Moving day makes everyone excited. Loading final boxes into your moving truck, saying the last goodbyes, and heading out to your new life chapter. But, before you finally move, you must prepare for the relocation. While many dread preparing for a move, preparations are not scary! If you have a helping hand from the best moving companies Ontario, moving can be a piece of cake. Regardless of whether you are moving with or without professional assistance, there are some golden rules when it comes to moving- and we cover them all on a “remember these things when moving” list!
Making a moving plan
If you have already found a new place to live in, the first step would be making a moving plan. Firstly, consider whether you need to hire residential movers Toronto or not. This decision should not be rushed, so start thinking about this as soon as you decide on moving. Your decision can get influenced by multiple factors:
- Do you live alone or with other family members? How many people are moving? Are there kids, senior citizens or disabled people? Moving with those specific groups can be more difficult, so hiring professionals is more than advisable.
- Where are you moving to? Is the move a short distance, or a long-distance one?
- Are you moving to another country? Cross-country and international relocations are best left to professionals.
- Do you have any means of transportation for your belongings?
- How many possessions do you have? If you are moving from a studio, you might be able to relocate by yourself. However, if you live in a mansion, a DIY move is not the best idea.
- Take into account the weight, shape, and value of your belongings. The heavier and the more valuable they are, the harder they will be to relocate smoothly, especially if you are moving long-distance.
Making a moving list- Remember these things when moving
A moving rundown will keep you coordinated and guarantee that you remember anything. You can simply start by writing down everything you own. For example, office moving companies Toronto suggest you start by writing everything you own in your bedroom, then the living room, bathroom, kitchen, etc. Keep in mind that you will not be writing down how many shirts, spoons or magnets you have. Instead, to make your job easier, you can divide your belongings into categories:
- Beds, mattresses, couches, and sofas
- Tables, desks and chairs
- Kitchen appliances (cutlery, glasses, dishes, spices, etc) and kitchen electronics
- Dressers, closets and carpets
- TVs and other electronics
- Toiletries and bathroom electronics (washing machine, blow dryer, drying machine, irons, etc)
- Clothes, shoes, accessories (winter and summer)
- Books, decorations, small devices (lamps, air freshener, etc)
- Other personal belongings, children or pet belongings
- Box of essentials
You can either write down your personalised “remember these things when moving” checklist or find similar ones on the internet. Making a checklist is great for people who have memory issues or are forgetful. As soon as you pack something, you can check it out of the list. Moreover, you can use the same checklist when unpacking!
Finding reputable movers
Finding the best moving company is not an overnight job. Start looking into various options at least 5 months before the desired moving date. Generally speaking, it takes about a month to narrow your search and find the right furniture movers Toronto. To do so, we strongly suggest that you do some cross-minding of the movers that you are keen on. Use Google and type the name of the business and its telephone number into the hunt field. The outcomes ought to have a lot of sources including Google my Business, Google Maps, YP.ca, Facebook, Yelp, etc.
Search for subtleties on how they work and if they attempt to determine issues. Another mistake to avoid is sticking to only one company. Find a couple of possible options and contact them all. Ask their representatives for a free moving quote and a free moving appointment. After comparing multiple offers, opt for the best one. This could help keep you from paying excessively and getting the most solid moving assistance.
Cancel your subscriptions and transfer your documents – remember these things when moving
One of the things people might forget is canceling their subscriptions. Most people become so stressed about moving costs in Ontario, that they forget to cancel utilities or internet services. Generally, canceling your utilities takes about 5. working days. However, you should contact your utility providers two weeks before moving. You will need to cancel your water and electricity bill and internet subscription. Usually, you can do this via phone by providing your full name and account number, moving date, new address, and social security number. After doing so, you should receive the deposit you gave when signing a contract.
Another thing to remember is to change your address on your documentation- ID, passport, bank cards, etc. Most can be changed online, so you do not need to stress too much. You will also need to transfer your medical and dental records, and if you are moving with your children, make sure to submit a transfer request at least 2. months before moving. You will also need to enroll your kids into new schools, so make sure to give them time to process this relocation. Although moving is stressful for you, they are even more affected by it. Be there for them and support them in every way possible.
Notify your landlord that you’re leaving
If you are moving from your landlord’s property, you must notify them before leaving. You will need to break the news by sending a vacate notice and do this 30 to 60 days in advance. Other than including your personal information, include the full name and address of your landlord, the reason for the notice, the request for returning the deposit, the date of writing, and your original signature. Before moving to Ontario or any other place, make sure to fix anything and everything that might be a reason for the refusal of the return of your deposit.
