When you finally manage to sell your existing home and buy a new one you might feel like you've crawled across the Gobi on your stomach. But you haven't reached the oasis yet. As daunting as all of that might have been, there is still a mountain to climb. We have six weeks till our closing date and there is so much left to be done. We were fortunate that our real estate team sent us a closing package, with lists, contact numbers, and information on the different types of insurance we will need to consider. Your real estate agent is a font of information. If he or she hasn't provided this for you, ask!

Here's a countdown to the big day:

• Six Weeks to Move Day: Retain a lawyer.
• Five Weeks: Book your movers, finalize mortgage details, and forward your banker and/or broker information to your real estate agent.
• Four Weeks: Switch your utilities and arrange any additional access visits to your new home (either to measure or to walk through with contractors)
• Two Weeks: Arrange for insurance of your new home and set up a meeting with your real estate lawyer to sign all the closing documents
• One Week: Notify everyone of your move! This includes newspaper and magazine deliveries, credit card companies, your bank, the post office, Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, school, doctors, insurance policies.
  

Other Smart Tips:

• Arrange to have your gas, water, and electric meters read on the day you leave and have the bills forwarded to your new address
• If the water heater or furnace is rented, arrange to transfer the rental agreement to the new owners
• Clean out your refrigerator and let it air for 24 hours before moving
• The night before you move, pack a bin of essential items such as toiletries, sheets, pillow cases, towels, toilet paper, hammer, and screwdriver to take with you 
• Leave a note of your new address with the new occupants so they can forward mail

All tips courtesy of the Julie Kinnear Real Estate team.

Next week: Smart packing tips

Reni Walker (AKA Scotch Mommy on slice.ca) shares her moving mayhem on Wednesdays.