Europa Movers Toronto

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Toronto, ON M8W 4W5
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Toronto Moving Tips: Tips for Residential Downsizing

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One of the most challenging moves is downsizing from a house to an apartment in Toronto, ON or elsewhere in Canada. Although it may seem like there is less to do, because you have less items to pack and move, and may seem that the moving costs should be lower.

On the contrary, the downsizing process is actually longer than any other regular house-to-house or apartment-to-apartment move in Toronto.

House Moving and Home Downsizing Tips - Movers Toronto

We prepared some tips below to help you downsize your Toronto home in the most efficient way.

Steps to Prepare for Downsizing

Downsizing can be quite a challenge if you don’t know where to start from, and here’s the list to guide you step by step through this process:

  1. Declutter. Begin downsizing your Toronto home by removing all the clutter and garbage that you may have inside your house. Throw away all the unnecessary items such as like broken electronics, tools which are no longer working, old fashioned clothes you’re never going to wear again, broken hoses in the garden, etc.
  2. Check your attic, basement, garage and garden. The easiest way to continue downsizing is going through the least used rooms and premises in your house. In such areas of the house it is easy to store things you don’t want or need anymore.
  3. Clean up your car. If you have a habit of hoarding things, you may have been leaving stuff in your car as well. Remember to check under the seats and in the trunk.

Steps to Downsizing Your House

How do you actually decide what is worth taking to your new home and why? These ideas will help you make a good decision.

  1. Can you use it at all? There may be items in your house that are broken, torn, or worn out and are no longer serving you. So, how about just tossing them away? When downsizing from a house to an apartment in Toronto, this is the easiest decision to make – throwing away items that are actually useless.
  2. Is it old fashioned? If you really care about fashion, then this is an important decision to make. Do you have items that are out of fashion like clothes, shoes and accessories? If you haven’t worn it for the last two years, chances are you may never wear it again.
  3. Is it of emotional value to you? There are items that are dear to us which hold an emotional value, like gifts from people we love. Those could be also souvenirs and even practical items like clothes. If you really care about those items, pack them up and take them to your new home.
  4. Do you really need it? There are some things that we actually need and some – that only fill in the space in the shelves, drawers and racks in our home and collect dust. You don’t need to pay Toronto movers extra to move all that!
    Also, think if you have room for it. It is important to take measures of your future house and decide what will and what will not fit in it.
  5. What do you do with the items that are in good condition and can be used but you have decided not to take with you? You can organize a moving sale and sell whatever you can. Or, you can separate kids’ clothes and shoes and toys, and donate them to an orphanage.

Call Europa Movers Toronto (416) 604-9904 for a FREE Consultation in regards to our residential or commercial moving and storage services in Ontario and across Canada.

Toronto Moving Tips: How to Move Your Musical Instruments Safely

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Every instrument is different in shape and size, material and handling, and it can be difficult to provide specific guidance when each instrument requires its own set of guidelines for moving safely. In this blog post we will provide some general tips and best practices to help you move your instruments without damaging them, when moving to or from Toronto, ON or across Canada.

Tips for Moving Musical Instruments - Toronto Movers


Pack Your Instruments In Proper Boxes

This might seem obvious, but proper boxes are the greatest resource you have in protecting your instruments. And if you kept the original boxes your instrument came in, then this will go a long way in making sure they are packed and secured safely for the big move.

If you no longer have your original boxes, try asking at your local instrument stores – you may be able to purchase boxes from there (and if you’re lucky, they might just give them to you for free!). And in some cases, especially for percussion instruments, it might be worth investing in some properly sized hard cases, to transport your instruments without damage.

Use an Appropriate Amount of Padding

Insert as much padding as possible around the edges of your instrument, as it will prevent any scratches or dents should they accidentally get moved around during the process. Put an emphasis on the sharper edges or corners of your instrument, as this is where breakage usually occurs during the moving process. Instruments are almost always hollow in parts, so there are often spaces where you can stuff more padding (you can use clothes, pillowcases or any other soft material).

During and After Moving Your Instruments 

If you are transporting your instruments via airlines, make sure to contact the airline company first and find out about their services for moving instruments. Some airlines are more accommodating than others, but be prepared to pay extra to bring your instruments in your carry-on luggage.

If you are flying with a stringed instrument, make sure that all of the strings are loosened before flight, as changes in temperature and air pressure can tighten the strings and cause the ‘headstock’ of stringed instruments to occasionally break off because of tightness. When you arrive at your destination with your instrument, try to refrain from playing it for 24 hours, to let it acclimatize to the new atmosphere and temperature of your new home.

As Always, Planning Is Key!

Research Toronto moving companies and their policies for moving instruments, as some Toronto movers might offer specific services that cater to moving instruments. Planning to move your musical instrument can be stressful, but will help you become aware of the necessary protocol.

Call Europa Movers Toronto (416) 604-9904 for a FREE Consultation in regards to our residential or commercial moving and storage services in Ontario and across Canada.

Tips for Choosing The Right Toronto Moving Company For You

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Moving companies in Toronto vary as they provide different services in different locations for different types of clients.

