Tag Archive for moving company

Laurin Jeffrey | May 6, 2011
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Moving checklist

What to do and when to do it

By The HGTV Editorial Team

Moving into a new home is an exciting time but it can also be stressful. Don’t despair. Whether you’re doing it yourself, asking friends for a little help or hiring professionals, here is your moving guide to help get you through it.

As Soon As Possible:

- Start early. Investigate and research moving companies and/or truck rental companies.
- Hire a moving company or if you’re doing it yourself, reserve a moving truck. Be sure to get written confirmation of all your costs and details of your move for your records.

TIP: Weekends and holiday long weekends are busy times for movers and truck rental companies. Book far in advance (at least 2 to 3 months) to ensure you get a moving truck for the day you need to move.

2 Months Before Moving Day:

No sense moving what you don’t want to keep. Go through your home and determine what you want to keep and what you want to throw out or donate.

TIP: If moving in spring or summer, earn some extra cash and hold a moving sale to help get rid of items you don’t need or want for your new space.

- Make a list of items in your home that need extra attention while moving or special packing instructions (i.e. computers, televisions, fine china, etc.)
- If you have children and you are moving to a new school district, start arranging the school transferring process.
- Order boxes and moving supplies (packing tape, bubble wrap, tissue paper, stock up on newspaper, etc.) required for your move.

1 Month Before Moving Day:

- Time to start packing! To make it easier, begin with the items in your home you do not use regularly. Be sure to clearly label or number your boxes to make the unpacking easier.
- As you pack, make note of items of significant value (i.e. stereo systems, flat screen televisions). Depending on your insurance agreement with your moving company, you will need to declare items of value in case items are lost or damaged.
- At your local postal office, fill out a change of address form with your new address.
- Inform the following companies and institutions about your new address:
Banks
Cable and phone providers
Insurance companies
Hydro and utility companies
Credit card companies
Doctor and dentist offices
Any subscriptions you may have

TIP: Many companies now offer the convenience of changing address information online.

2 Weeks Before Moving Day

- Confirm your reservations with your movers or truck rental company.
- If required, cancel or transfer your newspaper delivery service.

1 Week Before Moving Day

- Most of your packing should be done one week prior to moving day.
- Set aside the items of importance you wish to transport to your new home yourself (i.e. jewellery and passports).

A Few Days Before Moving Day

- Re-confirm arrival time of your moving truck. If moving yourself, re-confirm your reservations with the truck rental company.
- Prepare a detailed map and directions for your movers including a cell phone number you can be reached at on moving day.
- Pack a travel bag with the items your family may need on moving day such as tooth brushes, change of clothing, medications, hair bushes, soap, toilet paper, paper plates and cups, aspirin, etc.
- If you are moving yourself, start dismantling beds and other large furniture.

Moving Day

- Make a note of all utility metre readings (new and old home).
- It’s important to be present when the truck is being loaded and unloaded just in case your movers have questions.
- Before the movers leave, check your belongings and note on the inventory paperwork any damaged items.

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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information  -  416-388-1960

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Laurin Jeffrey | May 3, 2011
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Make your move easier

By Marty Hope, Canwest News Service

Moving a household can be stressful.

For those considering a move, J. D. Power and Associates has a few suggestions:

- Don’t contract with a moving company until you’ve done your homework.

There are a number of reputable moving companies, but there also are some that are not. Check with the Better Business Bureau for recent reports about any of the moving companies you have under consideration.

- Understand the coverage options offered by your moving company. Hiring a professional moving company is an investment in convenience — but it is not a guarantee against damaged or lost possessions. So before moving, make certain you understand the types of protection each moving company offers.

- Finish packing before moving day. J. D. Power’s research has shown that customers who are still packing on moving day are more than 40% more likely to have items go missing than are their counterparts who finish packing before moving day.

- Don’t put off unpacking. Unpacking promptly following your move will give you sufficient time to file a claim if you need to do so. Nearly one-half of customers who discover items lost or damaged during their move do not file a claim with their moving company. Many of these customers cite timing or missed deadlines as the reason they could not or did not file a claim.

- If at all possible, avoid moving during the summer months. Demand for moving company services — and often, their prices as well — tend to spike during the summer. J. D. Power found that customers reported the lowest levels of satisfaction in June, August, and September. In addition, the percentage of customers indicating they had possessions damaged or lost during their move reaches the highest levels during these peak months.

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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information  -  416-388-1960

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Laurin Jeffrey | February 16, 2011
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Always consider the hidden costs of moving

By Krystal Yee – Toronto Star MoneyVille

When you’re in the middle of packing up your life and moving to a new place, it can be stressful. No matter how much you plan, chances are you’ll probably end up missing something.
Here are some hidden costs that you might want to consider when budgeting for your big move.

Packing supplies
Even if you collect boxes at grocery stores or liquor stores, you might also need to consider the cost of renting dollies, buying bubble wrap, packing tape, and markers for labeling boxes.

If you can’t find used boxes at your grocery store, consider buying used ones through Craigslist or Kijiji for a fraction of the cost of new. Or buy new boxes from Moving Box Center, a manufacturer offering wholesale pricing and free express shipping to most provinces in Canada.

For a different approach to traditional cardboard boxes, consider going eco-friendly and renting reusable plastic moving crates from SayNoToBoxes.com.

Tipping
If you are using a moving company, it is customary to tip somewhere around 10 to 15 per cent of the total bill. If you are using friends and family to help you move, it is a general rule to provide pizza and drinks.

Cleaning
You will need to clean your old place before you move out, and you’ll certainly want to clean your new place as you start to move in. Consider the supplies and time it will cost you to do it yourself, or get quotes from local cleaning companies.

Moving van
If you’re moving yourself, you’ll have to pay for more than just the van or truck rental. If your auto insurance or credit card company doesn’t cover rental vehicles, you might have to pay for insurance out of your own pocket. Don’t forget the cost of fuel for those gas-guzzling vehicles!

Utilities
Contact your utility companies to inquire about disconnect and connection fees. If you have a contract with your internet or cable provider, you might have to consider a cancellation fee into your moving budget.

Insurance
When I moved to Vancouver three years ago for a career opportunity, my apartment insurance and car insurance rates nearly doubled in cost, and I was without extended health insurance until I started my new job.

Travel costs
If you are moving out of your city, travel costs such as gas, potential repairs to your vehicle, hotels, and meals out will cost you quite a bit of money. If your move will take more than a few days, consider staying in areas outside of big cities to save on hotel accommodation.

Don’t forget to factor in the cost of tolls or ferries, which can get to be expensive, depending on the route you take to drive to your destination.

Is your move tax deductible?
Generally speaking, if you are moving at least 40 kilometres to start a new job or a business, or you are moving to attend full-time post-secondary courses, you can deduct some of your moving expenses such as:

* Transportation and storage costs such as packing, hauling, storage and insurance for household items.
* Vehicle expenses, meals, and accommodation to move you and members of your household to your new residence.
* Costs for up to 15 days of meals and temporary accommodation near either your new or old residence.
* The cost of canceling a lease for your old residence.

Please contact the Canada Revenue Agency for more information about moving expenses. You can also check out this information sheet.

I’ve gone through three major moves in my life. Once I had to pack all of my belongings into three suitcases and flew across the continent. Another time I packed everything I owned into my car and drove 1,500+ kilometres. The last time, I had help renting and driving a moving van. Each time I moved, I encountered the same thing – unexpected expenses.

So the next time you plan to move, creating a budget and checklist will help you stay on top of all of the hidden and potential costs associated with moving.

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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information  -  416-388-1960

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