14-Day Packing Plan for a Kelowna Move (Tote Rental Guide)
Updated: 2 days ago
The easiest way to pack for a Kelowna move is to spread it over 14 days: get your moving tote rental dropped off two weeks before move day, pack one zone of the house at a time, and finish with a first-night tote. That is exactly what a Bin Ready package covers: clean 102L plastic moving boxes, a free dolly and 14 days to use them, from $99. This plan works for houses, condos and apartments in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country, Vernon and Penticton.
Here's how it works. We drop off sanitized black totes with yellow snap-on lids. You pack and move, or hire a crew to drive. When you're done, we pick up the empty totes. No cardboard to buy, no tape guns, and no flattened boxes piling up in the carport.
Why 14 days is the sweet spot for packing
Packing a full home almost always takes longer than people expect. Squeeze it into a weekend and things get thrown into whatever box is closest, rooms get mixed up and fragile items get rushed. Stretch it over a month and you end up living out of totes, digging for the colander you packed in week one.
Two weeks is the middle ground. It works out to an hour or two on weeknights plus a couple of longer weekend blocks. You never pack more than one or two zones at once, and the house stays livable until the last few days.
Before day 1: pick the right tote package
Every package includes a free dolly, free drop-off and free pickup of the empties, and covers 14 days from delivery:
Start: 20 totes, $99. Studios, dorm moves or a partial move.
Apartment: 30 totes, $149. Most one- and two-bedroom apartments and condos.
Home: 40 totes, $189. A typical two- to three-bedroom home.
Family: 65 totes, $249. Larger family homes with a full garage.
Need longer? It's just $2 a tote per extra week. Need more totes? 36¢ a day each. Not sure how many you need? Our how many moving totes guide breaks it down room by room.
Days 1 to 3: the things you won't miss
Start with everything you won't touch before move day. In the Okanagan in October, that's a lot of summer gear.
Lake toys, beach towels, patio cushions and camping gear.
Holiday decorations, keepsakes and photo albums.
Off-season clothes. Summer wear goes now and winter coats stay out.
Garage shelves and basement boxes. Our garage packing guide covers tools and what not to pack.
Sort as you go. Anything you're donating or selling gets set aside now, so you're not paying to move it.
Days 4 to 7: books, closets and spare rooms
Books, records and games. Fill heavy items only halfway, then top up with linens so each tote stays easy to lift.
Spare bedroom and office: files, craft supplies, extra bedding.
Closets: keep one week of clothes out per person and pack the rest.
Wall art and décor. Wrap frames in towels and stand them upright in a tote.
Days 8 to 11: kitchen, living room and bathrooms
This is the big stretch. Pack the kitchen down to a survival kit: a couple of plates, cups, a pan, a knife and the coffee maker. Our kitchen packing guide shows how to protect dishes inside snap-lid totes.
Kitchen: small appliances, baking dishes, glassware, the pantry.
Living room: décor, media, cables (bag and label by device).
Bathrooms: extra towels and back-stock. Keep daily toiletries out.
No perishable food, leaking liquids, paint or fuel in totes. Keep them clean for the next family.
Days 12 and 13: last rooms and the first-night tote
Pack the remaining bedrooms and the last of the kitchen. Then fill one or two first-night totes per household: bedding, a change of clothes, chargers, toiletries, medications, paper towels, a kettle and kids' favourite things. Mark them clearly and load them last so they come off the truck first.
If you're in a Kelowna or West Kelowna condo, confirm your elevator booking and loading zone now. Our strata move-day guide has a full checklist.
Day 14: move day
Stack totes three or four high by room, close to the door.
Use the free dolly to roll stacks from the house to your truck, trailer or SUV.
Fall rain is common in the valley. Snap lids keep everything dry from the driveway to the new place.
Avoid Highway 97 rush hour if you can. Midweek mornings are usually the calmest.
Unpack at your own pace inside your rental period. When the totes are empty, let us know and we'll pick them up. That's it.
Tips to keep your 14-day packing plan on track
Write the room and a number on a label card and slide it into the clear plastic label sleeve on the side of every tote.
Keep a simple note on your phone: tote number and what's inside.
Pack heaviest items at the bottom and lighter items on top.
Do one zone at a time and finish it before starting the next.
More ideas live on our moving tips page and the Bin Ready blog.
FAQ: packing for a Kelowna move with rental totes
How early should I get moving totes before a Kelowna move?
About two weeks before move day. Every Bin Ready package covers 14 days, which gives you time to pack calmly, move and unpack.
What if I need the totes longer than 14 days?
Keep them as long as you need. Each extra week is $2 per tote, so an Apartment package for three weeks is $149 + $60 = $209. See the FAQ for details.
Do you move my belongings or store them?
No. Bin Ready is not a moving company. We drop off clean, empty totes and a dolly, and pick up the empty totes after your move. We don't haul full totes and we don't hold belongings.
Which areas do you deliver moving totes to?
Kelowna (including Glenmore, Dilworth, Upper and Lower Mission and Rutland), West Kelowna, Lake Country, Peachland, Vernon and Penticton. Drop-off and pickup are free.
Ready to start your 14 days? Questions? Call or text (250) 826-6990.
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