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Travel time is the time your moving crew spends driving the truck to your home and back to their facility at the end of the day. Many companies will offer fixed rate travel times. While other companies may charge depending on how far your home is from their facility. To help keep travel time charges to a minimum, opt to find a local reputable mover closest to you. When engaging a moving company, make sure they are transparent on how they charge their travel time. This way you won't get left with extra charges you weren’t aware of.
Yes! Securing your belongings is the number one priority for our partners. Security features at most locations include 24/7 security, gated access, security cameras and individual security codes. For more information on a specific location's security measures contact the store for details on their security features. If you still require additional security measures you can add for yourself a highly secure storage unit lock and your own security camera located in your storage unit.
It all depends on the storage facility you’ve chosen to store your belongings in. Storage access hours at most of our locations are 24/7. Just remember to bring your access code so you can enter the facility. Other storage facilities may only allow you access during their business operating hours. Always check with the storage facility’s policies first before making a decision on where you want to store your unit.
Generally, moving companies will provide a preliminary estimate based on the information you provide. This will either be online or over the phone. The most accurate estimates are ones where they come in person to assess your moving requirements.The more information you can provide to the movers, the more accurate your estimate will be. Create an inventory of furniture items that will need to be moved as well as the number of packing boxes. To do this systematically, go through each room of your house and write a list of furniture items in each room and the approximate number of boxes needed for that room. If you have outdoor space don’t forget to add those items on the list as well as your garage items should you have one.
The main difference between local and long distance moves are how they are priced. Local moves are priced by the hour while long distance moves are priced by the weight of your items. Generally, most local moves are completed in the span of 1 to 2 days. While long distance moves will vary depending on how far you’ve moved. Most moving companies will give you the option of an hourly or weighted move depending on the distance. It’s best to find out first how your moving company is going to charge you. Once you know, you can then determine how you want to organize your move. If your move is getting charged by the hour, then you may think of packing everything yourself and moving it closer to the front door so that the movers are taking less time going in and out of rooms. However, if your move is priced by weight you may consider transporting the heavier items in your car instead of putting everything on the moving truck.
Plan and organize! Keep a moving checklist easily accessible. Create a folder to store all your moving documents like contracts, receipts etc. Then begin to organize your moving timeline. Make sure you know what your moving budget is, as that will help you make important moving decisions. In addition to that, take inventory of all your belongings. This will help a moving company determine your moving estimate and you'll also be able to use the list to get an insurance quote on your belongings. For local moves that charge by the hourly, anything you can disassemble or pack to save time is valuable. Move all boxes and furniture items to an area that is easily accessible to the movers, in order to reduce the amount of time needed to move items into the truck. Try to keep any loose items to a minimum to streamline this process. Other ways you can be prepared, include ensuring the moving truck has ample parking, clearing snow before the movers arrive during the winter months and organizing the availability of freight elevators if you’re in an apartment building.
There are a few things to consider when deciding to use plastic moving containers or cardboard boxes. The climate you’re moving in, your budget and where you’re storing your items. While cardboard boxes are more versatile, plastic bins are better for durability. Plastic containers can be difficult and heavy to carry if your move involves stairs. However, they do stack well on moving dollies and better shield your belongings from external elements. Plastic containers are more costly than cardboard boxes, but will last you much longer. Some moving and storage companies rent plastic boxes as an alternative to buying them yourself. Cardboard boxes on the other hand are more efficient to stack and transport. Not to mention they are much cheaper too. All cardboard boxes come easily accessible and in many shapes and sizes making them highly versatile. Once you’re done using them for your move, you can easily reuse them for other purposes like DIY crafts, compost material, floor protection, the list goes on. For more information on which packing material is best suited for you, refer to our Learning Centre for our article on ‘Packing Supplies: Cardboard Boxes vs Plastic Bins’.
Very carefully! First, determine how big of a mirror carton you’ll need. Mirror cartons are moving boxes that are specifically made for mirrors, artwork, pictures etc. Measure the size of your picture to determine what size mirror carton you’ll need. Opt for a mirror carton that is a little larger than your picture frame. Wrap packing paper around the entire picture for the first layer of protection, then bubble wrap to finish it off. Once you’ve placed your protected picture into the mirror carton, fill the remaining space with crushed up packing paper to ensure that the picture does not move around within the mirror carton during transportation. For more information on how to pack pictures refer to our Learning Centre article ‘How To Pack Artwork’.
Start by creating a layer of protection in your moving box using crushed up packing paper. For pots, pans and glassware wrap them in two layers of packing paper like you would wrap a present. For more fragile and glass items wrap them with bubble wrap first and then packing paper last. Be sure to pack the more fragile items at the top of the moving box, leaving the heavier items for the bottom. To finish off, create another protection layer at the top of your moving box. Crushed up packing paper is an ideal protection method to minimize movement of items within the box during transportation. For more information on how to pack kitchen appliances refer to our Learning Centre article ‘How To Pack Your Kitchen Appliances’.
It’s hard to determine the exact time that it will take to ship your container to your new home. Since it all depends on the total distance moved and your starting location to your final destination. Depending on if you’re planning a local or long distance move, we suggest allowing for a total of 5-14 days delivery time.
If you’ve opted for a standard portable storage container, the outside dimensions are approximately 8’ wide, 8’ tall and 16’ long. To help conceptualize this better, a standard portable storage container generally fits the contents of 3-4 rooms. Of course, each household is unique. So it's important to take the time to properly assess how much container space you require before renting one.
