Save some time... and some money!

So you have booked your movers... now what?!

We all know that moving can be a very stressful, time consuming, and expensive transition. Being well prepared can save you both time and money on your moving day... and who wouldn't want that? Here are a few tips to help organize yourself as you await the big day.


1. Make a list - having a checklist of everything that must be accomplished before moving day is a great start. It will allow you to see what needs to be done, how much time you have to do it, and provides a sense of accomplishment as you check off completed tasks.


2. Downsize when possible - moving is a great time to figure out what items you actually need and use, and which ones you can do without. Downsizing the amount of "stuff" you have in your house will definitely cut down on moving time. Make a garage sale if possible and earn a little cash to help pay for the move.


3. Pack everything in boxes - besides the large furniture of course, pack everything possible into sealed boxes. One of the most time consuming parts of moving can be collecting small appliances, lamps, and items that are loosely thrown into baskets to be put on the truck. Loose items are not very stackable, requiring the mover to make multiple trips in and out of the house. When everything is sealed in boxes the mover can take multiple boxes in one trip therefor saving you time and money (and saving the mover some energy).


4. Disassemble bed frames - although most movers can do this for you, if you are looking to save some time and money, have your beds disassembled and ready to go. If you know of any other furniture that requires disassembly, let your mover know ahead of time so they can come prepared, or do it yourself to save some time.


5. Leave clothing in your dressers - if your dresser is strong and only has clothes in the drawers, save some packing time and leave them in the dresser. Most movers will wrap the dresser in moving pads to keep the drawers in place and prevent the dresser from being damaged.


6. Ask about wardrobe boxes - Moving Again Inc. offers their customers the free use of wardrobe boxes for clothing hanging in closets. Ask your mover if they have wardrobe boxes to offer you as it will save you packing time and save your clothing from being wrinkled or ruined.


7. Properly package electronics - Be sure that all electronics are safely packaged (original boxes work best) and all cords are tied together to avoid tripping. Moving Again Inc. offers the free use of flatscreen t.v boxes for those who no longer have the original. See if your movers offer anything similar, and let your movers know the size of the t.v so they can come prepared.


Best of luck with your move!


By: Michelle Langdon and Andrew Brown

Moving Again's Top Online Moving Tips

With so many resources, tips and articles online, here are some of Moving Again's favourites. Enjoy!

How to Pack a Room:
http://www.servicemagic.com/article.show.Moving-How-to-Pack-a-Room.12079.html

Moving Out on Your Own - Prepare Financially. Are You Ready to Move into Your First Home or Apartment?

http://moving.about.com/od/preparingforyourmove/a/first_home.htm

Moving Your Beloved Plants:
http://moving.about.com/od/movingityourself/a/moving_plants.htm

Checklists for moving:

http://www.mysmartmovers.ca/Moving_Tips.html

Moving Seniors ~ Part Two

Last week we talked about the unique challenges of moving seniors. However, what happens when the senior selling or moving needs more assistance to live day to day.

Where do they go then?

Firstly, it is important to determine what assistance they need and to understand what options exist for them. Here are some types of providers that can assist you or your loved one when moving is required. This information was found in The Care Guide.

Independent/Supportive Living: Apartment Style accommodations exist with services like meals, home making, 24 hour staff and social activities. Sometimes they are rentals, life leases or owned.

Retirement Residences: Retirement Homes are supportive residential settings for people who can no longer manage living with independence. They offer meals, activities, 24 hour staffing, laundry, housekeeping services and various levels of personal care. Rates are not subsidized.

Assisted Living: This refers to providers that assist people who are frail, require supervision and hands-on personal assistance with daily activities like dressing or bathing. Often this care is provided in a designated section of the residence.

Long-Term Care Homes: Known as nursing homes, these are residences for people who can no longer live independently and require 24 hour-nursing services. Eligibility for placement is based on needs and is arranged by Community Care Access Centres.

