Moving into a new home should be an exciting time, but without proper planning and organization, the whole experience can quickly turn into an overwhelming ordeal.

Here are some tips for packing up your home. Plus, to help make MOVING DAY go smoothly, there are ideas for planning ahead, with handy to-do lists and organising tips.

Download our handy moving packing and preparation checklist! 

The kitchen is a particularly tricky room to pack, check out the video below for KITCHEN PACKING TIPS.

Moving into a new home should be an exciting time, but without proper planning and organization, the whole experience can quickly turn into an overwhelming ordeal.

To help ease the anxieties of moving day, here’s a handy to-do list to keep you organized and on-track:

• A (Clean) Place to Rest Your Head

Let’s face it: it’s unlikely that you’re going to get everything unpacked on day one (surviving the move is an accomplishment in itself!). The key to a successful day two is getting a good night’s rest and the key to that is having a proper bed to sleep on. Make rest a priority by setting aside a set of clean bed linens and pillows for every member of the family.

• Your Carry-On

While moving is hardly a vacation, it’s a smart idea to pack a carry-on bag (and have your kids pack bags) as if it were. Think of it as the ultimate staycation: pack toiletries, a change of clothes, prescription medications, contact lens solution, soap and anything else you’ll need to make yourself comfortable.

• Pet Supplies

Moving day can be stressful for pets – all the excitement and a new environment can be confusing and a bit scary. Help make the day less daunting for pets by being equipped with food, their water bowl, special treats and favourite toys.

• Protective Gear

Whether you’re looking for a returned security deposit or you want to avoid denting furniture and chipping paint on your first day in your new home, protective gear like padding, extra cardboard pieces and blankets are key. If you’re hiring movers, ask ahead before you hunt for these things yourself – they might have these supplies available to use during the move.

• First-Aid Fundamentals

Accidents happen – especially during a high-stress time like moving day. Be sure to have a first-aid kit on hand and keep it stocked with bandages and other essentials to help deal with any minor scrapes and bumps.

• A Caffeine Boost - stay hydrated

No matter how well-equipped you are, there’s no way around it: moving is exhausting. Be prepared to give yourself a pick-me-up by having designated supplies for making coffee (or tea or matcha or whatever you prefer) packed separately. Don’t forget the filters!

• Snacks and Hydration

Don’t forget to feed the troops! Pre-plan to have plenty of water, grab-and-go snacks and a few treats on hand to keep family, friends and movers energized. You don’t need to be fancy, either – ordering takeout like pizza is always a popular option.

• A Way In - KEYS

You finally arrive at your brand new home, walk up the door and… you can’t get in. It might seem obvious, but keys are one of the easiest things to misplace on moving day – igniting a huge hassle. Keep old and new keys in a secure place (preferably on your body) so you’ll have them when you need them.

• A Shower Curtain

Picture this: you’ve spent the past 12 hours dealing with movers, lugging boxes up and down stairs and sweating through the stress of moving day. You’re dirty, grimy and smelly – all you want to do is take a nice, hot shower to feel like a human again. The problem? You have no idea where you packed your shower curtain. Be smart and set a shower curtain aside with other bathroom essentials.

• Toilet Paper

Speaking of bathroom essentials, one of the easiest things to forget about is toilet paper. Unpack a few rolls (as well as some hand soap and towels) first thing when you arrive.

• Cold, Hard Cash

While you may use cards to pay for most things on a regular day, moving day is special – so it’s a good idea to hit the ATM in advance. From tipping movers to sending someone to grab pizza for the crew, cash on hand can save time and make things easier on the day.

• Tools of the Trade

From taking apart and then assembling furniture to quick adjustments on cabinets and drawers, having a toolbox stocked with the essentials will save you a lot of trouble on moving day. You might even want to throw in a tool belt if you have one for added convenience (and style).

• Power-Up Provisions

You’re going to use your phone more than usual on moving day – from calling movers to taking photos – so it’s important not to pack your charger in the bottom of a box. Keep essential electronic chargers together and easy to find to avoid low-battery blues.

• Unboxing Gear

Once you arrive at your new place, you’re going to want to start unpacking and settling in right away. Make yourself an unboxing kit filled with essentials like scissors, a craft knife, packing tape, garbage bags and cleaning supplies.

• Important Documents

There are some papers that you probably won’t need right away, but that you absolutely can’t lose. Collect important documents like passports, birth certificates, medical records and financial documents and keep them separate and safe from the moving-day hubbub.

This award really does mean so much to LTHome!!! We are truly honoured and absolutely thrilled to be awarded the Royal LePage® Shelter Foundation™ Shelter Award, 2025 Team of the Year, Ontario! 

Thank You!!!

