Moving is an exciting step. You picture your new place, plan your setup, and get ready for what’s ahead. But before you can settle in, there are always a few details that are easy to miss. That’s why we’ve put together a practical checklist to help make your move smoother, whether it’s your first apartment or not.
Congratulations on your new apartment!
Here’s what’s already included:
- A refrigerator
- A stove
- A curtain rod for each window
The rest is up to you. Furniture, personal belongings, decorations, small appliances.. make the space your own!
Before moving day: get ready!
Here’s a checklist to help you prepare:
- Ask friends or family for help, or book a truck/moving service.
- Confirm the practical details: the move-in date and time provided by your property manager, as well as your apartment’s address and number.
- Update your address with :
- Your school
- Your financial institution
- Your phone provider
- Your employeur (if applicable)
- Tip: the Service québécois de changement d’adresse lets you notify the RAMQ, the SAAQ, and Revenu Québec all at once.
- Set up mail forwarding with Canada Post if needed (fees apply).
- Get tenant insurance (see more details here →).
- Prepare packing supplies: boxes, packing tape, and markers.
- Sort your belongings: bring what you need, donate or recycle the rest.
- Request a day off work, if applicable.
- Cancel or transfer your current lease if you were already renting.
- Plan your furniture: use the apartment floor plan (with dimensions provided by your property manager) to check what will fit.
- Pack snacks and water for yourself and anyone helping you, it’s always appreciated!
Moving day: keep the essentials close at hand
Here are a few important things to remember:
- Meet your property manager when you arrive and pick up your keys.
- Check that everything in your apartment is working (doors, faucets, refrigerator, stove, etc.) and notify your property manager right away if something isn’t.
- Make sure you’ve been added to your building’s Facebook group.
- Review the tenant guide to understand how your apartment works and the building’s rules.
Get to know your new surroundings
Take a moment to locate:
- The laundry room
- The common room or study room
- Public transit nearby
- Grocery stores and pharmacies in the neighbourhood
- The closest emergency services
- The best route to your university: find the simplest, quickest way to get there, whether on foot, by bike, by public transit, or by car
And why not say hello to your neighbours and roommates? A simple greeting goes a long way in making community life more enjoyable.
Settling in made easy
As soon as you move in, you’ll receive a welcome kit and an invitation to an orientation covering: your apartment’s equipment, how the building works and how to use the shared spaces. A great way to start your new student life in your UTILE apartment!
Download your UTILE checklist!
Moving day can be chaotic. Between boxes and back-and-forth trips, it’s easy to forget the details.
To make things easier, we’ve put this checklist into a PDF version, ready to print or keep on your phone.
