Moving tips...

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Hello all,

Sooooo... I was reading with excitement all the threads we have on whether to move yourself or hire movers - UPack being apparently the champion of champions for DIY moving. Goodie, goodie. We also have threads re:import and POE for stuff (forms, etc).

I thought we could start a thread with "moving tips", answering some kinds of questions like:

1.- Packing tips (i.e. DO NOT fill a whole box with books or you'll regret it when trying to pick it up the floor)

2.- Countdown time frame (1 month before move, 1 week before move....)

3.- What to keep with you at all times (besides the visa stuff)

4.- Saving money tips (i.e. scavenge grocery shops for empty cardboard boxes)

5.- Anything else that you have experienced and would care to share with the less experienced ones!!!

Also, I found a book online that appears interesting, so if anyone has read it (or any other "moving handbook"), please post your comments here. the book I found is: http://www.29daystoasmoothmove.com/summary.htm

I am sure your replies will help us all.

Peace, L.

[misa 2]

1. Packing tips.

- Steal filing boxes from offices if you can. They are the perfect size to fill up with books. Not too heavy and they stack well.

- Invest in some large rubbermaid bins if you can afford it (check out freecycle or craigslist in your area). I lucked out and my friend gave me 10 of them. They are great for throwing stuff in and for storage later

- Label each box by room (and content if you're so inclined)

- Purge your clothes... if you haven't worn something in a year (unless it's special occasion clothes) give it away to Goodwill

- Pack up all your kitchen stuff except for what you desperately need the last few weeks before the move and plan your meals

2. Countdown

- ASAP

--- Schedule the cancellation of all utilities, cellphones, etc. Some places won't cancel until 30 days after you call in a cancellation (like Sympatico DSL).

--- Also start giving away what you don't want to keep. Trust me, giving away furniture is a lot more of a hassle than I thought and I wished I had started earlier.

--- If you are on a private health insurance plan, MAX IT OUT before you go. Get your massages, chiropractic stuff, optometrist and dental stuff done and over with

--- Get refills of any prescription medications (as many as you can get)

--- Schedule appointments for your animals to get re-vaccinated, checked up. If you are driving across the border, you do NOT need a health certificate. If you are flying, you probably do and you can't get that until 10 days before you fly. Dogs will need their rabies vaccines at least 30 days before crossing. Cats do not require vaccinations. Print out this page and keep with your important documents: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/animal.htm

- 1 month before or more

--- Start packing up everything you don't need right away including clothes and kitchen stuff. Only leave out the essentials (2 forks, 2 spoons, etc.). Also start eating up everything in your fridge and freezer

- 2-4 weeks before:

--- Meal plan all your meals (seriously, it makes things a lot easier) and plan your wardrobe.

3. Important papers to keep with you

- visa stuff (your entire case file) and passport of course!

- birth certificate and marriage certificate (if applicable)

- your ROE and any other EI related stuff

- banking records & credit card records

- veterinary records

- any health records for yourself including proof of vaccinations and the vaccination worksheet from your medical

- extra passport photos (you'll need this if you are filing for EAD and AOS after entry)

4. Saving money

- schedule going away parties/get togethers with friends (they'll pay for your drinks and meals!)

- steal boxes from your office, cozy up to the mailroom manager

- ask friends to give you any boxes and or old newspapers for packing

5. Other Tips

- if you think that you can slack on packing for a "few days", think again. Do it all ahead of time so you don't have to worry the week of moving. TRUST ME! I thought that packing up everything the last week was going to be feasible... it was pure hell.

[Emancipation 2]

1. Do an inventory of everything you & your spouse both have - what you have duplicates of determine who has the "better" model, sell/give away the duplicates.

2. Seperate your items into : return to owner, sell, donate to goodwill, toss & keep - be ruthless - If you haven't used it in 6 months throw it out!

3. Make a list of all "sell" items, put a price tag on them all - then send a copy of your list to everyone on your contacts via e-mail.

4. Pack in small boxes, copy paper boxes are good but the max size (if you are packing a car). I also bought "environmentlly friendly" bags from the grocery store and used those for packing (now I use them when I go to the grocery store). As you are packing boxes keep like with like (personal items, kitchen items etc). Create a list with box description and general description for the POE.

5. I did it a room of my apartment at a time, cleaning as I went - that way the clutter was kept to one room and I was also making progress getting each room cleaned and I didn't have to go back to that!

6. Prioritize your boxes/bags - what HAS to go with you - what can be left in storage if need be.

7. Make sure you have an alternate storage spot incase everything doesn't fit. I'm going back to the Island in Sept to pick up everything that didn't "fit" in the car!

