Before moving long distance, it would be smart to plan everything in advance. Whenever you relocate to another country or another region of your homeland, it will take a lot of time and effort. However, there are ways to make your life easier. This article features a list of long-distance moving tips that you need to know.
The best approach is to start planning your move six to three months in advance. Some might think it's too early — but at the initial stage, you don't have to actually pack your belongings. Instead, your task is to think over all the stages of the upcoming moving:
If you move within your country, you probably won't have to do a lot of paperwork. But if you relocate abroad, prepare your passport, visa, permits, and other documents according to the legal requirements of the chosen destination.
To cut down expenses, some people prefer to move on their own. However, many regret about this decision later. It can lead to excessive stress and sometimes even injuries. Because of lack of experience, you might accidentally damage the things that are dear to you. Instead, it would be better to hire a company that specializes in providing long-distance moving services. To compare the offers, request quotes from several providers.
A worthy company meets these essential criteria:
As for the prices, they shouldn't be either too high or too low. Genuinely best businesses charge around the market average for their services or slightly higher.
Take the items that you haven't used at least once within the previous year. If you take them with you, they will occupy space inside the truck, and you'll have to pay for that. If the movers charge you per hour, the fewer things you carry with you, the less time it will take the team to handle them, and the lower your expenses.
Here is what you can do with the items that you don't need anymore:
All the options, except for the first one, will take time. You'll need to find buyers for your objects, as well as arrange meetings with your dearest and nearest or representatives of charity organizations. If the new owners can't pick up your belongings, you might need to transport the items yourself. This is why it's important to schedule everything in advance.
High Stream Moving is proud to offer professional local and long distance moving services in Toronto and all across Canada and the USA.
The standard list of supplies includes boxes, tape guns, bubble wrap, packing paper, and markers to label the boxes. To reduce expenses, ask your friends and family members whether they have spare supplies and can share them with you at no cost.
Feel free to start packing right after signing the contract with the moving company. The easiest way out is to do everything on your own. However, this variant suits only people who have enough time. Those who are too busy with work or other commitments might prefer to ask for help.
Friends and relatives might be eager to assist you for free. However, they might change their plans at the last moment — for example, because they feel unwell, or their kids require urgent attention.
Alternatively, professional movers can help you. This service will involve a surcharge, but you can be sure your things will be packed quickly and securely. The movers can bring all the necessary supplies with them, or you can provide them with tape, boxes, and so on. The first option can cost slightly more, but it's preferable, because the movers can guarantee the quality of the supplies that they bring with them. If you give the boxes to them, and the cardboard gets torn halfway there, it will be your fault.
Choose sturdy, clean, dry, and infestation-free boxes. Before filling them, tape their sides and bottom. Make sure the load of each one doesn't exceed 50 pounds. Label the boxes on all sides (or at least two of them) with contents, destination room, and special instructions. If you have many rooms, use a dedicated marker color for each one to avoid confusion upon arrival.
Start packing the contents of the areas that you don't visit every day, like the attic, basement, and garage. They tend to be the most challenging, because people usually leave miscellaneous things there, which are hard to sort and pack.
Put all the boxes in a specific room of your old home, so that movers can pick them from there. Avoid placing the boxes on the way where they will become an obstacle.
Assign a dedicated box to each family member to put the most essential items there, such as slippers, toothbrush, and so on. Instead of loading these boxes in the truck, always keep them by your side.
Consider insuring everything that is costly, large, fragile, or especially dear to you. It can be, for example, jewelry, works of art, or musical instruments. Pack them separately from the other belongings, and never leave them unattended until you reach your ultimate destination.
If you have pets, take them for a veterinary checkup. Vaccinate them according to the requirements of your new destination — this might need to be done months in advance. Decide how you will move your dog, cat, bird, or whoever you have — in a plane, in a car, or with the help of dedicated pet movers.
Get medical and school records for everyone who moves together with you. Ask your family doctor whether you need any extra documents and obtain them. Choose a good school for your kids and contact it before you move to discuss the transfer.
Three weeks before you go, arrange for disconnection of your current utilities. In a week, change your address with the USPS. Plan activation of utilities in your new home by phone, by mail, or online.
Your friends will miss you, so it's important to meet them in person one last time. Inform them about the party well in advance. Promise them to stay in touch on social networks or through other channels of communication.
Make sure to be present in your old home while the movers will be transporting your belongings into trucks. Clear the pathways. Keep your pets and kids in a faraway room so that they don't interfere. Reserve parking and elevator times for your movers, and provide them access to a bathroom. Prepare tips — but give them only when the entire scope of work is done, and if you are genuinely satisfied with the quality of service.
Hopefully, this article came in handy for you, and now you better understand how to plan a long distance move. It's a challenging task, but if you know how to handle it, you should be able to cope with it rather enjoyably. We'll be glad to help you with moving! Feel free to contact us right now to discuss your situation and get a free quote. We'll transport your things to a new destination securely and reliably.