Canadians are moving on up! More than 200,000 Canadians moved provinces in 2021. Many of these moves were long-distance moves, with some people even moving from one side of the country to the other. 

A long-distance move can help you find a better job, a more affordable house, and new friends. However, it can also be daunting and stressful. Well before your moving day, you need to prepare for a smooth and successful move. 

What should your first steps be? How can you sort through your items and pack everything you need? What should you do to protect your job and friendships? 

Answer these questions and you can master the long-distance move today. Here is your comprehensive guide.

Start planning early

You should start planning for Kemptville long-distance moves as soon as you know you need to move. Set a date for when you need to be in your new town. If you’re moving for work, you may want to move a few days before you start your job so you can settle in. 

Once you have a date picked, you should make a to-do list. Account for small things, including taking out cash from the bank to pay your movers. Organize your list in order of how essential each item is, and label each item with a time stamp so you know when you need to do it. 

Sort through your items

In addition to your to-do list, you should write an inventory list. Go through your home and catalogue everything you own. Don’t forget about items you have in a self-storage unit or a friend’s house.

Once your list is complete, look it over and determine if there is anything you do not want to take with you. Find these items and put them off to the side. Throw out anything that is broken, outdated, or useless.

If you are moving into a smaller property, you need to be conservative with what you will take. You should give away clothes you don’t wear often and books and movies you haven’t enjoyed in years.

If you’re looking to make a little extra money, you can sell your belongings. You can organize a garage sale or sell your items through an online retailer. If you cannot find anyone willing to buy your items, you should give them to a thrift store.

Pack your items

Order packing supplies in Kemptville at least two months in advance of your move. You should get cardboard boxes and plastic crates. If you have luggage or handbags, you can put some belongings in them. 

Before you start packing your items, you should figure out where they will go in your new home. If you can visit your new home, you should get a tour of the property and look at the layout. You can otherwise use a floor plan and photographs to decide on where to put everything. 

If you have a lot of items, you should start packing two months before your move. Start with items you will eventually use, like seasonal clothing. 

Label each box with a description of what is inside and where the box should go. Then put your items inside the box. To save room, you can wrap your clothes into logs and then put rubber bands around them. 

You should read a guide on how to pack plates so they don’t break. You can use foam sheets and other tools to protect them. Place heavy items on the bottom and stack items carefully on top of each other so they don’t spill over to the side.

You can bring bulky items like cabinets and electric appliances with you. You can protect these items by wrapping them in paper and placing foam corners on them. 

The week before your move, you should pack an essentials bag. This bag should contain important documents and critical items like your medications, clothes for the week, and toiletries.

Look at different moving companies

Two months before your move, you should start looking at different Kemptville residential moving companies. Get estimates from each company and compare their figures to each other. 

However, you should not hire a company just because it offers cheap services. You should read customer reviews and talk to your friends about the companies they like. Many companies include client reviews on the front page of their website.

Some people like to move their items by themselves. But this can be extremely stressful, especially if you have a lot of things to move. At a minimum, you should consult with a  moving company to make sure you are doing everything correctly.

Make sure you tell your company what stuff you are bringing with you. The more things you bring and the heavier your items are, the more expensive the services will be. Read the company’s description of their residential moving services so you know what the prices are.

You’re not done once you’ve picked a moving company to work with. You should set a pick-up time and keep in touch with the company in case you need to move additional items.

Buy moving insurance

You should always buy moving insurance before any long-distance move. Even if you are very careful, your boxes can shift, and items can break. 

Some moving companies offer insurance policies that you can buy. Some of these policies are included with the cost of the move while others need to be purchased separately. You should read the terms of the quote your moving company is offering to see if you need to buy insurance. 

You should also read the terms of the insurance policy itself. Some policies do not cover everything, and you may need to take certain steps in order to receive compensation. 

You can hire a moving company that does not offer its own insurance packages. Many insurers offer packages for their customers who are moving. Talk to an insurance agent and buy a package that covers what you are taking with you, including your car.

Update your documents

Changing addresses means you have to change your information with many organizations. Some cities require you to update your driver’s license and vehicle registration within a few weeks of moving. You can start the process in advance by letting the Ministry of Transport know about your move. 

You should also contact your insurance and utility companies at least six weeks in advance of moving day. Set a time to shut off the utilities in your old home so you won’t pay for services you are not using. Ask your insurer about the doctors you can use in your new town.

If you are a member of a local club, you need to cancel your membership at least one month in advance. If you will maintain your membership with the club, you should let them know where you will be.

Remember your job

You should only make a long-distance move if you know your job is secure. Touch base with your boss and make sure everything is okay with them. If you are going to quit your job, you should let your boss know and find a way you can transition out of your responsibilities.

Tell your clients and coworkers about your move as well. You may want to ask a coworker to take over a few clients for you so you have time to think about and execute your move.

You should also talk to your new boss and learn about your new job. If you have time, you can go to your new office and check how things are.

Keep in touch with everyone

You can tell your family and friends about your move whenever you are ready. Try to reach out to as many people as possible. Someone’s feelings may be hurt if you don’t tell them personally that you are moving. 

You can throw a goodbye party the week before your move. If you prefer something smaller-scale, you can meet with your best friends and family members one-on-one over a few weeks. Make sure you get their contact information so you can contact them after the move is over.