The Ultimate Apartment Moving Checklist For Renters

There’s a lot to think about when you move apartments. No matter how many times you’ve done it or how excited you are about your new place, packing up your life takes a lot of effort.

To help make this process a little bit easier, we've put together a checklist. Use it to map out your move, mark off items as you go, or double check that you haven’t missed anything.

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Your Checklist for Moving into a New Apartment

Scheduling your move might feel overwhelming. Here's a useful way to plan out what needs to be done and when during an apartment move:

• 30 to 60 Days Before Moving

  • Confirm your moving date

  • Give notice to your current landlord

  • Make a list of your belongings

  • Donate what you no longer need

  • Research moving companies

  • Get boxes and other moving supplies

  • Hire a moving company

  • Start to pack your things

• 15 to 30 Days Before Moving

  • Finish packing up your things

  • Set up your finances

  • Get tenant insurance

  • Transfer your utility accounts

• The Week You Move

  • Pack a small bag of "essentials"

  • Clean your old apartment

  • Do a final walkthrough of your old apartment

  • Give back your keys to your landlord

  • Double check with moving company

  • Move

• After You Move In

  • Unpack your boxes (with strategy)

  • Update your address

  • Understand your building rules and amenities

  • Explore your new area

Download Your Moving Checklist

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30 to 60 Days Before Moving

Confirm Your Moving Date

Before anything else, lock in your moving date. If you're moving into a rental, coordinate with your new landlord to confirm when the unit will be available and when you can pick up your keys. Once you have a firm date, everything else on this list can fall into place around it. 

If your move-in date is contingent on someone else moving out, build in a buffer. Things get delayed. Having a plan B for where you'll stay (or where your stuff will go) for a few days is worth thinking about now rather than the night before.

Give Notice to Your Current Landlord

Most leases require 60 days' written notice, but check your agreement carefully. Different provinces require different notice periods. When in doubt, give more notice, not less. Send it by email so you have a clear paper trail, and include the specific date you plan to vacate.

Getting this right matters more than people expect. Giving notice late – or forgetting to do it at all – can cost you an extra month's rent, complicate your deposit return, and put you on bad terms with a landlord who might one day be called for a reference.

Make a List of Your Belongings

A home inventory sounds like the kind of thing only very organized people do. But it's genuinely useful, and it doesn't have to be elaborate. Even a rough room-by-room list on your phone is better than nothing. As you go, note:

• Large furniture (sofas, bed frames, wardrobes, desks)

• Appliances you own (as opposed to ones that came with the unit)

• Electronics and anything of significant value

• Items in storage that you might otherwise forget about entirely

This list will help you figure out how much truck space you need, flag anything that might need special handling, and give you a head start on insurance coverage at your new place.

Donate What You No Longer Need

Moving is the perfect excuse to declutter and let go of things you’ve been holding onto. And think of it this way: every item you don't bring is one less thing to pack, carry, load, unload, unpack, and find a home for. So before you reach for a single box, go through your belongings ruthlessly.

As a good rule of thumb, if you haven't used it in the past year and you wouldn't buy it again today, let it go. Clothing, books, kitchenware, and furniture are all easy to donate to local thrift stores, or list for free on neighbourhood Facebook groups.

Research Moving Companies

Reputable movers book up fast – especially on weekends and at the end of the month (which is when most leases turn over). Start your research at least six weeks out.

When comparing companies, don't just look at price. Ask:

• Are they licensed and insured?

• Do they charge by the hour or by the job?

• Are there extra fees for stairs, long carries, large items, or disassembly?

• What's their cancellation or delay policy?

• Can they provide references or show recent reviews?

Get a few quotes, and be cautious of any estimate that seems unusually low – it might mean hidden fees on the other side.

Get Boxes and Other Moving Supplies

You will probably need more boxes than you think. Underestimating how much stuff you have is one of the most common moving mistakes, and running out of boxes mid-pack when your apartment is in chaos isn’t ideal.

