Month: <span>August 2016</span>

Thinking about moving from your house to a condo in Toronto, ON or elsewhere in Canada? Even after condo fees, you’ll probably come out ahead financially due to savings on utilities, property taxes and other maintenance costs.

Of course, thoughts of going through a lifetime of treasures may be your biggest challenge and may cause you headache and stress before it all begins but don’t fear. Here are some planning tips to consider to make the process of your your residential move a little easier:

1. Start with a List – Make a list of all the belongings that you can’t live without, i.e.: bed, couch, side table, lamps, TV etc. You probably have doubles of most things hiding in the basement like DVD player, TV, couches. This will make parting with the other items easier and will help with the purge.
2. Fit to Measure – Will your furniture fit in your new place? Make sure to get a copy of the floor plan and take measurements of your furniture in advance. What fits in your home now might be an eyesore in your new unit.
3. Declutter – Remember less is more! This will be a fairly time consuming project, and an emotional one at that. Don’t overwhelm yourself and plan a few months in advance. Choose a room per day/week and make it your priority to go through every nook and cranny. Don’t forget the attic and that hidden room in the basement!
4. Purge – How much should you purge? If you use it regularly then it is a keeper. Ask yourself these questions as you go through the process:
   • Do I really need this?
   • Is this sentimental to me?
   • How many of these do I have?
   • Have I used/worn this in the past six months or a year?
   • Am I keeping this for someone else?

   Give yourself a quota – you’re allowed to keep only so many sentimental items, the rest must be donated or given away. This forces you to be more disciplined when going through your belongings and puts a limit on how fast you accumulate “stuff” over the long term.

   This would also be a great time to call the children and let them know it is time for them to claim their old keepsakes from their rooms.

5. Recycle, Sell or Donate – Don’t throw it away, think about the environment and what you will be saving from our dumps. Clothing, books, sheets and blankets are always accepted at most Shelters or Good Will. Furniture, tools or accessories are accepted at most Habitat Centers. The garage will have lots that you can purge. Garden tools, ladder, lawn mower, rakes, and shovels can be sold or donated.Make separate boxes for Recycle, Sell and Donate, you might be surprised how much you can clear out. Challenge yourself, once placed in the box you are not allowed to pull back out. Your trash might be someone else’s treasure.
6. Label EVERYTHING!  Once you have decided what is for keeps, you can start packing it away. When packing up boxes months before a move, you will never remember where you put that favourite vase that aunt Martha bought you. Write detailed item lists on the boxes and colour code the boxes for each room. Trust me, this will save you time and frustration.
7. Storage Space – After packing it all up, you realize you still have more than you thought. It isn’t easy to let go of sentimental items and memories that are attached to them. You might want to consider renting a Toronto storage unit. Whether is it short or long-term, think of a storage unit as a temporary off site extension of your home.

About Viktoria Van Lines Toronto

Viktoria Van Lines Toronto is a professional Toronto moving and storage company, providing high quality local and long distance moving services throughout the GTA, Southern Ontario and across Canada. Thanks to our country-wide network we are also able to service our clients’ long distance moving needs throughout Canada.

Call Viktoria Van Lines Toronto (647) 344-1554 or Toll Free: 1 ( 877) 399-1315 for a FREE Consultation in regards to your residential or commercial / office moving needs to and from Toronto, the GTA and across Canada.

The most logical way of avoiding the pitfalls that could arise during a Toronto office relocation is to use professional office moving services. And our company just happens to provide exactly that! This article, however, is for those who are more prone to DIY.

So, how and when should you get started? Well, we have broken the process down to 8 key periods to help make your Toronto office move get properly organized and run more smoothly.