How to Choose Toronto Moving Company - Movers Toronto

Moving time is usually stressful for most people, and it takes a lot of trust to put your belongings in the hands of strangers.

We prepared some tips below to help you choose the right Toronto moving company for your relocation.

1. Does a Toronto moving company serve an area of your new location?

One of the first questions you’ll need to ask is whether a moving company in Toronto serves the area you are moving to.

If it only serves the area around a certain city and you intend to move long distance across Canada or out of the country, then this obviously won’t work for you.

2. Does a Toronto moving company provide quality moving boxes?

Many Toronto moving companies offer traditional cardboard moving boxes that often collapse under heavy weight, don’t stack effectively, can get soaked and have to be thrown out after a single use.

Companies such as Frogbox provide plastic, reusable moving boxes that stackable and waterproof, extremely useful for the moving process, and also environmentally friendly. If you want to ensure that your items are moved safely, it is worth considering a moving company in Toronto that provides better quality moving boxes.

3. Do they provide a ‘full moving service’?

If you, like many other people hiring a Toronto moving company, have a family with multiple school and work obligations, it can be difficult to coordinate all aspects of a move.

One of the best ways to ensure that the whole process is taken care of is to to hire ‘full service’ Toronto movers.

Make sure that Toronto moving company you are thinking of offers full service moving before you confirm your booking with them.

4. Do they have a good reputation?

As a client, you should never settle for a moving service in Toronto that has a reputation for poor quality of service. Depending on your location, you are going to want to weigh up your options and single out the solution that’s right for your unique situation.

Good Toronto moving companies will accommodate whatever your situation is. Enough research and preparation can greatly increase the chances that you will have a good experience more often than not, and the decision is in your hands.

 

Call Europa Movers Toronto (416) 604-9904 for a FREE Consultation in regards to our residential or commercial moving and storage services in Ontario and across Canada.

Some Hidden Costs of Moving to or from Toronto, ON

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We have covered a variety of different topics and issues associated with moving houses in Toronto, ON or elsewhere in Canada, but one topic we have yet to discuss is the unexpected monetary costs that can be associated with a house move.

Budgeting for a move can be a challenge for many people and the idea of ‘saving up’ to afford to move houses in Toronto, ON certainly seems like a strange idea, but as you’ll see later in this post, it can be a good idea to avoid going into some unwanted debt on your moving day.

House Moving and Home Downsizing Tips - Movers Toronto

Depending on what type of moving situation you are in, there will be different types of expenses. 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 in Toronto.

1. The first thing to consider is transportation costs. Whether you are planning to hire professional Toronto movers or load up a van by yourself, you will inevitably have to spend some money on transportation.

Many moving van rental companies in Toronto include extra costs depending on how far you are moving, not to mention a stipulation that you must refill the truck with gas upon its return.

On the other hand, a Toronto moving service will generally cost you more than hiring a moving truck yourself, but with Toronto moving companies that value excellent customer service, 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 in Toronto, there may be a number of extra costs associated with moving houses that are not necessarily related to transportation.

For instance, if you are planning on renting your new digs, there will almost always be some kind of security deposit required, but 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 these preliminary moving costs, it is likely that there will be some secondary costs associated with moving 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.

While 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 our residential or commercial moving and storage services in Ontario and across Canada.

 

Comparing Moving Quotes for Moving in Toronto

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Performing your due diligence when comparing Toronto moving companies and collecting moving quotes allows you to fill confident in your selection and hire a moving company in Toronto that cares about your needs and guarantees professional and positive experience. If you research what the market offers, you might get exactly what you need from your Toronto moving company and possibly end up with considerable savings.

We prepared some tips below on how to compare Toronto moving quotes effectively.

  1. Free vs. Obligation

    Some Toronto moving companies will offer you a quote based on the pre-estimated weight (or volume: see #2) of your belongings. In other words: a good moving company in Toronto will give you a non-obligation (free) quote for moving services. And then there are those Toronto moving companies which offer binding estimates. This means the price you pay is fixed. However, this type of quote is different than the ‘not-to-exceed’ alternative. So, when you contact a moving company in Toronto, ask them about the type of moving quote you are receiving and take notes, so you won’t forget important details.

    But all this naturally raises a question: what are those moving quotes based on?

  2. Weight And Volume

    The more space your belongings take (or for other companies, the more they weight), the higher your final price for the move will be. While volume plays a big role in your moving quote, many Canadian moving companies, including us, charge per hour and per mover.

    And for a large amount of luggage and furniture, your Toronto moving company can send more people and a bigger truck or couple trucks. Sometimes, hiring more Toronto movers can save a lot of time, so it’s quite relevant to consider that. In any case, it’s best if you get rid of some items you don’t need anymore before you move.

  3. Additional Moving Services

    In most cases of a regular move, there is no need for you to consider hiring additional Toronto moving services. Especially when you don’t have any fragile items that usually require special handling, such as artwork or musical instruments. And if you do – you might need to hire additional moving services in Toronto.

Call Europa Movers Toronto (416) 604-9904 for a FREE Consultation in regards to our residential or commercial moving and storage services in Ontario and across Canada.