‘Preparation is key’: Tips for Montrealers relocating on July 1 Moving Day

As July 1 looms, Montrealers are boxing up their belongings in preparation for the city’s mass Moving Day.

It’s no different for Montrealer Jessica Avalos, who was packing her bags for the third time in three years on Friday, as she moved to a new apartment in the city’s Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (NDG) neighbourhood.

“It’s stressful,” she said. “There’s just a lot to take into account.”

Avalos was clearing out her apartment ahead of the city’s Moving Day to avoid what she said was chaos on the roads.

“I’m just trying not to leave it for July 1 on Canada Day,” she said. “Traffic is overwhelming, trucks are everywhere.”

Beyond the boxes and goodbyes, movers face logistics. Over 100,000 moves take place in Montreal each year between June and July, making it whirlwind of activity for moving companies like Meldrum The Mover in NDG.

Ken Filgiano, the co-owner of the company, said that tenants should make sure that their furniture and household items are packed and ready to go before movers arrive in order to avoid headaches during Moving Day.

“Preparation is key to make a move successful,” he said.

“The best case scenario is the movers see furniture and boxes and nothing else.”

Tenants should also look to make sure that boxes are sealed correctly and that none of their belongings remain loose inside. Renters can always rely on picking up boxes from their local SAQ — something Filgiano describes as a classic Montreal moving technique.

“Use more paper than you think you need,” he said. “You really want it to make sure that nothing is budging whatsoever.”

Elevators are also a major bottleneck for moving companies like Filgiano’s. He recommends tenants reserve elevators at their destination to avoid a situation where multiple people are moving at the same time.

The Quebec Landlords Association (APQ) is also urging Montrealers to keep organized during their move. They say that moving tenants should leave their old residences in good condition before moving out, and to avoid using them as “an eco-centre or a giant garbage dump,” according to a press release.

“Whether it’s laziness, convenience, or to annoy their landlord, or all three at the same time, there is no reason to justify not respecting one’s obligations even when the lease is terminated,” said APQ president Martin Messier.

For tenants, Moving Day preparations go beyond just packing boxes.

Avalos said that she has witnessed her share of messy apartments upon arrival during Moving Day. She said that both tenants and landlords have an equal stake in ensuring clean destinations for movers.

“It’d be great if both people would be on the same page and that way it’s easier for the next person to move in and that way the house is clean,” she said.

Catherine Lussier, coordinator for the front d’Action Populaire en Réaménagement Urbain (FRAPRU), said that tenants are under no obligation to move into their new homes if it hadn’t been cleaned or prepared beforehand.

“If your apartment is (delivered in) bad conditions also, you could refuse to move in,” she said. “In this case, take pictures and document that, the reason why you didn’t come in.”

Some Montrealers are still left searching for housing despite Moving Day fast approaching. Data from Thursday reveals that nearly 2,000 renters are reportedly still looking for housing.

A new Statistics Canada report shows that Montreal asking rents are surging, increasing by over 70 per cent since 2019.

For those that have secured their new home, Avalos encourages tenants to try to enjoy the moving process.

“Good luck to everybody moving out there,” she said.