Long-Distance Moving Ideas for Your Whole Family

Getting Ready for Your Long-Distance Move

The logistics of a long-distance move vary greatly when compared to moving across town or across the street. There is far more planning and forethought required for a long-distance move, as well as the need for a larger budget.  As the premier Kamloops movers, we would like to offer the following tips on how to prepare your home and yourself for a long-distance move.

Downsize

Before you even begin the moving process, determine what is going with you and what belongings will not be making the journey.  In a long-distance move, you are paying by weight, so the more you take, the more you will be paying.  Think of your move as the perfect time to get rid of the items that you either do not or will not need.

If you are moving from Kamloops to Vancouver, you will not need your snow shovels or snow blower.

Get the Right Movers

Once you have determined what items you are keeping and what items you are not, it is time to find the right movers for the job.  Talk to different companies to see what services they provide and secure a moving date that works for you.  At Pioneer Moving, we consider a long-distance move to be over 300 km and have experience with not only across province or across country moves, but also international moves.  We can assist in crating, packing, as well as insurance and export document preparation.

Here’s the Deal:

It is essential that the moving company that you choose understands and can assist you in all aspects of a long-distance move.

Get a Head Start

It is never too early to start the packing process.  The packing procedure is more than just stuffing a few belongings in a suitcase.  You will need the following supplies:

• Heavy duty cardboard boxes, packing tape and a felt marker to label boxes.
• Newspaper and bubble wrap to protect breakable and fragile items.
• Heavy duty blankets to protect furniture and appliances during the move.

You do not want to run out of packing materials or boxes midway through your pack.

Start packing all the non-essential items such as seasonal items or clothes that you normally do not wear far before moving day.  Remember to label all boxes and store them in an out of the way area, ready for moving day.

Pack it Properly

Take the extra time to pack belongings properly.  Your items are not just going across town, but will be travelling great distances where they may be jostled or shift.  You want to protect any delicate electronics to prevent damage.

Try to pack similar items together and clearly label each box, so that when you are unpacking you know the exact contents.  For personal items such as bank statements, passports etc. pack these separately in file folders or large envelopes, label and keep with you during the move.

More Preparing for a Long-distance Move

A long-distance move requires far more than just packing up your belongings and heading across town.  To make a long-distance move, there are other, often overlooked factors that will not only make your move easier, they will make the settling in process that much more enjoyable as well.  As the premier movers in Kamloops, we would like to offer these tips on how to properly prepare for your long-distance move.

Get Acquainted with your New Town

It is highly recommended that you take a few days before your final move to get acquainted with your new town and neighbourhood.  Introduce yourself to your neighbours and try to get to know some of the key points in your community.  Places of interest that you may want to find include:

• Schools or universities if they are applicable to your family.
• Grocery stores in your area.
• Restaurants that are easily accessible, so you have somewhere to eat during your unpacking phase.
• Alternate routes to and from work to alleviate any problems such as congestion or rush hour traffic.
• Areas of interest for any hobbies that you and your family enjoy.

Taking the time before your move to get to know your new home can alleviate a huge amount of stress and anxiety.

Change Your Address

Do not forget to change your address.  This simple statement is often overlooked, as a stop at your local post office is not enough.  Do not forget to contact your credit card company, insurance company and your bank to change contact information.   Take the time to look through your contacts as well as any friends, relatives or other acquaintances to ensure that these people have your new mailing address.

Here’s the Deal:

Do not rely on having your mail forwarded to your new address, instead be thorough and make a list of contacts that will need your new address.

Make the Calls

With all the chaos associated with a long-distance move, sometimes a few important phone calls are forgotten.  Make sure to place these important calls before your move:

• Gas company. You will want to cancel your gas at your old home, and have it hooked up and ready in your new home before moving in.
• Have your power ready for move in day as no one wants to move in the dark.
• Do not forget to get your water turned off and on, if applicable.
• Other services such as internet, phones, cable etc.

These long-distance moving tips should ensure that your move is as easy and stress-free as possible.  If you are interested in other long-distance moving tips or would like to see how our services can help with your next move, please contact us today.  We look forward to working with you.

Moving for Couples

It is time to start a new chapter in your life, a new job, a new opportunity, a new home – how exciting.  However, it won’t just be you making the move, instead, your partner will be joining you on this adventure and it will be the first time that the two of you will be living together.  As your premier Kamloops movers, we would like to offer the following tips on how to make your long-distance move as smooth and easy as possible for the both of you.

Prepare a Checklist

Before you even think about packing a box, sit down as a couple and create a checklist for all the necessary duties of moving.  Try not to leave out any details.  Usually once you have created a visual, it is far easier to envision the moving process and you will then have a structured plan.  When making this list, be sure to include:

• A thorough inventory of all you and your partner’s items. This way if there is any overlap you can sell or donate and reduce the number of belongings that you are packing – 2 kitchen tables for instance.
• Decide as a couple what you are going to keep, donate and sell – this includes furniture as well as appliances and dishes etc.

Communicate

The better the two of you communicate, the better the chances are of enjoying a hassle and confrontation free move.  Do not be afraid to assign roles and deadlines when creating your checklist and work towards your strengths.  If one of you is a better time-manger then let them set a detailed schedule.  If one of you handles deadlines better, then let that person handle anything that may pop up last minute.

Get a Head Start

The earlier you start the moving process, the less stressful it will be on the both of you.  Try to pack up your home as well as your partners home’s non-essential or seasonal items and put them in a back room or in a storage area until moving day.

