Moving resources
Montreal Moving Checklist: Eight Weeks to Moving Day
A Montreal moving checklist has to account for things a generic list does not: leases that mostly turn over on July 1, walk-up staircases that decide what furniture fits, borough parking signs, and a change-of-address system that is partly provincial and partly federal. This week-by-week plan puts those local details where they belong.
Updated September 6, 2026
Eight weeks before
Lock the dates and the big decisions first.
- Confirm your move-out and move-in dates against both leases or the closing date; for lease rules and notice deadlines, the Tribunal administratif du logement is the authority.
- Book movers now if you are moving between mid-June and early July; those dates fill weeks ahead.
- Decide what is not coming: sell, donate or dispose before you pack.
- Measure large furniture against the new place's staircase and doorways; Montreal walk-ups reject more sofas than you would think.
Official sources
Four weeks before
Handle the accounts and the buildings.
- File your change of address with the Quebec government's single service, then the federal agencies; see our change-of-address guide.
- Transfer your Hydro-Québec account and set up mail forwarding to start on moving day.
- Ask both buildings about elevator reservations, move-in windows and loading-area rules; condo towers often require them.
- Start packing rooms you use least; label boxes by destination room.
- If anything needs hoisting through a window or balcony, send photos now so the method can be planned.
Two weeks before
Sort out the street and the schedule.
- Request temporary no-parking signs or the moving-truck permit from your borough; see our parking guide.
- Confirm the crew size, arrival window and both addresses with your movers.
- Use up frozen food; plan to defrost the fridge the day before if it is moving.
- Arrange child care or pet care for moving day.
The week before and moving day
Finish packing and keep the essentials in your own hands.
- Pack an essentials box: keys, chargers, medication, documents, a change of clothes, basic tools and toilet paper.
- Disassemble what you are disassembling yourself; keep hardware in labelled bags.
- Empty and lock any safe; unplug and dry the fridge; have gas or plumbing appliances disconnected by a qualified technician.
- On the day, walk the crew through the rooms, point out fragile items, and stay reachable by phone.
- Before leaving, check closets, balcony, storage locker and mailbox.
After the move
A few loose ends close the file.
- Send the SAAQ your new address within the deadline stated on the Quebec government's page.
- Check that Hydro-Québec, internet and mail forwarding all switched on the right day.
- Register with the new city for any resident parking permit and the municipal tax account.
- Break down boxes for recycling according to your borough's collection schedule.
Common questions
How early should I book movers in Montreal?
For late June and early July, as soon as the lease is signed; those weeks fill first. For other dates, two to three weeks ahead usually gives a choice of time slots, and end-of-month dates go faster than mid-month.
Why does July 1 matter so much in Quebec?
Most residential leases in Quebec run July 1 to June 30, so a large share of the province moves the same weekend. Our July 1 moving day page explains how we plan around it.
Can UnBox pack for me?
Yes. Full or partial packing can be added to a move and is usually done a day or two before the truck arrives.
Related pages
Ready when you are
Get a moving quote before the boxes pile up.
Start with two addresses, then adjust the calculator for crew size, stairs, packing and specialty items.