Hope that helps!

Edited June 26, 2007 by Emancipation

[L_n_O 3]

Maybe not six months.. Winter coats don't get used til a year passes =)

you don't want to buy a new coat every year!

or maybe you do! =)

my tip: use UPS to ship your stuff if you don't have furniture you want to take to the US with you.. Will save you money and Truck rental..

I did an online quote and was quite impressed.

My moving topic

Edited June 26, 2007 by liz_legend 'n Ol

[Emancipation 2]

Maybe not six months.. Winter coats don't get used til a year passes =)

you don't want to buy a new coat every year!

or maybe you do! =)

my tip: use UPS to ship your stuff if you don't have furniture you want to take to the US with you.. Will save you money and Truck rental..

I did an online quote and was quite impressed.

My moving topic

That would depend on what part of the country you are living in.. May - Sept is less than 6 months

[Mephys 2]

I was lucky I didnt have all my house to move, as I got rid/sold everything in the months prior to it.

But definitely, dont wait the last week before packing as you may realize you have way more stuff than youthought you did

and

If you ship by UPS, they are great, and fast, but not really delicate with the boxes. I shipped 8 boxes and all my stuff got here in good condition, except those 10 CD cases that I thought would fill up that one little spot on the side of one of my boxes They arent good for shock absorption

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Great you all, these are excellent know-hows!!!! - keep the tips coming and let's try to remain on topic!!!!

L.

[misa 2]

For those driving long distances during moving day:

Day before or day of moving (if driving for hours)

- get takeout sandwiches or room temperature food from your favourite restaurant for the road trip (now you're probably thinking "oh I can just get something along the way" but again trust me... food that you choose ahead of time will be much better than "settling" for whatever is around especially if you happen to be vegetarian or vegan or have other dietary concerns)

- bring some of your favourite snacks along as well

- buy at least a 6 pack of bottled water for the drive

- cds for the drive

- bring lots of cigarettes if you smoke and extra lighters

- don't wait until your tank is on E before you fill up because gas stations are few and far between along some stretches

- if you think that you can slack on packing for a "few days", think again. Do it all ahead of time so you don't have to worry the week of moving. TRUST ME! I thought that packing up everything the last week was going to be feasible... it was pure hell.

I'm quoting my own "tip". HA! I was reading this to my husband and he just started bitching about how I had TWO WEEKS to pack before he came to get me and I had to wait until the last minute... He said, and I quote, "I could have killed you!"

Edited June 27, 2007 by misa

[mozplay 29]

Warn your SO before hand that you are going to be a COMPLETE and TOTAL wreck, that you are probably going to take it out on him/her and if he/she wants to avoid any later wrath to get up to Canada and help you with the packing and moving!

Don't underestimate how tired you are going to be if you decide to drive. If you have a long drive then plan to overnight somewhere.

Buy a nice hefty padlock if you are driving a U-Haul and planning on overnighting.

And as a few may have said ... purge ... purge ... PURGE. It really does feel better .. and this coming from a self procalimed pack rat!

Mo

[Cassie 8]

The best thing I did when packing up my stuff in my apartment was to go through things category by category, or room by room -- little chunks to not get overwhelmed. I went through all the stuff that I knew I wouldn't use day to day (Christmas stuff, decorations, winter clothes, etc) and did that first, and then moved onto the rest. I kept a yard sale box going -- as soon as it was full, I closed it up and started a new one. I sold as much as I could, and donated the rest. i can't beleive the amount of ####### I collected.

take your cds and put them into storage binders -- saves on space, weight, and the risk of breakage and scratches

start saving your plastic grocery bags-- they make great packing protection

donate any books you may purge to your local library

rubbermaid/plastic containers are your friends

local liquor stores may be a good spot for boxes

if you have friends in the local x-ray/radiology department, the boxes the x-ray film comes in (if their machines aren't digital) are perfect for your framed wall art.

And be prepared to have a big yard sale when you move to the US and find out how much duplicate stuff the two of you actually have --I completely underestimated that one!

[gflova 0]

If you choose NOT TO DRIVE for THE MOVE, and want to fly, is there a site that provides restrictions on what you can and cannot bring?

i know the NORMAL rules, but if they know its a MOVE, can u bring more? or is that when u just pay a fee for heavier/larger luggage?

just curious bc arizona is one hell of a drive from Toronto!

i'd much rather ship whatever i can with USP or whomever, and then fly with as much as i can - clothes and stuff.

i'm NOWHERE NEAR this stage, but just being nosy/curious!

[misa 2]

TSA website: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/pro...ited-items.shtm

Also check with the airline you're flying with about how much weight of stuff you can actually bring with you.