That all depends on you! Your container, your schedule. Portable storage containers give you the freedom and flexibility to pack and move at your own pace. Keep in mind portable storage containers are typically rented in 4 week increments (28 days). Always try to estimate how long you’ll need to load and unload your container to help determine how long you’ll need to rent the container for.
We like to keep this as simple as possible for you. Simply prepay each 4 week cycle. You can do this during office hours when visiting your unit or you can do this online by logging into your account on our website.
First, it's best to create an inventory of all your items that need to be moved. Once you have created this list, group the items that will need the same packing supplies together. For example, how many furniture items need furniture covers etc. Now, think about what type of packing supplies you'll need for the different items you own. Books and heavier items should be packed into smaller moving boxes, while artwork and mirrors should be packed into telescopic picture cartons. We always advise our customers to use larger boxes where possible. Also think about what items need what type of protection. Artwork and mirrors need bubble wrap, while kitchen supplies may suffice with regular packing paper. Go through all your fragile items and list what type of protection materials they’ll need. If you need help determining this you can refer to our Learning Centre for articles on how to protect your different belongings. Lastly, once you have an estimate of how many boxes you’ll need, you can determine how much tape and how many labels you’ll have to purchase. Your local moving and storage company should have all these supplies. Some places may even be able to help you determine how much tape is needed for the amount of boxes you’ll need. Start this process as early as you can and start small to begin with. This will help you get a handle on what packing supplies are needed. By doing this first, you’ll avoid rushing or over buying packing materials later.
Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to find disreputable movers without realizing it when you hire professional movers. Luckily the Canadian Association of Movers (CAM) can help you validate which company to choose from. CAM's database of certified companies maintain the following high operating procedures. A high standard of delivering fair practices, reasonable pricing, professionality, safety and timely delivery of services. Once you have selected a local professional mover from CAM’s database. Contact your local Better Business Bureau (BBB) to receive a reliability report before you hire your chosen mover. It’s always pertinent to read reviews of the company that you’re considering hiring when finding a reputable mover. Ask how they will handle your move, find out if they have a local presence and can be reachable in the event of a problem. For more information on how to find a reputable mover, refer to our Learning Centre for our article on ‘Why Hire a Full Service Moving Company? Pros & Cons’ which details things to look out for when hiring a credible moving company.
MoveBuddy currently connects you to more than 300 professionals and locations that can serve you. Although there may be areas of the country that we do not yet reach, rest assured that we are growing all the time and that we will soon be available near you.
It’s always best practice to tape and completely seal all boxes. Leaving the top of boxes open creates additional risk. Items can fall out and get lost during the move. Or even become damaged during transportation. For items that are too tall for a box, you can telescope two moving boxes of the same size together creating a larger makeshift box. If you have awkwardly shaped items that won’t fit in your moving box, consider wrapping some sort of protection around it. Packing supplies like packing paper or bubble wrap are ideal for scenarios like these. Once they are properly protected you can then safely transport them.
Not directly, no. What MoveBuddy does is help connect you to those that do. With more than 300 fully screened professional moving service providers affiliated with MoveBuddy you can feel assured that you have done all your homework before committing to the service that is best for you.
Only if you want to! We pride ourselves on our flexibility to help suit your needs. We bill our customers on a 4 week cycle. So it’s best to give us one week’s notice before you move out. It’s important to note that we do not provide refunds. This means if you move out during the middle of your 4 week cycle, you won’t receive a refund for the remainder of time you didn’t use the unit for. To mitigate this, let us know before you pay your 4 week cycle in advance so that you only pay for what you need within that cycle.
Luckily, no! Rest assured, we only hire drivers that are trained and experienced professionals. Our drivers take great care in safely and properly placing your container at the desired location. As long as there are no obstructions, the driver can place your container without you being present. Always check with your local council on the rules and guidelines of placing portable storage containers outside your home. Some councils may require permits, while others may require a minimum amount of clearance space. By checking you'll be saving yourself a lot of future headaches should there be an issue.
Yes, you can always use your own lock if you like, otherwise you can rent one along with your storage unit. Locks are available for purchase through our online packing supplies store. If you opt to use your own storage unit lock, we highly recommend making copies of the key and keeping them somewhere safe. Having to cut open a lock and buying a new one can become a nuisance.
Of course! You can authorize access to anyone that you’d like to have access to your storage unit. You will have to specify on your rental agreement whether it’s a family member, friend or an employee. Once you have specified on your rental agreement who is allowed access to your unit, just ensure those individuals have your unit’s access code and a key to the unit lock.
MoveBuddy can connect you to the right moving professionals for any size of move, including a full-service job. Simply browse the available providers and select the professional that is right for you!
Yes! Our fleet of portable storage containers are made of steel frames with specially designed powder-coated steel. Meaning they are designed to withstand the extremes of Canada’s weather, coast to coast.
Yes, there are certain items that legally cannot be moved or shipped by movers. In order to keep your moving crew and belongings safe during transportation there are a few categories of items that cannot be moved. These include flammable materials to household chemicals. The following list of dangerous goods are prohibited for movers to take: flammables, explosives, paints, aerosols, propane tanks, any equipment containing fuel, ammunition and flares. None of the above mentioned items can be shipped or transported by movers. Either plan to dispose of these items at your local transfer station or opt to transport these items yourself. For more information on items that movers cannot take, refer to our Learning Centre for our article on ‘How To Pack Electronics’ which speaks to items that are prohibited by law to be shipped.
What isn’t MoveBuddy?! To be serious, MoveBuddy is an all-in-one platform to help you sort out your next move. Through the site you can find and book professional moving services, buy packing supplies and learn about how to best negotiate your big day.
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