Congratulations! After a lengthy search filled with ups and downs, you’ve finally found the home you’ve been seeking.
However, while you’re riding the euphoric high that accompanies securing such a monumental purchase, it only takes the daunting realization that you’ll soon be tasked with moving all of your belongings into said ‘Perfect Place’ to dampen your ‘home sweet home’ bliss.
Take heart though. Yes, moving can be super stressful – but there are ways to diminish the frazzle! Here are a few pointers on how to make your move (almost) stress-free.
Find A Good Moving Company
Unfortunately, while there are lots of legit movers, some run a shady operation. You would never want to end up with this guy:
It’s certainly well worth your while to obtain quotes from a number of different movers. And while the adage “You get what you pay for” often has merit, you should be careful when you’re using price as a guide. Always remember to check the fine print to be certain on what is included and what isn’t. What might at first glance appear to be a good deal could quickly ramp up with charges you may not have been expecting (e.g. fuel charges, premiums for moving on certain days, etc.). Also, be sure to confirm the size of the moving crew, and if there are overtime charges if traffic goes gridlock or there’s a delay with the closing of your home.
When selecting a mover, always make sure they are licensed and insured. And, in this day and age of technology, it’s easy to check references, accreditations, and online reviews. Have they been in business for some time, or are they a fly-by-night operation? Do they have their own fleet of moving trucks, or are they renting from UHaul?
While it’s important to find a company that speaks to you – and matches your budget – at the bottom of this post we’ll share the company we use for all of our urbaneer moves: Cargo Cabbie!
Communicate
What’s the key to any great relationship – working or otherwise? Great communication, of course! Make sure the movers know exactly what is valuable (sentimental and financial worth both count here). That’s probably your best bet to avoiding a calamity before it happens.
Also, when considering a mover – confirm exactly what measures they take to protect belongings to ensure their safe arrival. What sort of equipment do they have? How do they wrap furniture and other items? Do they have special crating available for artwork and the like?
Drill Down The Details
Where will the moving truck park? Is there a clear path to your front door, or will you need to do some manoeuvring? Are there any “special” items that might require extra or different care? Remember if you are in an apartment or condominium building, you may need to reserve an elevator and loading dock.
In advance of moving day, sketch the space plan of your new home. Consider where you might want furniture to be placed so that the movers can do it straight away – making the move itself faster and eliminating headaches for you after the move is complete.
Packing Tips
Before you start packing, make sure you have enough supplies. The moving company may have packing systems you can rent, or you should be able to purchase boxes, packing tape and bubble wrap from them at a reasonable cost.
Start your packing by tackling out of season items. Move on to items that you rarely use after that, and so on. Make sure you are using appropriately sized boxes for the items you are packing (too big or too small won’t protect your stuff adequately). By the same token, don’t leave empty spaces in boxes, as there is more room for things to roll around and break. Fill empty spaces with paper and/or packing material. It may seem like common sense, but put heavier things on the bottom and lighter things resting on top.
Make sure you label contents of boxes and that you mark specifically in which room they are to go (i.e. kitchen, master bedroom, girl’s room, boy’s room, etc.). You’ll make your life a lot easier when you go to unpack if you don’t mix and match items from different rooms in the same box. Another hint – make sure you label boxes on the top and on the side so that they are easily identifiable.
When it comes to breakables (like dishes, glasses, etc.) wrap each one separately and then bundle in groups of five or six items and wrap and tape the bundle together to reduce likelihood of damage. All of your boxes should be tightly packed, but make especially sure that the boxes containing breakables have little space to shift.
On The Day Of
First, ensure you’re prepared and packed when the movers arrive. Nothing can derail a smooth move like flustered customers racing around at the last minute.
Second, make sure you’re present at your new home when the movers arrive to ensure your items are placed where you’d like them to be.
And if you have pets or small children, consider finding alternative care arrangements for them for the day (click here to read recent post “Animal House: 8 Simple Rules To Moving With Dogs). Although innocent, they can get in the way and distract you (and the movers) from the important task at hand.
We LOVE CARGO CABBIE
1-855-822-2243
647-478-5422
info@cargocabbie.ca
Since 2010, Cargo Cabbie has provided high quality moving and packing services combined with outstanding customer service. They have been awarded Toronto’s Best Movers 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 on HomeStars, and featured as the Best Movers in Toronto on BlogTO and Houzz. They take great pride in their sterling reputation, and it shows in the way they conduct their business. Their reliable movers and packers are fast, friendly, and non-smoking, and perform each and every job with the utmost personalized service and care. (They even are professional art movers – you should see how carefully they pack up an art collection!)
In our experience, Cargo Cabbie and their employees have always gone out of their way to ensure Urbaneer’s moves – and the moves of our clients – have been stress-free, fast, and as affordable as possible. Urbaneer highly recommends Cargo Cabbie.
At urbaneer, we’re invested in your housing happiness. Whether you’re buying or selling – the journey can be emotionally, mentally, and physically intense. Which is why we pride ourselves on our steady hand and prudent counsel. We’re here to help you from start to finish, with practical tips and tricks to ease your stress. We’re here to help!
Steven Fudge & The Urbaneer Team
Sales Representatives
Bosley Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage
(416) 322-8000
– we’re here to earn your trust, then your business –