Moving across Canada is no easy feat. It takes time, careful planning, and a dedicated moving team that will make sure that everything goes off without a hitch. If you’re facing the daunting task of moving across the country, here are some tried and true hacks to make the process easier on everyone.
Notwithstanding a last-minute or emergency move, you should get started on packing as soon as you are aware that a move is taking place. It doesn’t matter if you don’t even know exactly when you are moving or whether you have a new home secured. You’re moving, regardless, so you might as well start packing.
Many people find it easier to break packing down by the rooms in their home. Others prefer to pack by item type or function. Either method works. It’s all about what you prefer. In this same regard, you should try to pack as many of your non-essential items as you can well ahead of the big day.
Choose one or two rooms (or groups of items) to pack, as well as the amount of time you’ll allow yourself to complete the packing process. For example, you might decide that this week you will pack up the basement, attic, and seasonal items. Next week, you’ll tackle non-essential bedroom items and other belongings like books, movies, Having a plan like this, and putting it on paper, can help stave off feeling overwhelmed and keep you organized.
It is rare that someone who is moving will not come across a single thing in their home that they don’t absolutely need. On the contrary, most people find that when they go to move, they have way more than they realized in their household. Moving across the country is already expensive enough. Don’t pay to move junk or items you don’t really need.
Create piles or use boxes or bags for sorting. Have an area for items that just need thrown out. Create another area for items that you don’t need and divide that group into items that you want to sell and items that can be donated. This process can be done while you’re packing and is a great way to cut your moving costs. Plus, you’ll start off in your new home with a clutter-free, comfortable space when you purge all the excess.
The ultimate moving hack, for those who can afford it, is to just let movers do all the work. Moving companies do offer packing assistance, if you’re interested in a hands-free moving solution. Maybe you don’t like packing, or maybe you just don’t have the time. Either way, you can hire movers and laborers to help you pack up all of your belongings.
Keep in mind that movers aren’t going to sort your stuff for you, so you might still want to do that on your own and get rid of anything you can. It still frees up a lot of your time because you just have to sort and organize items and let them do the rest. Plus, while they’re packing, you can work on other things that need your attention.
Never take the first quote that you get. This goes for anything in life, but especially for a move across the country. Moving services are all different. Companies have different rates and may or may not include certain extras or services in their quotes. Plus, if you don’t shop around, you can’t guarantee that you’re getting the best deal.
Use a third-party moving services portal to get multiple quotes from Canadian moving companies and compare the services that you are offered to the rates being quoted. Instead of looking for the cheapest rates, look for the best value.
Moving companies usually offer insurance with their services, but there are different kinds of insurance that you should be looking for. Any company worth their salt should guarantee that your items are insured and protected against damage while in their possession.
However, if they require you to purchase insurance separately, or if you’re considering a self-move, you might want to look into other ways to protect your items. Most home and renter’s insurance programs cover situations like moving. If they don’t automatically cover moving, many policies will offer additional coverage for a few dollars more a month. This may be a cheaper option than buying insurance through a moving company or truck rental service.
Moving day is stressful enough for people but imagine how your pets feel. They’re just put in a car, hauled across the country, and put into a new home where nothing smells familiar and their people are coming and going all the time, trying to finish the move. We’ve all heard stories of dogs disappearing after a move because of the stress, or in the case of local moves, even going back to their old house because it is familiar.
If you’re moving with pets, keep these tips in mind to make the process easier on them:
The Ultimate Hack: Do Your Homework
The internet has put the entire world at your fingertips. If you really want to get the most out of your long distance move, plan ahead and do some research. Use the tips here, along with other information that you find, to come up with a plan and better understand the moving process. Not only will this save you a lot of stress, but it could save you a lot of money on your move when you’re going all the way across the country.
