Stittsville Moving Day Checklist: A Practical Guide From a Local Ottawa Mover

Stittsville is one of the most active residential corridors in west Ottawa. Between the new builds south of Hazeldean Road, the established streets around Fernbank, and the steady flow of families moving in from Kanata, Carp, and downtown, our crews work this neighbourhood almost every week. The biggest difference between a smooth Stittsville move and a stressful one is preparation — not budget, not crew size. This is the checklist we hand to customers who want move day to feel boring in the best possible way.

If you just want a quote, head to our Stittsville movers page or call 613-800-0917. Otherwise, work through the timeline below.

Two Weeks Before Your Stittsville Move

Two weeks out is the planning window where most of the move’s outcome is actually decided. The packing isn’t finished yet, but every important decision should be locked in.

• Confirm your booking and deposit. Your mover should have the move date, both addresses, the crew size, and the truck size in writing. A $100 deposit is standard for residential moves in Ottawa — the date isn’t really yours until the deposit is in.
• Walk both homes with your floor plan. Measure doorways, stairwell turns, and any furniture you’re unsure about. Sectionals and large dressers are the items that most often surprise crews on move day.
• Order packing supplies. Most Stittsville moves need 30–60 boxes for a 2–3 bedroom home, plus tape, paper, and a few specialty boxes (wardrobe, dish-pack, mirror).
• Notify utilities and update your address. Hydro Ottawa, Enbridge gas, internet provider, Canada Post mail forwarding, driver’s licence, banks, insurance. Internet activation in Stittsville new-build areas can take 5–10 business days — start early.

One Week Before

This is the heaviest packing week. Finish everything except the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom you’re sleeping in.

• Pack room by room, not category by category. Label every box with the destination room — not the source room.
• Photograph electronics before disconnecting. A phone photo of the back of your TV, consoles, and modem saves you 30 minutes on the other end.
• Defrost the freezer. If you’re moving a fridge or chest freezer, it needs 24–48 hours to fully thaw before move day.
• Sort the garage and shed. The most underestimated rooms on a Stittsville move. Older homes often have garages full of paint, propane tanks, and lawn equipment that need special handling — propane and pool chemicals usually cannot ride in a moving truck.
• Confirm parking on both ends. Stittsville driveways are usually generous, but downtown or condo pickups may need a City of Ottawa parking permit.

The Day Before Move Day

The night before is for finishing touches, not for marathon packing. If you’re packing past 10 PM, the move runs an hour longer the next day — every time.

• Pack an “essentials” bag for each family member. Two changes of clothes, toothbrush, charger, medications, one comfort item. Rides with you, not in the truck.
• Set aside valuables. Passports, jewellery, cash, hard drives — these travel in your own vehicle.
• Disassemble what you can. Bed frames, table legs, mirror panels. Keep hardware in a labelled freezer bag taped directly to the furniture.
• Stage boxes by the front door. A pre-staged home loads 30–40% faster.

Move Day Morning — Before the Crew Arrives

The crew typically arrives between 8:00 and 9:00 AM for a Stittsville move. Use the hour beforehand for these:

• Strip the beds. Sheets and pillows pack last and unpack first — keep them in a clearly marked “open me first” box.
• Do a final fridge sweep. Anything frozen or refrigerated that’s coming with you goes in a cooler now.
• Walk the home one last time. Closets, basement corners, laundry room, behind doors. This is the most-missed step on Stittsville moves with finished basements.
• Set the thermostat and have water ready. Around 22°C in summer; warm but not hot in winter. A kettle running goes a long way on a four-mover day.

During Loading and Transit

Once the crew arrives, the move is mostly in their hands — but there are a few things only you can do.

• Walk through with the crew chief. Point out fragile items, anything that doesn’t go on the truck, and any pieces that need special handling.
• Stay reachable, not underfoot. Crews work fastest when the home is clear. Pick a corner of the kitchen or the front porch and let them work.
• Manage kids and pets. Boarding the dog at daycare or sending kids to a relative for the day is almost always worth it.
• Sign the inventory before the truck leaves. A reputable crew gives you a chance to walk the truck and confirm everything’s loaded.

At Your New Home — Unloading and Settling In

• Direct boxes to their final room. Clearly labelled boxes let the crew place them where you want them.
• Reassemble priority furniture first. Beds before sofas. A made bed by 5 PM is the difference between a good move and a great one.
• Locate the essentials box. Coffee maker, kettle, toilet paper, towels, phone chargers.
• Sign off and walk the old home one last time. Final billing is by actual time on site — start, end, and travel fee should all be itemized.

Frequently Asked Questions — Stittsville Moves

How far is Stittsville from downtown Ottawa for moving cost purposes?

Stittsville sits roughly 25 km from Ottawa City Hall, inside most Ottawa movers’ standard service radius. That usually means a standard 1-hour travel fee at your crew’s hourly rate rather than a per-kilometre surcharge — but always confirm on your written quote.

What’s the best day to book a Stittsville move?

Mid-week, mid-month is the most flexible slot. End-of-month Fridays and Saturdays — especially in June, July, and August — book up first because that’s when most leases turn over.

How long does a typical Stittsville residential move take?

A 2-bedroom Stittsville move with a 3-mover crew usually runs 4–6 hours door to door. A 3-bedroom with finished basement is closer to 6–9 hours. Stairs and heavy specialty items extend the timeline.

Do I need to be home for the entire Stittsville move?

You or an authorized adult should be present for the walk-through at the start, for any specialty-item handling, and for the inventory sign-off at the end. The middle of loading and transit is a good window for key pickup or last-minute errands.

What if my Stittsville closing date moves after I’ve booked?

Closing-date slips are common. Call your mover as soon as you know — most Ottawa movers can re-slot within the same week without re-running the booking. A larger date change may need a fresh availability check during peak season.

Ready to Book Your Stittsville Move?

Get a written quote in 60 seconds at mitmoving.ca/quote, or call 613-800-0917. For service details and crew options, see our Stittsville movers page. Related: Residential moving in Ottawa · Long-distance moves from Ottawa · Ottawa to Carleton Place guide · Ottawa storage.