Chances are, any moving stories you have shared or heard did not include statements such as “oh, my move went so smoothly!” or “I love moving!” The truth is that no one likes moving, even when it goes well.

Do you find yourself wondering who on Earth does have a smooth experience? Home movers who’ve encountered no troubles during their move were either lucky or they took the time to find competent, trustworthy movers to help them. Want to follow in their footsteps?

First, you need to begin with preparing well in advance. You also must pay close attention to all the tiny details that seem unimportant in the here and now—those seemingly “small” details could end up being pretty significant during the moving process.

Now, I know what some of you are thinking: if I’ve booked a full-service moving company, I’m all set! That’s just not entirely true. Take it from us here at ABS Movers & Storage in Woodbridge, ON; there are definitely things to do to prepare…

Keep reading!

Clear out your space
Don’t wait to arrive at your new home to declutter and sift through your belongings during the unpacking portion. I, personally, know many people who just throw everything they own into boxes and intend to “deal” with it as they unpack. This plan never works. Get rid of what you don’t need. Plus, you’ll feel good about donating items you know you don’t need/want!

Check out the mover’s list
No matter which moving company you choose to use (we hope it’s ours!), be sure to request an itemized list that the professional movers in Woodbridge, ON, will not ship in their equipment. Examples of “specialty” items that may be on this list:

• Plants
• Pets
• Hazardous materials (motor oils, antifreeze, paint, propane tanks, car batteries, etc.)
• Extremely heavy items
• Antiques
• Grand pianos

Create an inventory
It’s up to you to keep track of your belongings. Be sure to create a detailed inventory of all your items—seriously, write it all down in a notebook as you pack. This will come in handy when organizing and will also serve as proof of your possessions. Most moving companies will have inventory sheets for you to fill-in; if so, use those and make copies!

Label everything
This goes hand-in-hand with your inventory. Before each box is closed, add—as in tape­­—a list to the outside of it. If the movers have slips, use them! You will be so relieved when the unpacking begins!

Organize, clean, organize, clean
Like items should be packed in boxes together. The goal is, here, to make the unpacking process easier! Further, you want to be sure some items go nowhere near other items—like mixing lawn equipment with delicate fabrics. Be sure to unplug, empty, and clean out your fridge, dishwasher, toaster oven, etc. The cleaner, the less mess-risk it is to your other items! Also, remember to drain the fuel from your lawn mower, snow blower, weed-eater, etc.

Don’t you want to be one of those to share a “smooth experience” moving story? Give the professionals here at ABS Movers & Storage a call!

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

Why worry about your next move when you can leave it to our professionals at ABS Movers & Storage? If you’re honest with yourself, you know you would prefer not to pack, store, load, and unload a moving truck. And, you don’t have to—our experts love to handle the moving details.

Whether you’re moving here to the Brampton, ON area or elsewhere, we would love to take care of your moving needs. Need a few reasons using the professionals here at ABS is worthwhile? Here you go:

• Hiring our team will allow you to sit back and relax while we do the heavy lifting
• Peace of mind that your items are protected and backed with insurance, in the rare case something doesn’t go exactly according to plan
• Protection for your space—both the old and the new locations—from wear and tear (if we break it, scuff it, scrape it, or dent it, we fix it!)

A little about the team here at ABS:
We realize that not all moving companies have the best reputation. It’s true that there are many which do not focus on customer service or keeping your items safe. We do. Our experts know that you went through a lot to decide what moving company in Brampton, ON to choose and we are honoured to work with you. Here are the services we provide:

• Residential moves
• Last-minute moves (if you need to move today)
• Emergency moves (if you need to move in the next few hours)
• Next-day moves
• Advanced booking
• Storage—two locations: Lansdowne and Bloor Area or close to Rockcliffe Blvd., north of St. Clair Avenue West
• Office moves
• Junk removal—if you’ve got junk, we’ll take it. ABS will handle the responsible disposal of any item too clunky, old, unused, or too big for you to deal with

The ABS goal
Our goal is to move your items safely, quickly, and proficiently. These three things will give you the peace of mind you need and will remove undue stress. Further, it is our mission to simplify your moving process and provide solutions for you when a tough situation arises (such as a last-minute move).

Know that you can regard our experts here as trustworthy friends. We are part of the Toronto community and the residents here—new or long-standing—are very important to us. Our staff wants you to look forward to the new space you’re preparing to occupy without the burden of dealing with the logistics of the move. While we pack and move your belongings, you are freed to begin planning for your new space:

• How to decorate
• Where your furniture will go to look best
• What first meal you’ll prepare for your friends and families
• What new paint color you want for the living room

Leave your move to the pros here at ABS Movers & Storage. You’ll be so glad you did!

