Moving? Here are 6 tips to keep in mind.
Why do we move? Some of the main reasons include: needing a bigger home, wanting to live in a new neighbourhood, becoming a homeowner, adapting to a new family situation, and reducing housing costs. Since everyone needs to move at some point, we’ve put together six tips to make moving easier for everyone. Read on!
1. Send out your change of address
Remember to submit your change of address to the federal and provincial governments, your bank, phone/Internet providers, and so on.
To put your list together, take a look at your bank or credit card statement for the last few months. All your main providers should be listed—making it easy to get in touch.
Here's a simple solution: Canada Post offers a mail forwarding service which will forward all your mail to your new address for four to twelve months after your move.
2. Reserve your moving truck
Option one: You can rent a truck and move your belongings yourself. Make sure your car insurance offers the required protection and ask what protection is provided by the truck-rental company.
Option two: You can also hire a moving company. Make sure to hire reliable movers who carry civil liability insurance. You can even verify their services though an impartial third party, like the Ontario Consumer Protection website or any similar resource offered in your province.
A few days before your move, be sure to confirm your truck rental or what time your movers are scheduled to arrive. Don’t forget to remind everyone who’s agreed to help, too!
3. Call your insurance company
It’s important to notify your insurer of any changes that may impact your home insurance policy at your new residence.
Where your new home is located, whether there’s a business or office in the building, how many apartments the building has, and the type of construction can all influence your insurance contract. Going from tenant to homeowner—or vice versa—following a move is also something you need to mention.
If you’re insured through belairdirect, we cover your belongings during your move in Canada for a period of 30 days.
4. Have a checklist for more complex interprovincial moves
- Long-distance moves cost more. Be sure to get an estimate from every moving company you speak to and ask about their interprovincial experience. Get an estimate of the number of boxes you’ll need to move and how many kilometers the truck will need to drive.
- Make sure you have a good idea of the cost of living in the city you’ll be moving to. Statistics Canada provides plenty of data to help make your calculations and adjust your budget.
- Calculate if it’s more efficient to move everything at once, use a storage facility, or sell some belongings so you can purchase essentials in your new province.
- Make a list of all the files you’ll need to open (driver’s permit, Medicare card, licence plate, insurance, subscriptions, professional provincial memberships, municipal taxes, and so on.)
5. Choose your storage facility carefully
If you’re moving to a temporary place or a smaller home, it might make sense to store some of your belongings.
Depending on your insurance contract, you can take advantage of different types of protection for your temporarily stored belongings. Contact your insurer to learn more.
Remember that it’s vital to select a secure storage facility. Ask what measures are in place to protect your belongings: a security guard, alarm system, professional locks, who has access to the site, and so on.
6. Plan ahead before the big day!
- Put together a toolkit for the big day.
- Measure your furniture as well as all the doorways of your new home. Think of alternate ways to get any big pieces inside!
- Pack a small suitcase with all the items you’ll need for the day after your move. That way, you won’t have to empty boxes to find all your essentials!
Now you’re ready for the big move. Good luck!
New homeowner? We have some tips to help you get settled, as well as the insurance coverage you need to get peace of mind.
