For a lot of Canada, the 1st of July would usually merit celebration: BBQs, sharing the pool with your friends, family and neighbours, fireworks…but in Quebec, July 1st is “Moving Day.” Thousands of Quebec citizens will be attempting to take on the busy streets as they move their earthly possessions from one residence to another.

“Moving Day” in Quebec is a tradition, not a requirement, that came about as a humanitarian measure from the French colonial government of New France. It was put in place to prevent landlords from evicting tenants before winter had completely come to a close. Nowadays, Moving Day still has its place as a sort of “ritual” in Quebec – but there’s some things you need to know about this 200+ year tradition. Insurance implications, hot tips, premium impacts, and so much more – LMBF is here to help make Moving Day easier on you and your family.

If you’re moving…

Planning to move? Great! Moving is both exciting and stressful, whether this is your first time moving out on your own or you’re a seasoned mover.

Note that if you are planning to move, whether it’s Moving Day or not, you’ll need to advise your insurer as soon as possible. Your premiums, risk, and coverage may all be impacted. Try to contact your insurer as soon as the moving date is fixed. This will help fill you in on all of what your policy will/will not cover and can update your existing documents so that your new residence/apartment is properly insured on the right date. This gives you peace-of-mind during moving time.

Tips for “Moving Day” in Quebec

Look, moving is no walk in the park. If you’re doing it on Moving Day, you’ll have to handle the thousands of Quebec residents already flooding the streets. Moving companies may be overloaded with jobs, so you’ll either have to withstand a long wait time or do a good chunk of the moving on your own.

Suffice to say, it can be overwhelming to move – no matter the date or tradition. LMBF is here with some tips on how to ease the transition for you and your family.

Be aware of the moving rules of your existing and new building.

Different buildings will come with different curfews and time restrictions. Contact your new and existing landlord before moving in (if applicable) and see if you can request a time to move-in. This will help to remove the chance for any bad first impressions and guarantees that the tenants moving into your former dwelling/the ones moving out of your new one will have ample time to make the transition.

If you can, move smaller, more fragile belongings on your own.

Hiring a moving company is a great way to expedite things, but during Moving Day, these businesses can be overloaded. It may save you money and time to move some of the more delicate objects and smaller items yourself. If you can do all of the hauling by yourself, great! If not, try to do some of the move yourself before having the moving company hop in to handle the rest. If you can cut down some of the time it takes them to complete the job, it’ll significantly slash the money you spend hiring them.

Triple check your old residence before you leave for good.

You don’t want to forget anything at your own dwelling. Moving is stressful and busy, so it’s easy for us to overlook something in the process. Make sure you do multiple checks. Even consider leaving the area and coming back with fresh eyes or having someone do a once-over with you to ensure there’s nothing left behind. You may also want to document your belongings/the rooms you have and have not checked prior to leaving for good.

Get insured.

Downsizing? Upsizing? Are you purchasing, or renting? Whatever the case, you’ll need to get insured. You’ll need to update your existing insurance carrier about your plans to move, but if you’re moving from an owned property to a rented one or vice versa, your policy requirements may change entirely. There’s also insurance coverage you can acquire for goods that are being moved, so that if anything happens to your possessions-in-transit, you’ll have coverage.

Insurance implications for moving…

Because moving may impact your risk factor, there are several insurance implications for moving. You’ll need to notify your broker as soon as possible. The following may impact your insurance:

• The new region you are moving to (moving from the suburbs to urban regions may increase your risk significantly)
• The new city/neighbourhood (if crime rates are higher, your risk will increase)
• Distance to safety features – such as police/fire stations
• The municipal infrastructures and risk of sewer backup
• The amount of building units
• What the new construction type is like (including aspects like age, building material, condition)
• New building systems – heating, ventilation, electricity, plumbing, and their age/condition
• The dollar value of the new coverage being requested
• Added features or installations, like a fireplace and pool

If your risk is (overall) going to increase, your premiums will likely as well. However, it’s important to note skimp out on details or lie about your new dwelling, as that may result in insufficient coverage.

The TLDR: let your insurance provider know your plans as soon as your moving date is solidified. That way, they can ensure your coverage now reflects your circumstances and you’ll have the insurance you need for peace-of-mind. For more questions about Moving Day, or moving and its impacts on your insurance coverage in general, discuss with LMBF’s friendly brokers!