Your Most Reliable Mississauga Moving Company
We know moving to another city is not easy, but most of us, at some point in time, have to move to another city. First of all, you have to say goodbye to your old city and all your favorite places there. Then follows sorting your belongings, finding a mover, packing, and moving. And now you have a new city to explore and make your own – a new grocery store, new shops, new streets to traverse, new doctor, new dentist, new restaurants, new entertainment places, and above all, new people. This is a lot of change that can feel challenging and stimulating at the same time.
So, before you finalize your decision to move to a new city, there are a few considerations that will help make the transition easy for you. From our experience of moving a whole lot of people here are eight questions answering which should set your move to another city up for success.
Sometimes the imperatives of your job, marriage, or studies do not leave you with much choice about moving to a place. In any case, and particularly when you do have a choice, it helps to remember that there can be a great deal of difference between what you have heard about a city and what you will discover there yourself. Every city has some reputation that over time tends to get stereotyped. Now, you know that a reputation, once established, can persist long after the reality has already changed. More importantly, today’s cities are such varied places that reputation only represents a small part of a city’s reality. Therefore, no matter how cool a city seems to you, do pose yourself these two straightforward questions:
Even when you do quite a bit on your own and work with the most economical movers available, there are still many other costs that accompany moving. And they all add up, bit by bit – setting up new utilities, buying a few bits and bobs here and there according to your new place, switching insurance, changing car, license, etc.
You should carefully examine the cost of living in different parts of your new city. Is the cost of living on par with what you have right now, will it go up, or will it decrease? How does that change your budget? Will your income go up to absorb any increase in the cost of living or will you make some necessary adjustments in your lifestyle to cope with the higher cost? Think about all these financial implications and take a look at your bank accounts and cash flow before you start getting that sinking realization during or after the move.
The quality and style of housing available can vary from city to city even within the same country. Older cities tend to have more historical neighborhoods with single-family homes even in downtown and around it. However, newer cities will tend to have more condos and apartment blocks and for a detached home you may need to move farther from the city center. So, the type of housing you require should be a factor you need to consider in advance.
Are you someone who enjoys living in the heart of a town with all its hullabaloo and action or you prefer a quiet life on the outskirts of a city? Do you place premium on parks and open spaces nearby? Is easy access to public transit system important for you? Do having young kids means the quality of schools takes precedence over other considerations? How much of a commute to and from the work is tolerable for you? Do you eat out a lot? Do you have penchant for areas with streets and houses decked by mature trees? Find out about the different neighborhoods your new city offers. Look at a city map and determine a few areas that look like they have what you want and then personally visit a few of them that you choose to focus on. Every city offers many different options of neighborhoods from which to choose the one that works best for you.
Even if you are already moving to a new city into an employment, it still makes sense to have an idea of career and growth prospects in your field in the city. This will indicate the potential to advance in your career and your prospects of finding another job if needed. If you do not already have a job, then this becomes even more important. You have to know what the chances are of your finding a job that you like. Identify a few employers that you would like to work with and start applying as soon as you have made the final decision to move.
Moving to another city where you do not know anyone can be challenging. If that is the case, find out from your friends and family to see who they can connect you with in your new city. Do some research to look for meet up groups you could join with the hope of finding some like-minded people. Join a networking group to get to know some people in your field. And when you arrive there, sitting on your backside will not help you build relationships, get out there and meet people.
Make sure that you are well organized so that your move is as free from hassle and stress as possible. Your moving checklist will ensure that you do not overlook anything important in the process. You can learn here how to prepare for moving.
Moving to another city is more complex than it seems. There are a number of steps involved beyond the more obvious ones like planning the move, choosing a moving company, or shipping and receiving your belongings. There are also other moving parts and logistics to take into account to make sure the move goes smoothly. Here are some tips for you to make your move to a new city an easy transition from start to completion.
There are a lot of moving parts to moving from one city or one province to another. Moving companies call these mid-distance (up to 400 kms) or long-distance moves. Planning your move in its details will make your moving process much easier. It will make sure that you do not overlook small things like calling utility companies, changing addresses, informing insurance providers etc. Similarly, setting up utilities and other important provisions in your new abode is also equally important. You want to have running water, gas, electricity, temperature control right away on moving into your new house. Don’t you?
You also need to schedule your packing in the days leading to your moving date. This process will also entail some tedious decision making about what to take with you and what to get rid of or leave behind. The better organized you get and the more time you give yourself the less stressful your move will be. There is nothing good about packing or looking for things till the last moment on the day of your move.
