There is just a ton of information out there to help you prepare for a move. They include how to pack, how to label, how to choose the right moving company in Markham, Ontario, and how to cut costs before and during the whole transition. If you are moving in the near future—check out those articles; they’re helpful. (There are many helpful articles for you here)

But, what about after the move is over and you’re settling into your new space. It can take a while for a new house or apartment to feel like yours. It doesn’t have to! Check out these tips and tricks from our crew here at ABS Movers & Storage—we know how to help you turn your new space into the homey environment you can call yours!

1. Make it functional
   It will inevitably take you some time to figure out where everything should go—but try to get yourself set up for function immediately. Find ways to incorporate items you use daily into your everyday design. Examples:

• If you’re a home chef, put your most used utensils on display in colorful trays or oversized jars; this will look great as décor!
• If you tend to procrastinate on weekly chores, like laundry, don’t put your hamper in the closet—get a decorative one to sit out in your room so you are constantly aware when it’s full (and thus, more encouraged to handle it!).
• Become a fan of bins and totes. I swear by these. When I moved here to Markham, ON, I finally adopted the bins/totes theme in my home. Everything has a place and all of it is easily accessible to me!

2. Consider your [future] guests!
   Nothing says, “welcome to my home like a welcoming front step. Add a couple LED lights along the path or small flower pots to display how cozy you want your guests to feel!
3. Choose a personality for each room
   Or, tie the rooms together somehow—if your personal style is one of minimalism and cohesion. Choose a couple bold patterns to designate one room from the next and get some paint on the wall as soon as you can. The longer you wait, the more likely you are to accept the drab cream (or whatever color) that was chosen by the previous owner/tenant.
4. Create a slightly lived-in look
   No one wants to live in a museum, so don’t be afraid to allow your space to appear lived in. Statistics show that if your space doesn’t actually look like you live there, you actually won’t want to! Display your hobbies and embrace the mis-matchy furniture style by purchasing/collecting as you go!

When it’s time for you to move, give the pros at ABS Movers & Storage a call. Whether you’re moving just across town to Markham, downtown Toronto, or a long-haul move—we want to be your go-to moving company!

ABS Movers & Storage | 17 Dora Ave Toronto, ON M6H 1J5 | (416) 588-1499

If you are currently renting and also preparing to move, there are a few things you should consider doing prior to your movers showing up—and they involve making your landlord happy.

First, let’s discuss why making your landlord happy is important. For starters, it’s just good karma. Leaving the space you once resided in better than you left it is just good practice and it sets a precedence in your life that you can be proud of. Further, if there was any kind of security deposit made when you moved in, following these six steps will help you earn it back!

1. Empty all closets, cabinets, shelves, etc.
   Leaving anything behind just means someone else has to clean it up and make a decision regarding what to do with it for you. That’s not only disrespectful, it’s lazy. And, there’s a strong possibility you’ll be charged by the hour for the time it took the apartment to clean/clear out your left-behind belongings. Even if you intend to throw everything away from within the cabinets, do it—don’t make someone else do it.
2. Patch up the walls
   Whether your hung pictures with nails, screws, or adhesive, be sure to clean up the walls before you go. Spackle/putty is extremely inexpensive and very easy to use to cover almost any size hole. If you used any adhesive, be sure to clean-up the residue if any is left on the surface (a bit of lemon juice works well for this).
3. Clean up well!
   Clean your apartment or rental home with this goal in mind: I am going to make this place even more spotless than it was the day I moved in! This mindset should help you earn every bit of your deposit back. Remember to get everywhere:

• Kitchen sink and cabinets
• Toilet and bathtub
• All walls and windows
• Mirrors
• Baseboards
• Balcony/patio
• All floors—carpeted and linoleum/hardwood
• Dust the tops of window frames and ceiling fans
• The insides of the refrigerator and behind it
• Stove, oven, and behind it.
• Pay special attention to any lingering odors; enzyme cleaner is excellent at removing those.

4. Double-check your lease agreement
   There may be a few details you don’t remember from back when you originally signed your lease agreement. Who really reads those? Now is the time. Before you move, comb through your lease and be completely clear on the landlord’s expectations.
5. Return your keys in person
   Unless you are unable to do so, deliver your keys back to your landlord in person. There’s a niceness to handling transitions face-to-face that has been lost in modern culture.

The professional movers at ABS Movers & Storage want your move to be a successful one! Do you live in the Markham, Brampton, or Toronto, ON, area? We’re just around the corner! For more tips like these and for affordable price quotes on your next move—give our Toronto, Ontario moving team a call! We would love to help you with your next move!

ABS Movers & Storage | 17 Dora Ave Toronto, ON M6H 1J5 | (416) 588-1499

Moving out on your own is an exciting adventure. Your new home and new destination is alive with possibilities for your future and stands there, waiting for you as a blank canvas ready for you to design it. Where will you go—across the city or across the country? What colours will you choose for your new walls and what old belongings will you part with?

