The 6 Best Long Distance Moving Tips
October, 2021
Whether you’re moving across Canada or to a nearby city, a big move can be stressful. You probably have a lot of changes ahead of you including a new job, new friends, and new surroundings.
In your college days, moving may have been as simple as throwing a suitcase in your trunk and hitting the road. Now that you’ve accumulated more stuff, a long-distance move requires more planning. After all, you want to start your new life on a positive note.
That’s why we’ve put together the best long distance moving tips for a smooth transition.
Prep and plan
Because moving day can creep up on you, planning ahead is crucial. It helps to make a checklist of everything you need to do before your move.
Here’s a quick checklist to get you started:
- Choose a moving company.
- Create a moving expenses budget.
- Inform work, family and friends of your moving dates.
- Host a garage sale or post items online.
- Plan how to move fragile items such as pianos and fine art.
- Make sure you have enough moving supplies.
- Create an inventory of valuables.
- Put all hardware in labelled baggies for easy furniture reassembly.
- Measure doorways, elevators and stairways.
- Label boxes and be sure to indicate fragile items.
Make a schedule
Moving disrupts our routines and creates a lot of upheaval. It may be hard to keep track of what day it is, let alone what you need to do that day.
Creating a clear schedule will help you stay on top of things. Whether you use a calendar, note-taking app, or simply write it all down in a journal, try to mark important targets and dates.
Notify the post office and utility companies
For both short and long distance moves you’ll want to notify Canada Post of your new address. You can get a change of address form from the post office or fill one out online.
You’ll also need to tell your utility companies that you’re moving. You may have to discontinue or change accounts, so be sure to do this at least a month before you move.
Get an in-home moving estimate
Find a reliable moving company and get an in-home estimate. It’s important to consider more than just the price. It’s also a good idea to research their qualifications, insurance, experience, and Google reviews.
You can prepare for the in-home estimate by making a list of items that you’ll be moving to your new home. This will help speed up the process on the day of the estimate.
Questions to ask the moving company:
- What’s included in the cost (packing, unpacking, disassembly, padding, etc.)?
- Are your movers security cleared and bonded?
- Is your company fully insured?
- Are there any incidental fees I should know about?
- Is this a final estimate, or could I end up with other fees on moving day?
Make lodging reservations
For a long-distance move you may need to make hotel reservations for any stop-off points on your journey. You’ll also need to book accommodations if there is lag time between your move-out and move-in dates.
Be sure to make your lodging reservations at least a month ahead of time so you’re not stuck with limited options.
Develop a decluttering system
Thanks to Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, decluttering is all the rage nowadays. But tidying up rarely feels very magical in the moment—especially when you have a lot of other moving details on your mind. Creating a simple decluttering system will make things easier.
Organize the stuff you don’t want into categories: keep, toss, sell, give away. Next, consider how you want to go about selling and giving away items. Popular options include a garage sale, online marketplace, charity pickup, and donation bins.
We’re here to help
With over 70 years in the business, Boyd is one of Canada’s most trusted moving companies. Our experienced team and well-established process ensures fast and efficient service that you can rely on. Request a moving quote.
