Category Archives: Moving FAQ

Is it Better to Pack Yourself or Hire a Moving Company?

That dreaded time to move is no easy task but it is one that we have to face at least once in our lives. The question is whether you start packing yourself and maybe call some friends to come over to help or to go with a Montreal moving company. There are many pros when it comes to paying a friend but it could sometimes be cheaper to use a moving company. Well let’s take a look at all the pros and cons of going with a moving company or with choosing your friends.

Friends:

Now going with your friends and doing this activity might seem like a great idea. I mean payment seems to be pretty easy at times and who knows it might be fun.

Payment- Since they are your friends payment for getting help move should be lenient, should be. Most of the times this activity could be paid with some pizza and beer or any other type of take-out food however if you have the type of friends that do not like being paid with food then a small fee of between $20-$50 sounds reasonable.

Time- If you choose to go with your friends it is recommended to start as soon as possible packing up since there is little to no professionalism it tends to take up longer than a moving company. Another reason why it will take longer is that you will probably fool around with your friends when possible which makes this less of a hassle.

Moving Company:

Some people simply do not like to busy themselves with this task and prefer to hire a professional which most of the times is a good thing to do. Just as there are great positives to hire professionals there may also be some negatives in doing so.

Payment- This is where choosing your friends is cheaper 90% of the times since these people are professionals they expect to be paid so. Moving companies tend to charge per room or weight. Now this is from one city to another usually within the city happens to be around $500 or so depending on how much you have.

Time- Moving companies tend to take around 2 to 4 days to move everything from your old place to your new one and in some cases can even do that faster. Since these people are professionals the focus on working instead of fooling around like friends usually do.

It really all comes down to personal preference and how much time you have. If you have at least a month to start moving then it would be best to call some friends to start packing since this is usually the cheaper option. However if you have quite a few things to move and little time then a moving company is highly recommended since they specialize in this and would deliver everything in short time.

Should You Hire a Moving Company in Montreal?

Getting a new house in Montreal or abroad and settling down with all your stuff are two different things. The excitement that lies with getting a new apartment, flat or a house is just subsided when one thinks of shifting from an existing place to a new place. Packing everything, going to a new house all over again with all of your stuff, unpacking again and unloading- the workload depends on how much you have to move from your old place to new. This is a big responsibility that comes after you decide on buying a new house. The next thing to decide would be: if you want to do it on your own or hire a Montreal moving company for this task.

Do I need a Montreal Moving Company?

Before one can decide on this, there are other questions that can come to your mind.

Do you have big furniture or not,
How much money and time do you want to spend on moving.
How far is the distance between source and destination.
Are your family and friends there to help you move.
Do you have anything delicate or fragile

Advantages of Moving on Your Own

If you feel that you can do all the moving work on your own to save money and cut costs, you can go for it. There is definitely an upside to it. You can get a quote for the cost of a van for moving. You will easily get an idea of what size van will be apt for your purpose. If you choose to do it in smaller trips after office or school, smaller vans will do and that will be cheaper too. On the other hand, if you don’t have enough people to help you, you may find this job a tiring one. If anything gets broken, it is a loss. Also, you may have to forget your large furniture or piano if you are moving to a different location.

Advantages of Hiring a Montreal Moving Company

If you have a lot of belongings with you and can’t just move on your own, you will have to hire a moving company. Some experienced and reputed Montreal moving companies like Kenwood can be contacted and hire. To use a professional mover is not always an expensive job. Depending on the quality of work, the price can be negotiated. Good moving companies will also provide customized services, such as packing up goods from the old house, moving them to a new house and then unpacking; they will also fix the plumbing work and electrician’s work if needed. They know how to handle everything; the belongings are even insured by the moving company in case any mishap or anything bad happens. You can also be assured of a fixed price. We can provide price quotes and you can select the one that suits your needs. So, both options are good – moving it yourself or getting help from Montreal movers. Depending on the need and requirements, you can choose one out of the two.

