MAKING A GOOD MOVE
Whether you live in a studio apartment or a large family home, one thing’s for sure: moving is hard. Yet, in Quebec, we have a tradition of trying to synchronize the process for everyone by designating a moving day: July 1.
While the moving process can be extremely stressful, and unforeseen circumstances and situations are bound to happen, there are several things you can do ahead of time to help ensure a smooth move.
A good place to start is by getting organized. If you’re a renter, this means informing your landlord of your plans to move well in advance.
“You should also advise your new landlord or condo association of your intended move-in date as soon as possible,” said Tristan Pungartnik, director of operations at Summit Property Management. “Oftentimes, buildings won’t allow more than one person to move in per day.
“Another reason is so that they have time to prepare for your arrival — such as putting protective padding in an elevator, having a superintendent on duty to monitor the move, and so on.”
Another tip for renters is to try and see if you can schedule your move for a week or two before or
after July 1 to avoid some of the headaches that come along with moving-day chaos.
“See with your landlord if there’s flexibility on the move-in date, despite the start of the lease,” Pungartnik said. “Some landlords will let you move in on June 21, for example, even though the lease starts July 1; that’s if the unit is already empty, of course.”
If you’re a homeowner, it’s time to start thinking about decluttering your home, making some decisions about packing, and hiring some movers for the day.
“The amount of clutter generally depends on how long people have been living in the house,” said Brad Whitmore, field adviser at 1-800- Got-Junk? “We have data on the average load size when people move and it’s generally a little more than one full tonne — and in most cases, more than 80 per cent of that can be repurposed or recycled.”
Try to be objective when decluttering your home in order to let go of old and unwanted items before you move. One good way to do this is by thinking critically about how you would use your items in the new property. If you’re planning on hiring a
mover, now’s the time. But it’s important to do your homework first.
“Get three quotes and insist on getting copies of their liability and damage insurance to protect you from personal liability, your property for damage, and your precious belongings from theft or damage,” Whitmore said. “You can also ask for background checks of the employees doing the work.”
Booking movers and planning early can end up saving you a lot of time and money.
“By planning what to let go of in advance, what to keep, and what to buy for the new house, you will make more informed choices and not pay a moving company to move your junk,” Whitmore said. “The same goes for packing; get started as early as three weeks in advance.”
After many years in the same home, it’s likely that you have a lot more than you realize, which becomes evident once you go through storage units and the attic, basement, and garage. Organize your boxes by room, and be sure to keep any breakable items separate as you may decide to transport them yourself.
“Labelling the boxes properly
will help inform the movers where to unload everything in the new home,” Whitmore said.
In terms of planning for the day
of the move, it’s important to have a realistic idea of the timeline for how that day will unfold.
“The average move can get done in one day, and smaller moves may only take three hours,” Whitmore said.
“Longer moves can take six to eight hours, but generally, the larger the move, the more movers the company will assign to get it done quickly for the client.”
While there will always be elements of the moving process that are out of your control — like traffic and the weather, for instance — there are a few things you can do to start your day off right. “Eat a good breakfast and start early!” Whitmore said. “If you have kids, get a babysitter; that way you can stay focused on the move progressing quickly.”
By planning what to let go of in advance, what to keep and what to buy for the new house, you will make more informed choices and not pay a moving company to move your junk.
BRAD WHITMORE