While July 1st is usually full of fireworks and BBQs for most of Canada, for the Québécois, boxes and moving vans are better symbols of this day. On July 1st, Moving Day replaces Canada Day in Quebec as thousands of people brave the streets to move all of their belongings from one dwelling to another. Although this moving day ritual may be unfamiliar to Canadians in other provinces, this tradition has been around for over 200 years and it’s not going anywhere. Centuries ago, Quebec deemed May 1st to be a fixed date for legal agreements to expire like leases, meaning renters all moved on the same day. The date was then moved to July 1st to ensure ideal moving weather. Fast forward to the 21st century and even though the law was abolished, Moving Day still stuck.
Thousands of people moving all their belongings in the narrow streets of Montreal can be chaotic to say the least. If you’re one of those thousands, even if you’re a Moving Day pro you still may feel moving day jitters. That’s why we’re sharing 5 important tips to help make Moving Day a bit easier
1. Make sure to know all the moving rules of your new and old building
Some buildings may have specific time restrictions or curfews for those moving in. As well, tenants moving into your former dwelling may request to move in at a certain time. It’s important to be cognizant of these rules and deadlines to ensure you avoid any mid-move blunders and any bad first impressions!
2. Clearly label any essentials you’ll need easy access to
For ease of access after you move, make sure you know where essentials like toiletries or necessary documents are located, so you don’t have to spend ages searching for them after a long day of moving. In general, clearly labelling all of your boxes when packing will surely make moving and unpacking easier.
3. Try and move some items on your own
To save time (and money) on moving day, consider moving smaller and more delicate items like plants or decor before you officially move to save your movers some sweat. Plus, moving some of your prized possessions yourself can ensure they are delivered carefully.
4. Get covered with tenant insurance
Before you move, not only should you be changing your address on items like your hydro bill or bank account, it is recommended that you also get tenant insurance for your new pad in case anything goes wrong. Make sure to get tenant insurance prior to move-in day so once you do all of your unpacking, your stuff is covered. Duuo provides flexible tenant insurance for renters with just a few clicks. This means you can spend more time packing up your stuff, and less time trying to figure out how to protect it!
5. Double, no, TRIPLE check the dwelling before you leave
The last thing you want on a stressful moving day is to forget something at your old place. Ensure you do a few checks in every nook and cranny of your rental so you aren’t scrambling to find stuff on moving day. It can also be helpful to keep a list of where you have and haven’t checked.
Even though Moving Day can be daunting, these 5 tips can at least help you get your ducks in order on the big day. For more information about how you can protect your stuff after moving, check out our tenant insurance page to see how Duuo’s flexible month-to-month policies can protect you and your stuff!
