It doesn’t always happen, but every now and then a piece of furniture or appliance is just too big to get out the front door. It’s an issue that Tower Moving Toronto know how to handle, but if you’re doing it on your own this can be a problem that holds up the entire day. Use the pro strategies below to get bulky items out and into the moving truck.

Reposition the Furniture or Appliance

Sometimes all it takes is repositioning the furniture so that you can come at it from another angle. You might need to flip it vertically or on its side to make it work. Having three people help, two to move and one to guide, is usually the best way to get the job done.

When your business is moving locations one of the most daunting tasks is getting all the paperwork together. Depending on the type of business you’re in, there could be thousands of vital documents that need to be safely and securely moved. Keep reading to learn all the different ways paperwork can be saved, stored and packed for an office move.

Downsizing is the First Step

Moving actually presents companies with the perfect opportunity to do a little housekeeping and lighten the load. Before you start backing up files and packing away documents, take the time to go through them and weed out what you no longer need.

1. Get a paper shredder and scanner.
2. Start with all of your ongoing or open files/projects.
3. Any item that is no longer needed, doesn’t need to be on record or is a duplicate go ahead and shred.
4. Scan any document that’s a keeper.
5. As you go create an organized system for the scanned files. Put each set in it’s own folder that’s clearly titled so it’s easily identifiable.
6. Have each employee follow this process until you’ve gone through all the documents.

Collect all of the shredded paper in plastic bags for recycling. Shredded paper shouldn’t be put with the regular recycling. Once paper is shredded to becomes mixed grade paper, which is a little more difficult to recycle. Check with your city waste management and recycling center for information on where to bring your shredded paper. 

Making a move, but don’t have a lot of stuff? Just moving across town? There are times when you may question whether you need to hire a moving company for your “small” move. But don’t let the number of items or lack of kilometres fool you. There are many instances when a “small” move is best left to the professionals.

It Won’t Fit in One Trip

The more trips you have to make the longer the move will take, and the more you’ll have to spend on gas. If you can’t fit everything in your car in one trip you may want to consider calling a mover. Moving trucks are great, because they’re big. In most cases everything can be loaded up and transported in a single trip. The convenience factor alone can make hiring movers worth every penny.

Need moving boxes, but don’t want to pay for them? The cost of moving boxes can add up quick. In fact, many people spend $100-200 just on moving boxes, and that’s not factoring in specialty boxes that cost more than your standard cardboard container.

Don’t start plunking down cash for new moving boxes just yet. We’ve put together our top tips for finding the best free boxes for your move.

If you thought a regular move could get stressful, then try getting everything done in just a few days. As crazy as it may sound people are put in last minute move situations all the time. You’ll be tempted to just start throwing things in any container you can find, but resist that urge! Even though you only have a few days – or just a single day – putting together a plan of action first will help you get things done quickly and keep your sanity intact.

Take a few deep breaths. Ok, now let’s knock out your last minute move.

Last Minute Moving Checklist

When you have to make a move fast it’s more important than ever to keep organized and have a plan for how you’re going to tackle everything. Luckily, Tower Moving Toronto has experience moving within extremely tight deadlines and we’ve put together a list of to-dos for quick moves. We call these our Last Minute Move Sanity Savers.

Unfortunately the home you move into isn’t always in the same state as the one you just left. In other words, here at Tower Moving Toronto we’ve seen examples of folks we’ve just moved having to go in and give a good and thorough clean to their new place. And the room which tends to need the most time spent on cleaning it is, of course, the kitchen.

Moving to a new home isn’t only stressful – it can also be pretty costly if you don’t watch what you’re doing. And when you’re probably going to have spend money doing up your new place, splashing out a fortune on moving costs is the last thing you want to be doing. And so, here at Tower Moving Toronto we’ve come up with some ways you can help to curtain those costs:

Before moving your valuable belongings into a self storage unit or a mobile storage container, you will want to purchase a sturdy lock to protect against theft or vandalism. There are many different types of locks to choose from. Most storage facilities give you the option to purchase a lock from them or buy one on your own. While standard padlocks or combination padlocks are more affordable options, they can be easily broken or picked. Wondering which type of lock is best for your needs? Here are two varieties of secure locks to consider:

Closed-shackle padlocks
These look like your standard padlock, with one notable exception. The shackle (the U-shaped bar at the top of the lock) is particularly short and thick, and it’s protected by an outside casing. This makes it difficult for bolt-cutters to reach. If a padlock is your general preference, be sure to choose a closed-shackle model. Most brands retail for $10-$15.

Disc locks
Disc locks are the most popular self-storage locks, as they are resiliently strike-proof, drill-proof and pick-proof. They have a thickly built shackle that fits tightly around your storage unit door latch, making it difficult for anyone to jam bolt-cutters into the lock. Made of heavy-duty stainless steel, disc locks feature a lock mechanism that includes anti-pick pins. Breaking these locks takes full-on electrical equipment, and a whole lot of time and effort. The average retail price for a disc lock is $50.