Drawing Up Your 8-Point Toronto Office Moving Plan

1. Six Months Before
   This is the ideal time to start getting the wheels in motion, with plenty of time before moving day to sort out complicated issues. The key steps at this initial stage are:
   • Establish a Moving Committee – You can’t do it all (don’t even try), so select a small number of staff to oversee the various aspects of the move. A small number is best because it reduces the chances of confusion over responsibilities, but the actual number can depend on the size of your operation. Usually 2 people is enough, but you may need 3-5 people.
   • Select a space planner and interior designer – A space planner can organize the layout of the new office space in advance so the movers already know where every desk, chair and filing cabinet is going. An interior designer can assess design aspects. It may not seem important, but everything that affects the space available needs to be considered together.
   • Consult your IT staff – You want to make sure communications systems, including internet connectivity, suffer a minimum disruption in the build-up to, during and immediately after the move. So you need to discuss how best to achieve this. Keep in mind the need for both ‘exit’ and ‘entry’ strategies.
   • Request cost estimates – Get the Moving Committee to start looking for the best-value professional Toronto office moving services. Keep in mind that low cost can sometimes translate to low standards, so don’t make a decision on cost alone. Check Yelp and Homestars to review potential candidates. Even if you haven’t decided on using professional Toronto movers, we recommend getting a couple of quotes anyways. You can weigh the quotes against the cost of paying your employees plus the potential for lost productivity.
   • Identify initial layout of computer facilities – One of the most important elements of any office moving plan is identifying the best computer set-up infrastructure. Ensure power points are close to desks and computer cables can be tucked away neatly.
2. Three Months Before – Get the Moving Committee again to get updates on how things are progressing. Each member should have a complete report on their specific area of responsibility. Some of these areas include choosing the new telecommunications system, necessary office design changes identified and an adequate computer infrastructure designed.
3. Two Months Before – With 60 days to go before the move, it’s time to nail things down. So, you need to have supply, telecommunication and floor plans confirmed, like the telephone service, stationery supplies, copier service, and plant service. Now’s also a good time to make a final decision on a moving company.
4. One Month Before – This is when the nuts and bolts of the moving day plan needs to be decided, like the packing procedure and prioritizing items for unpacking and re-assembling. It’s also when you start to brief the staff on what is happening and their responsibilities (packing their own desk items). You should also notify customers of the impending move. Appoint a customer liaison officer they can contact with any queries.
5. Two to Three Weeks Before – Time to check on the status of parking spaces, that security is fully briefed and that all of the relevant keys are available. Also, meet with your selected Toronto office moving services provider should be fully aware of the floor plan layout and furniture removal strategy.
6. One Week Before – With D-Day (M-Day?) around the corner, update your staff on the events of moving day and their roles to play. It’s a good idea to provide them with guides on good packing techniques, and to timetable the packing process. You can also start to label furniture and double-check floor plans.
7. Day Before – The final packing and labeling should be done, but at the new premises make sure the phones are up and running. Post floor plans up on the walls so staff can check out where their new desks and workstations are located.
8. Moving Day – Keep non-essential personnel away on moving day, so only moving teams and members of the Moving Committee should be on-site. IT staff should be there too to make sure that the computer systems are set up and are running. Everything should be unpacked and in their proper place in time for the first day’s operation in the new Toronto office.

About Viktoria Van Lines Toronto

Viktoria Van Lines Toronto is a professional Toronto moving and storage company, providing high quality local and long distance moving services throughout the GTA, Southern Ontario and across Canada. Thanks to our country-wide network we are also able to service our clients’ long distance moving needs throughout Canada.

Call Viktoria Van Lines Toronto (647) 344-1554 or Toll Free: 1 ( 877) 399-1315 for a FREE Consultation in regards to your residential or commercial / office moving needs to and from Toronto, the GTA and across Canada.

In many people’s eyes, the concepts of storage and moving homes are quite separate. One is all about keeping things together in one place, while the other one is all about transporting things to another place.

In fact, frequently they are both essential components in the overall moving project – especially long distance moving projects.

For many homeowners looking to move from one city to another there can be some tough decisions involved. For example, not everything can be moved at the same time. And even when they can, the distance that needs to be covered can be too far for a non-stop journey to be practical.

A lot, therefore, depends on your destination and the schedule you have. There’s a lot of aspects that need attention when moving, and storage offers a little flexibility when the move is over long distances taking more than a day.

So what situations could come up that necessitate the use of storage facilities as part of your move? As some of the top movers in Canada, we happen to have experience in this area!

Reasons You’ll Need Storage Services

Storage can sometimes be a useful option for local moves in Toronto, ON or elsewhere in Canada, but when moving very long distances in Canada, it becomes necessary because of the health and safety regulations that prevent drivers from staying on the road too long. Still, the 3 most common reasons for using Toronto storage facilities during a move are:

1. Store to Wait – Generally speaking, whatever you pack will be unpacked at your new home. But there may be some question marks over the space available until you see it for yourself. Your new home may be smaller, so you’re not sure if there will be room for your extensive personal library. Or maybe permanent fixtures in your living room mean the interior dimensions will not accommodate your present suite of furniture. You may even have purchased or received items a day or two before your move date, and need to store them somewhere before including them in your consignment.In these cases, you may want to store some of your possessions away until you know for sure, and have found a place for them. Once that’s worked out, you can send for them.
2. Store to Declutter – Sometimes you already know what items are not coming with you on your move, but you have not made a decision yet on how to dispose of them. Perhaps a family member wants your couch, but can’t collect it for a few days. Or maybe you want to sell off your old golf clubs, gym machines and other hobby related items, but it may be necessary to keep them in storage for a day or two before getting rid of them in a weekend market or yard sale. Often, homeowners looking to sell will store some possessions to ensure their home is uncluttered and more attractive to buyers. The storage period can range from a couple of days while the property is open for viewings, or it can be for several weeks if the seller prefers. Whatever the cost, however, it can be a minor outlay for a successful sale.
3. Overnight Storage – The most common reason for requiring Toronto storage services is that the long-haul journey is going to take several days. This is pretty logical when you consider the timetable adhered to by long distance moving services in Canada. While you might opt to make your own way (whether by car, train or plane), with Toronto moving company taking your possessions independently, long hours on the road means that at least one overnight stop is needed. Having your possessions locked away in a storage facility is a lot better than parking overnight on the street or a truck rest, as getting your things to their new home safely is the priority.

