AMJ’s Advice from the Expert: Moving Out of Province

An out-of-province move can be an exciting time for you and your family, but the job can be daunting to coordinate. We spoke with AMJ Professional Relocation Consultant Trevor Frappier, who gave us some insight into the out-of-province moving process. Trevor noted that, on average, 60% of moves requiring professional movers are made outside of the province. Scheduling conflicts, inconsistent possession and closing dates, and lengthy time between packing and unpacking due to transit, are just some of the many challenges that arise above and beyond a typical in-town move. With help from Trevor, we’re sharing five tips to help ensure your long-distance move goes as smoothly as possible.

Get to work as soon as you can

One of the most common problems customers come to AMJ with is leaving things to the last minute. Don’t wait until the week before you move to start packing your things. If you’re like most people, there are some items you can pack even a couple of months before a move and not miss them. For example, pack up out-of-season clothes, holiday wares, your good china, stemware, and books you’ve already read and don’t plan on opening again in the next two months.

“Start your moving process early,” advises Frappier. “Have a moving consultant do a walkthrough of your home at least a month prior to your load date. This will give you time to sort and organize your goods.”

Keep in mind, moving is an excellent time to declutter your home. Before you pack anything, assess what adds value to your life and donate or recycle things you’re not using.

Involve the whole family

If you have kids, invite them to become involved with the moving process. Have them pack non-breakable items such as stuffed animals and linen. Allow them to draw or label their boxes to make them their own. It helps to have enough packing supplies handy so there are limited waiting periods when the family chips in.

“Take advantage of the packing supplies your local agencies [have] to offer,” suggests Frappier. “Using the right materials can save replacement cost for items you may pack.”

Consider all obstacles

Scheduling a service provider can be often complicated when moving out-of-province. Tasks such as setting up internet, television, phone, and utilities takes time and research, and that’s in addition to sourcing new doctors, dentists, and other health care professionals for the whole family.

Make lists to strategize the best ways to tackle necessary tasks. Create a work-back schedule so you know what you need to be doing two months before the big move, one month, and a week ahead; this is crucial to keeping yourself on track. Map it all out for yourself and feel satisfied as you check everything off your list.

Pack strategically

The distance travelled in an out-of-province move is greater than just across town, therefore furniture should be specially wrapped and packed for safe transport. Long-distance moves can potentially leave you without your goods for three days up to three weeks, which presents challenges when figuring out what to pack and what to keep with you.

Pack things properly to avoid breakage. The way you pack dishes is different from the way you would pack shoes, so take the time to do it appropriately.

“People should certainly pack differently for a long-distance move. When moving, space equals movement and movement can equal damages. That is a quote I tell my clients who are handling their own packing,” said Frappier.

He warns that if there is room for the items to move within the box, they have a greater chance of being damaged.

“I make sure to let people know to stuff the boxes full with packing paper or spare linen,” he said. “Don’t be scared to fill the boxes!”

Ensure you have appropriate clothing packed for your travels in case of seasonal changes. Don’t forget take medications with you while your goods are being transported.

Make use of professionals

To reduce the stress of moving, consider hiring a professional mover to assist. Their knowledge base, equipment, and experience can make things easier.

“We can offer full-service moves where we come into a home and pack, wrap, load, unload, and unpack all of our clients’ belongings,” explained Frappier. “We have approximately 40 agencies across Canada to provide assistance locally. We offer free in-home assessments to provide our customers with accurate estimates.”

Moving on your own takes much more time. Professional movers have the right resources to get the job done quickly and efficiently.

“It is a pretty neat thing to coordinate a flawless move from one side of the country to the next without any incidents occurring,” said Frappier. “I do have to mention that I am only a small part of the process – our dispatching, packers, movers and drivers handle majority of [the] work. However, it is an amazing feeling to work with all of them to meet our clients’ needs.”

For more expert tips on how to conduct a successful move, check out our A Day in the Life of an AMJ Moving Specialist blog or the Helpful Tools section of our website.