Europa Movers Toronto

6-24 The East Mall,
Toronto, ON M8W 4W5
416-604-9904

Useful Tips for Conducting a DIY House Inspection

By

Well, hiring a professional house inspector when buying a house is a wise decision, considering the size of one’s investment. Although, it won’t hurt to try and do some of the work yourself. With the correct preparation, you can conduct your own house inspection and make an informed decision on your big purchase. We prepared some useful tips below to help you.

1. Check for any Roof Problems

Roof condition can affect many other parts of the house, and can cause leaks which can be an endless money-pit. Make sure to get up-to-date information on the roof maintenance from the seller in order to make an educated decision.

2. Inspect the Plumbing

You should test all of the taps and faucets, considering water pressure and keeping a sharp eye out for stains on the walls. Often liquid stains on walls mean a leaky pipe, and this can cost you a lot of time and money to repair.

3. Check for Hazards

Ensure that when you walk around a prospective home that you take note of any potential dangers or hazards. Hazards can come in many forms, so make sure to check for any and all kinds. Examples of potential hazards might be: broken branches on old trees, or large single pane windows on the upper levels of the house. These checks are of extra importance, especially if a child will be living in the house.

Check for Rotting Wood

This is an easier part of house inspection by potential buyers as you don’t have to be trained to spot the rotting.

Be aware though that many sellers will freshly coat rotting wood with paint, so make sure to be thorough in your assessment.

Check Mobile / Internet Connectivity

A good way to test the signal in your prospective place is to make calls and visit some of your favourite websites using your phone. If the signal is non existent, and you are a tech-savvy family, it might be worth reconsidering the location of your new home.

These tips are designed to be a starter guide for any house buyers that don’t have the expertise to conduct an official inspection, and can not replace an official house inspection from a trained professional.

Call Europa Movers Toronto (416) 604-9904 for a FREE Consultation in regards to your residential or commercial moving needs to and from the GTA and Metro Toronto area.

 

Tips to Help Prepare Your Pet For a Long Distance Move

By

We prepared some tips below to help you get your pets ready for moving safely and comfortably.

Microchip your pet

Consider microchipping your pet at least 2 weeks before your move so there’s plenty of time to register a second contact, as this could make the difference in keeping track of your beloved pet. This is a great way to track your pet should they go missing for any reason during your travels; and you can also add a second contact.

Familiarize your pet with their crate

For most pets travelling by airlines, a crate mandatory. It is important that you purchase a properly sized crate that is sturdy and has enough space for your pet to be comfortable during the journey.

A good way to help your pet feel better during the move is to allow them to spend time in the crate prior to moving day. We recommend doing this well in advance so that your pet has enough time to adapt to their new environment.

Another good way to make them feel comfortable is to associate their new crate with some reward i.e. let them eat and sleep in the crate.

Increase your pet’s exercise

One way to make sure that your pet feels comfortable in their crate is to provide them with a sufficient amount of exercise before your moving date. You need to start increasing the length of your pet’s walks from the usual time prior to the move so that they feel quite tired during the move. Not only will this prevent your pet from getting antsy and wanting to escape, it will also significantly reduce their stress levels during the moving process.

Pack all the supplies

Depending on what kind of transport your pet will be taken by to your new home, there will be different amounts of pet accessories you are allowed to take. However, it’s always important to pack as much as you can, as well as extras of everything your pet may need during the move, including any medication they may need to take, food, toys to keep them entertained, litter bags, leashes and grooming equipment.

If you do your research and take every precaution you can, then there won’t be a reason why your pet won’t reach your new home safely and happily.

Call Europa Movers Toronto (416) 604-9904 for a FREE Consultation in regards to your residential or commercial moving needs to and from the GTA and Metro Toronto area.

Relocation to Western Canada: Great Places for Living

By

Canada is a vast country with a seemingly infinite number of beautiful sights and places to visit and reside. This is why it’s incredibly important to scope out your new potential places of residence, and to take in as much of the area as possible while you are visiting it. In this blog post, we’ll talk about some of the best places to visit and live in Western Canada, and hopefully after visiting those places, you will feel more comfortable to make a decision that could change your life for the better.

