Year: <span>2017</span>

Aside from being an environmentally friendly alternative to cardboard products, plastic moving bins carry the benefits of convenience, protection, efficiency and reduced cost. Renting moving bins means eliminating the need to assemble or break down boxes, which results in significant time savings before and after your move in Toronto, ON or elsewhere in Canada.

Since our moving bins are made of high grade plastic, they are built to withstand any damage while keeping your belongings safe. Plastic moving bins also stack very well as they were designed specifically for this purpose, meaning the potential for damage is eliminated. In fact, our moving bins come with a free delivery and pick-up, which can be arranged at a time convenient for you.

One thing most people don’t consider is how much effort the process of packing a moving truck takes. Stacking moving boxes safely while maximizing the use of space takes thought, care, and a little planning. For this reason our professional Toronto movers work with plastic moving bins and are typically able to reduce your overall move times significantly.

Let’s also consider the environmental impact and sustainability that these eco-friendly plastic moving bins provide. By helping to reduce the production and consumption of paper products, not only are you making a smart choice for your moving day, but also helping to save the environment.

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.

Are you getting ready to move in Toronto, ON or elsewhere in Canada? We prepared this useful moving checklist to save you some time and headache.

1 to 2 months before moving:

• Contact Viktoria Vanlines Toronto for a free in-home moving estimate
• Get packing supplies if you are packing yourself
• Make any necessary travel arrangements
• Arrange a garage sale
• Get medical and dental records; ask your doctor and dentist for referrals and transfer prescriptions
• Transfer your memberships
• Fill out change of address forms
• Record serial numbers of electronic equipment
• Start a moving expenses log, as some of your expenses may be tax deductible

2 to 4 weeks before moving:

• Reserve the service elevator if moving from an apartment in Toronto
• Transfer your newspaper and magazine subscriptions to your new address in Toronto or elsewhere in Canada or discontinue delivery
• Switch utility services to your new address – inform telephone, cable, hydro companies of your move
• Confirm travel reservations if necessary
• Check the contents of your safe-deposit box. Pack and carry all valuables such as jewelry, insurance policies, legal documents and important collections with you
• Clean or arrange for a cleaning service to clean your home
• Prepare your children for the move by encouraging them to prepare their own special box with toys, games and snacks for the trip
• Start packing (if packing yourself)
• Number all of your boxes, label each box according to its contents, specially mark fragile contents and keep an inventory list

A few days before moving:

• Collect house keys and arrange to leave them with the new owners, your real estate agent or landlord
• Disconnect your appliances
• Double check all closets, shelves, your garage, etc. to be sure they are empty
• Finish packing

On the moving day:

• Make sure your Toronto moving company have all your destination details, exchange phone numbers and have your cell phone with you in case you need to contact your movers, etc.
• Walk through your home with the crew to survey the work to be done and make sure your instructions are clearly understood
• Shut off all your appliances
• Assist your Toronto moving company by making sure that items are delivered to the correct room
• Carry all important documents, currency and jewelry yourself
• Complete a last minute check of all rooms and closets

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 contrast between asking your friends to help you move vs. hiring professional Toronto movers is like night and day. The success of moving in Toronto, ON or elsewhere in Canada is usually defined as getting all of your belongings from your previous residence into your new home in a one day time-frame, without damage to your belongings or either property.

Damage is the most common and expected result when organizing your own move, and if you are not comfortable with your items or your home being damaged, this is not the route to take. Our professional Toronto movers are trained experts in techniques specific to every piece of furniture they encounter (and every environment), and that level of expertise comes only after several years in the industry.

While having your friends and family there to help you may sound like a great idea, they are also far from a “free” labour force. Aside from the implied obligation to provide food and refreshments during the process, most people will also feel compelled to entertain the people who are helping out during the process and provide dinner (and possibly drinks) afterward. Add up all of these factors with the financial cost related to repairing damages, and your labour force is not as cheap as you thought.

Considering your budget, remember that moving yourself is far from cost saving. Your major expense will be renting a moving truck and any equipment necessary to aid in the move. And to be done properly, completing a move in Toronto or elsewhere in Canada requires not only a truck but several moving dollies, 80-100 professional-grade moving blankets, tie down straps, shrink-wrap, mattress covers, wardrobe boxes, and tools, all of which will need to be purchased or rented.

As a conclusion – your time, money, and energy are all very valuable, and hiring professional Toronto movers often saves you all three.

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.

When renting a space from one of storage companies in Toronto, you should understand that when choosing Toronto storage facility – there is a lot more than just picking a convenient location and finding the lowest price. And not only should you research different Toronto storage facilities /companies, but you need to also consider your specific storage needs when choosing the size/type of locker you will be renting (and if you need a locker at all) as well as other services offered by the storage facility in Toronto.

Security and safety should be your primary concern, as nothing will cause you more stress or headache than getting your items stolen or damaged. When it comes to security, simply placing a lock on your storage locker is not a guarantee that the contents will be safe.

Using a good quality padlock is a prudent choice, but the chance of having your locker broken into will really depend on the overall security precautions taken by your Toronto storage company. In addition to an adequate security system with a combination of security cameras and alarms, the surveillance cameras should be recording all input into a DVR that is indexed by time/date, and that allows video to be played back at least 2-3 months into the past.

The other concern most clients get is climate / temperature control, as there are some items which must be stored within a specific temperature range in order to avoid damage. A large number of storage companies in Toronto are in fact not climate controlled, and the ones advertising “climate controlled” Toronto storage facility often make a claim that is slightly misleading.

