Tag Archives: movers

3 Things the Moving Company Can’t Take

When you hire movers in Toronto, ON ahead of your relocation, you’ll expect the service provider to load up all of your stuff onto the truck, secure everything properly and then safely deliver your things to your new home. And for the most part that’s exactly what you can look forward to and expect. Even so, it’s important to know that there are some things that movers won’t transport due to safety reasons. Knowing what these are is important so that you can either get rid of them or figure out beforehand how you’re going to move them yourself.

Flammables

You can bet your bottom dollar that the moving company won’t transport flammables in any form. Flammables pose, as the name suggests, a fire risk that can damage the moving truck and your property. So a moving company won’t load and move anything that falls into that category. Whether gasoline, alcohols or kerosene, you’ll want to figure out how to transport such things on your own should you desire to take them with you. If you have jerry cans filled with gas, try to use up the gas or gift a friend or a neighbor with it. After all, it might not be worth the hassle to load up flammables in your own vehicle and to take them with you. If you’re bringing small engine equipment like snowblowers, lawn tractors or chainsaws, you’ll need to ensure that they’re free of fuel before they get loaded onto the moving truck.

Acid
Movers won’t transport any acids either.So don’t pack acid products — and that include things like batteries. This means you must take batteries out of any products that will be loaded into the truck — whether that be your clock radio, television remote control or anything else.

Pressurized Containers

You should also transport pressurized containers on your own rather than have them loaded onto the moving truck. Pressurized containers will pose the most danger if transported a long distance during the hot weather months. This means that you should either take things like cleaning products and hairsprays with you in your vehicle or trailer — or simply discard of them before moving. You can usually buy replacements rather inexpensively later. And that extra cost won’t be much compared to the damage that could occur if pressurized containers explode.

When you contact Toronto, ON movers, you will be informed of any items that they can’t move for you. It will then be up to you to decide whether to discard of them or to take them with you. At ABS Movers & Storage, we have the expertise you need. We’re a family owned and operated business that prides itself on offering low rates and high-quality service. This means that we want to be accessible and dependable. Call us today at (416) 588-1499 for a free consultation or visit our office at 17 Dora Ave Toronto, ON M6H 1J5. Let us know how we can help you on your big day.

What to Do with Excess Stuff that You Don’t Want to Toss

It’s only when you’re in the process of moving that you will appreciate just how much stuff that you’ve accumulated over the years and decades. Whether you’re downsizing or relocating for work, you may want to see the moving process as a chance to figure out what to keep and what to toss away. But even after you’ve thrown out or given away what you don’t want, you may find that you can’t store all of what’s left at your new home after the Brampton, ON movers leave.

Here are some recommendations on what you can do with the excess stuff that you don’t want to throw away.

Storage Unit

If you find the right moving company, one of the options available to you will be storage whether long term or short term. There’ll be storage units of varying sizes, so you’ll be able to choose one that matches the space requirements you have. This will provide a great option should you want to hang onto stuff that you can’t store in your new home. Not everyone wants to turn their garage or basement into a storage facility. If this reflects your way of thinking, then a storage unit is something you might want to ask your moving company about. It’s a way to keep stuff you want without cluttering up your living spaces. That’s the best of both worlds.

Ask Family or Friends

Do you have family or friends who possess the sort of space that can accommodate some of your excess stuff? You might want to ask them if you can store some of your excess things on their properties for a while. This probably won’t be a permanent solution, but it might give you some time to figure out exactly what you want to do with the excess stuff that you don’t want to part with.

Yard Sale

If you have great stuff that you can’t imagine tossing out or giving away, then another option is to sell these items for some cold hard cash. It would probably make the most sense to have the sale before you move rather than after you move. You can get your family or friends to pitch in if you don’t want to go it alone for the yard sale. This is also a great option if you can’t justify the cost of storing your excess stuff or if you can’t store the stuff with family or friends.

