We often hear clients say: “I am moving only a few minutes away “. However, even when the new home is close by, whether you’re moving locally in Vancouver or to another province, the driving time might be short , everything still needs to be packed, loaded, and unloaded. Here is a complete guide of your moving day checklist, stop panic for your moving.
This blog isn’t about what should be packed, but rather about what shouldn’t. Some items should never go into a box and into the moving truck — for safety, legal, or practical reasons.
When we arrive to pack a home, we always start with a walk-through. This helps us identify not only, what’s going where, what room each item will belong to in your new home, and most importantly—what we won’t be packing.
Moving Day Checklist
Not To Pack Hazardous Materials
No matter how far you’re moving, certain items can’t go into a moving truck because they pose safety risks. These include:
- Propane and gas canisters (of any size)
- Fire extinguishers
- Oxygen tanks
- SodaStream or other pressurized cylinders
These materials can overheat, leak, or combust in a closed truck, creating a hazard for movers and everyone on the road. For local moves, we recommend carrying them in your own car , where you can make sure nothing opened up. For long-distance moves, temperature changes along the route can be risky for everyone on the road and it is recommended to avoid traveling with these materials.
Not To Pack Cleaning Supplies and Liquids
If you’re moving long-distance for example, from Vancouver to the Okanagan, please don’t pack cleaning products, paints, or other chemical liquids. Movers are not allowed to take them in the truck and will ask you not to pack them.
Temperature changes can cause these materials to leak or react during transport, and they’re considered hazardous for most long-haul moving services.
International Moves Not To Pack
Moving overseas? Ore even just across the boarder to USA? Each country has its own rules about what’s allowed to enter. Generally:
- Food cannot be transported internationally.
- Australia and New Zealand require camping gear, bicycles, and outdoor equipment to be completely cleaned of dirt to protect their ecosystems.
When in doubt, check import restrictions early to avoid delays or confiscations at customs.
Storage Guidelines
The same safety rules apply to storage. Items like propane tanks, cleaning supplies, and food should never go into storage lockers.
If you’re storing boxes in a garage or an unmonitored area (for example, during renovations), avoid packing food. Even sealed boxes can attract rodents if left unattended for weeks or months.
If you must store food temporarily, keep it inside the house, where it can be monitored regularly.
Items To Keep With You on Moving Day
Even if you’re moving only five minutes away, keep certain essentials with you in your car. Here’s what we recommend:
- Passports: You might not be traveling, but unexpected events can happen. During the 2021 BC floods, one client needed to detour through the U.S. when Highway 5 washed out—luckily, they had their passports!
- Keys: For your car, home, storage, or mailbox, your file cabinet- avoid leaving the key on the lock it can get lost.
- Medications and health cards
- Important documents: Such as home purchase papers and computer backups.
When we pack your home, we always set these items aside to ensure you have quick access.
Overnight Bag
Pack a small suitcase with everything you’ll need for the first two nights in your new home, including:
- Clothes
- Towels
- Toiletries
- Chargers and basic electronics
You’ll thank yourself later when you don’t have to search for a toothbrush through boxes after a long day.
Food, Water, and Pet Supplies
Even in Metro Vancouver, unexpected delays can happen, ferry cancellations, traffic jams, bad weather.
Keep snacks, bottled water, and pet food handy. We’ve seen situations where a ferry delay left clients stranded for hours and having a few essentials made a big difference.
Moving Day Checklist, Are You Ready To Move?
There’s a lot to think about when moving, but you don’t have to do it all yourself. At Vancouver In The Box, we’ll take care of your packing so you can focus on your move safely and stress-free.
We pack — you relax! Book your appointment now and stress free, we pack your entire house!
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