Buying a new home in one of the GTA’s most popular destinations and Canada’s seventh largest city is an exciting and nerve-wracking experience. While it may seem like the list of things to take care of is endless, actually writing them out and preparing a schedule can help alleviate the stress and is crucial to ensure that no detail, large or small, is missed.
The following are not exhaustive lists but will give a great head start on preparing to close and move into your new Mississauga home.
Preparing for Closing Day
Here is a quick checklist of what to take care of before you take possession of your new Mississauga home:
- Schedule a pre-closing inspection to take place just before closing.
- Although it’s not recommended, if you prefer to move in on the closing date, arrange a time with the seller for you to move in and confirm with them the day before.
- Ensure that your lender has everything they need from you well before the closing.
- Connect with your Mississauga real estate lawyer to confirm that the necessary insurance coverages are in place and to know how much money you need for the final closing costs not covered by your mortgage.
- Contact the utility companies and notify them of when you take possession of the property.
- Schedule cable, telephone, and other service providers to install service before you move in.
As for the closing day itself, your lawyer will advise you of the procedure that will take place, prepare you for potential contingencies in case something goes wrong and what you’ll need to have with you.
Planning Out Your Moving Day
Many people underestimate the amount of time and work needed to pack up and move an entire household of property and leave it until the last minute. Ideally, you want to begin the process two months before the moving date by:
- Sorting out what you’re taking and getting rid of anything you’re not.
- Making an inventory of what’s being moved.
- Shopping around and booking a moving service.
- Creating a budget of all the costs you’ll need to cover on moving day.
- Booking an elevator if you’re moving into a condo or apartment building.
- Gathering all your important documents and keep them in a safe and accessible location.
A month before your moving date is when crunch time begins. Here are a few of the things to care of in the last four weeks:
- Donate, sell or give away any remaining goods you no longer want.
- Start notifying Canada Post, the MTO, credit card companies, your employer, etc. of your new address.
- Start packing!
Here are a few other tips to help you prepare for the big move:
- Try not to plan your moving day for the end of the month, especially the summer months. These are peak times for movers. If you have no choice, however, book the moving service 6 to 8 weeks before you move.
- Don’t plan to move into your new home on the closing day as there could be delays with the closing or the former owners may otherwise be delayed in moving out.
- If you’re taking them with you, clean out your refrigerator and freezer 24 – 48 hours before you move and leave the lids and doors open to let them thoroughly dry out before the move. If you’re traveling a long distance, use a charcoal filter or baking soda to keep them fresh.
Finally, it’s wise to prepare a checklist and keep it on a clipboard to help you make sure you don’t forget anything.
