Moving Company
& Storage Solutions

Avoid Peak Times

The first decision to be made is the date of your move. For most people, this will coincide with the closing date of the purchase, sale or rental of their home. Begin to make things easier by avoiding weekends and month ends. These are the most commonly requested times and everyone in the moving business is most busy then. Whether you intend to rent a truck and move yourself, or to hire a professional mover to provide the full range of services, these peak times will be harder to arrange and may be more expensive. Why not move mid-week, which is a slower time of the month? There is no need to close the deal on your home at the traditional month end and, in fact, both purchaser and vendor of the home will benefit by a closing date during slower moving times.

Is a summer move best for families?

Another consideration is your children. Most people prefer to move during the summer, so as not to disrupt their children by moving in the middle of the school year. Once again, it is not absolutely necessary to move between June and September. A mid-year move can be a smoother transition, if your children participate in the family plan. As far as children are concerned a summer move can prove to be quite lonely as neighbourhood children may be away for the summer or on family vacations. Your children do not have access to new acquaintances as they would if they were immediately going to their new school. Summer is busiest time of the year for movers and, in addition to paying more, you may have difficulty finding a company to move you at this time.

Which Service is Best?

When a move is in your immediate future, your first consideration is to choose a moving date. Once this decision has been made, where do you turn next to arrange a move that is best for your family?

Your next decision is to decide what kind of move is most suited for you. If you have not moved before, you may be surprised to find that there are several different options available.

What Kind of Move?

There are basically 4 types of services available to you: The first is the “no frills” move. You rent a truck and you pack, load, drive, unload and unpack yourself.

The second option open to you is to arrange with a moving company to provide the truck or container (see our U Can service) and to do the driving. You do the packing and loading at origin and the unloading and unpacking at destination.

Thirdly, you may also wish to consider having the moving company perform a “partial pack” in addition to their other jobs. They will provide the truck or container, pack your fragile items, do the driving, load and unload. You pack and unpack the rest.

Your final option is to have the moving company provide “full service” - they do everything.

Carefully compare the advantages, services and costs of a professional mover as opposed to a do-it-yourself move, based on the range of services available from the movers you call. Then you decide which moving method is best for you.

How Much Does A Move Cost?

Estimating the cost of a professional move is a service moving companies provide at no cost to you and with no obligation to purchase their services. Shop around and get as many estimates as you feel you need to make a wise purchasing decision. Three estimates are recommended. Once you decide, you want to feel comfortable with your choice.

Compare costs, services and reputations of the companies. If one estimate sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Some salespeople try to entice you with a “low ball” estimate. Remember- what you will pay is the actual cost of the move, not the estimated cost. The actual cost of your move may be substantially higher than the estimate if you decide by price alone and do not consider the service and reputation of the company. You should gather all the facts you can, and shop carefully. When you receive a “low ball” price, ask for that price to be guaranteed in writing, It’s very unlikely that you’ll get it.

If you plan to use a professional mover, check the business out with the Better Business Bureau and with recent customers. Ask the mover for references. Talk to your friends and neighbours. Find out how long the company has been in business and how quickly they settle claims. Ask for a promised pick-up time, and find out whether the company has back up trucks available in case yours breaks down.

Be a careful shopper, do your homework, and plan for contingencies. Whenever a salesperson offers a guarantee (in terms of price, service, delivery schedule, etc.) ask for the guarantee in writing. If you cannot get in on paper, the guarantee is unreliable.

Cost of Local Moves

For local moves, most professional mover prices are based on hourly rates. After establishing the services you need, find out this hourly rate and be sure to determine how many helpers this will include. The salesperson will estimate the number of hours required for the move, based upon the volume of your shipment. Ask questions to test the reliability of this estimate.

The rule of thumb for estimating local moves is that the contents of each room averages approximately 1,000 pounds. It takes three men about one hour to move out, load, unload and move in, a 1,000 pounds. Add for travel time, excessive carrying distances if applicable, stair carries if necessary, waiting time for the elevator, etc. Add an extra 10 minutes for each major appliance, piano, pool table, etc. This should give you a reasonable estimate of the time required.

Count the number of rooms in your home and multiply by one hour per room. Add time for variables, appliances, etc. and add this to your total. Then multiply the time in hours by the quoted hourly rate, and you have a rough estimate. If you choose to have a professional move you, insist on a visual survey of your home to obtain a more accurate estimate. That will be more reliable.

Don’t forget that, for local moves, the company’s hourly charges begin when the truck leaves the warehouse and do not stop until the truck returns to the warehouse. Remember to make allowances for this time in your calculations.

