Confirm access before booking
Check your possession terms and handover time.
- Ask about loading, elevator reservations and building procedures.
- Arrange utilities and address changes.
More on confirm access before booking
Keep mover, building and representative contact details together.
Pack a bag for the first night
Keep the items you cannot lose in the moving load.
- Carry medication, identification, chargers and essential documents separately.
- Label boxes by destination room.
More on pack a bag for the first night
On arrival, record concerns promptly and contact your representative.
The basics
A move built around possession
Moving is easier when it follows your contract, not your hopes. Your possession date and time set the earliest moment you can enter. Every booking flows from there: movers, elevator time, utility start dates and the end of your current lease.
Changing your address is part of the move. In BC, Address Change BC lets you update records with provincial and local government groups if you are moving within the province. Some federal records, like the CRA, are updated separately.
A good moving plan also separates what travels in the truck from what travels with you. Keys, contracts, ID and medication should never be in a box you cannot find. Think of your first night as a short trip, and pack for it.
Why it matters
Why the paperwork deserves a slot
Some updates have deadlines. The Medicare Protection Act requires you to update your MSP address within 10 days of moving. CRA warns that waiting for tax season could affect benefit eligibility. A move-week paperwork hour saves trouble later.
How it works
Your moving checklist, in order
Confirm possession and building rules
Get the exact possession time. Ask the strata about move bookings, elevator pads and loading areas.
Book movers and give notice
Book movers for possession day or later. If you rent, check how much notice your lease requires.
Set up utilities
Arrange power, gas, internet and home insurance to start on possession day. Ask each provider how much notice it needs to connect service.
Update your address in BC
Use Address Change BC to update provincial and local records. MSP must be updated within 10 days.
Update the CRA
Change your address with CRA online through My Account, where it updates right away, or by phone or mail.
Pack a first-night box
Keep ID, medication, chargers, bedding, a kettle, toilet paper and key documents with you, not in the truck.
Label by room
Mark boxes with the destination room so unpacking is quicker.
Avoid these
Moving mistakes
Booking movers too early
Movers who arrive before you can enter have nowhere to unload. Book from confirmed possession times only.
Skipping the strata booking
Without a booking, you may not get the elevator or loading area when you need it.
Forgetting mail and records
Missed updates mean lost mail, missed bills or benefit delays. Make a list of your bank, employer, insurer and subscriptions too.
Packing important papers
Keep contracts, ID and keys with you. Boxes can be delayed or lost.
Example
Move-week plan
A sample order of tasks around a possession date. Adjust it to your own contract and building.
| Two weeks before | Book movers; confirm strata moving rules |
|---|---|
| One week before | Set up utilities and insurance; pack non-essentials |
| Two days before | Confirm possession time and key handover |
| Possession day | Walk-through; move in; test alarms |
| Within 10 days | Update MSP address (required) |
| First weeks | Update CRA and other records |
Only the MSP deadline is a legal rule here. The rest is a suggested order.
Questions to ask
Questions before moving day
Your strata manager
- How do I book the elevator or loading area?
- Are there move-in fees or deposits in the bylaws?
- What hours are moves allowed?
Your mover
- Is the quote fixed or hourly?
- What insurance covers my belongings?
- What happens if possession is delayed?
FAQ
Common questions
How soon must I update my MSP address?
Within 10 days of moving, under the Medicare Protection Act. You can use Address Change BC or the MSP online form.
Does Address Change BC update the CRA?
The service covers provincial and local government organizations. Update CRA separately online, by phone or by mail.
How fast does a CRA address change work?
Online through My Account it updates immediately. By mail with Form RC325, CRA says it takes 4 to 6 weeks.
When should I book movers?
After your possession date and time are confirmed. Leave a buffer for key handover so the truck is not waiting outside a locked door.
Do I need to cancel utilities at my old home?
Yes. Arrange for services at your old address to end on your move-out date, so you are not billed for usage after you leave.
A practical example
Prepare for the first evening
Choose what you need before the main unpacking: bedding, basic kitchen items, medication, chargers and access instructions.
- Keep those items clearly identified and with you where appropriate.
- Confirm who will receive the mover and how to report a handover concern.
A practical first-evening plan makes the rest of the move easier to organize.
A detail to keep in mind
Do not schedule essential access around a possession time you have not confirmed in the agreement.
Official information
Start with these resources, then confirm the details for your property and circumstances.
BC Financial Services Authority: buying a homeGovernment of BC: MSP, moving within B.C.Government of BC: Address Change BCCRA: Change your addressBC Financial Services Authority: Completing your purchaseReference review: October 6, 2026