved by us as long as they are properly secured in a larger carton such as a wardrobe carton.

If you do not have the proper cartons for preparing your plants for transport, you can purchase 2, 4, or 5 cubic foot cartons for small and medium sized plants, and we can bring a wardrobe carton(s) for larger plants / trees on loading day and at that time our staff can look after their preparation.

You may also choose to move them yourself in your own vehicle if space allows you to do so.

If you are moving a greater distance, you may wish to move your plants on your own or donate them to family, friends, or neighbours.

Note that we do not guarantee any live plants that we transport and no live plants can be shipped cross border.

Also note that in cold winter months, any live plant transport becomes even more risky.

Live plant transport in winter is not recommended.

Add Moving Hazardous Materials – non-admissible

There are a number of hazardous items that cannot, under any circumstances, be moved by us. Flammables such as household paint, varnish, thinners, gasoline (used gas cans), kerosene, oil, bottled gas, aerosol cans, nail polish and remover, ammunition and explosives, corrosives, bleach, lighter fluid, propane tanks of any kind, oxygen bottles / tanks, fireworks, matches, automotive repair and maintenance chemicals, and combustibles of any kind cannot be transported any distance.  Perishable food items can only be moved if your move is local and they are packed properly. (See Large Home Appliances section)   Lawn mowers, weed eaters / trimmers and such items should, ideally, be completely emptied of fuel in preparation for transport. At the very least, the fuel level should be run down as low as possible.

Online Forms and Links

– Canada
Government of Canada: www.canada.gc.ca
Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA): www.cbsa.gc.ca
Transport Canada: www.tc.gc.ca
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency: www.acee-ceaa.gc.ca
Canadian Importation Info: www.beaware.gc.ca
Canadian Consulate General Immigration Section: www.canadianconsulatebuf.org
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA): www.inspection.gc.ca
Passport Canada: www.ppt.gc.ca
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): www.cites.org
Firearms Requirements: Canada: www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca (for info, forms etc)
Canadian Registrar for Imported Vehicles (RIV): www.riv.com
email:Postmaster@riv.com

– United States
United States Government: www.usa.gov
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP): www.cbp.gov
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT): www.dot.gov
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): www.epa.gov
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): www.nhtsa.dot.gov
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA): www.usda.gov
U.S. Department of State: www.travel.state.gov
Form I-94: www.cbp.gov (Travel section, Travel Smart for info)
Form 3299: www.cbp.gov/pdf/CBP_Form_3299.pdf
DOT Form HS-7: www.nhtsa.dot.gov/CARS/RULES/IMPORT
EPA Form 3520-1: www.epa.gov/OMS/imports/forms/3520-1.pdf
Firearms Requirements: United States: www.atf.gov (Firearms section for info, Forms section)

– Other Addresses
World Wildlife Fund (WWF): www.worldwildlife.org
Allied Van Lines: www.allied.com

Planning and Organizing
In all aspects of a good move preparation and planning are the key ingredients. To make your packing as efficient as possible, follow these simple steps:

• Get your packing material; it is ideal if you can pickup enough packing material to get you through the entire job, rather than making frequent, inefficient trips.
• Prepare an inventory of items that you will need to pack, and identify those items that you will need at your disposal until moving day. Begin packing the less essential items, such as out of season clothing, extra linens, and your good china.
• On the box, write a brief description of what is inside, along with the room you would like the box to be placed in at your new location.
• Place packed boxes in a location that is out of harm’s way, yet readily assessable for the movers. All local moves are based on the actual time of our involvement, so the closer the boxes are to the truck the quicker the move.
• Call our office if you have questions on how to pack a specific item. If you are not happy with the way you packed an item of high monetary or sentimental value, we can give you advice on how to pack it properly.
• Leave yourself plenty of time to get the job done. For a typical home, you will find it takes twenty five to thirty hours of packing time. You should start your packing two-to-three weeks before the move date.