Kenwood Moving & Storage Inc. 6645 Rue Sherbrooke O Montréal, QC H4B 1N4 (514) 907-7788

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8 After-Move Shopping Tips

Shopping when you have just finished moving into a new location, either locally, in another city, or another country is very similar to grocery shopping when you’re hungry. It can lead to disaster because you either spend to much, buy on impulse and or forget what it was you wanted or needed to purchase in the first place. This can happen as a result of being unfamiliar with the grocery stores in the area and loss of patience looking for items that you simply decide to grab whatever is on the shelf regardless of the price. This does not only apply to buying groceries, it also applies to purchasing new furniture or household items for your new home and it can easily be avoided. Don’t let poor planning cost you extra money when moving, take the time to plan your move properly and you will save a great deal of money on the little things. Here are some tips.

Tips on Shopping Once You’ve Moved

If possible, take the time to visit the local area before moving day to save money on gas having to search for stores and malls.
Visit the local stores and get a feel for where everything is located on the shelves.
Even better, make a shopping day out of it for your current home and it won’t seem like wasted time.
Create a realistic budget for how much money you will need for shopping once you arrive at the new location.
Check online flyers for deals and discounts that are happening in the local stores before you arrive.
Take inventory of the things you have so you won’t duplicate items. Remember you may have to empty the contents of your freezer or cupboards but you do not have to through everything out, there are perishable items you can save and you can also purchase freezing bags or coolers if your move is not that far.
Don’t shop on the day of the move as you will be too tired and not have enough patience to do it properly, make sure you are rested enough to do so.
Order pizza or other take out foods for dinner the day of the move and include that in your budget so it does not come as an additional expense on moving day.

There are always unexpected purchases during the move that you were not counting on, the trick is to limit the surprises by planning ahead. If you do not plan your shopping budget and other things go wrong, you now have a problem that is compounded.

9 Tips That Will Make Moving Easier on Your Family and Pets

Moving takes a huge toll on your pets and your children and you need to be aware of the emotional effects it can have on them. Pets and children often feel apprehensive about an unfamiliar location, worry about meeting new friends (yes even pets can miss relationships they have built with other animals) and feel a deep sense of loss for their current location. Whether you are moving to Montreal or somewhere else in the world, it can take time to get used to your new surroundings. While most will adjust quickly, there are some pets and some children who simply fail to do so and this can cause long term emotional problems if untreated.

9 Moving Tips:

To avoid this kind of emotional trauma here are some valuable tips for helping your entire family ease into the move.

When searching for the new location bring all family members with you as it will be their new home too. Allowing your family to assist in the choosing of the new location will create excitement for the move and make them feel less insecure about it.
Before moving day, take a few trips around the new location (if possible) to familiarize them with the local area. Visit parks, schools and plan a dinner date at a local restaurant. If you make it fun, they will want to go back because they will remember that it was a pleasant experience.
Try to contact family or friends who live in the area to organize a play date or BBQ so the child can have a chance to meet new friends before they move.
Arrange to have current friends and “furfriends” over for a visit within the first few weeks of the move, this will allow them to feel a sense of security knowing they have moved away but are not gone forever.
Encourage your children to use social media to stay in contact with former school mates and friends.
If you are moving long distances or overseas it will be a bit more difficult for your children and pets to visit the location before hand, however, you can encourage them by creating a culture day to experience the local food and traditions or by helping them to search the internet and finding out about the local area.
Adjusting to an entirely new culture or location can be difficult, it is imperative that you make this transition as positive as you can by introducing family members slowly into it. Forcing a child or pet to totally change his lifestyle overnight is stressful, they need time to adjust to the new surroundings and create their own sense of security and space.
Allowing a child to fix or decorate his own room is a great start and will give them a boost of confidence knowing they accomplished something.
Purchasing a new toy for your pet will allow them to focus on something other than the move. Let them sleep in the crate or animal bed in someone’s room until they feel more comfortable. If you leave them outside or in the basement away from the family during this time, they may feel left out and show signs of insecurity.