We are absolutely humbled to have been nominated by our Peers, our Estate Realty family - 'for going above and beyond in support of our local women's Shelter's and the Royal LePage® Shelter Foundation'.

Huge THANK YOU to all our wonderful clients, family and friends for all your support - we could not have done it without you! 

Giving Back to our community and the Royal LePage® Shelter Foundation™, is a core part of everything we do; from commission donations with each buy/sale to the annual Garage Sale, to the incredible Prom for Shelter event. In 2025, LTHome has hosted two major fundraising events and we are thrilled to have raised an incredible $9,115!!

Every dollar raised goes to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation and directly to our designated local Shelter.

Wrapping our heads around the new reality of the Toronto real estate market—and recognizing that it’s actually a great place to be.

Here at LTHome, 2025 was a strong year. We had the opportunity to reconnect with past clients, assist referral clients, and guide new buyers and sellers on their journey to Bringing their dreams home. 

With average city prices down a modest 2.30% and days on market inching slightly higher, we’ve been working diligently behind the scenes—monitoring market trends and refining our strategies—to ensure our clients are well positioned in this evolving landscape.

With total sales in Toronto down 5.79% and listings up 7.46%, it’s clear that the frenzy of the pandemic market is behind us. While headlines often frame this as a challenging market, the reality is quite the opposite—this is the market many of us have been waiting for. As interest rates come down and stabilize at more realistic levels, the era of buyers sitting on the sidelines waiting for “cheaper money” is fading.

Want to see more about specific area’s of the GTA CLICK HERE

Today’s Toronto market has slowed to a healthier pace, giving buyers the opportunity to explore their options, perform proper due diligence, and find homes that truly meet their needs—rather than settling for whatever they can secure. Sellers who are also buying stand to benefit as well, with lower borrowing costs over the long term when both transactions take place in the same market.

For sellers moving out of the city or on to their next chapter, it’s important to remember that homes are still selling. With the right Realtor® and a smart, market-aware strategy, success is absolutely achievable—and Bringing your dreams home.

Thank you for the opportunity, throughout 2025, to help reach your real estate goals!! Your success is our success in our award achievement, as we reached the Top 2% in Canada!

Giving Back is always a core priority throughout the year for LTHOME & 2025 was no different.
We hosted our first PROM for SHELTER!! It was so much fun and we raised a lot of money for The Red Door Family Shelter. Stay tuned for more info coming soon on PROM 2026!!!

The annual Garage Sale for Shelter was back for another year in May, raising over $3,000 the RLP Shelter Foundation. ​

When you are having a spring clean, think of LTHome for any items that would be great for our 2026 Garage Sale! More info will be coming in the spring.

Fall is a busy time for WALKING at LTHome, as we walk to raise funds and awareness of causes important to us. In September Lainey and Lola laced up to take part in the annual Beaches Terry Fox Walk. Then over the Thanksgiving weekend Teresita's daughter walked 100km for her 3rd annual Evangeline Walks! Walking to raise funds and awareness for Covenant House in Toronto, she has to date raised over $53,000!!!

The final walk was alongside our Royal LePage Estate family for The 2nd annual Night Light Walk - bringing light and awareness, to break the silence on domestic violence - in support of our local shelter's and the incredible work that they do. The Red Door Family Shelter and ​Nellie's Shelter​

We finished off the year taking part in the The Beaches Santa Claus parade and an opportunity to celebrate our achievements in 2025!

2025 was also a year of change for LTHome, and we are excited to be looking ahead to 2026! We love to chat real estate, so message us anytime to discuss your goals for 2026!

PROM FOR SHELTER is back for a second year on Saturday, April 11th at the Legion (Coxwell & Gerrard) Click the link to find out more info and to book tickets. 

In the meantime, start planning your PROM outfit!!

A surprise snow-in is more than a change of plans, it’s also a chance to see how ready you are for a

winter emergency. 

Childhood snow days might have meant hot chocolate and sledding, but adulthood calls for a slightly different approach. With the right essentials on hand, a stormy day at home can feel less like an interruption and more like an opportunity to slow down.

Start with the basics of comfort and safety. 

- A stash of candles, extra batteries and portable charging banks will keep the lights on... and your devices connected if the power flickers out. 

- Keep a well-stocked pantry with non-perishable food items and a few easy-to-prepare meals so you won’t have to venture out when the roads are at their worst.
- Don’t forget about your car. Keeping a shovel, blanket and emergency kit close at hand, but neatly out of the way, ensures you’re ready when it’s safe to head back out.

Beyond the practical, there’s also value in adding a few fun comforts to your snow day plan.

- Experiment with a cozy drink you’ve been meaning to try, like homemade chai or a spiced latte, - Pull out a board game or puzzle. 

