I've shifted 3 residences in the last 3 years and these are somethings I learnt from my experiences and I would like to share with all the CD's. There will definitely be other experienced Desi's in this forum who can add their inputs to help/prepare others on this endeavour.

1.Try to save original packaging and good boxes if possible.

2.Start saving newspapers about 3 months before the move so as to wrap the China/porcelain stuff.

3.As most of the moving happens in Summer and towards long weekends, it'll be quite difficult and if available a higher rate of about $60-65 from local movers. Try to organize your mover in advance.

4.Check whether your mover has insurance coverage if your stuff is broken enroute.

5.If the guys work on hourly rate, be all over them as they tend to drag the time. They will charge for the road driving time from your current location to the new location. I can gaurantee you, even if he knows the route by heart, he will take a detour like our Desi Taxi Driver in India and add valuable time to your bill.Make sure you give him a map with directions including the expected time enroute and explain to him before he drives away.

6.If there are steps in your current home or in your new home, count the number as they will charge extra for each step.

7.Try to book the elevator on both the locations if you are in an apartment. As many people will try to move out on a single day and you will get slowed down.

8.Do not become over sentimental in certain items like furniture, it is better to discard them than carrying it across town.The furniture from Ikea is a designers treat, but a movers nightmare. As they are not sturdy, however the mover is careful it will not last for the second move.

9.Better to buy a LCD TV than a picture tube TV. Believe me your eyes will well up when you see the way they'll handle it.

10. You can buy your wrapping tape and tape dispenser from the Walmart -Stationary section as it is cheap but sturdy unlike the Dollar store.

11.Involve your children in packing, as they will understand how much toys/books and other stuff they have accumulated over time.This will enable them to be thrifty next time around.

12.Buying boxes outside is an expensive proposition. Try to get some from your work or save boxes periodically from places like No Frills. Save a good box, when you see it.

13.If you are moving from a rental place, handover the keys to the owner/Super and take a signature from him. If you have a digital camera, take pictures with it when you move around with owner/Super for the final inspection. If you do not do it, forget your key deposit.

Good Luck on your Move!.

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Speech by Thomas Friedman of The New York Times....

"When we were young kids growing up in America, we were told to eat our
vegetables at dinner and not leave them. Mothers said, 'think of the
starving children in India and finish the dinner.' And now I tell my
children: 'Finish your maths homework. Think of the children in India
who would make you starve, if you don't.'"

Thanks shankaracharya. These are really great tips. very positive thread.

Thanks Paramhams 03 for your kind compliment. Compliments like this only keeps us ticking on CD. As you had mentioned in your earlier post on me in regards my Kushi life, the last 3 years have been a roller coaster. After living a very good life all my life, it has been not so easy here for me and people like TK.

It is like being dropped off the roof of LIC in Mount Road in terms of life, work and things in general. May it is bad karma, may be it bad luck or may be it is fate.The positive learning experience for me is that I can survive anywhere in the world as I've survived in Canada. I can be a chef, pizza deliverer, machine operator, cashier, courier delivery driver, ware house person, order picker, packer, work on complicated machines, Quality Assurance/Control person, a good professional janitor, an excellent waiter, a good scanner of packages in a courier company, a middle management guy in a MNC courier company who can also lift 70 Lbs repeatedly unassisted.This list goes on unended. My family has been doing financially well and If I want I can buy a semi-detached home in mississauga with 25% down payment.

The light at the end of the tunnel is shining very brightly as I'll be moving away to US of A towards the end of this year. In the meanwhile I take my mind away form the mundane routines by either spending time on CD or learning about Hinduism in detail, and spending more time at the Hindu Temple or at the some musical concert(s) in and around Toronto.

The way I look at life is not just paying mortgage, insurance and doing a trip to India every 5 years. I need monetary growth along growth at the work place and also more challenging assignments in my field of work. It is not just money which I need to make but what am I doing at the workplace and has there been a new learning experience with growth. Just to give an example my wife makes CAD 60K + per annum. She works as an Machine Operator in one of the leading Brewery in Canada. The job is well protected by Union and if she wants she can keep doing the same job for the next 30 years in her life.How many people make that kind of money in Canada ?. But the question is what is that you are doing to make that money, after all your education, work experience, and all your past successes.

If I want to be financially successful I can be a real estate agent, mortgage consultant, sell insurance or start my own fastfood store or even a small business. Then what is the point in all my past education?. I just need to be a +2 or a polytechnic graduate to be sucessful in Canada. I see people doing the same job in the same company for 20+ years with growth of $1 per hour every year (some even $0.25 per hour), yes they are monetarily happy with a $250K home, 2 cars and an occasional trip to India.

They are very right to be happy with it. I need more, not just more but much more. I do not want to play local league but play the World Cup !.

Thank You once again !.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Speech by Thomas Friedman of The New York Times....

"When we were young kids growing up in America, we were told to eat our
vegetables at dinner and not leave them. Mothers said, 'think of the
starving children in India and finish the dinner.' And now I tell my
children: 'Finish your maths homework. Think of the children in India
who would make you starve, if you don't.'"

Please see the attached link.

http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=69934

Good tips Sankaracharya!

Thanks.

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A Proud Indian Canadian

Heres a link to a previous thread on the topic.

http://www.canadiandesi.com/read.php?TID=3897

btw: july 1st is 'moving day' in Montreal(whole of Quebec?). Some say this was done to minimize the importnce of 'Canada day'.


http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/Media_Target/HotTopics/EN/HTML/181_EN.asp

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Try and engage a Chinese moving co. They are usually much cheaper than others including desis and are extremely careful with the furniture.

If you want to move yourself, use U-Haul. If you need extra help again engage a Chinese person or security guard. I have heard people from Bulgaria and other Eastern European countries charge really cheap also but no experience.