Of the three options mentioned above, the one that probably makes the most sense is the strategy of getting a storage unit. At ABS Movers & Storage, we offer storage units in numerous sizes and configurations to meet most any need. For information on moving or storage options, call us at (416) 588-1499 to talk to one of our courteous staff members. You can also visit us at 17 Dora Ave Toronto, ON M6H 1J5 if you prefer face-to-face consultations. Whether you call or visit, we’ll help you to get exactly what you want for a price you can live with.

How You Can Assist Movers on Moving Day

After spending weeks or even months planning and packing up your stuff in preparation for moving day, your hard work will eventually be rewarded when the workers arrive with the moving truck and start to load your stuff. You won’t be expected to roll up your sleeves and help with loading the truck, but there are some things you can do to help. What follows is a look at some of the small things you can do to help the Mississauga, ON movers to do their jobs.

Pack & Label Boxes Before Moving Day

One thing you should do, if you want to help the movers, is to pack and label your boxes before they get there. Few things will slow down the process more than their having to wait around and burn time as you hurriedly pack, tape and label boxes. Start the process of packing and labeling weeks or months beforehand to ensure you have enough time to do it properly. Another benefit of labeling your boxes is that it will help the movers to know where to put things when they start to unload the moving truck at your new residence. Much time and effort can be saved if you pack and label in advance – so make sure that you don’t overlook this important step.

Keep Distractions to a Minimum

Just about anything can be a distraction, but there are some things that can really slow the process down or even create an unsafe environment. If you have young children, ensure that they aren’t in the area where the movers are working. With movers going back and forth with heavy furniture and equipment, the area will be no place for young children. If a room has been emptied, you might confine them there for a time until the coast is clear. Pets can also constitute a possible distraction. Your dog or cat might want to meet and greet the movers, but moving day is not time for your pets to be wandering around the house. For their safety as well as for the safety of the movers, be sure to confine your pets to a safe place until everything has been loaded.

Provide Light Refreshments

While you don’t have to provide food or drink for the movers, that doesn’t mean that you can’t at least offer some light refreshments such as water or granola bars. You can place the items on a table and let the movers know that they can enjoy the refreshments at their leisure.

These are just some of the things you can do to facilitate a more efficient moving process. ABS Movers & Storage has you covered if you need to book a moving company to help on your big day. You can call us at (416) 588-1499 if you have any questions or if you want to book a moving date. Our Mississauga, ON movers will be happy to assist you. If you’d like to see and speak to someone in person, you can visit us at 17 Dora Ave Toronto, ON M6H 1J5.

Tips for Unpacking After Moving

Packing up ahead of a big move will take up a lot more of your time than you may think. But after you’ve taped up the last box and after the moving company has loaded your stuff to the truck and after everything’s been brought into your new home, you and your family will have to unpack everything. Unless you were really careful while packing, it could prove to be much more difficult to find stuff than it was to pack them up. Here are some tips for how to successfully unpack after Caledon, ON movers transport all your stuff to your new address.

Unpack Prior to Purchasing New Stuff

This step is particularly important. It’ll be hard enough to unpack what you brought, so you should hold off on buying even more stuff until you’ve completed the unpacking. Introducing more stuff before you’ve unpacked will complicate the process of finding places for everything, and it could make things overwhelming. After you’ve unpacked and put your moving boxes by the curve for recycling pickup, then you’ll be ready to buy anything else you need or want.

Start by Unpacking the Most Important Stuff

If you unpack all the important things first, you’ll have less stress — guaranteed. It can be frustrating, for instance, if you can’t find the pots and pans, pyjamas, toothpaste, toiletries, and other things you need. Labelling your boxes properly will make it easier to find them. If you have a list, it will make it even easier to find what you want.

Delay is Danger

It can be overwhelming to see a mountain of boxes all over the place. It might even seem like a good idea, when confronted with so many packed boxes, to procrastinate and put off tackling the task at hand. Unnecessary delay, however, will frustrate your efforts to get on with things and to finish within a realistic time frame. So get on with the task and keep at it until it’s done.

Eliminate Empty Boxes

Get rid of boxes as soon as they’re empty. Remember that an empty box takes up just as much space as a full box unless you break down the empty box and put it by the curb for recycling pickup. What you want to do is get rid of unnecessary clutter so that you can get things done with fewer obstacles.