- Get creative! Painting, knitting or starting a craft project you’ve always put off.

- Printing photos for an album, writing in a journal or finally diving into that book waiting on your nightstand.

Snow days create space for those little things you never seem to have enough time for. By combining practical essentials with a few comforts and activities you genuinely enjoy, a snow-in can feel less disruptive and more like a welcome pause in your routine.

Wrapping our heads around the new reality of the Toronto real estate market—and recognizing that it’s actually a great place to be.

With average city prices down a modest 2.30% and days on market inching slightly higher, we’ve been working diligently behind the scenes—monitoring market trends and refining our strategies—to ensure our clients are well positioned in this evolving landscape.

With total sales in Toronto down 5.79% and listings up 7.46%, it’s clear that the frenzy of the pandemic market is behind us. While headlines often frame this as a challenging market, the reality is quite the opposite—this is the market many of us have been waiting for. As interest rates come down and stabilize at more realistic levels, the era of buyers sitting on the sidelines waiting for “cheaper money” is fading.

Want to see more about specific area’s of the GTA CLICK HERE

Today’s Toronto market has slowed to a healthier pace, giving buyers the opportunity to explore their options, perform proper due diligence, and find homes that truly meet their needs—rather than settling for whatever they can secure. Sellers who are also buying stand to benefit as well, with lower borrowing costs over the long term when both transactions take place in the same market.

For sellers moving out of the city or on to their next chapter, it’s important to remember that homes are still selling. With the right Realtor® and a smart, market-aware strategy, success is absolutely achievable—and Bringing your dreams home.

We are proud supporters of the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation benefiting Women and Children escaping violence. Royal LePage is the only Canadian real estate company with its own charitable foundation and is Canada’s largest public foundation dedicated exclusively to funding women’s shelters and violence prevention programs; another reason why we love what we do!

We support the Shelter Foundation through commission donations from every sale we do and other fundraising events through the year. With our local charity designated as the Red Door Shelter.

For the last 13 years, one of our biggest fundraising events is the Garage Sale for Shelter, over the years, BonsellHomes and now LTHome, has raised over $30,000!

New for 2025, PROM FOR SHELTER raised an incredible $6,825!!

RLP Shelter Foundation Impact Report

In 2025 the Shelter Foundation published an inaugural Impact Report. This important publication takes a broad look at the state of Intimate Partner Violence in Canada. It also highlights the meaningful ways in which they are creating safer futures—ensuring everyone has a place to call home, free from fear and harm.

Click here to read the full report

Royal LePage has set this up so that each Brokerage across the country (our brokerage is: Royal LePage Estate Realty) is associated with shelters local to their community, so any money that Brokerage or individual agents from that office raise stays within that community. At LTHome and Royal LePage Estate Realty, our fundraising dollars go directly to:

- The Red Door Shelter
- Nellie's Shelter
- The Scarborough Women's Centre

One of our favourite aspects of the Foundation is that Royal LePage Corporate covers all of the administrative costs for the foundation, so that 100% of every dollar raised goes directly to the shelter's and the people that need it.

Keep an our website and social media platforms as we often talk about events and ways you can get involved in supporting the Shelter Foundation. Plus, a portion of our commission at the Collective, from every purchase or sale, also goes to the Shelter Foundation.

At LTHome we are so grateful to be a part of this great community and so thankful to each of our clients, family & friends for supporting our business, which in turn supports the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation.

"Since its founding in 1998, the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation has proudly grown to become the largest public foundation in Canada dedicated exclusively to funding women’s shelters and domestic violence prevention. Royal LePage is the only Canadian real estate company with its own charitable foundation.

Source: Royal LePage Shelter Foundation - click to find out more.

Check out LTHome's social media post, as Lainey explains how much the RLP Shelter Foundation means to us!

Choosing a rug is one of the most foundational design decisions you’ll make when decorating your home. A rug does much more than create softness underfoot – it defines the space, anchors your furniture, and brings your entire aesthetic together. 

With so many sizes, patterns, and materials available, the options can feel overwhelming. This room-by-room guide to help you choose a rug that works for both your layout and lifestyle.

Rug selection tips

When it comes to rugs, bigger is usually better. 

One of the most common rug-buying mistakes is choosing a rug that’s too small for the space. A rug that doesn’t reach under furniture or bring the room together visually can make everything feel disconnected and unfinished. Instead, aim for a size that ties your furniture together and provides a sense of balance. A larger rug creates a grounded look and ensures the placement feels intentional.

Stuck between sizes? When in doubt, mark it out

• If you’re stuck between rug sizes, try mapping it out first. Try using painter’s tape to outline the dimensions of the rug directly on your floor. It’s a simple way to visualize how the rug will fit within the room and alongside your furniture. Experiment with different sizes and layouts!

