The Ultimate Moving Day Checklist for Vancouver Residents
A hour-by-hour moving day checklist built for Vancouver towers, strata elevators, and Lower Mainland traffic - so nothing slips through the cracks.
A Vancouver move is not just a move - it is an elevator booking, a strata form, a parking permit, and a window of clear weather all colliding on one day. Use this hour-by-hour checklist so nothing falls through the cracks.
Three Weeks Out
- Book your local moving crew - summer Saturdays fill up first.
- Reserve the elevator at both buildings and confirm move-in windows in writing.
- Order boxes, tape, and paper, or ask your mover to drop them off.
- Start a "donate / sell / toss" pile in one corner of each room.
One Week Out
- Confirm parking - some West End and Yaletown buildings need a city parking permit for a 26-foot truck.
- Pack everything you do not need that week. Label by room AND by priority (open first / week one / storage).
- Book junk removal for anything you are not taking. Same-day haul-away is easiest.
- Forward mail through Canada Post and update your address with ICBC, your bank, and any subscriptions.
Moving Day - Hour by Hour
7:00 AM - Coffee and final sweep
Strip beds, pack toiletries, take meter readings, and photograph any existing damage at both units.
8:00 AM - Crew arrives
Walk the crew through the home. Point out fragile items, anything that does not get loaded, and the must-go-on-the-truck-last "open first" box.
9:00 AM - Noon: Load
Stay out of the hallway. Keep pets and kids in one closed room with water and snacks. Refill the crew's water bottles - it makes a real difference on a hot day.
Noon - 2:00 PM: Drive and unload
Beat the lunch-hour traffic on the Lions Gate or Ironworkers and get the truck parked before the afternoon rush.
3:00 PM - Final walkthrough
Check every closet, drawer, balcony, and storage locker before signing off. Tip in cash if the crew earned it.
The Day After
- Assemble beds and unpack the kitchen first - sleep and food make everything easier.
- Flatten boxes for recycling or ask your mover to pick them up.
- Leave a Google review while the experience is fresh - it helps small local crews more than you know.
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