Montreal, second largest Canadian city with over 3.6 million residents, is a center of commerce, industry, culture, and technology.  Undoubtedly, cost of living in Montreal is lower than Ottawa, and real estate prices are also more attractive.

On the other hand, Ottawa is the capital city and has a significantly higher average salary than Montreal.  People would find it attractive to move to Ottawa believing that higher wages can justify the higher cost of living.

If you are planning to move to from Ottawa to Montreal or vice versa, don’t panic. Moving can be a huge ordeal but if you carefully consider 3 ways to move in Montreal, you could even have a most enjoyable experience.

 

Moving Mistakes for Long Distance Moves that you Don’t Want to Make

When you are planning how to relocate from Montreal to Ottawa, you will want to avoid making common moving mistakes.

 

1. Don’t get moving quotes over the phone.

When you obtain moving quotes over the phone, you are most likely to get inaccurate estimates because the person you are talking to does not have all your information at hand. You will be given a low-ball estimate just to get your business. This moving estimate is not a guaranteed one and you will get ambushed with a higher moving bill on moving day.

 

2. Don’t hire a truck or mover at the last minute.

Some people postpone making a choice until the last minute. This is a mistake because you haven’t asked the right questions from the company or checked on the company’s customer service or background.  This will be pretty much like ordering from a restaurant you’ve never been to – it can go either way.

 

3. Don’t take on more than you can handle.

There are many people who don’t take their move seriously enough. They want to avoid the high cost of moving so they leave it to the gods. They ask a couple of friends to help with loading and unloading, borrow or rent a truck, and pack their stuff without a system. If you do this, you might find yourself living a nightmare on moving day and even days after your move.

Damaged and broken items, stolen goods, personal injury, and accidents are just some of the problems you could run into if you don’t plan a move well or take on more than you can handle.

 

Planning a move between Montreal and Ottawa – Consider the 3 ways you can do it

When planning a relocation, people would have 2 big factors to consider – convenience and cost.  More often, people decide to sacrifice on convenience for the sake of savings. This is understandable because moving expenses can also amount to a huge sum of money.

But did you know that you don’t need to sacrifice your own convenience and comfort just to save a few dollars?

Don’t forget, there is another factor you should consider when planning your moving method.  Safety is just as important as convenience and cost.

Keeping these things in mind, take a look at the 3 ways you can consider for relocating from Ottawa to Montreal or vice versa.

 

Option # 1 – Hire a U-Haul or Budget Rental Truck

Going DIY is one of the most frequently used options for moving simply because people believe it costs less.  With U-Haul rates being advertised at less than $20.00 an hour, it seems like the most practical and cost-effective method.

 

But is it really the most practical option?

Well, if you have only a few boxes and a table and chair to move, it could be a good option for you. If you can take care of carrying your boxes by yourself or with a couple of friends and driving long distance, it shouldn’t be a problem.

DIY is the least expensive method for small moves such as student moves.

When considering whether going DIY with a U-Haul truck is ideal in your situation, always consider the size of your inventory and the value of your household goods.

 

When you rent a U-Haul or Budget truck, you will be spending on the following:

• ✓ Moving boxes and supplies
• ✓ Moving equipment (you may need to rent a dolly or ramp)
• ✓ Moving labor (if you need help with carrying your household items or furniture)
• ✓ Fuel
• ✓ Truck rental per hour (during peak seasons, there could be a limit to the number of hours you can use your moving truck)

To know whether you can really save money from a DIY move, calculate your costs carefully (you may have to spend on food for people helping you out) and weigh if the savings will be sufficient to warrant doing all the hard work yourself

The best way to know is to compare moving costs with free online moving quotes from reputable movers.  Study your options by comparing moving company vs. renting a U-Haul truck.

Option # 2 – Hiring a Portable Moving Container Company

You may have heard of PODS, Go Minis, and other portable moving container companies. In essence, you can rent a moving container that you will stuff with your household goods which the company will then pick up and deliver to your new location.

The most significant difference between renting a moving truck from U-Haul and renting a portable container is the fact that with the latter option, you don’t need to do the driving.

Customers can choose the size of the moving container (12, 16 or 20 ft.) and it will be dropped off at your current location at your desired time.  The rental will usually stipulate how long you can keep the container to do your packing, anywhere from 2 weeks to 1 month.

 

6 Important Things to Consider when Hiring a Portable Moving Container Company

1. You need to do your own packing within the allotted time
2. You need to load your boxes and furniture onto the container by yourself. You can decide to rent moving labor to help you load and unload but this will be your additional cost.
3. You need to study your moving insurance coverage. Who will be paying for broken or damaged items? If you don’t have moving insurance, you may need to purchase suitable coverage for your move unless you have no valuable items to relocate.
4. Delivery of your moving container can take longer depending on your chosen company.
5. You will need to have adequate space in front of your current home to park the portable container. You also need to allocate adequate space for the company to park your container when it arrives at your new address.
6. You need to ensure the safety of your moving container and its contents from inclement weather and thieves because it will be parked outside your home

It may cost a little more to hire a portable container than a rental truck but it takes the driving off your hands.  Basically, you will still be doing all the hard stuff (packing, loading, unloading).

