Moving Day
Moving day is often a day associated with stress. Here are some common mistakes and how you can avoid them.
Mistake #1 – Hiring Cheap Movers
Make sure you do your research before hiring movers. There are many websites out there, such as Yelp and Homestars.com that provide reviews from previous customers. This is a great way to give yourself peace of mind that the movers will be handling all of your belongings with TLC. Look for recent reviews and see if the actual company is taking an active role and taking the time to respond to the reviews. If you find a mover that is charging less than $75 per hour (two movers + truck), be sure to inquire about extra charges and do a background check on the company to ensure that it is not moving day scam.
Mistake #2 – Poor Packing
Poor packing results in a longer move. All belongings should be packed safely in boxes, loose items make it difficult to load the truck/van and your belongings are at risk at becoming damaged. Framed pictures and artwork should be wrapped with bubble wrap or inserted into picture boxes. Fragile kitchen items should be wrapped in newsprint or tissue paper and placed in sturdy boxes labelled as fragile to avoid breakage. It is always best to inform your movers if you have a lot of fragile or high-value items, as they will often have special equipment or materials that will ensure safe transportation. Don’t forget to ask your movers about wardrobe boxes. In most cases they will supply these at no charge and it is the easiest way to transport your closet.
Mistake #3 – Poor Scheduling
Unforeseen issues always seem to arise on moving day, make sure you schedule more than enough time to pick up house keys from a lawyer/landlord or booking a service elevator for moving day. One small delay can derail the entire moving plan. Try to pick up the keys the day before, and schedule the service elevator, as soon as you know what your moving date will be. It’s better to be ahead of schedule, then behind.
Mistake #4 – Poor Labelling
Packing is a daunting task, but it is important to ensure that all boxes are labelled accordingly. If you label all sides of the boxes with the room which it belongs to, it will not only help your movers, but it will also aid you when you finally get to unpack. If possible, try to also label the box with the contents of the box (e.g. Kitchen, Cookbooks) as well.
Mistake #5 – Last Minute
Do not leave everything to the last minute. To make your move goes as smoothly as possible; make sure everything is properly packed, labelled and ready to move on moving day. If anything needs to be disassembled, you will need to ensure that it is properly disassembled prior to your movers arriving. To avoid losing any nuts or bolts, use a Ziploc bags for each piece of furniture.
It’s best to create a checklist to ensure that nothing is forgotten. Below is a small checklist to follow. To view the entire checklist, click here:
One to two months before moving
- Get packing supplies if packing yourself
- Have a garage sale
- Fill out change of address forms
- Start a moving expenses log, as some of your expenses may be tax deductible
Two to four weeks before moving
- Switch utility services to new address
- Inform telephone, cable, hydro companies of your move
- Reserve the service elevator if moving from an apartment
- Start packing (if packing yourself). Number all of the boxes, mark the contents on each of the boxes, specially mark fragile contents and keep an inventory list
A few days before moving
- Finish packing
- Collect house keys and arrange to leave them with the new owners, real estate agent or landlord
- Double check all closets, shelves, garage to be sure they are empty
Moving day
- Make sure you shut off all appliances
- Last minute check of rooms and closets
- Carry important documents, currency and jewellery yourself
Lastly, the most important tip that we will offer, is to ensure that you and your movers, (whether they are professional movers, friends or family) stay energized and hydrated. Keep water and snacks on hand to make the day go by a little bit smoother. Happy Moving!
For more info on moving tips and services, please visit our friends at Viktoria Professional Services.
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