Want more tips? Reach out to Caledon, ON movers who know the ins and outs of planning and executing the perfect move. At ABS Movers & Storage, we have you covered when you need to relocate. We’re family owned and operated, and our staff are professional, courtesy and customer-focused. Call us at (416) 588-1499 to set up a free, no-obligation consultation. You can also visit us at 17 Dora Ave Toronto, ON M6H 1J5. If you want a company that has experience and that puts customers first, call us or visit us to see how we can be of service to you. As a professional and reliable movers in Toronto dedicated to providing excellent customer service, we have the experience and the expertise to make your moving day a success. Call or visit us today. We’re here when you need us.

Do You Really Need Professionals to Move Your Piano?

If you have a Bösendorfer, Steinway & Sons or Shigeru Kawai brand of piano, then you can tickle the ebony and ivory keys in style. But the truth of the matter is that there are lots of other great pianos out there. And you may want to bring your piano when it comes time to move. It might potentially seem like an easy-enough task to gather a few of your buddies and to enlist their help in moving your piano to your new address from your old address, but there are reasons relying on Vaughan, ON movers makes more sense.

Consider these reasons for getting the professionals to do the heavy lifting when it comes to moving your cherished piano.

Safeguard Your Piano

It’s obvious that full-size pianos cannot be maneuvered through doorways or around corners as is, which is why they need to be taken apart and reassembled using special tools. Professional movers have the know-how to disassemble a piano safely. You might not have known, moreover, that moving a piano properly and safely means utilizing specialized equipment, namely dollies and boards that can be used to move pianos without causing damage. Even if you can get your hands on the dollies and boards needed to move pianos, you would still need to know how to use these things properly to protect the piano.

Protect Life and Limb

Let’s face it. Pianos are heavy. Even if you can get a large group of your friends together to move the piano, all it would take is one misstep for one or more of your to be seriously injured. They are heavy instruments, so pulling or straining muscles is not out of the question either. If you go with professionals, you won’t have to risk life and limb. The experts will know how to do it safely and to move and deliver your piano without incident. When you consider the amount of money a good piano goes for these days, you can appreciate the necessity in handling it with care when moving to a new residence. That’s why getting professional movers is essential.

Protect Your Property

If you have non-professionals move your piano, you can bet there will be property damage. There’s no question about it. It won’t be a matter of if there’ll be damage; it will be a matter of how much damage they will cause. From bumping into walls, to scraping against doors to chipping hardwood floors, you will have to deal with property damage if your piano is moved by non-professionals. Remember that pianos are unwieldly and large. It can be hard to know where to get a good grip. Having a group of your friends move your piano is really a recipe for disaster.

For the best Vaughan, ON movers, look no further than ABS Movers & Storage. We have experienced, professional and courteous movers whose sole goal is to provide the best in customer service. Reach out to us by phone at (416) 588-1499 or visit our office at 17 Dora Ave Toronto, ON M6H 1J5 to get the ball rolling. We’ll offer a free, no-obligation consultation so that we can work with you to select the services you need for your move.

Junk Removal Service Before Moving Makes Sense

Whether you’ve lived in your current address for one year or 10 years, you probably have accumulated a lot of stuff. Some of it you will likely take with you to your new home, apartment or condo, and some of it you’ll opt to sell, trade or give away. But it’s also likely that you will probably end up throwing out some of your stuff rather than pack it up and take it with you. Should you take it upon yourself to load up the excess and haul it to the neighborhood landfill before the Richmond Hill, ON movers arrive to move your stuff to your new address?

It might seem like a good idea to shoulder responsibility for hauling your junk in a trailer and bringing it to the garbage dump, but it makes more sense to hire a junk removal service. Here’s why outsourcing the task might be a better idea for you as you prepare for your move.