Tips for Moving into a Rental

When renting a new location, please be sure to find out before the move if your pet is allowed because there is nothing worse than signing a lease and moving to a new location only to find out that your pet is not allowed in the building. No responsible pet owner would consider adoption as an option, therefore you would have to place the animal in a temporary location until you find other arrangements, this can create abandonment issues in the pet. Moving to a new location can be an exciting, but it can also be a frightening experience. When planning a move do not only worry about how a moving company will ship your goods, but remember to think about how you are shipping the people to that new location too!

The Value Behind Moving Insurance Far Outweighs the Cost to Insure

It seems that many people think that procuring moving insurance is only required for small and local moving because long distance carriers are already insured. To some degree, this is true however you might want to know the facts about long distance damage coverage before you decide on whether you want to buy additional insurance or not.

Law on Damages Caused on the Road

Long distance carriers are required by law to accept some degree of liability for damages caused on the road and have insurance to cover these damages, however, what most people do not know (often until it is too late)is that standard protection payment is issued at around .60 per pound. This is not really that much when you consider if damage or loss occurs to an item weighing 50 pounds, it would equal a payment of only $30.00. When that item happens to be a $1000.00 family heirloom, the compensation does not justify the means. Taking out your own moving insurance guarantees that you are covered whether you use a long distance mover or a small local company. When your goods are insurance damages are paid based on the original proven value and therefore your expensive items are covered in the event of loss or damage.

Here are some quick tips for protecting your valuables when moving:

Ask the insurance agent to provide you the exact amount and type of insurance you want to have. Full coverage usually covers loss, theft or damage.
Make sure all your valuable items are appraised and insured. Present receipts to prove that these items are expensive and need to be replaced exactly as they were. For items that are not covered by insurance try to make other arrangements such as bringing them yourself or shipping via. Your agent will notify you if certain items are not insurable.
Make sure to label and box all your items. Take photos or a video of them before they leave the premises, in the box or container on the truck or van, and when they arrive at the final destination. In the event of any damage or loss, the insurance agent will have proof of damages incurred.
Create an inventory of all boxes and its contents for verification purposes and have the moving company sign that they acknowledge these items are in fact in the boxes. This will help in the event of loss or theft of your goods.

File a Damage Claim

You must file a damage claim within a reasonable time period as explained on your insurance or moving contract. This prevents moving companies for being liable for damages incurred after moving. There is a claim date in effect and if you notice damages after this date and attempt to make a claim, you will not be compensated, even if it was caused by the moving company. Make note of this date. The best course of action to ensure your goods are safe when moving is to hire a reputable moving company and purchase additional insurance so you are guaranteed to be covered either way. Make sure to always purchase separate insurance for local or cheap movers as they are not necessarily required by law to have insurance, however, most of them are reputable and will have some. Always make sure to ask this question before signing a contract, but you also make sure to ask at what rate they will pay for damages. If it is only going to cost 10.00 to replace a box they might not care that the contents are 50.00 crystal glasses that your grandmother bought you for your wedding anniversary.

The 5 Most Common Moving Questions

There are many questions that need to be answered when you’re considering moving in Montreal or anywhere else, such as how secure your valuables are, or whether your goods will be stored in a warehouse for cross border shipping. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions regarding moving and storage.

what is a moving company

What is a moving company?

While each moving company offers different services, they are generally concerned with carrying goods from one place to another. Moving companies cater mostly to large amounts of shipped items such as the contents of an entire household, office or warehouse. If you have only a few small boxes to move or ship, it is much more practical to move or ship the items yourself. Movers will move almost everything in your home or office from plants to pets, furniture, and personal items, however, in order to justify the costs involved, your items should at least fill a truck or van. Read the moving company’s information and guidelines as to what is and isn’t acceptable to be moved because items like glass or cattle require a special type of moving truck.

movers

How secure are my items during transportation?

The number one priority for a moving company is to ensure that your possessions are secure during transport as they are liable for any destroyed objects during the entire process. You should always verify that the moving company you are using guarantees this. A reputable company like Kenwood, will always ask you to go around and spot check in order to verify damaged items before and after the move to determine if items have been damaged or lost during the process. Kenwood also has a state of the art storage facility, which is an indication of their expertise in the careful handling of all goods.

moving company

What happens if the movers damaged or lost my possessions?