Stock up on a variety of sizes, plus:

• Packing tape (and a tape gun)

• Bubble wrap and packing paper for fragile items

• Markers for labelling (dark, broad-tipped)

• Mattress bags if you have a nice mattress

• Wardrobe boxes if you have a lot of hanging clothes

To keep costs down, check local Buy Nothing groups, liquor stores, and grocery stores – many give away sturdy boxes for free, and wine boxes can be excellent for packing books.

Hire a Moving Company

Once you've done your research, book your movers and get everything confirmed in writing before you hand over any deposit. The written contract should specify the date, the addresses, the estimated cost, what's included, and what happens if something is damaged.

Start to Pack Your Things

The golden rule of packing: start earlier than feels necessary. Begin with things you access least, such as out-of-season clothing, books, decorative items, things in closets and storage you haven't touched in months. 

Pack one room at a time, and label every single box – not just with what's in it, but which room it's going to. "Kitchen: pots and pans" is more useful than just "Kitchen" when you’re unpacking. If a box contains anything fragile, mark it on all four sides and the top, not just the one face you happen to be looking at when you stack it.

15 to 30 Days Before Moving

Finish Packing Up Your Things

By now, the majority of your home should be in boxes. In the final two weeks, you're packing everything that's left – which usually turns out to be more than you expected. Life is still happening while you're moving. 

Be systematic. Go room by room and don't declare a space "done" until it actually is. Leave out only what you genuinely need for daily life. That’s stuff like a small set of dishes, a couple of changes of clothes, your toiletries, your laptop. Everything else goes in a box.

Set Up Your Finances

A move is a good prompt to get your financial admin in order. A few things worth taking care of now are:

• Notifying your bank of your upcoming address change

• Updating automatic payments that are tied to your current address

• Checking your budget for moving day costs like truck rental, takeout (because your kitchen is packed), and last-minute supplies

• Looking into whether you're eligible for a moving expense deduction on your taxes, particularly if you're moving for work or school

If you're moving to a new city, it's also worth checking whether your bank has branches nearby or whether it makes sense to switch to a more local option.

Get Tenant Insurance

If you don't already have tenant insurance, think about getting it before you move. It provides financial protection in the event that something goes wrong in your new home. 

Tenant insurance typically covers:

• Your belongings in the event of theft, fire, or water damage

• Additional living expenses if your unit becomes uninhabitable

• Personal liability if someone is injured in your home

Some landlords now require proof of tenant insurance before handing over keys. The good news is that it's very affordable. At APOLLO, tenant insurance starts from just $13 a month. 

Transfer Your Utility Accounts

Work through your list of providers and contact each one to arrange the transition:

• Electricity and gas – end the service at your old address on your move-out date and start it at your new address on move-in day

• Internet – schedule a transfer or new installation as early as possible. Installation appointments can take a week or more to book

• Water – this is often handled by the landlord, but worth confirming

• Subscriptions and deliveries – meal kits, online shopping accounts, magazines, and streaming services tied to billing addresses

It's easy to forget a few, so going through your bank statement and checking for recurring charges is a reliable way to catch anything you've missed.

The Week You Move

Pack a Small Bag of "Essentials"

Set aside a bag that will travel with you, rather than going on the truck. When you're exhausted at the end of moving day and every box looks identical, this bag will be the best decision you made. Pack it with:

• Phone charger and any other essential cables

• Medications

• A change of clothes (or two)

• Toiletries

• Toilet paper (do not forget this)

• A few snacks

• Important documents: lease, ID, insurance papers

• A set of bedding, or at the very least, a pillow

Clean Your Old Apartment

Give your old unit a thorough clean once everything is out. Wipe down all appliances inside and out, scrub the bathroom, clean inside the fridge, and vacuum or mop every floor. If your lease requires it, patch any small nail holes.