Reason 1: You Already Have Plenty to Do

Things like packing your belongings and going to the post office to have your mail forwarded to your new home will take up a lot of your time. While you might feasibly be able to take on the task of getting rid of the junk yourself, hiring someone to do it for you might be worth your while as you focus on more pressing matters. You can get help by doing one of the following:

Find a moving company that offers junk removal service
Head onto a site like Kijiji or Craigslist and find companies that specialize in junk removal
Hire a friend with a truck to haul the stuff for you

Reason 2: Properly Dispose of Your Stuff

Some of the junk you want to get rid of before moving day will need to be disposed of properly. A junk removal service company will know, for example, that things like flammable liquids, propane containers and old car batteries need to be brought to specialized places so that they can be dealt with in a way that is safe for the public and safe for the environment. Too much toxic junk ends up clogging up landfills. You can do your part by hiring a junk removal service to help you keep landfills cleaner and to properly dispose of hazardous materials.

Reason 3: Lessen Your Stress

Let’s face it. No matter how prepared you are, preparing for a move can be a stressful ordeal. Why make it even more so by taking on duties that you could easily outsource to someone else. In the leadup to moving day, you’ll have enough to tackle, and for a relatively small amount you can find someone to do the heavy lifting involved in hauling junk to the landfill.

When the time comes to move, get in touch with ABS Movers & Storage. You need look no further when you need Richmond Hill, ON movers to help with you need. We are a family owned and operated business that aims to offer low rates and quality service. In addition to offering a wide range of moving services, we also offer junk removal services. For a free, no-obligation consultation, call us at (416) 588-1499 or visit us at 17 Dora Ave Toronto, ON M6H 1J5.

4 Post-Move Essentials

Moving to a new city can be exciting. There are new things to do and see, new people to meet, and a new space to decorate. But, moving to an entirely new location can also create a sense of uneasiness. Will people accept you? Will you fit in? Will the new job work out?

Time helps this anxiety. But, post-move periods can be tough at first, especially if you don’t have a post-move plan.

Check out these four suggestions from the professionals at ABS Movers & Storage regarding what to do when the Markham, ON movers have finished unloading your belongings and the first days of the new adventure begin.

Essential #1: Tackle the Mountain and Get Organized

Avoid the temptation to leave boxes unpacked for too long. In fact, the sooner you tackle the mound of them, the sooner the new space will feel like home. The best part about unpacking is that it’s usually completed at a much more comfortable pace because there’s no firm deadline for completion. To get organized, follow these unpacking steps in order:

Unpack crucial boxes first. These include daily, necessary items like toiletries, medicines, and food.
Bedroom and bathroom boxes. You’re going to need your bedding, pillows, shampoos, and soap before the end of the first evening in the new space.
Kitchen boxes. After a move, you can survive on delivery pizzas and snacks for a few days, but you’ll want your own kitchen functioning as soon as possible.

Essential #2: Get Familiar with the New Space

In most cases, the new home will feel unfamiliar for quite a while. How does the flow of the house feel to you and what do you need to change for it to feel like home? Look for signs of pre-existing damage, burnt out light bulbs, and locate the fuse box. Also, add a fire extinguisher if there isn’t one present in a location that best makes sense for you.

Essential #3: Prioritize Forging New Friendships

Relocating is always hard. It’s tough to leave familiar surroundings, and it’s especially difficult to leave friends behind. The decision to make new acquaintances and friends will help you feel settled more quickly. Introduce yourself to the neighbours, wave “hello,” spend time with coworkers after work, join a club, sign up for a fitness class, and be open and positively expectant of the people you meet.

Essential #4: Get to Know the New Surroundings

It’s easy to miss the city you once lived in. But, there are great things about all places—find them. Get to know the new city. Check out the local museums and coffee shops. Figure out where the nearest hospitals are, locate the closest Canada Post, and take a few walks around the new locale to find the best trails. It’s possible to love this new city as much as the last.

When the Markham, ON movers have unloaded and left you to your new home, don’t get overwhelmed. Be organized, get familiar, make friends, and explore. If you’re currently preparing to move, the professionals here at ABS Movers & Storage would love to help make the process a bit easier for you. We can pack for you on the moving end and unload strategically in the new place, so your unpacking process is easier. As a professional and reliable movers in Toronto dedicated to providing excellent customer service, we have the experience and the expertise to make your moving day a success. Call or visit us today. Visit us at 17 Dora Avenue, Toronto, ON M6H 1J5 or call us at (416) 588-1499.