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

Unfortunately, moving is no fun; especially when you don’t have the process down to an art. We, do, though. You see, here at ABS Movers & Storage, it’s our business to make each moving experience at least stress-free, if not somewhat enjoyable. We’ve handled thousands of moves in the Brampton and Toronto, ON areas and we know just how to handle it from start to finish so you don’t have to.

If you’re one to hate the entire process—that’s ok! We can handle the packing, storing, loading, and unloading complete. But, if you’re one to prefer packing your own belongings, we have 5 tips for you that you may want to check out!

Here are things to remember when you’re planning your next move.

1. Roll your clothes up before packing
   This old military trick will save you a lot of space and protect your clothing from wrinkles while packed away.
2. Protect your accessories
   Items like necklaces, bracelets, and earrings have a way of becoming one, single knot when packed without properly precautions. Ladies, is there anything more frustrating than untangling a glob of 20 necklaces? Seriously, how do they get so interwoven?! Tangled necklaces easily become broken and damaged ones. Same goes for your other jewelry pieces. You can prevent this (and the dreaded knot) by placing each individual piece in between 1-2 sheets of plastic wrap.
3. Protect your important papers
   Most people keep their important papers (tax paperwork, copies of resumes, contracts, etc.) in folders or filing cabinets. When the time comes to pack, place them in large Ziploc bags. This will protect them from rain, snow, and spills.
4. Pay attention to tiny items
   Small stuff gets lost easily. So, get creative to keep track of your important belongings. Examples:

• Pill box: perfect for holding rings, earrings, cufflinks, etc.
• Glasses case: great for cords and wires

5. Never lift a box over your head
   Having a box fall on top of you is probably not your idea of a stress-free move. It’s actually a sure-fire way to land yourself in front of a doctor. There is risk of all sorts of injury with this: hyperextending, pulled muscles, dropped boxes on you or someone you care about… Not worth it. Let the ABS pros handle this.
6. Hang on tightly
   In order to prevent dropping boxes, grab them firmly from the bottom. Make sure your fingers are wrapped under the weight of the boxes and take time to be positive you have a good grip before attempting to move. For added traction, wear work gloves with rubber palms and fingers.

Moving is no fun when you have to do it yourself. Hopefully these packing tips will make the process smoother for you! Remember, our team in Brampton, ON movers at ABS Movers & Storage can handle all sorts of moved for you—local, long distance, last minute, etc.—and, we’ll happily handle the packing, too! Call us today!

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

Whether you are preparing to move just down the road or across the country—the undertaking of moving is stressful either way. There is time to balance, money to earmark, and coordination to do (hopefully flawlessly). Ask anyone about their feelings regarding a move and they’ll like, emphatically, tell you they hate it. Ironically, moving-time is the time you desperately want everything to go well.

And, unfortunately, it usually doesn’t.

Why is this? There’s a simple answer: most just don’t know what they’re doing? Yes, there are the typical check-marks: purge, pack, load a truck, travel, unload. That’s the gist. But, there’s just more to it if you’re trying to accomplish a stress-free move. And, the experts here at ABS Movers & Storage want to give you the formula: 4 ways to survive a move STRESS-FREE!

1. Clear the calendar!
   Moving takes time. Do not try to crunch in a move between a Friday work meeting and one of your kid’s soccer games. Even if you hire a professional moving company, there is a lot to be done in preparation. And, even if your movers will be packing your belongings for you—there is still prep to do! You will need to sort, clean, and group items. You will need to be present when the movers arrive to pack and load and haul. Don’t overload your calendar unless you’re ready for some intense
2. Declutter and purge
   The less there is to pack, the better. Several weeks prior to moving day, sort through your stuff! Decide what will go, what can be gifted, donated, sold, or thrown out. This is particularly beneficial for individuals and families who’ve lived in the same residence for several years. Belongings have a way of collecting and settling into spaces and becoming completely forgotten… If you haven’t used it or worn it in over a year, you probably never will.
3. Make a plan
   This goes hand-in-hand with clearing your calendar. You will need to set aside time to sort (and pack, if you choose to forgo this option with your moving company in Toronto, ON). If you are going to pack your own things, there is a systematic way of handling this: group items. Here’s what we mean:

• Move from room to room—don’t combine items that don’t “go” together
• Don’t pack any one box to heavily
• Pack all boxes full and/or use “filler” to keep items from sliding around during transport
  (filler = foam packing, bubble wrap, towels, newspaper, etc.)
• Label! Write down the room the box is from/will go in and the items inside
  

4. Keep your eye on the prize
   Remember why you’re doing this. You’ve decided to move for some important reason. Perhaps your family is growing and you need more space, or you’re downsizing, or you’ve accepted a new job, or you’ve found your dream home in the prefect neighbourhood—there’s a reason you’re moving, and that is exciting.

No matter how near or far you’re preparing to move, ABS Movers & Storage can assist! The pros here know how to keep your stress-level down and the excitement alive! Give our team a call!

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