With the right preparations and the right mindset—you can make your moving experience a good one. In fact, you can avoid the stigma the prospect of moving typically bears: stressful, overwhelming, expensive…

The team here at ABS Movers & Storage has handled a lot—I mean, A LOT—of moves for people all over Woodbridge, Toronto, Brampton, and other parts of Ontario. We know what we’re talking about when it comes to moving and choosing a reliable mover in Toronto, Ontario, so we’ve gone ahead and created a list of the Top 10 Tried and True Moving Tips to help prepare for moving day!

1. Use the MoSCoW Method
   This method was developed for business people in management positions—but it has been adopted and adapted for all sorts of organization practices! Here is an example of a version of this method you should ABSOLUTELY use prior to moving:

• Must keep: obvious items like toiletries, basic tools (unless you have doubles), computers and technical products, work clothing you wear on a regular basis, important documents, essential clothing items (undergarments).
• Could keep: clothing you wear sometimes or once in a while, movies, books, etc.
• Don’t need/won’t keep: clothing you haven’t worn in so long you forgot you owned them, books you have read and will never again, artwork you’ve grown out of, etc.

Now, go back through your “could keep” pile and take an honest inventory of the items. If you really will wear it or use it again, you can move it into the “must keep” pile. Trust us—this system helps. As for the “don’t need/won’t keep” pile, donate and gift as much as you can (you’ll feel great about it!) and trash the rest.

2. Use small boxes for heavy items
   Whether you’re moving your own belongings or a moving company is handling this for you—everyone’s backs and hamstrings will be grateful for your thoughtfulness.
3. Pack absolute necessities in a clear box
   Finding the items you need most will be much, much easier.
4. Take a picture of the backside of your electronics
   This will save you the headache of trying to remember how to set up your game system, television, DVD player, etc.
5. Buy a box of sandwich bags
   You read that correctly. Sandwich bags are useful for small parts like bolts, screws, and nuts from disassembled furniture. Labels, remotes, all the little things that so easily get lost—sandwich and freezer bags are life savers!

Let moving be an exciting adventure—use these moving tips from ABS Movers & Storage and you’ll have the smooth-sailing experience you hoped for!

ABS Movers & Storage | 17 Dora Ave Toronto, ON M6H 1J5 | (416) 588-1499

If asked to describe moving in a few words, most people would say, “difficult, overwhelming, stressful…” I, myself, have described the process of moving this way—and I work as a professional mover! Before I got into this industry, though, I had not yet perfected the “art.” Most won’t, in fact. You see, most people don’t make a habit of moving if they can avoid it. Of course, there are those who are constantly on the go. So, between those who move a lot and those who move others as a profession—there must be some good, sound advice for the rest of the population looking to avoid difficulty and stress. Right?

Right.

There are many “how to” blogs and “best tips” articles out there—and they’re all good. They advise people preparing for a move to compare costs and downsize and utilize professional movers whenever possible. I agree! But, if you are preparing for a move in the near future there is one very, very important piece of advice you should take to heart and I would like to share it with you.

First, know that I work for a moving company in Toronto, ON: ABS Movers & Storage. I reside in Woodbridge and I love what I do. Essentially, I help make a chaotic transition for people moving across town or across the country into a smooth, low-stress experience. Listen, I’m not writing this article to convince you to use our services here (though I’d be so thrilled to meet you!); I’m writing to you because I have witnessed too many people handle their move the wrong way and set themselves up for undue hassle.

Now, for the best advice you will ever receive… I realize I have built this up into some mystical, dramatic climax—oops. That wasn’t my intention. Ok, here it is: Pick the RIGHT day to move.

I told you. Nothing dramatic about this. Yes, you need to plan and pack well and pad your kitchenware with soft cushiony materials and enlist the assistance of good friends and choose the right moving company and all of that—but none of that matters if you choose the wrong day to move. For some, moving is an unexpected or sudden necessity and the day is basically chosen for them. If that’s you, call ABS; we specialize in all types of moves, including emergency and last-minute ones.

Here’s how you know you’ve chosen the RIGHT day to move:

• It’s not hot outside. The most economical time to move is during the fall or winter. You need to be wary of weather conditions, of course—but if you can plan your move when the leaves are pretty or on the ground, do it.
• Choose a weekday. Yes, this means you may have to take a day off of work. But, it will be worth it. Think about it: everyone wants to fit in their move on the weekend… It may work out for you—cost-effectively—to hire movers to help you, mid-week. Often times, companies charge a premium for weekend moves.

That’s it! That’s the best advice you’ll ever receive regarding moving: choose the RIGHT day. Give ABS Movers & Storage a call to schedule your next move today!

ABS Movers & Storage | 17 Dora Ave Toronto, ON M6H 1J5 | (416) 588-1499