Downsizing Moves in Greater Victoria

Start early

Give yourself weeks or months to sort through belongings room by room.

Use the floor plan

Measure the new home and decide which furniture fits before moving day.

Sell, donate, gift

Decide early what to sell, donate or pass on to family.

Seniors' residences

Residences may have move-in times, elevator rules and room size limits. Ask for them early.

Get help

Family, friends and senior move managers can help with sorting and decisions.

Packing help

Professional packers can take the physical work off your hands.

Storage

Short-term storage helps if you're not ready to decide on everything.

More help

See packing services.

Emotional side

Leaving a long-time family home can be hard. Taking photos of rooms, keeping a few meaningful items and involving family in decisions can make it easier.

Measure twice

Seniors' suites and condos often have less wall space and smaller closets than expected. A scaled floor plan with furniture cut-outs helps decide what fits before anything is moved.

Keep the familiar

For older adults, setting up favourite furniture, photos and everyday items in a familiar way can make a new home feel comfortable more quickly.

Labelling for the new space

Label furniture and boxes for rooms in the new home, not the old one, so the crew can place them correctly.

One room at a time

Sorting a whole house at once is overwhelming. Working one room or closet at a time makes steady progress.

Paperwork

Keep important documents, medication and valuables separate and with you on moving day.

More moving guides

• Moving On and Off Vancouver Island
• Getting a Written Moving Estimate
• Strata Move Rules in Victoria Condos
• Moving in Victoria's Rainy Season
• Checking a Moving Company in BC