Moving to a different province such as Calgary Alberta will naturally be more complicated than moving a few blocks away. Thankfully, long-distance moves don’t have to be stressful or overwhelming. By implementing a few of our long-distance moving tips, you can make relocating to a different province — or across the country — almost as easy as moving locally.
Make a Plan and Stick to It
There are so many little tasks and chores that come with a long-distance move. Making a spreadsheet or checklist of some kind will help you keep track of what you’ve accomplished and what still needs to be done. This may prevent you from overlooking important to-dos like updating important documents, enrolling your children in a new school, and more. You can also set deadlines to have certain things completed so they don’t pile up on you.
Hire a Moving Company
You may be able to tackle a local move on your own, but we don’t recommend that DIY approach to long-distance moves. Even with the help of friends and family, trying to move across the country without professional assistance can be overwhelming, complicated, and costly.
This is why we strongly recommend reaching out to multiple moving companies for in-home estimates. Take care to contact reputable and experienced moving companies, as there are moving scams out there. Trust your instincts and be wary of estimates that seem too good to be true.
Get Rid of Unwanted Items
If you’re planning on moving across the country to Calgary, now is a great time to start downsizing. Moving is a costly endeavor, and it only gets more expensive the more stuff you have. You can save big on your move by throwing out, recycling, donating, or selling items you don’t want or need anymore. This could be anything from unused kitchen appliances to old books and clothes. Once you’ve downsized, your moving estimate will likely be more affordable AND you’ll have fewer things to unpack.
Pack with the Distance in Mind
You should approach packing for a long-distance move a little differently than your typical move. We recommend putting in some extra effort when packing fragile items to prevent them from getting damaged during the lengthy transport time. Using more bubble wrap or cloths than usual to protect your belongings will be worth it.
We also encourage you to label your boxes with your name and possibly even your phone number. When moving long distances, there’s a chance that your boxes may be transported alongside other families’ boxes. A professional moving company is unlikely to drop your boxes off at the wrong home, but having them labeled just in case should give you some peace of mind.
Move During the Off-Season
Moving long-distance can come with several added costs. Thankfully, there are many ways to save money on your move, such as moving during the off-season. Many moving companies charge more during the summer, as it’s the most popular time to move.
However, if you simply must move during the summer, consider doing so on a weekday or in the middle of the month instead — it’s less costly that way.
Work With a Professional Calgary REALTOR®
When searching for the right REALTOR®, you should opt for one that has experience with clients moving long distances. They should be fully prepared and equipped to take care of the paperwork you may not have the time or energy for. They’ll know to remind you of certain tasks that tend to get forgotten in the busyness of a move.
Start the Process with one of our Calgary REALTORS®
Before you put our cross-country moving tips into action, you’ll need a Calgary real estate agent you can count on to help you find your dream home.
Whether you’re moving to or from Calgary, we’ll use our market knowledge, negotiating skills, and industry expertise to get you the best deals possible