Here’s the deal:

Don’t forget to properly label each box in detail so that you know all the contents.  This will make the unpacking process so much easier.

Leave the Hard Stuff to the Pros 

It is important to keep in mind that you do not need to move everything. Leave the heavy or cumbersome items to the professionals.  The extra steps and stress of a long-distance move can easily be handled with the right moving company and a little bit of extra help.

Moving in with your significant other is not only exciting, it should also be something that both parties are looking forward to.  The last thing that you want is for the stressors of a long-distance move to interfere with this new opportunity.  By following these guidelines, the two of you should be able to navigate the move and strengthen your relationship at the same time.

If you would like more tips on long-distance moving or are interested in the services that our professional and knowledgeable staff can provide, please contact us today.  We would love to be a part of your next long-distance move and look forward to hearing from you soon.

Moving with Children

The only thing more difficult than a long-distance move is a long-distance move with young children.  Besides having to plan ahead and gather all the needed supplies, boxes and other assorted materials, you are also going to have to time manage your little ones.  As your premier Kamloops movers, here are some tips that will help you navigate your next long-distance move with young children.

The age of your children will ultimately determine how you pack and move.  Here is a brief breakdown of the different age groups and how you can best address the needs of your children and the various stages of the long-distance move.

Babies

Moving with a baby presents a wide range of challenges ranging from sleep schedules to feeding times.  During the packing stages, if you can, enlist other family members or friends to look after your precious bundle of joy.  If that is not a possibility, then you will have to work your moving schedule around your baby’s sleep schedule and pack when your baby sleeps.
Remember:

Don’t forget to leave yourself ample food, bottles, diapers and wipes for the road trip to your new home.

Toddlers

A long-distance move with toddlers can be complicated to say the least.  Again, if you have the help of family or friends, get them to look after your youngster to free up packing time.  You may want to get your toddler to help with some of the moving jobs or give them some random items to pack into a box.  You may have to repack it later but at least they will be entertained and busy, freeing up much needed packing time for you.

Here’s the Deal:

Be sure to move all packed and taped boxes into a room that your toddler cannot get to.  This will prevent them from unpacking and untaping each box.

Young Children

Moving with young children is an easier task than the previous ages but other challenges may present themselves.  Granted they will be able to help pack up their room and assist with some of the chores and jobs, but they may not understand why they have to switch schools or leave their old neighbourhood and friends.  Here are some suggestions to make this transition as easy as possible:

• If you have extra rooms in your new home, let them choose which room they would like as a bedroom.
• Take a road trip, if possible, to your new neighbourhood and take the time to find the parks, introduce yourself to neighbours and even visit their new school.
• Let them have a say in the moving process and give them plenty of time to say goodbye to old friends and classmates.

Older Children

Teenagers are the easiest group when it comes to the moving and packing process.  Where you are going to have difficulties with this age group is leaving their friends, their school and having to “start over” in a new place.  Like young children give them plenty of notice to say goodbye and try to stress the benefits and opportunities that await them in their new town and space.

These long-distance moving tips should help you navigate some of the difficulties of moving with children.  If you would like more information on any of these suggestions or are interested in our long-distance moving services, please contact us today.  Our friendly and professional staff would love to answer any of your questions and be a part of your next long-distance move.  We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Try Plastic Moving Boxes

Packing and boxes seem to go hand in hand.  The benefit of boxes ranges from inexpensive to practical as well as easy to obtain and easy to discard.  However, boxes also present a wide range of problems from transport issues to tearing.  Perhaps for your next move, it is time to think outside the box and try something new-Plastic.

As the premier movers in Kamloops, we would like to offer you a new way to think when it comes time to packing up your belongings.  You may want to consider replacing those traditional moving boxes with plastic boxes and totes.  Here are some of the benefits of post-move uses for plastic boxes.

Durability

Although boxes are easy to come by and relatively inexpensive, they can also be a mover’s worst nightmare.  Some of the main drawbacks of traditional cardboard boxes include:

• Rigidity problems – especially once you begin to stack them.
• Bottoms falling out – this is a common problem when they are over packed.
• Weather related issues – have you ever tried moving cardboard boxes in the rain?
• Transparency – moving boxes are opaque so unless they are well labeled, it is a guessing game when it comes to unpacking them.

These problems can be avoided if you choose to use plastic boxes to pack your belongings.  Plastic is durable and reliable in all weather conditions.  This durability will allow you to reuse your plastic totes for a variety of storage options after the move.

Here’s the deal:

The durability of plastic totes will save you time in the long run and can also save you money.

Storage

Usually, once you have unpacked your belongings, the next step is to break down the boxes and recycle them.  This is definitely not the case when it comes to plastic totes.  Plastic totes make excellent storage compartments.  They are stackable, resistant to the elements and rigid and durable enough to be packed full of heavy items.

One of the best places to use plastic totes in your home is in the kitchen.  They are great to store perishable and dry foods as they keep them safe from pests as well as fresh for their entire shelf life because foods kept in plastic totes will not decay or degrade.

Another great way to use those plastic totes is in the bedroom.  Pack all your off-season clothing in a few bins, stack them in the closet and forget about them until next year.  You can rest assured that those plastic totes will keep your clothes dry, away from moths or other bugs, and clean and ready to be used whenever needed.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to applications for plastic containers.  The next time you need to move, we recommend that you think about using plastic bins.  We at Pioneer Moving offer a full range of moving services at competitive rates and our professional and friendly staff are ready to assist you with all your relocation needs.  We look forward to working with you soon.