How early you need to begin preparations depends on your situation, but 6-12 months in advance is best to arrange everything smoothly.
Moving your belongings and family across the country requires significant planning in advance. While an impromptu road trip may sound exciting, a lack of preparation for a long-distance relocation could result in major headaches.
Properly arranged moving services across canada services ensure your prized possessions and loved ones safely arrive at your new home.
This article will discuss recommendations on when to kickstart organizing a big interprovincial move. We’ll overview key steps to schedule at various periods leading up to your journey across the nation.
How Soon Should You Start Planning Your Cross-Country Move?
Ideally, start preparations 6 to 12 months before your expected moving date. That may sound early, but coordinating a smooth transition over thousands of kilometers takes significant lead time.
Here is a general timeline recommending when to begin arranging key parts of your relocation:
- 12+ Months Before – Begin research and initial planning
- 6-12 Months Before – Interview national moving companies and book services
- 2-3 Months Before – Final vendor arrangements and packing preparations
- 1 Month Before – Finalize details and immediate pre-move tasks
While every situation differs slightly, the above timeline allows adequate leeway to avoid last-minute scrambling.
Few people regret beginning the relocation process too early. However, many lament leaving everything until the final weeks.
Let’s explore what steps you should take during each suggested preparation phase…
12+ Months Before Your Move
A year or more ahead, start occasional research in your spare time. Casually browse neighborhood rent/purchase listings in your expected destination city.
Jot down locations that meet wants like:
- Proximity to workplaces
- High-ranking school districts
- Particular amenities and conveniences
This early information gathering helps narrow down areas to focus your later hunting efforts.
Additionally, calculate a moving budget and start saving amounts each month to cover anticipated expenses like:
- National moving company services
- Rental truck fees
- Storage locker costs
- Hotel stays along your drive
- Takeout meals en route
- Unexpected overages and emergencies
Having an earmarked Moving Fund prevents finance scrambling right beforehand.
6-12 Months Before Moving
Half a year out, shift preparations into high gear with essential steps like:
- Request quotes from and interview moving companies specializing in long-distance relocations. Obtain ballpark rates for envisioned services required based on your situational factors like:
- Number of rooms needing packing/loading
- Special handling needs (e.g. piano, artwork)
- Number and sizes of storage pods required
- Additional labor hours expected
- Choice of rental moving truck or relocation container unit
- Book your preferred national mover to lock in dates and guarantees before their schedule fills.
- Research requirements to import/export vehicles, transfer professional licenses occupationally, forward mail, etc. between provinces.
- De-clutter items are not worth moving long distances. Donate non-essentials and purge unnecessary possessions.
Handling those primary undertakings 6+ months pre-move grants peace knowing key details fall into place.
2-3 Months Before Your Move
60-90 days out, finalize service arrangements and prepare households for packing:
- Confirm all details with your long-distance mover covering expected pickup/delivery dates, number of pods/trucks needed, storage plans for belongings arriving ahead of you, etc.
- Schedule disconnection/connection dates for utilities like internet services not remaining with dwellings.
- Plan child/pet travel logistics adjoining your long drive – hotels accepting animals, entertainment options mid-trek, etc.
- Begin sequentially packing non-essential items – seasonal clothes, kitchen gadgets easily lived without, decorations, etc. This prevents deadline overwhelm leaving everything to the final days.
- Hold any pre-move sales for large furnishings not traveling with you or leftover possessions.
Those undertakings make your upcoming exodus smooth sailing.
1 Month Before You Depart
In the final 30 days, shift into overdrive rounding up moving preparation checklists:
- Confirm pickup/delivery dates with your interprovincial moving service.
- Finalize travel plans between former and new homes.
- Book pet boarding if not traveling with your family.
- Transfer prescriptions to pharmacies at your destination.
- Begin packing your road trip suitcases – clothes, snacks, emergency kits.
- Empty freezers
- Hot Tip: Avoid accidentally defrosting frozen foods during multi-day relocations by using dry ice in coolers. 17 pounds lasts approx. 3 days!
- Drain equipment with fluids – lawnmowers, gas grills.
- Disassemble any bulky furnishings needing reassembly.
- Label moving boxes by room for organized unpacking.
- Say heartfelt goodbyes to close friends/neighbors. You’ll stay connected online!
In Closing
Hopefully, this overview gives adequate guidance on when preparations should commence for smoothly orchestrating interprovincial moves.
Generally 6-12 months grants leeway handling necessities without last-minute pitfalls. However, any preparations, even starting 1-2 years early, help guarantee the safe transport of treasured families and belongings across our grand country.