For detailed information about these different types of living arrangements (in your area of Ontario) and even more services for seniors visit: www.thecareguide.com.

Some other helpful links are:

http://www.culture.gov.on.ca/en/seniorsguide/docs/seniors_guide_final_english_web.pdf

There are 14 Community Care Access Centres throughout Ontario in alignment with the Province’s newly established Local Health Integration Networks. To contact them or find more information online, including the local branch offices, visit: www.ccac-ont.ca

www.211ontario.ca

www.mymotherscaregiver.com

By: Sharon Osvald and Andrew Brown

Staging For Success

Spring is just around the corner, now is the time of year that many will begin listing their homes to sell. If you are one of these homeowners and you can’t afford expensive renovations or changes in your home, there are some simple and affordable things you can to do make your house stand out ahead of the rest.

First impressions are SO important. Here are a few tips to make your house beat the competition:

•Clean. Clean. Clean. It might seem like a small thing, but a home that is dirty looks unloved and older. Making those windows, mirrors, floors, bathrooms and appliances shine will make a big difference.

•Clear away the clutter. People are looking for bright and spacious homes. The less items, knick knacks and excess belongings you have, the bigger and more open your home will appear.

•Sell, throw away or store extra furniture away in order to make your rooms as open as possible. You also won’t have unnecessary items to move to your new location.

•When setting up a room, don’t ignore focal points like fireplaces and large windows by blocking them with furniture or large television sets. Show off your house’s assets.

•Neutralize. You may love dark or vibrant paint colours, but the best way to appeal to the biggest group of people is to keep your paint colours neutral. They also make rooms appear larger.

Wishing you all the best in your upcoming move!

By: Sharon Osvald and Andrew Brown

Dare to De-clutter

It is one of the least favourite but most important parts of moving – de-cluttering. Whether you are selling a home and need to stage it, are moving your business/office or just don’t want to pay to move items your family doesn't need or use, it is step one in planning a move. Here are some tips to get you going:

1.As soon as you begin contemplating moving, start thinking smaller. Begin selling, giving away and throwing out your excess belongings. A clear clutter free home will be easier to “stage” if you are selling and will even help you think clearer. Even if you’re renting, as soon as you decide it’s time to go – start thinking smaller, smarter and leaner. Ask yourself: “What do I really need?”

2.If you are like most people your “paper work”, photos, bank statements, saved letters and important papers are stored in not one – but several places around your home. Again, throw out what you don’t need and create one home for all these papers and belongings. Then when you move they can all go into one easy to access box.

3.Be ruthless. Take serious inventory of the items you have in your home and if you really need them – right down to furniture, clothing, appliances, toys, books and the dreaded knick knacks. It costs you more money to move items you don’t really need or use. Also, when you arrive at your new home you’ll have that sense of a clean slate to begin in a new home.

4.Despite the hassle, sometimes it is worth it to try and sell your items. Websites like www.kijiji.ca are free and easy to use. You will be able to connect with people in your area looking for the items you are selling i.e. a used computer desk, a toddler bed (that you haven’t used in six years) or one of your three stereo systems. The extra cash will also help go toward the cost of your upcoming move.

5.Garage sales are the best way to sell small or “cheap” items. Again, you might not think it is worth it, but it is not difficult to make two or three hundred dollars in a morning in your driveway. In the end it will cost you to take these items to the dump. Not to mention, if you are sentimental about a particular item, sometimes it is easier to let it go when you see someone else enjoying it.

Dare to de-clutter, you’ll be glad you did.

By: Sharon Osvald in collaboration with Andrew Brown

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 to Move - Part One

When it comes to moving most people understand their need to enlist in some kind of help. However, you may not know the importance of having a professional pack your belongings, as well as move them. Packing is a bigger part of the move than most people would expect.