Moving Tips: Moving Instruments Safely

Packing and moving from one home to another requires a certain level of finesse—especially with fragile items. Among some of the most fragile belongings: musical instruments. Of course, every instrument is different. But, one thing musicians all have in common is a shared protectiveness over their instruments. So, before the Woodbridge, ON movers arrive, the professionals at ABS Movers & Storage want to provide some general guidelines and best practices to effectively protect your musical belongings during a move.

Proper Packing

Packing musical instruments in sound, safe boxes seems like a given, but it has to be said: proper boxes are the greatest resource you have to keep your expensive or heirloom musical pieces protected in transit to the new home. Options:

Cases. Carrying cases are usually perfect for transporting instruments—unless they’re soft sided. The hard cases (as in a guitar, saxophone, clarinet cases, etc.) typically have excellent padding and interior shapes to hold the instrument in place.
Original box. If you still have the original box the instrument came in, use it. These were specifically designed to keep the instrument protected in transit.
Instrument store. Some music stores will have boxes for purchase.
Local movers. Professional moving and storage companies should have some helpful suggestions and, perhaps, the exact packaging you need to protect your instruments.

The Right Amount of Padding

A good rule to follow is to pack your musical instrument with even more padding than you would use to pack a box of drinking glasses. Even if the instrument will be transported in a hard case, add padding inside the case and around it. Note: there’s no need to add exterior padding around a case if you’ll be physically carrying the case, but if the instrument is to be loaded on a moving truck or shipped: padding, padding, padding. Things to remember:

Put an emphasis on padding extra around the corners and sharper edges of the instrument.
Clothes, pillowcases, and dish towels are excellent materials for added padding.
Blankets and rugs are great to wrap around the case or box holding an instrument to soften impacts from hard stops on the roadways, turbulences on a flight, loads shifting in the moving truck, etc.

Flying with a Stringed Instrument

Stringed instruments are particularly delicate. If you’re flying with one to the new city you’re to live in, follow these two rules to ensure your guitar, violin, or bass guitar are safeguarded:

Loosen the strings before a flight. Atmospheric changes, temperature, and air pressure can tighten the strings or swell the instrument enough to cause string breakage.
Let the instrument rest. For at least twenty-four hours after a flight with your instrument, refrain from playing it. It needs time to acclimate to the atmosphere and temperatures of the new home before it’s a good idea to play it.

As always, planning is the most important part of any move. Here at ABS Movers & Storage, our team would be thrilled to help you. Whether you need Woodbridge, ON movers for a small move, long distance move, or last minute one, we’re equipped to make sure it goes smoothly. Call us at (416) 588-1499 or visit us to plan your pending move at 17 Dora Avenue, Toronto, ON M6H 1J5.

Downsizing Tips and Steps

Moving is challenging, even if you’ve hired professional movers in Bampton, ON. Moreover, moving is particularly challenging when residents choose to downsize from a large home to a smaller one, or from a house to an apartment. Sure, scaling back does mean there will be fewer items to pack and transport. But, the downsizing process of choosing, letting go, and filtering is a tedious one.

To help, we’ve come up with some efficient tips and steps for Brampton residents preparing to downsize in the most stress-free way.

Prepping

Knowing where and how to start is half the battle. Here’s a short list to guide you:

Declutter. Get rid of any trash or clutter in the current home. You need a clean palette to work with. Anything broken, missing its pair, or is a duplicate/excess does not need to go with you to the new, smaller space.
Check the “overflow” spaces. One of the easiest and fastest ways to downsize is to go through the rooms that are least used in the current house. Rooms that have turned into “storage,” like the garage, attic, and spare bedrooms or offices should be easy to filter through.
Clean out your vehicle. For those with a tendency toward hoarding, trunks and back seats can act as “closet extensions.” Empty them out and throw unneeded items away.

