How to Find the Best Movers in Canada [Fast & Easy]

Moving across Canada can be a challenge for several reasons, not least of which is the vast distances between major Canadian cities.

There’s only one good solution for an easy and stress-free move and that is to find a good moving company.

A word of caution though: if you’re about to use a Canadian moving company for the first time, then it’s really important that you do it the right way.

Here are 10 steps to finding the best Canadian movers for your home move.

You may also like to read: Moving to a New Province in Canada. In this guide, we suggest things to take into consideration when choosing which province to move to.

1. Ask friends for recommendations

Moving company websites or ads is not the best place to start because there is no guarantee that the information there can be trusted at all.

Most professional movers do claim that they are both the best and the cheapest on the market – bold statements that you should always take with a grain of salt.

Obviously, the first step is to ask family and friends for possible recommendations.

Your pals may actually have personal experience and recent dealings with a mover, so it’s always a good idea to trust a friend of yours – someone who won’t try to deceive you in any way.

Although there is no assurance for a positive moving experience, getting recommendations from people you can trust is a great way to find a good Canadian moving company.

You may also like to visit our home moving blog which has an entire section devoted to moving to and within Canada.

2. Request price estimates

If anyone you know does recommend a specific Canadian moving company, then that’s great – you should definitely get in contact with that mover.

But more often than not, asking your friends won’t produce any sensible results. And when that happens, it’s time to do what moving experts always recommend.

Your first step to finding the best long-distance movers in Canada is to request price estimates from several reputable moving companies, and then compare those offers.

The easiest way to get quotes from several top-rated moving companies in Canada – ones that both support your move route and can accommodate your move on your desired date – is to use our moving costs calculator for Canada.

You can get up to 4 free, no-obligation quotes for your move in just a few minutes using this quick quote form.

3. Get an in-home survey

You must request that the moving companies – the ones with which you have already established a contact – visit your place in person and see all the items you have for moving.

The importance of in-home surveys cannot be stressed enough – remember that moving quotes over the phone or via e-mail cannot possibly be as accurate as physically seeing what is being moved.

This is the movers opportunity to assess not only the things you plan to move to the new home, but also to evaluate any difficulties during the day of the move – items that require special handling, long flights of stairs, lack of an elevator, tight corridors, and so on.

Once the survey is over, you will be issued accurate price estimates in writing.

The quotes should indicate the total cost of the move in addition to the hourly rates of the individual services.

Stay away from any Canadian moving company that insists that in-home inspection isn’t really necessary.

You may also like to read: How to Declutter for a Home Move. Before getting your home moving survey you must declutter your home so that you know exactly what you are moving. The fewer things you move, the cheaper your home move will be.

4. Know how to compare the moving quotes

Now that you have an accurate price for your move then things will become much easier for you to choose the best moving company for your needs.

First of all, take a look at the estimated prices – they should be more or less comparable.

If an estimate quotes a price that is way above what you can afford, then that particular offer is off.

On the other hand, if a quote states a price that appears to be too good to be true, then you should be even more cautious as that particular offer could turn out to be a lowball estimate.

Lowball estimates are usually fraudulent attempts by dishonest movers to bait more customers.

Secondly, do pay attention to the additional services in the moving company quotes, and their respective rates.

Each extra service offered will cost you extra, of course – whether it’s packing, unpacking, disassembly of furniture pieces, temporary storage, crating, and so on.

You may also like to read: How to Compare Moving Companies. In this guide, we explain how to compare different moving companies.

5. Read reviews

The next step is to check their online reputation.

Browsing through reviews on moving companies will help you select the winning bid knowing that the company you pick will not let you down in any way.

You’re not advised to base your decision on moving reviews alone as specific aspects can be largely subjective.

In the best-case scenario, reading reviews will tip the scale one way or the other and will make your choice a bit easier when you already have a few similar price estimates in your hands.

Be proactive and access our dedicated page where you can check customer reviews on the best Canadian moving companies. It’s easy, just click here.

