Moving to Quebec

A moving consultant will eventually come to your place to assess the volume of stuff to be transported. You must specify which objects or goods require special precautions - special packaging-, also specify the things you will be doing yourself - dismantling furniture, packing dishes, etc.-

As far as the estimate is concerned, it must include several essential points, namely:

• The departure address - the place of collection of the goods

• Arrival address in Quebec

• The volume

• The type of transport

• The carrier's services

• The price

It is common to have your belongings sent directly to your new home. On the other hand, some carriers do not provide delivery till homes, but to a point of storage, which involves additional costs to repatriate your belongings to the final destination. Make sure to learn beforehand about the conditions of transport and routing.

Good to know:

Selling your belongings before departure and buying new ones once in Quebec, could be more economical. Quebec has many stores from which you can buy furniture, appliances and dishes. If you have a small budget, you will find what you are looking for in second-hand stores or on classified ads websites like Kijiji.ca and craiglist.ca. Besides, some units are rented fully furnished or semi-furnished with appliances only.

Note that you can also rent a storage box in your country, where you can leave your belongings during your stay in Quebec.

The declaration of value

It is vital to draw up an exhaustive list of your belongings to be able to draw up a "declaration of value". The declaration of value is a document which makes it possible to fix, in the event of loss or damage of your property, the value of compensation based on the damage.

You will have to fill in this declaration yourself by specifying the total value of your property as well as the value of certain goods that could exceed the contractual limit of value per object. Remember to read the terms of the contract in detail, as this limit varies from one carrier to another.
This declaration of value is all the more important that, without it, an estimate cannot be established, which will obviously compromise your move and your organization!

Property and casualty insurance

A "Property and casualty insurance" will be offered to you by the carrier. This insurance covers unpredictable damages related to the transportation of your property for the value you have indicated in your declaration. The cost of this insurance varies depending on the overall value of your property. An insurance certificate must imperatively be given to you by the moving company.

You will need to sign the "consignment note" when loading and delivering your belongings. This consignment note contains the terms of the contract, the mode of transport, the volume transported, the name and address of the customer and the transport company, etc. By signing this letter, you will give the green light to the mover when loading and you will terminate your contract upon delivery.

It is common to pay the moving expenses in two instalments: a deposit will be paid upon loading, and the balance will be paid upon delivery. You can also pay at one time or at the convenience of the carrier.

Find more useful information about moving to Quebec here.

Important:

It is the carrier who handles the administrative formalities related to your move - customs clearance operations, etc. -. For added security, choose a carrier affiliated with the International Federation of International Movers - FIDI.

Good to know:

It may be wise to check with the Canadian embassy or consulate in advance about international moves to the country to learn about specific provisions or to obtain information on prohibited products

Useful links:

FEDEMAC - Federation of European Movers
FIDI - International Federation of International Movers
Moving to Quebec