Checklists & Resources

This page gathers the checklists and contacts our readers ask for most, all in one place. You may find it helpful to print it and keep it by the phone, or share it with a family member who is helping you.

The checklists are a general guide: every move is different, so adjust the timing to suit you. Phone numbers and websites were checked when this page was written, but programs change, so confirm details with the organization before relying on them.

Moving timeline

• 6 months before: decide where you’re going; get a market evaluation; choose a lawyer; make sure your Powers of Attorney are up to date
• 4 months before: start decluttering; ask family to collect items; measure furniture against the new floor plan
• 3 months before: book movers or a move manager; list the home; arrange donations or an estate sale
• 1 month before: change your address with Canada Post, banks, CRA, ServiceOntario and pension providers
• 2 weeks before: arrange utilities, internet and home insurance for the new home; confirm moving day details
• Moving week: pack an essentials box with medications, documents, glasses, chargers and a change of clothes
• After the move: check that mail is arriving; book a doctor’s or pharmacy transfer if needed; unpack the bedroom and bathroom first

For the full selling process, see Step-by-Step Guide to Selling and Timing the Sale and Your Next Move.

Documents to gather before selling

• Deed or transfer and any survey of the property
• Recent property tax bill and utility bills
• Mortgage or line of credit statements, if any
• Receipts for major work: roof, furnace, windows, renovations
• Any rental or financing contracts for equipment such as a furnace or water heater
• Photo ID for every owner
• Power of Attorney or estate documents, if someone is acting for the owner

Not sure where something is? Your real estate lawyer can help locate title documents, and your municipality can provide copies of tax bills.

Who to tell when you move

• Canada Post (mail forwarding)
• Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
• ServiceOntario (health card and driver’s licence)
• Your banks and credit card companies
• Pension providers (Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, any workplace pensions)
• Your family doctor, specialists, dentist and pharmacy
• Home and car insurance companies
• Phone, internet and TV providers
• Magazines, charities and clubs you belong to
• Family, friends and neighbours

Moving-day essentials box

• Medications and a written list of them
• Glasses, hearing aids and batteries
• Phone and chargers
• Important documents and ID
• A change of clothes and toiletries
• Bedding and towels for the first night
• Snacks, water and a kettle
• A list of key phone numbers

Useful contacts

Outside Toronto, contact your own city or town (for example Mississauga, Markham, Vaughan or Pickering) about local property tax and utility programs for seniors.

Money programs at a glance

These programs may help older homeowners. Eligibility rules apply, so check the details or ask your accountant.

• Ontario Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant: up to $500 a year for eligible low-to-moderate income homeowners 64 and older, claimed with your tax return. See Property Tax Relief for Seniors.
• Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit, part of the Ontario Trillium Benefit.
• City of Toronto relief programs for eligible low-income seniors and people with disabilities, including property tax increase cancellation and deferral, and water and solid waste rebates. Apply every year; call 311.
• Home Accessibility Tax Credit and the Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit. See Accessibility and Renovation Tax Credits.

Guides by topic

• Deciding whether to stay: Should I Stay or Move? · Your Housing Options Compared
• Selling: Preparing a Long-Held Home · Movers, Estate Sales and Donations
• Legal: Power of Attorney and Selling for a Parent · Selling an Estate Property
• Families: Starting the Conversation · Helping from a Distance
• Staying safe: Title Fraud and Unsolicited Offers · Questions to Ask Any Professional

Looking for free real estate guides on buying and selling in Toronto? Visit realestatebooks.ca.

Frequently asked questions

Can I print these checklists?

Yes. Use your browser’s print option, or ask a family member to print a copy for you. Many people keep one on the fridge during a move and tick items off as they go.

Which number do I call if I think I am being scammed?

If you are in danger, call 911. Otherwise, call your local police, then report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. For confidential advice about abuse or pressure from someone you know, the Seniors Safety Line is open 24 hours a day.

I live outside Toronto. Do these contacts still apply?

The provincial and federal contacts apply across Ontario. For property tax and water programs, check with your own municipality.

How Irina can help

If you’d like help putting your own plan together, Irina is happy to talk it through with you or your family in a relaxed, no-pressure conversation, in English or Russian. Contact her whenever you are ready.

Irina’s other websites

• loveurlife.ca: Irina’s main real estate site
• realestatebooks.ca: free buyer and seller guides
• irinasellscondos.ca: toronto condos
• irinasellsscarborough.com: scarborough homes
• irinasellsbeaches.com: the beaches and the east end
• fitatfortyplus.com: strength and balance training, 40+