Research options

The price of local and long-distance moves in Canada is typically calculated based on the number of hours the movers work to get the job done. You'll have to pay additional costs for any extra services requested– packing, storage, etc.

While budgeting will play a key role in making decisions, some things to keep in mind are:

Beware of "Move Brokers"
When you entrust your possessions to someone else, you'll want to ensure the moving company is reliable and trustworthy. You should be cautious about "move brokers" who advertise moving services but don't own the equipment, employ drivers or own their warehouses. Rogue movers take no responsibility for the quality of service provided, nor will they assist you if there are any problems.

Check the Canadian Association of Movers and the Better Business Bureau to see if the company you're considering is certified and if there are any complaints against them. Additionally, the Office of Consumer Affairs offers a handy list of questions to ask a potential mover to ensure they're reputable. It's important to have a thorough understanding of their services and the costs involved.

Declutter to help reduce costs
Moving is an ideal opportunity to eliminate items you no longer need or want. As soon as you know you'll be moving, go through your home and identify things you can sell, donate or dispose of. This process will help you save money whether you're moving across the country or town. Long-distance moving costs are dependent on the weight of the shipment, so reducing the weight will help reduce costs. Local moving costs are based on the hours required to move your belongings; the less stuff you have, the faster your move will go!

Book your movers early
Summer is the peak season for the moving industry, and movers' schedules fill up quickly. After researching to narrow the field, contact your top three choices and get cost estimates. Once you have decided who will move you, confirm your order with them to ensure that a truck and crew are reserved for the date you plan to move.

Many costs will be associated with your move from point A to B that you might not initially consider. Here are some examples:

• Changing your driver's license: Typically, a fee is associated with changing your driver's license in a new province.
• Increase in car/health insurance costs: There could be a possible increase in insurance rates when you move to a different city or province. Local government sites will have this information posted.
• Extra costs of traveling with pets: Whether flying or driving, there will always be additional fees associated with traveling with a pet. Be sure to add this to your budget.
• Gas: If you're making a long-distance move and decide to move, Canada is a big country to drive across, wouldn't you agree?
• Food/accommodation: You'll have to account for hotel rentals and the cost of eating out until you get settled in your new digs.
• Cancellation fees: You may incur costs of cancelling any subscriptions and services in your current city, which can add up. Plan ahead.

Insurance is essential whether you hire a professional mover or do it yourself with a U-Haul truck. You may think you will be extra careful with such a move and nothing can go wrong. However, your material possessions and memories are placed in boxes to be hauled away by strangers when moving. Therefore, your valuables must be covered by insurance in case of loss or damage. Some of the options available to you are:

• Released liability: Moving companies generally offer basic insurance coverage for your goods. With this option, the carrier's maximum liability is $0.60 per pound ($1.32 per kg) per article for household goods when moving long-distance or locally.
• Replacement value protection: For an extra charge, you can increase the coverage on your shipment and ensure protection to the replacement value of your possessions.
• Items of extraordinary value: This category refers to individual items with a particular replacement value (and matched sets with a combined value).

If you are moving, arrange for your mail to be redirected, so you don't miss anything important.

You can change your mailing address online and redirect your mail using the Mail Forwarding tool from Canada Post. The process is simple, and the fee is the same as when you go to a postal outlet to fill in a form. However, mail forwarding varies depending on where you move, and different costs apply to individuals and businesses.

You can make a permanent address change, which will forward your mail for up to 12 months, or a temporary address change if you're on an extended vacation or wintering down south. The tool allows you to select whether to inform businesses of the address change.

You must submit your request at least five days before moving for residential moves and at least 10 days before moving for business. However, Canada Post recommends filing your request up to 30 days before either type of move.

If you are moving, arrange for your mail to be redirected, so you don't miss anything important.

Moving can be really hard, whether across the country or across town. But if you let the stress get to you, it will only make it harder. So instead, try to enjoy the process and focus on the end result. Think of how wonderful it will feel when the whole thing is over!

If you start over-stressing, you're probably putting too much pressure on yourself and your family. The added pressure will only cause more stress and potentially lead to you forgetting something important during the moving process.

It can also make the entire process miserable for you and everyone around you. So when you feel overwhelmed, take a break and get away from the moving process for a while. You'll have plenty of time to finish everything if you've started the process early.

Follow our tips, and your move can be relatively stress-free. You're off on a new adventure, and it might even be fun with proper planning!