Material Matters: Choose based on use

Rugs may look similar at first glance, but the material you choose has a big impact on how it performs over time. Here’s a quick guide to material options:

• Wool rugs are soft, naturally stain-resistant, and incredibly durable, ideal for high-traffic areas. They tend to be more expensive, but are a worthwhile investment.

• Cotton rugs are lightweight and easy to clean, though they may not hold up as long in busy rooms.

• Synthetic rugs like polypropylene are affordable, resilient, and a great choice for homes with pets or young children.

• Natural fibre rugs such as jute or sisal add beautiful texture and an organic feel, but are best suited for lower-traffic spaces or when layered under a softer rug.Your card title

Rugs by the room

Grounding your gathering space with the right rug. 

• In large or open-concept living rooms, choose a rug big enough to fit all of the main pieces of furniture entirely on the rug, like the sofa, chairs, and coffee table. This will create a cozy, unified seating area.

• In smaller living rooms, it’s okay if not every piece fits entirely on the rug. Instead, make sure the sofa’s back legs are against a wall and the front legs of all seating rest on the rug to keep the space visually balanced.

• A good rule of thumb? When you sit down, your feet should land on the rug. It’s a small detail, but it makes the room feel much more pulled together.

Rug too small? Your dining room chairs will tell you. When selecting a rug for the dining room, consider the size of your table PLUS the space around your chairs when they are pulled out.

• Aim for at least 30 inches of clearance around the table on all sides so chairs remain on the rug, even when in use. For most dining spaces, rugs in the 8′ x 10′ or 9′ x 12′ range work well.

• Since this area of the home is prone to spills, materials matter. Opt for low-pile, easy-to-clean rugs made from durable fibres. If you have kids, pets, or love to host, washable dining rugs might also be an option to consider.

Bedrooms offer a bit more flexibility when it comes to rug layout.

The size of the rug you choose depends greatly on what you’d like to be resting on top of the rug – is it just the bedframe, or accompanying furniture like nightstands and dressers? To keep things visually balanced, avoid leaving furniture half on, half off the rug. Refrain from placing a small rug at the foot or side of the bed on its own, as it can feel disconnected and out of scale.

Here are three common ways to position a rug in the bedroom:

• Just the lower third of the bed on the rug – a great option for smaller spaces or when you want to keep the look light and airy.

• A rug that extends slightly beyond the bed frame – enough to give your feet a soft landing on both sides.

• A rug large enough to fit the entire bed, nightstands, and even a dresser – perfect for a cohesive, fully grounded look in larger rooms.

Style meets function in entryways, hallways, and kitchens

• In high-traffic areas like entryways and hallways, function and durability are key. A runner or a 2′ x 3′ rug can provide comfort while still protecting your floors, especially during wet or snowy months. Look for natural fibres or low-pile synthetics that are easy to clean and durable.

• In the kitchen, a cushioned mat in front of the sink can make a big difference in comfort and support for homeowners who love to cook! Since this is a high-use space prone to spills, wipeable, washable and stain-resistant materials work best.

Final thoughts

Whether it’s a soft place for your feet to land when you get out of bed in the morning or creating a welcoming first impression at the door, a thoughtfully chosen rug can bring beauty, comfort, and personality to your home.

Source: Royal LePage Blog

Let’s walk, talk, fundraise and share in a magical night of light!

Join us for a 3K walk on October 23rd for a magical night of light under the stars in support of urgently needed resources for women and children experiencing intimate partner violence.

All proceeds are directed to Nellie's and Red Door Family Shelter, so sign up today knowing you will be making a real difference. With your support, we can help light the way forward for so many women and children who are ready to take their first brave steps away from violence.

Visit the Night Light Walk website to find out more!

About the Toronto Shelter’s we support

Nellie's opened in 1973 with a vision of being a place where every woman who steps through our doors finds a pathway to a violence-free life. More than 50 years later, we know that access to stable, affordable housing plays a key role in breaking the cycle of abuse, and we're making it happen with programs like Transitional Housing and Toronto Women in Action. Our programs empower women who are searching for a safe place to live, or who are at risk of eviction or homelessness, with referrals to resources and services, workshops on tenants' rights and housing advocacy, and help finding the furniture and other essentials that make a home complete. Your support is the foundation for the brighter future we're building together.

As Toronto’s largest family shelter, Red Door provides vital services that help families build brighter futures. After moving into their new homes, families continue to access programs like counseling, life-skills training, and food banks to support stability and well-being. These vital programs are made possible by community support, with the Royal LePage Night Walk serving as a key pathway.