When hiring a moving company, people can pay to have everything packed, nothing packed or some things packed – depending on your arrangement. However, the Canadian Association of Movers (CAM) recommends customers get at least some of their belongings packed by professionals. Here is why:

•Since movers are not responsible for damage to items packed by owners, professional packing eliminates worry about damages to their belongings.
•Items like breakables, china, artwork and mirrors are very fragile and can break easily if not packed properly.
•Movers use special-purpose packing materials.

Based on the CAM’s outlines and my own experiences, If you choose to pack yourself, these are the items I recommend you use:

•China Barrels for breakables such as dishes
•Wardrobe boxes for clothes
•1.5 cubic-foot box for books, canned goods and heavy items
•4 cubic-foot box for bulky items like kitchen items and lampshades
•Picture cartons

Come Back next week for more tips on packing and wrapping for your upcoming move.

By: Andrew Brown and Sharon Osvald

Getting an Estimate

According to the Canadian Association of Movers, Canada’s moving trade association, more than five million people move every year within Canada. They want those moves to be as pleasant as possible and therefore, give consumers some strong advice: When planning a move get several cost estimates from different moving companies. Also, understand what services and charges you are being asked to pay for and why. The cheapest price is not always the best deal.

Here’s how it should work:

•Get a visual inspection. The best (and only) way to get an accurate cost estimate from a moving company is for them to come to your home and list every article they are moving. This will avoid surprises and extra charges later.

•The mover will calculate the approximate weight and cubic content of your articles and determine what is being shipped ahead of time or there is any special packing or crating needs.

•The mover will create a cost estimate based on the weight of your items and their seasonally-based transportation rate per 100 lbs. This basic pricing formula will include loading, unloading and carrying goods from your current home to your new destination.

•The mover will provide you with the list of extra fees, such as: working after hours, moving a piano, ferry charges, packing materials, crating services, third party or appliance services or extra cargo particulars.
• The mover will also provide you with any discounts – i.e. special offers or senior’s rates.

Knowing what to expect and getting several estimates will increase your chances of getting the best deal for your dollar and having a smooth move. For more information about The Canadian Association of Movers or to ask to refer a mover: visit: www.mover.net.

By: Andrew Brown and Sharon Osvald

How to Know You are Getting a Good Mover?

Choosing a moving company that will be responsible for all the contents of your home or office is an incredible leap of faith. How do you know if you are choosing a quality mover – when there are so many scam artists out there? Here are a few tips:
1. Have you ever seen their moving trucks around town? Is this a company used often and has a history of being reliable and capable?
2. How does the truck look? Does the truck have a sign that looks like an established moving company or is this a side business?
3. If you get a chance, stop when you see them working and watch them. Would you want them to treat your furniture like they are doing right now?
4. Talk with your friends, family, the superintendent at your apartment or manager of the local storage company; they see a lot of movers and get to know the ones with a bad reputation.
5. Do the movers have a contract that discloses all of the charges? If their price over the phone is too good to be true then it probably is NOT true. Get it in writing!
6. Are they members of the BBB and the CAM with a good reputation? Check them out.
7. Do they have a registered business name or do they operate from a cellphone?
8. Do they answer the phone in a proper business manner or do they wait until they find out what you want to announce they are a moving company?
9. Do they hide the fact that they also do garbage disposal and lawn maintenance when they are not busy?
10. Go with your gut. If you get a bad feeling or vibe from someone, you are likely right.
By: Andrew Brown and Sharon Osvald

Moving with Kids ~ Part Two

Moving can be stressful for everyone, particularly children. As I mentioned last week, a little thinking ahead and careful parenting can make even the farthest move less difficult for your children. Here are some tips - this week we'll discuss what to do after moving to make things smoother:

1. For small children especially, it is important to be surrounded with things that are comfortable and familiar as soon as possible. Having their items in an accessible “Open Me First” box is a good idea. Items as simple as their favourite cup, breakfast bowl, books and play items will help them feel at home sooner.
2. Consider unpacking the kid’s rooms first or as soon as possible. The sooner they feel settled the better it is for everyone. It also shows them that they are your priority – not your stuff.
3. When possible, give your children a say in creating your new living spaces, i.e. paint colours, where furniture is placed and pictures hung up etc. This will help them to feel more in control of their environment.
4. If moving far from friends and family, take advantage of social media and technologies like Skype and Webcams to show your children they have not totally lost contact with the people they love.
5. Be intentional about helping your children and yourself make new connections. Sign them up for sports, attend church or clubs together - whatever works for you - in order to help them find good, healthy, new friendships.

