November recorded 39,253 Canadian households flagged as pre-movers, a 28% month-over-month decline from October and one of the steepest monthly drops of 2025. This pullback is consistent with historical patterns, as listing activity typically contracts heading into winter — but this year’s decline was more pronounced across nearly every province.
Despite the slowdown, tens of thousands of Canadian households are actively preparing to move, creating meaningful engagement opportunities for marketers ahead of the spring cycle.
🔍Provincial Highlights
- Ontario dropped to 20,460 households (↓ 26% MoM), maintaining just over half of national activity despite the softening.
- Quebec fell to 7,525 households (↓ 26% MoM), returning to levels last seen in early summer.
- British Columbia cooled to 4,523 households (↓ 32% MoM), following two months of sharp declines.
- Alberta saw pre-movers fall to 3,826 households (↓ 32% MoM), mirroring slower new listings across the province.
- Manitoba eased to 730 households (↓ 35% MoM), the largest regional decline this month.
- Saskatchewan dipped to 665 households (↓ 29% MoM), continuing its gradual late-year contraction.
- Nova Scotia decreased to 524 households (↓ 35% MoM), while New Brunswick fell to 632 households (↓ 33% MoM).
- Newfoundland & Labrador dropped to 272 households (↓ 33% MoM).
- Prince Edward Island recorded 96 households (↓ 24% MoM), consistent with its small-market variability.
💡 What This Means for You
While November marks the annual low point in the move cycle, pre-mover households remain highly engaged, actively researching services and making purchasing decisions long before their actual move date. For marketers in real estate, home services, insurance, retail, or financial products, this phase is still a critical moment to build early awareness and win consideration ahead of spring’s surge.
With fewer consumers in motion, competition for attention decreases — making this an ideal time to reach motivated households before your competitors re-enter the market in Q1.
📩 Leverage Cleanlist’s Pre-Mover Data
Cleanlist’s Pre-Mover dataset identifies households preparing to relocate — often weeks or months before they move. With Cleanlist, you can:
- Target pre-movers by geography, household characteristics, or listing status
- Reach them before competitors do
- Align your offers with key decision-making moments in the move journey
👉 Cleanlist offers a free personalized data discovery report to show you the exact size of your pre-mover audience in any region of Canada.