You need to make sure before the move that the contract you sign with the movers includes provisions to replace the damaged, lost or ruined items during transfer of your items. If you do not get this in writing it might be difficult to have them do so later on, especially in the case of a not so reputable moving company. They should offer replacements cost for your belongings at about .60 cents per pound minimum and they should have insurance for this. You will have to create a claim for damages. Without a written contract it would be hard to convince any insurance company to pay, it is for this reason that you must insist the moving contract guarantees replacement costs.

Do I have to get my own moving insurance?

The best policy is to always err on the side of caution. It is better to secure your belongings and have them insured yourself because even though you sign a contract with a moving company, it does not mean they will pay you for damages. Movers have been known to stall payments, go out of business or simply disappear and you are left with no recourse. This happens a great deal with smaller or cheaper moving companies, the larger more stable ones are reputable. Depending on the insurance you have, you may be able to make two separate claims and get some extra money for your troubles.

moving insurance

How do I know if my moving company is reputable?

As a Canadian consumer you have the right to enquire about the background of any company you are expecting to receive services from. You can contact the better business bureau of Canada to see if a complaint has ever been filed against your company, read reviews on websites and ask friends and families if they have ever dealt with the company. This will give you an idea of the company that you are dealing with before you even contact them. Once you have chosen one you think sounds like a reputable one, the best way to ensure your using the right moving company is to ask questions and see how willing they are to offer information. If they seem hesitant in responding, this is a pretty good indication that something might not be up to par. Make certain they want you to sign a contract and verify you goods before and after the move. Make sure to read the fine print in any contract you sign, insure yourself and be assured you move will be a pleasant experience.

reputable moving company

It might cost a bit more for a reputable company, but you will have piece of mind in knowing that your valuables are secure. Some good testimonials from previous clients are usually a good indication of a quality company. The truth is paying for cheap services usually ends up in cheap services and you may end up paying more than you bargained for if you have to replace the entire contents of your home and office. If you are in need of a move, and requrie the services of a trusted Montreal moving company that has been in business since 1903, contact Kenwood Moving & Storage Inc.

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How to Move into a Smaller Home

Many senior citizens decide to sell the family home and move into a smaller more manageable apartment, condo or home. What can people do with items they have amassed over a lifetime when moving into a smaller space?

Keep the things that are most valuable and downsize from there!

Everyone has sentimental items and it is often hard to let go of them, but sentimental things are only valuable to our memories, not our pocketbooks. If you must keep sentimental items, keep only a few of them and pass the other ones around to family members or even better, if you can, give them back to the person who gave them to you. In both cases, they will most likely be honoured that you chose them to take care of your precious and valuable items. moving into small home

Moving is expensive and the best way to fund a move is by selling things you will no longer need.

Once you have decided on the new location, take inventory of all things you wish to keep and all the things you must keep. Place everything else of value into a neat pile. These items can be sold in a garage sale, given away to family and friends or donated to charity. Next, take note of the things that you would like to keep and see if there are any items that you can part with. You might be surprised to learn that most people who do this are able to cut the pile into half. Place these items into the “garage sale” pile that you created early. You should now have a large area of things to sell or give away and a small pile of things that will be moved into the new location. local move Garage sales are a great way to fund your move, however, if you do not have the time to do a garage sale or sell the items you have, you can simply give them away. If you do not want to take care of the garage sale yourself, hire some local kids, friends or family members to run it for you and split the profits, at least you will earn something. When you move into your new space, you have the chance to change things around, create a new decor and reinvent your surroundings. Have fun, go wild and enjoy your move. If you are the kind of person who is used to things a certain way, remember interior decor do not always translate the same in smaller spaces and you may have to adjust to fit in your old furniture. Experiment and do not be afraid to change things up. Moving is always a chance to start fresh and just because your going small, does not mean that you cannot go big and go proud! To contact us for your next move click here.