Steps Needed

Here’s the hardest part: how do you choose what to keep? Hopefully, these tips help you to make helpful decisions:

Do you, should you, or can you still use it? If something hasn’t been used in the last year, or if it’s torn, rusted, broken, or inoperable, it doesn’t need to join you in the new, smaller space. This applies to clothes (especially), shoes, kitchen appliances and utensils, furniture, etc.
Is it outdated or oversized? Moving to a new home—big or small—is the perfect opportunity to make a fresh start. Consider the furniture. Are your big pieces the style you really want? Are they the right size for a smaller living room or bedroom? Take measurements. There’s no point in wasting time and money to relocate furniture that’s out of style and/or too big to fit.
What sentimental value does it hold? Items that hold emotional value should come with you to the new place. Gifts from loved ones, for example; if you really care about it, pack it and take it with you.
Is it needed? Remember that you’ll be paying your Brampton, ON movers to transport your belongings, so if you don’t need something, don’t pack it. Consider the knickknacks on the shelves, picture frames that have been collecting dust in a corner of a hall closet, extra sets of bedding or gadgets you hardly use—do you need them?

The team at ABS Movers & Storage wants to be your trusted Brampton, ON movers. Let us help you downsize! We’ll even pack for you. Call us at (416) 588-1499 or stop by to discuss your downsizing needs at 17 Dora Avenue, Toronto, ON M6H 1J5.

Mistakes to Avoid During Your Next Move

Everyone makes mistakes. But, this truth is of little comfort to the person who loses time and money during a move due to an avoidable mistake.

Of course, there is no such thing as a 100% mistake-free move, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try to avoid the most common moving errors. All it takes is some planning, some common sense, and some advice from your Oakville, ON movers.

The following are the top five most common moving mistakes to avoid.

Mistake #1: Not Making a Moving Budget

Careful budgeting is important for all life changes, especially moving. Setting a budget helps to control relocating expenses and, of course, everyone wants to spend as little as possible. But, before a budget is set, be sure to request multiple cost estimates from reputable moving companies to form a good idea of what to expect. Cost-cutting ideas:

Ask friends to help pack. You can provide pizzas and drinks for friends and family who help you. This will cost less than paying professionals to pack up your home.
Remember that moving costs are based largely on weight. The more unused belongings you throw out and donate, the less money you’ll spend on the move.

Mistake #2: Failing to Research

Never hire professional movers without doing research. Check out online reviews, ask coworkers and friends who they’ve used in the past and how the experience went, and jump on the BBB’s website at https://www.bbb.org/en/ca to check business ratings.

Mistake #3: Assuming All Movers are Dishonest

Movers, unfortunately, have the reputation of being dishonest—a reputation formed by the very few scammers out there with unethical business practices. The truth is, there are more trustworthy and long-standing moving companies across Ontario than scammers. To avoid working with one of the few rogue companies, do your homework.

Mistake #4: Not Requesting an In-Home Estimate

A price estimate over the phone is an inaccurate one, nine times out of ten. Remember that you are not a professional, so it is unreasonable for you to have to guess how much a drawer set weighs or how much space in a moving truck your belongings must require. Insist on the in-home estimate or find a company that will.

Mistake #5: Choosing Movers Based Solely on Price

Cheaper is not necessarily better. But, more expensive may not be, either. Are there services you don’t need and others you do require? If possible, compare at least four moving estimates (in-home estimates only) and pay close attention to the nuances of each: what’s included, additional services, etc. Cost factors include:

Local moves. These are usually charged by the hour.
Home size and weight. These two factors largely affect long-distance moves.
Special items, such as pool tables, safes, antique furniture, hot tubs, etc.
The distance of a move. There are major differences between local, long-distance, cross-border, etc.
Add-on charges. Packing, unpacking, furniture disassembly and reassembly, storage, custom packaging and crating, etc.

The Oakville, ON movers here at ABS Movers & Storage hope these tips help you to avoid common mistakes during a move. We’d love to earn your business. Please call us to set up an in-home estimate. We can handle local, long-distance, and cross-border moves. Our professionals can be reached at (416) 588-1499 or stop by at 17 Dora Avenue, Toronto, ON M6H 1J5 to discuss our storage, moving, mid-months specials, and junk removal services.

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