Make sure to repaint walls, polish floors, and look for possible dents, leakings, scratches on the floors and windows, etc. Repair any possible damages, and take a picture of the entire home. It’s even better if you have pictures from the day you moved in, which can be used for comparison if the landlord refuses to return the security deposit. Another thing you should do is make a check-out inventory and ask your landlord to sign it, confirming that everything is in place.
Have an essentials Box- remember these things when moving as well!
A box of essentials is a plain box in which would be placed your essential belongings. It’s not just medicine or important documents that should be considered essential. Other important belongings include:
- Your phone, laptop, tablets, and all the chargers- You should place them in their original boxes. Also, make sure to pack their receipts if you have bought them recently.
- Your documents (ID, passport, birth certificate, bank statements, medical records, etc.)
- Your wallet and medication- especially if you suffer from chronic health conditions.
- Basic bedding, a few clothing items, and underwear- in case you need to change on the road, or as soon as you get to your new home.
- Some towels, soap and a toothbrush- It’s smart to pack them all in one big bag, since you will be too tired to search for them, and even more tired to go and buy the new ones.
- Your school/work-related documentation
- Your belongings of great value- those can be of personal value (books, clothes, photographs, toys, souvenirs, etc.) or those of financial value (smaller art pieces, smaller collections, jewellery, etc).
- Some snacks and water- if you are moving long-distance, having some snacks by your side is more than advisable. Sure, you can stop at some drive-thru and order food, but hurry and anxiety make many people forget they are hungry. If you keep some snacks in your car, you will most likely remember to eat!
Some things that should come with you are your pets and plants. While plants can be in boxes with cut-out holes for 02 and light, most pets cannot be placed into boxes. If you own a cat, dog, hamster, or bunny, putting them in their carrier will be more than enough. However, they might feel anxious about the move, so learn how to calm your pets before you start packing.
Think about unpacking when packing
It’s always best to start packing little by little. We recommend you start packing at least a month in advance. Although there are many ways to start organizing and dividing your inventory, packing room by room is the swiftest and smoothes option. You can start by packing less frequently used things- bedside lamps, skiing suits, inflatable pools, etc. For example, cutlery and dishes would be “kitchen-frequently used”, and your book collection can be “living room, less frequently”. You will save yourself more time when unpacking since you will know where to look when searching for something!
Another thing on “remember these things when moving” is cleaning before you move out. Whether you own the house or are renting it, you cannot leave it dirty. As soon as you clean one part of a specific room, pack the belonging into boxes. That way, you are doing two tasks at once! Another thing to remember is to take pictures of your possessions, especially if you are hiring local movers in Toronto or any other movers. If some damage to your inventory happens, you most likely will not get a refund if you do not provide proof of the previous condition of your belongings. As they say, it is better to be safe than sorry!
You can use alternative packing supplies instead of expensive ones
Moving is financially hard on you, and cutting money on professional long distance movers in Toronto is not the smartest idea. However, finding alternative packing supplies can help you save some money! Do not have enough packing peanuts? You can use old newspapers or reuse Styrofoam that comes with every package you order online. Do not have enough wrapping foil? Use the cooking one, they are of the same materials! You can also go to any bigger store and ask them for free boxes. They usually throw them away anyways, so you will most likely get a couple of nice boxes. If you are afraid of scratching or damaging your fragile possessions, wrap them with some cloth or newspaper. Although you can improvise on most packing supplies, we suggest buying bubble wrap. They will make sure your belongings do not damage and bounce around the moving box.
Safety- remember this when moving
More often than not, we try doing things ourselves. If you have never moved before, doing a DIY relocation is not the safest idea. While lifting boxes is not the hardest thing in the world, it can go in the wrong direction very fast. You can drop furniture, hurt your back and legs, get sciatica, and even twist or break some of your joints. That especially happens if you are lifting things like beds, sofas, musical instruments, bigger electronics, or TVs via stairs. Other than hurting yourself, you can also damage your property, which is something you do not want. Since hurting yourself probably is not on your to-do list, we suggest that you recruit experts like Movers Waterloo to take your action more straightforward and secure.
What to remember when moving?
All in all, there are several steps to take when moving. From making a plan moving plan, hiring movers, and packing to notifying your landlord, canceling subscriptions, and transferring your documents. Although it is crucial to remember these things when moving, another thing to never forget is resting. Try not to worry or stress out too much. Always remember to eat and drink enough water since moving can be exhausting for your body. Also take time to emotionally grieve and prepare yourself for a move, especially if you are leaving behind your beloved friends and family. If you are moving with your children, take time to break the news to them and let them accept the change. Lastly, arm yourself with patience since kids, elders and pets are sensitive to changes and can become moody, clingy, and anxious before and after the move.