At Capital, we quote a “FIRM PRICE” for local moves. You have our quote up front, and that’s all you pay.

Cost of Long Distance Moves

For long distance moves, professional moving company prices are based not on time but on the weight of your shipment and distance to be traveled. When you are quoted an estimate for your move, be sure you understand how the estimate has been calculated and test it’s validity. Make sure that all estimates are based on the same weight so you can compare them confidently. Also, ensure that you discuss with your salesperson all extra services you will need so that you don’t set yourself up for disappointing surprises.

Extra services include the transportation of you automobile by a third party company, the servicing of appliances prior to and after transit to protect them from inherent damage, the shipment of pets, terms of storage, etc. Any additional pickups or deliveries must also be disclosed during the visual survey of your home. Be sure to tell your salesperson about any additional possessions at your office, cottage or elsewhere that will be going with your shipments.

The mover’s estimate will be based on a careful visual survey of the contents of your home. Be sure your salesperson sees everything that is to be shipped. Omitting items from the survey will not make your move less expensive since your actual charges will be based on the actual weight of your goods.

Service and price go hand in hand, and your decision should be based on both. Shop around for rates and levels of service and be honest when you discuss your requirements with salespeople. Make sure all prices are based on common levels of service-otherwise it will be difficult to make an informed decision.

Moving By Van Or Container?

If your mover has both vans and domestic containers available for your move, how do you choose which to use?

Vans are the most common choice because they are the most obvious, and because not all movers have containers available. Containers are sealed, water tight vaults for your goods, shipped on special container trailers. They offer several advantages.

First, they can be dedicated to your use and protect your shipment from being shipped alongside someone else’s. Second, they offer you a shorter transit time because containers can be shipped as individuals and do not have to wait to be filled as a van does. Third, and for the same reason, their flexible transportation schedule allows for delayed delivery because they do not have to travel the day they are filled.

And finally, short term storage is easier and more affordable. Your goods are stored right in the container in which they have been loaded, without the bother, expense and additional risk of being unloaded into a warehouse for storage and then loaded again for delivery to your new home.

Some companies that use containers also offer a you-load service for additional savings. The container is deposited at your home. You prepare and load your shipment into the container, and then it is picked up and transported to your destination where, once again, you unload. If you choose this option, be sure to ask your moving company for literature so you can perform the job properly and guard against damage in transit.

Packing: Preparation Tips

If you decide to do your own packing, here are some important things to keep in mind before you begin:

• No carton should be so large that it will obstruct your view when carried, or be over 23 kg (50 lbs) when packed
• Use coloured wrapping for very small articles, such as decanter stoppers, that might be thrown away with the packing material
• Do not overfill or underfill cartons. The tops must close flat. Bulging and underfilled cartons are subject to damage when other cartons are stacked on top of them. Seal all cartons with tape
• Use masking tape to attach small pieces and screws to where they belong. When removing kitchen racks from the walls, keep the screws with them - you will have to re-use the same screws at destination. You may wish to place such things in a carton marked as a “set-up carton” for this purpose
• If it is necessary to pack a liquid, such as a medical prescription, fasten and tape the lid securely, seal into a plastic bag and place upright in a carton to prevent spilling.

Do-It-Yourself Packing

The proper preparation of your possessions before they are loaded into the van or container is essential to the success of your move. If you elect to pack part or all of your household goods yourself, be prepared with the proper materials you will need to adequately protect your belongings for the journey. Remember - if your packing is not done properly, you will be responsible for any resulting damage.

Gather these materials well ahead of beginning your packing job:

• rigid, heavy-duty cartons of different sizes with good lids and some celled cartons available from liquor stores. Do not use wooden barrels or boxes as they add extra weight and are difficult to work with
• newspaper for cushioning and outer wrapping
• white paper, tissue paper, paper towels or unused newsprint for wrapping and cushioning
• gummed tape or wide adhesive tape to seal the carton
• scissors or a sharp knife
• felt markers (black and red) to label each carton
• notepad and pen to list the contents of the carton as they are packed

Packing China & Dishes

• Select a sturdy carton and place a 7 to 10cm (3-4″) layer of lightly crushed paper on the bottom.
• Place several layers of wrapping paper on your working table. Place one plate on the wrapping paper and fold the corner of one or two sheets diagonally over the plate. Place another plate on top and fold another piece of paper over it. Add two more plates in the same manner. It is not advisable to put more than 4 plates in one bundle. Fold over each side of paper. Roll the plates over, keeping the sides of paper straight. You will have a neat bundle.
• Place the bundle into the carton in a standing position on edge and continue in this way until you have a row of wrapped plates across the carton. Keep the row snug so that the plates will stand up straight. If there are not enough plates to complete the bottom row, use sturdy pieces such as bowls, gravy boats, or platters to do so. Fill any spaces with crushed paper. Then place another layer of crushed paper over the layer of plates just packed.
• Fill the next layer with other large, strong items. Always keep the wrapped items snug in each tier and add a cushion of paper after the completion of each tier. If there is still room, you can complete the carton with cups, but always keep enough space at the top of the carton for a cushion of lightly crushed paper. Fold the top flat, seal with tape, and label.

