Moving to Canada from US

[NewYorker]

Hello,

I have some questions about moving and need advise on how should I proceed when I move.

1. Should I move my house stuff with a moving company or there are other cheaper ways to move?
2. Are there going to be customs duty on my stuff when it gets to Canada, like on New TVs, electronics etc.
3. Should I sell everything here in whatever price and start new over there? is it worth it to move all the stuff, like mattress, beds, utensils etc.

Thanks,

 

[Leon]

When you hire movers you take a risk. I don't know about movers in the US but movers in Canada can be pretty bad, sometimes the bill miraculously doubles and they are basically holding your stuff hostage to make you pay. Sometimes the stuff gets broken or lost along the way. You can hire a u-haul or a ryders and drive it yourself but that's not exactly cheap either. Or rent a van or a truck.

Kind of depends on what you have if it's worth taking it with you. You can look at prices at http://www.ikea.ca/ http://www.thebrick.com/ http://www.canadiantire.ca/ and http://www.futureshop.ca/ You can also get used stuff at http://www.buysell.com/

You can find your customs info at http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/rc4151-eng.html#P005

 

[NewYorker]

Leon, thanks for your reply,

What are the custom duties, or is something allowed free without paying duties for the first time you moves in?

Thanks for the rest of the information, I will check the prices and decide when the time comes.

 

[Leon]

Leon, thanks for your reply,

What are the custom duties, or is something allowed free without paying duties for the first time you moves in?

Thanks for the rest of the information, I will check the prices and decide when the time comes.

I already gave you the link. It says "Items you can import duty- and tax-free" right at the top, http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/rc4151-eng.html#P005

 

[NewYorker]

Thanks Got it!!

 

[eduardoF]

NewYorker,

I can't give you numbers, but basically what you have to do is comparing the cost of bringing what you already have (easy to do: that's the cost of transportation) to what you'd spend buying it all again minus whatever you make selling what you have.

Other things to take in consideration are: the size of the house/appartment you're moving into, and how you would pay for new stuff. Personally, I would try not to buy anything unnecessary until I secured a job in the country.

To give you an example of what I mean: I have a friend who moved to a new country. He had not yet found a job, but he went to an electronics store and bought a big plasma TV - did he need it? No, "but it was cheaper than in my home country", he said. But now he was spending money from his settlement funds without any source of income to compensate. Try to avoid that, if you can!

 

[NewYorker]

eduardoF,

Thanks for your advice, I will keep whatever electronics I have and send it through a moving company, I already have LCD TV and I am planning to take it rather selling it cheap here and buying again over there.

My question is I will have like TVs, stereos, some kitchen appliances, gaming equip, PCs, some clothes etc, what is the best way to send them and which is the good company to use if I don't want to carry this with me. I would like to be with the luggage with clothes only when I land in Canada and as less stuff with me as possible. Later I can collect this stuff from the moving company, are there any relaiable companies that people use?

 

[eduardoF]

NewYorker,

If you want to be reeeeally canadian, you'll rent a truck and do it yourself. That's what they all do. Actually they call (well, I heard it once) July 1st "Canada Moving Day"

Other than that, I unfortunately cannot suggest any moving companies.

 

[GK]

New Yorker - I rented a U-haul and moved myself. I hired movers to help me load the truck in the US and unload the truck in Canada (two dfferent companies). There is a link where you can book these guys on U-haul.com. They charged about $150-200 for loading and did a great job. All I had to do was driving the truck for 10+ hours.

Some of the bulky stuff I didn't want/need I sold on e-bay or to neighbours. Customs in Canada was a piece of cake - no issues. Just make sure you have a detailed inventory list - and also make sure you home insurance covers the move in case the truck get stolen or you have an accident). U-haul offers some type of insurance but as most rentals they kind of over charge you. My home insurance in the US covered my move and i cancelled the insurance once I had moved in my new home in Canada.

 

[NewYorker]

Thanks for your reply guys, sounds like a plan - I can save plane tickets which I can put it in U-Haul. I am aware of those movers like loaders/unloaders, I used them various times because my job moves me and in fact I am using them again in December. Anyways, the problem with U-Haul will be that I have spouse and kids and I will have to rent the truck which has bigger cabin so they can all sit in their seats. I am not sure if they have one of those except the huge sizes but I will look and its a good idea.

Were there any issues with US border/customs/immigration etc. or that was easy too, you just drive through?

Thanks,

 

[GK]

No issues at the border as long as you have an inventory list of the stuff you have on the truck

 

[eduardoF]

and make sure you can drop the truck in Canada, otherwise you'll have to drive it back

 

[cchabert]

In my case U-Haul is out of option, driving from Atlanta to Alberta w/2 little ones will be a nightmare, I'll what my brother in law do, he hire this company and he was very happy with them:

http://www.atlasworldgroup.com

They took everything and deliver everything in good shape.

 

[NewYorker]

Cool, its good to know - I have two little kids also and Uhaul doesn't offer a bigger cabin truck where all four of us will fit and with a car seat.

Cheaper option is to drive and looks like there are no option to fit the family of four in Uhaul/ryder/penske etc.