Once you're done, photograph everything – every room, every wall, every appliance. It takes ten minutes and creates a clear record of the condition you left the unit in. If there's ever a dispute about your landlord, those photos are your best evidence.

Do a Final Walkthrough of Your Old Apartment

When you think you're done, you're not quite. Do one slow, deliberate walk through every room before you leave for the last time. Check:

• Inside every closet, cupboard, and drawer

• Behind every door

• On every shelf, including high ones

• The balcony or outdoor space if you have one

• The storage locker, parking spot, or mailbox

It's easy to leave something important behind when you're tired and distracted. A five-minute walkthrough is a smart move.

Double Check With Your Moving Company

A day or two before moving day, reach out to your movers to confirm the details. Don't assume everything is sorted just because you booked it weeks ago. Confirm:

• Arrival time

• Both addresses (and any relevant access details – building code, elevator booking, parking restrictions)

• Any large or tricky items they need to know about

• Payment method

A five-minute call can prevent a very bad morning.

Give Back Your Keys to Your Landlord

Return all keys, fobs, parking passes, and any other access items to your landlord, and ask for written confirmation that they were received. A quick email reply works fine. This formally closes out your tenancy and protects you from being charged for a lock change later if there's ever any question about whether everything was returned.

Move

Moving day is here. A few things that will make it go more smoothly:

• Be ready when the movers arrive. Have boxes accessible, pathways clear, and elevator time booked if you're in an apartment building.

• Do a room-by-room walkthrough with the movers at the start so they know what's going where.

• Keep your essentials bag with you. Don't let it end up on the truck.

• Stay available to answer questions, but let the movers do their job.

Before you leave your old place for the last time, take one last look around. You may regret not saying a proper goodbye and thank you. 

After You Move In

Unpack Your Boxes Strategically 

Unpacking randomly – opening whatever box is closest and finding homes for things as you go – is a recipe for chaos that drags on for weeks. Instead, unpack with intention.

Start with the bedroom. Set up your bed first. Even if the rest of the apartment is a disaster, you'll have somewhere to sleep. Then the bathroom. Then the kitchen. Once the functional spaces are sorted, you'll feel like a human being again, and you can take your time with everything else.

Resist the urge to shove things into drawers and cupboards just to clear the floor. A little patience now means you won't be reorganizing everything in two weeks when you realize nothing is where it makes sense.

Update Your Address

This is one of those tasks that's easy to delay and gradually becomes a low-grade source of stress as important mail goes to your old address. Work through it systematically. Start with:

• Canada Post – set up a mail redirect to catch anything you miss

• Your employer – for T4s and any HR correspondence

• The CRA – update through My Account online

• Your bank and credit cards

• Your provincial driver's licence and health card

• Service Canada (for EI, CPP, and related programs)

Then work through your subscriptions like streaming services, online shopping accounts, meal kits, anything with a saved billing address. Your bank statement is a useful prompt. Scroll through it and update anything that shows a recurring charge.

Understand Your Building Rules and Amenities

Read through your lease and any welcome package, building guide, or rules document your landlord has provided. It's not the most riveting reading, but it will tell you things you actually need to know:

• Quiet hours and noise policies

• How garbage, recycling, and composting work

• Whether there's in-suite laundry, a shared laundry room, or neither

• What the storage situation is 

• How to submit a maintenance request

• Guest and parking policies

Knowing this early helps you avoid accidentally breaking rules and means you actually take advantage of what your building offers – amenities people don't know about tend to go unused.

Explore Your New Area

Once the boxes are (mostly) dealt with, get out and start getting familiar with your neighbourhood. Find your closest grocery store, pharmacy, transit stops, and any parks or green space nearby. Locate the nearest urgent care clinic, even if you hope never to need it.

The best way to start feeling at home somewhere new isn't to finish unpacking – it's to stop being a stranger to the streets outside your door. Walk around without a destination. Notice what's there. It doesn't take long before an unfamiliar neighbourhood starts to feel like yours.

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