The final consideration is whether you will be hiring a Toronto moving company to transfer your items into Toronto storage facility or if you will be handling this task on your own. If you’ve decided to work with professional Toronto movers, remember that you will be paying them by the hour for their services. Also, when comparing the price of a locker in one Toronto storage facility to another, consider the ease of access to the locker in each location.

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.

With a low barrier to entry and little regulation for its workers, many Toronto moving companies have come under fire for less than stellar performance. But that doesn’t have to be the case with your move. So doing your research when comparing Toronto moving companies and collecting moving quotes will help 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.

Here are some tips for comparing 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 also 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.

   It all raises a question: what are those moving quotes based on?

2. Weight and Volume

   Well, the more space your belongings occupy (or for other companies, the more they weight), the higher your final price for the move will be. Weight and volume play a big role in your moving quote. Most Canadian moving companies, including us, charge per hour and per mover. 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 Services

   In most cases of a regular move, there is no need for you to consider charges for additional Toronto moving services. And then there are times when you need to move items like pianos and things get a little bit more complicated,  so you might need to hire an additional moving service in Toronto.

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.

When moving to or from a big city like Toronto, ON or any other heavily populated urban area in Canada, there is a always unique set of challenges to be faced with.

To prevent hassle and frustration with any local or long distance move in Canada we suggest doing some advanced planning, especially for moving to a big city like Toronto, ON. Below are three simple hacks to remember when you are moving to the big city like Toronto, ON or anywhere else in Canada.

Check your route, the traffic, and street situation in Toronto

It’s often worthwhile to plan your route through the city. If possible, do a dry run in advance of your move day. Drive the route at the same time you will on the big day and note the traffic, the streets (alleys, turning lanes, one-ways, etc), and where and how you’ll park the moving truck in the neighborhood for unloading (unless you are hiring professional Toronto movers who would help you with all aspects of your move).

Navigating in your building in Toronto

Check with the management of your new building in advance. If you’re moving into an apartment or high-rise, you’ll need to know the building’s policies on moving in and moving out. Note that some buildings require advance notice and many restrict the use of the main elevators, so you may need to reserve a maintenance or service elevator for a specific time window. If all else fails, you may have to use the stairs. Also, ask the manager if the building has a luggage cart or dolly available for use.

Big city, small spaces

Get measurements of the spaces inside and outside of your new building. You need to ensure that everything you’re bringing with you will fit through doorways, around corners, and in tight hallways. Make sure all large or oddly shaped furniture items will fit in the elevator or in the stairwell.

As we mentioned before, advanced planning can help save a lot of headache during your city move.

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.

As we are now in the middle of winter in Toronto, Ontario and across Canada, and while some areas are feeling the winter more than others, cold weather and chilly conditions definitely have an impact everywhere in Canada.

Viktoria Van Lines Toronto provides residential moving services in Toronto and GTA year-round to move people in and out of their homes and with approximately 14% of Canadians moving each year, it means that our Toronto local and long distance movers need to be prepared for all types of weather.

Here are some tips on moving safely in winter in Toronto:

Roll out the carpet

Prepare for your moving day by clearing a walkway from your home to the moving truck.

Rake up leaves, salt all the concrete surface around to help reduce ice and sludge, or shovel a path through the snow. This will help keep your Toronto movers safe while carrying items from the house to the truck. At Viktoria Van Lines Toronto, we usually roll out old carpets outside of the houses and on truck ramps to create slip-free pathways.

Protect your floors

With Toronto movers traveling in and out of your house on your moving day, the outside elements could easily be brought inside. Secure non-slip covers on your floors to help protect them, cardboard or plastic with grip would work as well.

Pack securely

When packing your items, make sure they are well secured and placed into moving boxes that will be able to hold their weight. Don’t overpack moving boxes.

If some items are fragile, wrap them in bubble wrap, newspaper, butcher’s paper or moving blankets. Insulate your items so the elements don’t ruin pricey or priceless items, including electronics, which are susceptible to frost and moisture.

Glass and plastic items can become weakened and more breakable when they are exposed to cold elements and condensation can impact sensitive wood finishes, electronics, and antiques.

Watch the clock

You should never rush a move, especially in cold, wet, and icy conditions, but do remember that winter months give less daylight, which impact visibility and the quality of lighting. Do your best to plan ahead so that you are using the daylight hours wisely.

Have the clothes fit the part

Wear close-toed shoes with a good grip on your moving day. Choose clothes that can be layered – it will be a cold day, but the activity of moving will quickly warm you up. Layers allow you to easily add or take off clothing items. Hand warmers/pocket warmers are helpful too.

Fuel your body

Start the day well fed and fueled – a hearty breakfast will give you the energy to keep going with the heavy lifting. You might be tempted to drink lots of coffee to stay warm, but make sure you also drink plenty of water to keep hydrated, or substitute coffee for hot water with lemon, ginger and honey.

No rush

Slow down when moving in wet, icy and snowy conditions. Rushing can lead to slips and spills and can result in injury or damaged belongings. Plan for the move to take longer than usual, as you navigate winter conditions. It may add some costs or delays to your day, but it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Be aware of the warning signs

Though you may not be outdoors for extended periods when moving, it’s always best to be safe and know what the symptoms are for exposure to cold temperatures. First aid training is always beneficial, but if you don’t have any training you can educate yourself and anyone helping with the move in regards to the warning signs for issues such as hypothermia.

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.