  • Vancouver – As the most populous city in Western Canada, Vancouver is a must-see when visiting British Columbia. The city is linguistically and ethnically diverse, and is one of the few cities in North America which has direct access to both the mountains and the ocean. Vancouver’s unique location and mild climate means that there is a host of activities that anyone can get involved with, no matter what time of year it is.
  • Whistler – As one of the best ski resorts in the world and a host of the 2010 Winter Olympic games, Whistler is a fantastic place for staying with family. Not only does it offer far more than skiing and snowboarding in the winter, there is a plenty of activities to get involved in during the summer months, from swimming in lakes to world class mountain biking and ziplining through the forest. If you are spending some time or living in BC, Whistler is the “perfect getaway” place.
  • Calgary – Calgary is a city in the province of Alberta. It is situated at the confluence of the Bow River and the Elbow River in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, about 80 km (50 mi) east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies. Calgary is a city where you can explore the magic of the Canadian Rockies by day and be back in time for dinner. Calgary’s cultural scene is rich in its spectrum of arts and performing arts and city is proud of its ever-evolving culinary scene.
  • Edmonton – Edmonton is the capital of Alberta, Canada. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by Alberta’s central region. Alberta’s capital city is always celebrating something, from arts and culture to food and wine, dragon boats, winter and even accordions. There’s more than 60 festivals to choose from, year round.

Those are just a few of the fantastic cities that can be visited and considered for relocation in Western Canada, but there are numerous other attractions to discover in this great region, including Banff, Kelowna, Penticton, Kootenays etc.

If you are considering relocating to Western Canada, it’s a great idea to visit some cities first, and we’re sure you won’t be disappointed. You are welcome to check out Viktoria Movers Vancouver and Viktoria Movers Calgary Blogs for more tips on moving to Western Canada.

Call Europa Movers Toronto (416) 604-9904 for a FREE Consultation in regards to your residential or commercial moving needs to and from the GTA and Metro Toronto area.

Some Additional Costs of Moving a House

By

We have touched on a variety of different challenges associated with moving, but one topic we are yet to discuss is the additional monetary costs that can be associated with a house move. Budgeting for a move can be a challenge for some and the idea of ‘saving up’ to afford to move houses certainly seems like a strange idea, but it can be helpful to avoid some unwanted debt on your moving day.

We never seem to factor these costs into the moving process, so in this post we will truly assess how much money you should have ready when planning a house move. Depending on what type of moving situation you are in, there will be different types of expenses.

1. Consider your transportation costs. Whether you are planning to hire a moving service or load up a van by yourself, you will still need to spend some money on transportation. Well, many moving van rental companies include extra costs depending on how far you are moving, not to mention that you must refill the truck with gas upon its return. Although a moving service will generally cost you more than hiring a moving truck yourself, you can trust that your items will arrive safely and in good time. This way you don’t have to deal with the added stress of planning your move around van availability etc.

2. Destination. Depending on where you are moving to, there may be some extra costs associated with moving houses that are not related to transportation.

For instance, if you will be renting your new place, there will almost always be some kind of security deposit required. And for certain managed apartment buildings there are likely to be extra charges such as move in fees, FOB rentals, parking spot fees and move-in damage deposits.

3. In addition to all the preliminary moving costs above, there might be some secondary costs that you may not have taken into account. For instance, people are often either upsizing or downsizing when houses, so either buying new furniture to fill out certain spaces, or disposing of old furniture that won’t fit in your new space is likely to cost you more money.

Although some people will make the necessary plans for these kinds of extra expenses, most people will not budget effectively to take into account all of these factors.

Call Europa Movers Toronto (416) 604-9904 for a FREE Consultation in regards to your residential or commercial moving needs to and from the GTA and Metro Toronto area.