6. Check the movers with the Ontario Ministry of Consumer Services

Now, let’s take a look at 3 more checks that should help you make the best decision about which company to hire.

Take a quick look at the Consumer Beware List prepared and maintained by the Ontario Ministry of Consumer Services.

That list is a public record that shows if a moving company in Canada has had any consumer complaints lodged against it.

If a Canadian moving company fails to respond to the Ministry after the latter has sent 2 notifications about a consumer complaint, the business is then added to that list.

Also, if a professional moving company in Canada has been charged or convicted in relation to the Consumer Protection Act, then that mover is also added to the list.

As a bonus, the Consumer Beware List also explains what kind of action the Ministry took in each case, which can be very useful for you in your final decision.

Useful tip: Choose “MOVING COMPANIES” from the drop-down menu “Select the type of service or product”.

7. Check the Canadian Association of Movers (CAM)

The Canadian Association of Movers (CAM) should definitely be your next stop.

CAM represents moving and storage companies in Canada, and the association guarantees that their current Canadian-mover members are actually the top moving companies in the country.

The moving directory on their website will help you search for a local or long-distance Canadian mover by providing your location and type of move.

All CAM members are required to have valid insurance and a physical address of business.

Also, all employees of CAM members have adequate coverage from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) in the unfortunate event of a mover getting injured while working on your house move.

Before doing business with a professional moving company, make sure it is a member of the Canadian Association of Movers – a smart precautionary step that can save you plenty of potential headaches.

8. Check the Better Business Bureau (BBB)

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is another helpful website where you can check if a Canadian moving company is reputable enough to be your partner in the upcoming household move.

For over 100 years, BBB has helped consumers identify trustworthy businesses by setting up standards for ethical business behavior – a high standard that business entities must meet before they can become BBB accredited.

Reputation is a big factor that neither moving companies nor consumers can or should ignore.

Your final check is to make sure the Canadian movers you’re considering are all BBB accredited and are in good standing with the Bureau.

You may also like to read: Who Regulates Canadian Movers? In this guide, we explain in more depth the regulatory authorities for movers in Canada.

9. Get Everything in Writing

One of the best pieces of advice you can get when enlisting the services of any moving company is to get it all in writing.

Make sure you get your written estimates after in-home surveys as explained in detail above.

When you opt for a binding moving estimate, the final cost can’t be more than 10% of the agreed-upon estimate unless the conditions of the original agreement seem to have changed on moving day.

For example, if it turns out that you have more items to be packed and transported than you showed to the moving company representatives at the in-home inspection.

Only then can the original price estimate become void and the company will have to prepare a new one for you.

Also, explore your options when it comes to insuring your valuable possessions against loss or damage.

Canadian moving companies are required by law to have insurance for the cargo they are carrying but that insurance comes in the form of basic liability coverage that is rarely enough (we’re talking only about 60 cents per pound of cargo).

Speak with your movers about whether you should purchase additional moving insurance known as Replacement Value Protection – the one that covers the full cost of replacing your household items if the latter gets damaged or lost.

See also: Consumer Checklist for Choosing a Moving Company (prepared by the Office of Consumer Affairs, Canada)

10. Avoid Moving Scams

Regrettably, there are some bad movers out there.

One of the most common scams by dishonest movers is to hold a customer’s belongings for ransom.

What do they want? They want more money, of course!

Those bad moving companies demand an additional payment to release the household items.

However, if you follow the above steps then you will have done all you can to protect yourself against rogue movers.

Yes, you’ll spend a bit of extra time researching professional movers but the security that spent time brings will be worth it in the end.

You may also like to read: How to Avoid Moving Scams. In this guide, we explain the most common home moving scams and how you can avoid them.

And don’t forget that the sound advice you have been given also applies to international moving companies in Canada.

There are some great moving partners out there to help ensure you have a cost-effective, safe, and stress-free relocation.

Just follow the top tips above to find your ideal Canadian International mover.

If you are moving internationally then you should visit our international home moving blog which is packed with guides to make your move cheaper, easier, and safer.

Happy moving!

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