Moving tips

Get a quote or estimate from one of UBC’s designated moving companies as soon as you have a date to move to Vancouver or Kelowna, BC (for our Vancouver or Okanagan campuses) and coordinate with your hiring department administrator to get approvals.

For cross-border and international moves, please speak to your selected moving company for more specific information on timelines and move process.

After the relocation coordinator from your selected moving company has arranged a survey with you, the moving company will send a local surveyor to do the estimate. Please advise the surveyor of the transportation mode you would like your goods to travel (e.g. wardrobe by air, books by truck or sea freight), if there are any high value items, and if some of your household items are stored in another facility.

Be sure the surveyor sent by your selected moving company provides you with a guaranteed estimate.

It’s recommended you allow the movers to handle the packing for you. Responsibility for damage to goods in a carton that you have packed is difficult to establish if there is no visible damage to the outside of the carton. Unless the carton shows obvious structural damage, the moving company won’t include these items in the Valuation of a claim for damaged items.

When you have confirmed where you will be moving to, notify the relocation coordinator from your selected moving company if there will be any problems with a moving van accessing the residence. Some issues to be aware of include one-way streets, low hanging wires, overhanging trees, short driveways or narrow streets.

Advise the relocation coordinator from your selected moving company as soon as possible regarding your desired moving dates. Specific delivery dates can’t be guaranteed. However, moving companies will generally do everything possible to accommodate your request.

If you don’t have Canadian citizenship or you are considered a non-resident of Canada, please confirm your move date or your flight into Canada when you have the appropriate immigration paperwork to obtain your work permit.

If you are relocating from outside Canada, your shipment will have to clear customs before our moving company can complete the delivery into your new home. Your shipment may be held in bonded storage until Canada Customs releases it. To get your shipment released, you are responsible for appearing at the nearest customs office to have your documentation reviewed. You will be given 24 hours notice that your shipment has arrived in your destination city.

Please refer to the Canada Border Services Agency for more information on customs regulations or policies about moving to Canada.

If you are moving to Canada, you will generally be allowed to bring your household goods free of duties and taxes. Please refer to the Canada Border Services Agency for more information on customs regulations or policies of moving to Canada. Adding to this, please be aware that the relocation policy won’t reimburse for any import, duties and taxes or bond charges that you take on.