Though many consider disc locks the industry standard, they are incompatible with some storage unit door latches. Call your facility in advance to ask if you can use a disc lock. If you can’t, they will likely sell you an alternative lock.

Here at Tower Moving we help lots of young people coming to Toronto for a job to relocate to their new apartment. For many of them it’s the first time they’ve left their home city or town so, understandably, it can all be a bit stressful for them (as well as exciting, of course).

We try and make life as easy as possible for first time movers (and multiple time movers of course). We’re already known as a low cost moving company and to keep their living costs as low as possible, we recommend first time movers to this city heed the following advice.

How to keep down the cost of living in your new apartment

• You know those sturdy cardboard boxes you’ve just used to move your stuff in? Well, try and find a fabric sale, but some designs you love then staple the material onto the box. You can use these newly-designed boxes as attractive storage drawers or even a smart side table for a corner lamp in a dark corner of your sitting room or bedroom.
• Can’t afford to buy furniture from some of the new designer stores? Then why not opt for the shabby chic look by picking up an old dresser cheap at an auction or second hand sale, painting it then sandpapering it down to make it look ‘authentically’ old? Shabby chic is a look which has really come to the fore in recent years.
• Clean mirrors and windows in your new home by using vinegar and newspaper. This works a treat and saves you buying expensive – and chemical-laden – cleaner.
• Got a stuck drawer? Then simply rub the glider down with an old candle that you can pick up cheap in any hardware store. You’ll be impressed at how effective this tip is.
• Keep utility costs down by affixing ceiling fans. They’ll help cool you down in summer without your electricity bill going sky high. And on the same subject (ie low utility bills, try to air your washing on the line as much as possible rather than use a tumble dryer (these really make the energy meter run fast). Also, never leave electrical goods on standby as this still uses up energy.
• Another way to keep that utility bill low is to switch all the builds in your apartment to LED. This new form of lighting uses 80 per cent less energy than incandescent bulbs and 50 per cent less than halogen. As a result your utility bill reduces by a substantial amount. LED bulbs may be more expensive than other bulbs to buy initially (although they’re coming down in cost all the time) but they more than make up for it in the long run since they last so much longer and, as we mentioned, really help keep those energy bills low.
• Toilet or kitchen sink clogged up? Don’t waste money by calling out for a plumber. Instead, grab some baking powder and vinegar to successfully unstuck in. Simply pour a cup of baking soda down the plug hole then follow this up with a cup of vinegar. Cover up the plug hole with a cloth so that nothing bubbles over into the sink then after a couple of hours simply rinse the sink and drain with very hot water. Not only will your sink be unclogged, it’ll also be nice and shiny!

Being a relocation company, here at Tower Moving Toronto we know how potentially stressful moving home and especially relocating to a new City can be. And if it’s to a city where the streets are as busy and bustling as Toronto then it can be quite a thing to contemplate.

Or at least it would be if you didn’t plan well in advance and consider the potential pitfalls along the way. So, if you’re planning a relocation any time soon why not take a look our Top 10 tips to help make your move a little smoother:

Tips for easier home relocation

1. It doesn’t matter whether you are packing up your own possessions or you’re getting us to do it, there’s going to be problems if we can’t get near to where the boxes are to be picked up. So, if you have a small yard, there’s parking restrictions or any other reason why we can’t get near your home, then please let us know about it so that we can plan what to do beforehand ie it may mean we have to turn up in a smaller van. It definitely saves time if we’re forearmed.
2. When packing smaller items do think about the weight of the boxes in terms of making sure it’s balanced. Also, it’s a good idea to pack things from a particular room in the same boxes ie keep all the kitchen stuff together, the bathroom paraphernalia, bedroom linen etc separate. Always label those boxes too so it’s easier to find what you’re looking for and to plan your unpacking.
   
3. Pack the children or any pets you have off to their granny’s, auntie’s or a family friend so that they won’t literally get under your – and our – feet on moving day. Not only will this be less stressful for you and safer for them, but it’ll also be more fun for the little ones to be at the pool, park, watching TV etc.
4. On the day make sure you have special documents, money, your phone, contact numbers etc with you at all times. You don’t want these to be lost in the upheaval.
5. Accept the fact you may have to do a bit of cleaning once you reach your new abode. You’ve no idea what condition it’ll be left in and if the house has been empty for a little while then there’s it’s a sure bet you’re going to have some dusting and wiping to do.
6. Make sure you don’t end up arguing with utility companies for unpaid bills by taking the meter readings as soon as you enter your new home. You should also check at this point that the cooker, boiler, fridge/freezer etc are all in working order – otherwise contact your lawyer.
7. Don’t imagine for one minute that you’re going to get through moving day without plenty of snacks, drinks and at least one good nourishing meal. You’ll need these for all those extra calories spent lunging boxes everywhere.
8. Always bring an overnight bag with you when moving. This should contain handy items such as toiletries, toothbrushes, hand wipes, contact lenses solution, a change of clothes and bed linen (unless you plan to spend the first night in sleeping bags). You might want to think about a change of clothes for next day too.