Planning and executing a cross-country move is no small undertaking. Of course the idea of exploring new neighbourhoods and meeting new people is exciting, but it can be a bit daunting at the same time. In order to make sure your move goes as smoothly as possible, there are a number of things you need to consider.
Obviously, you need to get yourself to your new location, and you will have belongings to move as well. Often, you don’t even realize how much you have accumulated over the years until you get to the point of having to box it up and move it. You probably also have furniture that you want to move. There are a number of ways you can do this:
You see U-Haul trailers, trucks and vans everywhere. They are reasonably convenient, but not always your cheapest option, and of course you have to do all the loading and unloading yourself. If you have a spirit of adventure, and you don’t mind driving through Canadian snowstorms, or maneuvering through the tight, winding streets in old cities like Montreal, this might be a good option for you. If you’re easily stressed, though, you might want to consider another option, or at the very least plan on sticking to hotels on city outskirts when it’s time for a rest.
Cross country moving can also be made a bit easier if you buy a used camper van. Of course, this is only going to work for you if you don’t have a great deal of furniture or belongings to move. The advantage, though, is that you can often pick up used camper vans for just a couple thousand dollars, and you’ll have a place to sleep while you’re in transit (assuming that you’re moving in the late spring to early fall). You won’t even have to pay for camping – Wal-Mart has a policy of allowing vans and RVs to park in their lots, and you can always find a Wal-Mart. Then, when you arrive at your destination, you can sell the van.
The only problem with this approach is that a cross country move is going to put a lot of kilometers on the vehicle, and you could end up on the hook for costly repairs along the way.
You might be surprised at how cost-effective professional moving can be. Leaving your belongings in the hands of the professionals can take a lot of stress out of a cross country move. You can pack everything up yourself if you like, and save a bit of money, or leave everything to your moving company. Then all you have to worry about is your own transportation.
You might think that you have everything covered when it comes to your mail – you’ve let everyone know that you’re moving, and provided them with your new address. The reality, though, is that there’s bound to be someone you forgot. For a small fee, Canada Post will forward your mail for six months, so you’ll never have to worry about not getting your important mail. Just make sure to contact the senders of your forwarded mail before the six months is up.
Your cross country move is also a great time to clean house and get rid of things you don’t like well enough to transport. Place ads on Kijiji, or have a yard sale. You might make a bit of money to put towards the move, or to new furniture when you get to your destination.
Your cross country move can be relatively stress-free. You are off on a new adventure, and with proper planning, it might even be fun!
