Investing in a properly executed move
Whether you’re a seasoned real-estate investor or about to take possession of your first property, one thing that unifies all buyers — and renters, for that matter — is the moving process. If you’re going to be occupying a new property, big or small, you’re going to have to move your furniture and belongings.
While some people opt to take an ad hoc approach to moving, there’s a lot of value in planning a move properly ahead of time. The Gazette caught up with Joseph Gagnon, president of Westmount Moving & Warehousing, to learn how people can help make their move hassle-free, and best protect their belongings.
For apartment dwellers, Quebec’s traditional July 1 moving day can be daunting. The streets are congested with trucks and hurried pedestrians carrying all sorts of boxes and bags, and there are about a million things that can go wrong.
For professional movers, the period of intensity is stretched out over three weeks — typically from mid-June to early July. The result of such a heavy demand? Increased prices. But it’s not a matter of gouging, Gagnon said.
“If the moves were spread out more evenly throughout the year it could be cheaper, but when you have guys doing overtime, and needing extra equipment to facilitate the moves, there are legitimate additional costs.”
If you can avoid those peak weeks, then your moving experience will likely be less costly and hectic. That said, timing is everything when it comes to properly planning a move.
If you decide you’re going to use a professional mover, you’d better make that decision quickly because it’s nearly too late to book one for this peak period. Waiting until the last minute to book can mean insufficient help and inadequate equipment.
On the other hand, if you decide to do it yourself, a moving truck might make the process easier. But again, even if you’re booking a truck, you should do so as far in advance as possible in order to ensure availability.
“I think the majority of apartment dwellers, often students, will go it themselves,” Gagnon said. “But most people who have moved a couple times on their own usually book a mover. As you acquire more things and you have kids and a lot of stuff, it becomes a more intimidating process to do it on your own.”
Either way, taking the steps to protect your valuables is essential when moving.
“The new challenge today is amateur movers operating their business out of their basement,” Gagnon said. “They have a great website and they’re booking moves over the phone, but they’re not an established operator, so they turn around and auction off your booking to the highest bidder.”
In order to be sure you’re working with seasoned professionals, it’s advised to book a mover who’s a member of the Canadian Association of Movers (CAM), or one who’s a member of a recognized Van Line. These organizations have certain quality standards that have to be met, and protocols that need to be followed by all members.
“Moving is something people think they can do themselves if they really wanted to and so, in a way, they don’t always place a high value on the process,” Gagnon said. “But when they decide they don’t want the hassle, and instead book a cheap mover to save $150, they often see that savings dissipate as the headaches begin with inexperienced movers.”
There are several steps that can be taken to help ensure a smooth move. To begin with, usually you pay movers and moving trucks by the hour, so set yourself up to win by making sure that everything is in place ahead of time.
“Make sure there’s parking for the truck, incorporating the room you’ll need for the loading ramps,” Gagnon said. “For a 10-foot truck, for example, you need at least double that to unload things.”
Having it as close as possible to the property goes a long way, too. If the mover can’t get close to the front door, it can become a safety issue — and it adds time to the move, which can translate into increased costs.
“One big tip is, whether you’ve hired a mover or not, go buy proper moving boxes for packing your things,” Gagnon said. “It can be difficult for anyone to pack a truck when there are garbage bags full of clothes and boxes of all different sizes; it spells disaster.”
Making an effort to plan your move is more than simply a matter of figuring out how to get your belongings from Point A to Point B. It requires careful planning and forethought.
“Save yourself time and money and have a better experi- ence by being properly organized,” Gagnon said. “You’re moving things that you may have worked your whole life to acquire, heirlooms that are irreplace- able, and possessions that mean something to you. So hire a reputable mover — or, if you’re doing it on your own, invest properly and do it right.”