By: Sharon Osvald and Andrew Brown

Moving with Kids Before and After Part One

Moving with Kids- Before and After ~ Part One

Moving can be stressful for everyone, particularly children. While we recognize this for older kids and teens, sometimes we can be lulled into thinking that moving is not a “big deal” for young children. While each child is different, this is not always the case.

However, a little thinking ahead and careful parenting can make even the farthest move less painful for your children. Here are some tips – this week we’ll discuss what to do before moving to make the transition smoother.

Clear and Open Communication

Speak to your children as clearly and as age appropriately as possible about the upcoming changes. People only like surprise parties – not life changes! Keeping things from them to protect them from feeling bad doesn't work. They need time to process and prepare themselves, just like you do.

Involve Them in the Process

Involving your children in the move will give them a sense of control. Whether it is as simple as packing and labeling boxes, looking at pictures on MLS or sketching out the room out layouts, getting your children involved in the process will make them more excited about moving.

Expressing Their Feelings

It is important to give your children permission to express their disappointment, anxiety and excitement about the upcoming move. Validate what they are feeling rather than telling them not to be negative or angry, but encourage them that things will get easier. Also, often children have trouble discussing what they’re feeling. Be on the look out for changes in their behaviour and let them know you are there for them to talk to.

Come back next week for Part Two of Moving with Kids-Before and After

By: Sharon Osvald and Andrew Brown

Moving 101

           

Step One

Moving can be very exciting. There’s something wonderful about a fresh start, a clean slate, a new beginning. However, moving is also a very stressful time. There is so much to do, so many details to think of and so much to remember. To make your move a little easier, I’ve broken it down for you.

First things First

• As soon as you have confirmed your move, firm up your moving plans. Whether you’re booking a mover, calling on friends or renting a vehicle, get these plans done as soon as possible. This is not one of those items you want to leave to the last minute. Since most people choose to move around the same time of year and time of the month, you may be surprised to find trucks and moving companies book up quickly. If you are choosing a moving company, get referrals and be sure you are dealing with an experienced and reputable company.
• If you are moving locally and can afford it, try to book a little overlap in your move dates. If you can give yourself a week or two where you can get into your new place, without having to rush out of your current home, this will allow you time to clean, paint and plan – decreasing your stress.

A Month or Two Before

• Declutter. Declutter. Declutter. The rule of thumb for keeping items is if you haven’t used it in six months- you don’t need it. I’ll be more generous and say one year. Now is the time for a fresh start. Get rid of those unused clothes, books, electronic equipment, papers and gadgets. Why pay to move things you are not using? There are many organizations like the Ontario Cerebral Palsy Organization and the Cystic Fibrosis Organization that will do donation pick ups right from your front door. If the season is right, make a little extra moving money with a garage sale.
• Contact your utility, phone and Internet companies to book the end and beginning of services.
• Create an inventory of items being moved and begin packing them in categories that make sense for you, i.e. “Knick knacks from Living Room” etc.
• Begin to use up food in your freezer and canned goods in your pantry. Again, it cost money to move these items and transporting frozen foods can be unsafe. Begin shopping with more of a short-term mind set.
• Notify your post office, bank, magazine/ newspaper subscriptions and family/ friends of your upcoming address change.
• Contact your insurance company about changes to your mortgage and content insurance.
• Research and contact schools your children may be attending (if applicable).

Visit next week  for more steps on planning your move.

By: Sharon Osvald and Andrew Brown