Usually, because these stop-overs are agreed in advance as part of the transportation itinerary, the cost of overnight Toronto storage facilities is included in the fees for the move. But it’s important to always ask about this and not to simply assume it.

About Viktoria Van Lines Toronto

Viktoria Van Lines Toronto is a professional Toronto moving and storage company, providing high quality local and long distance moving services throughout the GTA, Southern Ontario and across Canada. Thanks to our country-wide network we are also able to service our clients’ long distance moving needs throughout Canada.

Call Viktoria Van Lines Toronto (647) 344-1554 or Toll Free: 1 ( 877) 399-1315 for a FREE Consultation in regards to your residential or commercial / office moving needs to and from Toronto, the GTA and across Canada.

So what exactly do you expect to get when you look for a residential moving service in Toronto, ON or elsewhere in Canada? Your shortlist is certain to include having a Toronto moving company that will turn up on time, a crew of professional Toronto movers that know what they’re doing, and a truck (or two) that will not break down and delay the whole process.

But another aspect that has become standard is the availability of quality packing materials. It’s understandable, especially when you consider packing your possessions safely depends greatly on the quality of the materials used, and that finding such materials independently can take a bit of searching and a significant investment of time.

Here’s a general guide to give you an idea as to what you’ll need.

What You Need

The list of items typically needed when moving homes is pretty straightforward. You need practical wrapping materials to protect items from scratches, vibrations and the impact from bumps and falls, boxes to put items in, and other items for packing, and sealing.

In general, residential moving service providers will have a set list of items, but experienced Toronto movers should be able to identify special materials when necessary, and what materials you can do without. This, of course, all depends on what the items being packed are.

The basic list runs something like this:

• cardboard boxes
• specialty boxes, like wardrobe boxes, mirror boxes, lamp boxes, dish boxes, flat screen TV boxes
• packing peanuts
• tissue paper or unprinted newspaper
• bubble wrap
• packing tape
• moving blankets for furniture

Box sizes range from small to extra large, and are usually measured by cubic feet. Some frequently used special boxes are dish pack and wardrobe boxes, but mirror, picture and even mattress boxes are also available.

• small box (1.5-2 cu. ft.) – for books, magazines, newspaper, DVDs, small general items like small sculptures, kitchen pantry
• medium box (3-4 cu. ft.) – for clothes, linnen, slightly larger items, or for larger general items
• large box (5-6 cu. ft) – for pillows, bulky items, larger item, lamps, toys
• dish pack box (5.1 cu. ft.) – designed with double extra thick walls perfect for dishes, glasses, vases, lamps, breakables
• wardrobe box (14 cu. ft.) – contains a cross rung so clothes can be hung just as in a wardrobe

How Much You Need

This is the grey area, with precise numbers hard to calculate. A lot depends on the amount you want to move, some of which may not be very common. For example, if you have a library of books, then you’ll need a larger number of small sized boxes.

A good residential moving service in Toronto should be able to handle any kind of move, whether the client is moving from a small apartment or a large family home. The number of bedrooms may vary, and extra spaces like a guest room and home office will change things.

As a guide, however, the average family home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, as well as a kitchen, living room and dining room. Using this as a model, a Toronto moving company should offer between 90 and 100 boxes, the vast majority of which would be made up of small, medium and large packing boxes. The per-room breakdown reads something like this:

• Kitchen – 20 boxes: 4 small, 6 medium, 4 large, 6 dish pack (for bulky kitchen appliances)
• Living Room – 14 boxes: 4 small, 4 medium, 4 large, 2 dish pack boxes
• Dining Room – 6 boxes: 2 medium, 4 dish pack boxes
• Bedroom – 14 boxes: 2 small, 5 medium, 5 large, 2 wardrobe boxes
• Master Bedroom – 23 boxes: 3 small, 6 medium, 8 large, 6 wardrobe boxes
• Bathroom – 4 boxes: 2 small, 2 large

When it comes to other packing materials, like packing paper, bubble wrap and tape, then there are also general amounts issued by a residential moving service in Toronto.

For example, 1 roll of tape is usually enough for every 10 boxes (so 9-10 tape), while 25 lbs of packing paper is usually enough for every 10 cubic feet of packing. That’s enough for 5 small, 2.5 medium, 1.5 large and 2 dish pack boxes. An average of about 1 ft of bubble wrap is needed per box too, so about 9 rolls of 12 feet-long sheets is necessary.

About Viktoria Van Lines Toronto

Viktoria Van Lines Toronto is a professional Toronto moving and storage company, providing high quality local and long distance moving services throughout the GTA, Southern Ontario and across Canada. Thanks to our country-wide network we are also able to service our clients’ long distance moving needs throughout Canada.

Call Viktoria Van Lines Toronto (647) 344-1554 or Toll Free: 1 ( 877) 399-1315 for a FREE Consultation in regards to your residential or commercial / office moving needs to and from Toronto, the GTA and across Canada.