Moving Valuables

While movers do accept such valuables as important documents, stamp collections, or other items of extraordinary value, we recommend that you carry irreplaceable and expensive articles with you. Your local bank may also recommend the services of a commercial courier with the special facilities to provide the security such items warrant.

However, if you ask your mover to assume responsibility for items of extraordinary value they will require a list of those items and their respective values prior to loading. Such information will clearly establish that the particular items are included in the shipment. In that case, you should retain in your personal possession sufficient description and proof of value so as to substantiate a claim in the event of loss or damage.

Remember that, if a claim should arise, it will be your responsibility to prove the value of these items. We recommend that you have all such items appraised well in advance of moving day.

You should also discuss with your moving company the valuation protection they offer on items of extraordinary value, to ensure that they are adequately covered.

Remember too that, if these items are not specifically pointed out to your van operator and individual listed on the inventory as items of extraordinary value, they may not qualify for coverage offered for your other belongings.

Moving Dangerous Goods

In the past, the transportation of dangerous goods was regulated by a condition of carriage printed on the back of the moving contract, known as the Bill of Lading. Today, for further public safety, Federal, Provincial and Territorial governments have enacted legislation under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act. This legislation clearly establishes under what conditions dangerous goods can be shipped.

Certain household items, while dangerous, may accompany your shipment as long as they are packed separately, pointed out to your van operator, and declared to be the only dangerous goods in your shipment. These items include:

• chemicals for photographic hobby uses
• household cleaners (e.g. Mr. Clean, Ajax, Comet, Spic’n Span)
• nail polish and remover
• perfume

All other dangerous goods are prohibited from accompanying your shipment. These include, among others, aerosol cans (except personal toiletries), bleach, cleaning fluids (varsol, turpentine), explosives, fire extinguishers, flammable goods of all kinds, matches, pesticides containing an arsenic, strychnine or cyanide base etc.

If you are at all unsure, don’t risk the safety of your shipment. Ask your mover for a full list of unacceptable dangerous goods.

Protecting Goods In Transit

Tour your home prior to your move and calculate how much your household goods are worth. This will help you determine how much protection will be adequate for your shipment. Ask your mover for forms to help you take inventory of your household. These will help you establish not only the quantity of items but also the original cost and replacement cost of major items. Once you have established the total value, you are in a better position to assess what coverage suits your particular move. You have options which are part of the transportation contract.

Moving companies offer a form of basic compensation for loss and/or damage called “released rate liability” which, at no cost to you, protects you to a maximum of 60 cents per pound per article. This option provides only the most basic coverage. If a 20lbs chair valued at $250.00 is damaged or lost, for example, the maximum settlement will be 20lbs x $0.60 = $12.00.

The second option, called “replacement value protection” covers you to the full replacement value of every item lost or damaged. It is based on the declared value of your shipment and is available to you at a reasonable cost. The same $250.00 chair would be repaired to your satisfaction, replaced with one of equal value, or settled at $250.00.

We know the importance you place on your personal possessions and appreciate your concern for their protection while they are in the care of a mover. Take careful stock of your household goods and protect them adequately.

The Final Secret

Over the past 12 articles I have tried to help make people’s lives a little easier when they move. Because I know from moving my own family how stressful it can be. And because I know from years of experience that the solution is simple: BE PREPARED.

It’s no secret. It’s just a matter of getting what you need: information, the right materials, a little help, a few inside tips, and a plan of action. Prepare yourself before you begin, and your job will be much easier as you control the move instead of vice versa.

I have been happy to provide this helpful advice column. Helping people is what I do every day. And that’s no secret either. I help people manage their moves. Sometimes that means business for my company. And sometimes it means I give away free advice. But either way, the job gets done and the family actually enjoys the move because we help them do it right.

I believe that’s important. I also believe that’s why our customers keep coming back to Capital and refer us to their friends.

Because we don’t just move furniture. We move people. And that’s no secret - that’s just the way we do business.

Moving forward, always,

Glenn E. Warner
President & General Manager