Portable moving containers would certainly be difficult as a moving option for medium to large sized moves such as 2 to 3 bedroom homes with a lot of furniture and appliances as well as personal goods and valuables such as art pieces and china.

 

Option # 3 – Hire a Reputable Moving Company

Moving companies offer many moving services that can be customized to suit individual needs and budget.

When you hire a reputable Ottawa or Montreal moving company for your relocation, a moving specialist will arrive at your home to check on your inventory.

The company will provide you with moving solutions and an accurate moving estimate based on the distance of your move from points A to B, the weight of the items to be moved, and other moving services you may require such as moving a piano, or packing services.

Contrary to popular belief, moving company charges are flexible because they depend on the amount of work you require the moving company to do.

 

Ways to Save on Professional Moving Costs

You can choose to do some of the work to reduce your professional moving costs.

• ✓ Do your own packing
• ✓ Reduce your inventory by getting rid of items you no longer need or want
• ✓ Be flexible with the date of your move. Peak moving seasons (summer, especially on or around July 1 in Montreal, can mean higher moving rates)
• ✓ Be prepared on moving day by unplugging all electrical appliances, cleaning out cupboards and the refrigerator, and cleaning up. The faster the movers can finish the move, the lower your moving expenses.

 

Pay More for Less Work and No Stress

Moving companies also provide complete or white glove moving services so you don’t need to do any of the hard work.

If you can pay a little more for your moving expenses, you can eliminate all the stress of packing, loading and unloading, driving long distance, and even cleaning up.

All moves are unique so moving companies offer unique moving services to suit each and every moving situation.  For example, if you need to relocate to a new address but can’t unpack your furniture immediately because of unfinished renovation or waiting for a lease to start, you can obtain short-term storage with your moving company.

 

Consider the Safety of your Household Goods

One of the most important reasons to hire a moving company is for the safety of your household goods.

Professional movers are well-trained in handling fragile objects and in packing household items using a systematic and convenient process with the goal of zero damage.

In addition, moving companies offer basic moving insurance for your household goods in case of damage or loss. There are also Montreal movers that offer comprehensive moving insurance for long distance moves as part of their moving service.

This is a huge benefit especially if you have valuable items like electronic appliances, art pieces, and furniture, that would be costly to replace if damaged or lost.

 

 

How moving companies charge for moving expenses from Ottawa to Montreal

Moving companies will charge flat rates for long distance moves between Ottawa and Montreal.

Unlike local moves that are based on hourly rates, long distance moving costs are calculated based on the distance of your move and the size of your inventory. Most full-service moves already include moving supplies, the right size of moving truck, and the movers needed to efficiently complete a move.

A reputable mover will gladly provide a free in-home estimate before giving you an estimated cost of your move.

We have various Montreal moving companies in our network who will be happy to assist with your relocation. You may also want to check on Moving reviews for Montreal moving companies and other useful tips for moving in Montreal.

 

Montreal Movers Service Ottawa Regularly

There are also Montreal moving companies that have regular runs from Ottawa to Montreal and could offer you much lower moving rates.

Montreal moving companies know Ottawa like the back of their hand. They can provide you with useful advice about the best time to move, traffic and other facts you may need to know on moving day.

To find out how much it costs to hire a moving company for your move, request for free moving quotes from Montreal moving companies.

Fill-out our short online form to obtain the most economical moving quotes from licensed and experienced movers.

 

Cost of Living Comparison of Ottawa and Montreal

It’s natural to wonder if you are making the right decision to move to Montreal from Ottawa or vice versa.

Just to give you an idea, Numbeo provides the following cost of living comparison between these two cities.

Consumer Prices (including rent) are 7.93% lower in Montreal

Rental Costs are 20.17% lower in Montreal

Average restaurant prices are 10.72% lower in Montreal

Groceries are 5.66% higher in Montreal than Ottawa

Purchasing power is 9.06% lower in Montreal than Ottawa

 

Other significant costs such as transportation, childcare, and utilities are much lower in Montreal than Ottawa.  However, average salaries are 16.27% lower in Montreal compared to Ottawa.

 

Plan your Move with Competitive Moving Quotes from Montreal Movers

Are you ready to plan your move? As we mentioned earlier, it is best for you to consider the 3 moving options to find what suits you best.

Safety, Convenience, and Cost are all equally important in making your final decision.

In order to really compare costs, you can start by obtaining accurate moving estimates from professional movers using our short online request form.

You may be very surprised to see that professional moving services are not that expensive considering the convenience and comfort you can get. You can save yourself a lot of hard labor and stress when you hire a good moving company from Montreal.

Receive competitive moving quotes from 5 moving companies today. This service is free and no obligation on your part.

We hope you have a most pleasant and stress-free move with any of our moving partners.