It is advisable to give yourself some flexibility for a long-distance move. If you give yourself enough time to plan, you can pick a bigger window of time within which you can schedule your move. This will enable you to avoid peak days for moving companies because the tariff in those times is higher. Avoid summertime, if you can, and avoid weekends. This alone can save you hundreds of dollars.
Sometimes you have no choice but to move during the summertime. If that is the case avoid beginning and end of the month or else you will end up paying for the busiest time during the peak season. Deciding on the moving date is often a balancing act that involves picking an economical schedule while staying in step with when you want your goods to arrive at your new destination.
In a local move, quotes are often based on an hourly rate. However, long-distance moves are almost always formulated according to the volume and nature of the items you are moving plus the distance and destination involved. Therefore, if you prepare an itemized inventory list of all the things you want to move that will be helpful in negotiating with the moving companies. Moreover, it will make the packing and unpacking processes a whole lot easier. You will also need the list to make sure that none of your belongings go missing during the process.
Will you ship by air, by sea, or by land? If it is a surface shipment, will it be by truck or by train? How much of the work will you do yourself and how much you will delegate to professional help? Renting a truck and doing the driving yourself might cost less up-front, but do you have that much time before you need to be in your new city? Should you drive or fly? The costs of the drive will also include gas, food along the way, and maybe hotels for overnight stays. If you are moving for a job, check to see how much of the relocation costs your employer will cover. Based on all these factors, you can decide what combination of options offers the best solution for your move.
Make a short list of three moving companies and embark on the process of getting estimates from them. It is important to obtain multiple quotes to make sure that you are getting right services at the right price from the market.
Take a look at our essay on how to pick the right moving company for your move. Make sure you choose a professional company that holds proper licenses and is covered by insurance. Also, get a firm quote rather than an estimate that can be changed.
Make sure that you have sufficient insurance coverage for the risks you want to cover. Many home insurance policies cover damage to your home during moving, but they do not usually cover damage to your items. Law requires moving companies to provide valuation coverage at 60 cents per pound. However, that will not suffice for many of your high value items. Most moving companies also offer additional coverage for an extra cost. If you are moving valuable or fragile items, we recommend that you obtain extended valuation coverage.
It helps to keep in mind the measurements and floorplan of your new place. If you have an idea where everything fits, it will be easier for you to decide what stuff you want to take along. Especially, if you are moving to a smaller home, you do not want to arrive with large items for which you do not have the floor space. You may want to let go of your large furniture and king-sized beds.
Moving to a new city offers a great opportunity for you to get rid of some unnecessary stuff. While taking inventory, you will surely find things that you do not use anymore or had even forgotten about. Just because you have space for something does not mean that you should pack and take it along. Look to making a new start with as little clutter as possible. Check out our detailed essay about how you can declutter.
Good quality of packing and the materials used in it play an essential role in making sure that your items make it to your new home undamaged. Most moving companies can provide professional packing services for your move at an additional charge. They would make sure that everything from furniture to your kitchenware and clothing is packed to high standards.
Identify and separate the items that you cannot afford to lose or that you will need soon after your arrival at your new home such as important documents, medication, jewelry, watches etc. Put these in a separate bag and carry it with you. Also make sure that every single box is labeled with your name, a description of its contents, and to which room its items belong.
However, if you want to pack on your own to save a substantial part of your moving costs, there is nothing to worry. Here we explain how you can pack on your own to high professional standards and without stress.
If the driving distance is too long, then you may also need to ship your vehicle. Most moving companies should be able to ship your car together with your belongings when moving long-distance. It is important to ask about the logistics and cost of this service. It may not be as expensive as you might suspect. Also find out whether it will be handled by the moving company itself or contracted through another company.
Changing or getting utility supplies; internet and cable connections; and all those little things like blinds, curtains, cleaning supplies, shower curtains etc. are necessary to comfortably settle down at your new address, but they can be easily overlooked while budgeting for the move. You may also need to eke out some money for deposits while you are still waiting for your old ones to be refunded. You may also be required to register and inspect your car in a new province, change your car and health insurance, and register your pet in a new province. All these tiny expenses begin to add up after a while. It will help if you can do some research and calculation ahead of your move and provide some extra funds to meet these sundry expenses.
Asif has authored four widely selling books –Happiness: A way of Life, The Stuff of Life, Sell to Excel, and Face Time. He also blogs at masrif.net and he also blogs at MPR. Subscribe and get Daily Life Tips from this Youtube Channel The Stuff Of Life