The Week Before Demolition Day: A Homeowner's Checklist

Confirm the paperwork

Make sure you have, in hand or on file:

• The City of Richmond Hill demolition permit, ready to post on site
• Written utility disconnection confirmations
• The Designated Substance Survey and any abatement clearance
• Tree permits and hoarding approvals, if they apply

Double-check the utilities

Obtain each provider's completion confirmation and check that it covers the services and building in the demolition scope. A booking, an unanswered request or the visible presence of a meter does not establish safe service status. Follow up with the provider where anything is unclear; do not test or handle the service yourself. Demolition waits until the required disconnections are confirmed.

Empty the house completely

Walk every room, closet, attic and crawl space. Check the garage and shed. Take anything you want to keep, and drop off paint, propane tanks, batteries and chemicals at a York Region depot. Anything left behind usually becomes debris. If there's a lot of household junk, junk and debris removal can clear it before demolition day.

Trees, neighbours and the street

Check that tree hoarding is up where it's required and hasn't been moved. Remind neighbours of the start date and let them know about trucks. Move your own cars off the driveway, and clear anything from the side yards that the machines will need to pass. Take photos of the neighbouring fences and driveways so you have a record.

Talk to your contractor one last time

A short call a few days before the start is worth it. Confirm the start time, where trucks will park, where bins will go and who your contact is on the day. Ask if there is anything else they need from you, such as a gate code or a key. It also gives you a chance to mention any last changes, like a plant you have decided to keep or a neighbour who has asked about the schedule.

Prepare the site for machines

The crew needs room to work, so a little site prep goes a long way:

• Move garden furniture, planters and bins out of the way
• Clear the driveway so trucks can back in
• Unlock gates and side yards
• Mark any sprinkler heads, septic parts or features you want kept
• Point out buried lines you know about, such as lights or irrigation

Plan for the days after

Think about where you'll park, how mail will be delivered and whether you need the bins or mailbox moved. If you're living next door or nearby, know that there'll be noise and trucks for a few days. And if your builder is starting soon after, confirm with them that the lot will be left the way they need it, so nobody is surprised when the demolition crew leaves.

When it makes sense to bring in a professional

Your demolition contractor should be going through this list with you. A good crew confirms the permits and disconnects, checks the hoarding and plans the machine route before arriving. If you're feeling unsure about any of it, it's worth asking them to walk the site again that week. Our residential demolition page describes how we prepare, and our guide on what the City requires covers the paperwork.

Conclusion

A calm final week comes down to checking the permits, confirming the utilities, emptying the house and letting the neighbours know. Tick those off and demolition day tends to run smoothly. TrueNorth Demolition Richmond Hill goes through this list with every client. Request a free estimate to plan yours.