Preparing Your Items for Storage

Last week I shared some tips about what to look for when putting your items into storage. This week I want to share some ways to “prepare” your items for storage. Again, some of these come from the Canadian Association of Movers which can be found at www.mover.net.

•Wrap sofas and large upholstered items in protective material. Place sofas on sofa racks to keep them safe.

•Wrap finished furniture to protect it from scratches and marks.

•Moth proof and wrap rugs and place them on racks when storing.

•Wrap anything fragile like mirrors, pictures and smaller delicate items.

•Leave fridge and freezer doors open (or have them serviced) to prevent mold and mildew from growing in them.

•Consider purchasing depository insurance or for if you are really concerned: full protection to value. This will cost you a regular monthly fee, but may be worth the peace of mind, depending on the items.

•Do not store dangerous or perishable goods.

By: Andrew Brown and Sharon Osvald

For more info on how we can help make your move a smooth move, visit www.movingagain.ca

Storing Your Stuff

With our world being so mobile, it is more common for people to need to place their belonging into storage. It is important that you are certain your items are being stored safely and securely.

The Canadian Movers Association makes the following recommendations when choosing a storage facility:

1.Find out the reputation of the storage facility you are considering.

2.Make sure you completely understand the services that the company is offering, what your responsibilities are, the liability of the company in the case of damage or theft, how the items are secured and if you have access to your items while being stored.

3.Ask what the additional charges are. Are there charges for wrapping or protective materials, moth-proofing, packing items like mirrors or servicing appliances to prevent the growth of mildew?

4.Keep complete lists of all the items being stored. Compare lists with the company storing your belongings to ensure it matches.

5.Visit the storage facility to see if it is clean, dry and rodent-free. Ask about climate control and security.

For more information visit www.mover.net
By: Andrew Brown and Sharon Osvald

Damages

Damages: What to expect when you’re moving?

Besides having a mover pack up your belongings and selling them on E-bay, damages are the biggest fear when choosing to move your home or office.

Even the best movers can cause damage or scratches to your property when moving. Since home owners insurance doesn’t usually cover your items while in transit, it is so important that you choose your mover carefully, ask lots of questions and get things in writing. You need to know: Who is responsible for payment or replacement of furniture if it is damaged in the move? Does the mover pay for damages to items that we packed or they packed?

According to the Canadian Association of Movers, the liability for loss or damage is shared between the consumer and the mover. By law, a mover’s liability is only 60 cents per pound per article moved and the consumer assumes the rest of the risk. This is not something many consumers know.

The CAM says, “This means that for a 50-pound TV the mover’s liability is $30. This coverage is obviously not sufficient to protect the customer. Your household goods, on average are worth $10 per pound or more. A reputable mover will offer to accept the customer’s risk for a fee or include this coverage in the price of the move.” Make sure you clearly understand what you are getting and that it covers your needs and protects your belongings.

ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS!!

Get all your agreements in writing.

Choose your mover carefully and get lots of references.

By: Sharon Osvald and Andrew Brown

Winter Moving Tips

Moving in winter months creates a few more obstacles than during the warmer summer months. As movers we must be extra careful to ensure that we are safe and that nothing of yours gets damaged in the process.

Along with Moving Again Inc., here are some tips to make your winter move run safe and sound.

1. Reduce the chance of slipping. We must be extra careful for our safety that we do not slip on wet and slippery floors. We also need to be certain that the furniture we are moving doesn't get damaged when we are slipping. It is important that you clear the pathway of ice and snow.

2. You may need to reserve adequate parking for the moving truck to park closest to the loading door. Again, please clear a pathway from the truck to the door we are entering into that is wide enough for the widest appliances we will be moving.

3. We lay down floor runners in the house to protect the floor from dirt and abrasion caused from movers who are still wearing their boots.

4. We always will put your bed into a mattress bag, but it is even more important in the winter time so that your bed doesn't come into contact with any dirt or snow. Your furniture is also blanket wrapped to protect the finish and to stop any doors or drawers from swinging open while they are being carried.

5. Please turn down the thermostat; the door is open anyway, and the movers go from freezing cold in the truck to hot and sweating in the house.

6. If you are happy with your movers then offer them a hot coffee, it goes a long way in showing your appreciation of the hard work they are doing.

Wishing you a wonderful winter move.

By: Andrew Brown and Sharon Osvald

Packing - Part Two

When preparing for a move, packing is a very important part of planning. Whether you hire your moving company to pack or decide to pack yourself, here are some important tips to keep your items intact when travelling from A to B. This is a continuation from last week, Packing Part Two.

The Basic Rules for Packing:

1.Large boxes should not contain heavy articles. Not only could the boxes tear but also they are extremely difficult to carry.

2.Standard-size cartons should be used for stacking.

3.Heavier items should be placed in the bottom of boxes, on their strongest side with items separated by cushioning material.

4.Boxes should be filled completely so they don’t cave in.

5.Cartons should be secured with tape and clearly marked. Properly calculating the required packing materials is a challenge. Movers estimate a standard number of containers for a move and then adjust for the customer's needs, such as for doctors who often have a great quantity of books.

6.Special items – statues, gun collections, crystal chandeliers – may require custom-made containers and special packing.

7.Movers cannot transport inadmissible items like explosives, ammunition, aerosol cans and flammables like gasoline, paints or cleaning fluids.

By: Andrew Brown- Taken from the rules of packing from the Canadian Association of Movers.