tip

Make a note of your shipment registration number found in the upper right hand corner of your Bill of Lading and keep it with you in case you need to call your mover with questions about your shipment

Planning a Move in the Cold Winter Months? Take These Few Extra Steps.

Tips for Moving in December

Moving in December comes with benefits because not everyone wants to move in the winter, which makes setting an appointment with your Kamloops Movers that much easier. However, if you’ve decided to move in December there are some safety issues that we felt we should point out. We put together a list of preparations for your new home and your old home so your move goes on without any slips.

Prepare your New Home

  • Ensure you have the heat and electricity utilities set up. This is an important task for every month of the year but it’s especially important in the winter with the shorter days and colder weather. It’s also best if you plan to have them hooked up a couple days before moving day so you can be confident they’ll be functioning when you move in.
  • Make sure your sidewalks and driveways are shoveled and salted to prevent any overnight ice from accumulating. If you decided to move to another town or city have your real estate agent check the property for you to ensure it’s safe for moving in.
  • If you are able to make it to your new home before the move lay down some plastic sheeting or cardboard to protect your floors from snow, sand, or salt.

Prepare your Old Home

  • Keep an eye on the weather and prepare for any predicted snowfall. Shovel the driveway and sidewalks while considering extra space for dollies and movers.
  • You will also want to lay down plastic sheeting or cardboard to protect your floors from snow, sand, or salt in your new home as well.
  • It’s also very good to keep extra sand, salt and shovels on hand just in case your vehicle or even the truck gets stuck in compact snow.
  • Keep hot drinks on hand for yourself and the movers as everyone will appreciate a warm beverage while moving in the winter.
  • If you have young children it may be best to arrange a play date with one of their friends or with a family member as they may out of school for Christmas vacation.

Moving during the Holiday Season?

A long-distance move can be stressful no matter what time of year.  Add in the busy schedule of the holiday season coupled with a December moving date and you can get the perfect storm.  However, with the right type of foresight and planning you can still enjoy all that the holidays have to offer, while minimizing the stress of a long-distance move.  As your premier Kamloops movers, here are our top tips on how to move stress-free this holiday season.

Time it Right

A successful holiday move is a well-planned move.  Start planning all aspects of the long-distance move as early as you possibly can.  Time management is key so try to formulate a step-by-step plan and be sure to include every detail.  By managing your time, you will be able to not only reduce your anxiety and stress levels, you will also be able to enjoy the busy holiday season.

When setting your schedule and long-distance moving plan, make sure to include the following information:

  • A detailed plan of when you are packing each room.
  • A checklist that includes the contents of each box and a place to store these boxes (the garage perhaps).
  • Different piles where you can put items that you are not going to be taking with you. Look at the moving process as an opportunity to declutter you and your family’s life.
  • Pack all the non-essentials far in advance to reduce the number of items you are packing during the holidays.

Be a Minimalist

Just because you are moving doesn’t mean that you need to be a Scrooge this holiday season.  Again, pack strategically but keep a minimal amount of decorations handy for your home.  You may want to put up a tree depending upon your moving date – this you can decide, but you can decorate it minimally and still enjoy the twinkle of Christmas lights.

Smell the Holly

Once the final box has been unloaded and you have unpacked each room’s essentials box, put the remainder of the move on pause and enjoy what is left of the holidays.  Make yourself a warm cup of hot chocolate, put on some Christmas carols and enjoy the unpacking process.  Whatever gets done gets done and the rest…well tomorrow is another day.

These simple moving tips will allow you to enjoy the holidays and manage the stress of the move.  Happy Holidays from Pioneer Moving.

Picking your Moving Date

A successful and stress-free move depends almost entirely on organization. So if you plan well, then it is likely that you’ll be able to move without any unnecessary stress. Picking the right moving date is an important step in this process, since this will help with timing and making sure that you are organized around that day. As Kamloops movers, we have a few tips you may want to consider when you settle on a date.

Review Contracts

While some of us may be blessed with having completely flexible contracts, this is not true for most. If it is a rental that you are moving to or from, you’ll need to review your contract and see what date you can legally move in on and how much time in advance you need to advise your landlord about moving out. Since a lot of contracts start and end on the 1st of the month, there might be a little bit of negotiation involved. Meanwhile, if it’s an owned properly, you may want to consult with your real estate agent, to understand when you take possession and when you can allow your buyer to move into your old place.

Think of Work and School

While this may be obvious, sometimes when we plan, things can get frantic. Are your kids in school or maybe you are taking courses at the university? Then you’ll need to consider the vacation dates for your institution. With kids, it’s of course, better to move during the summer, especially if they need to change schools. It’ll be an easier transition. In terms of work, review your start date if you are moving to a different city for a job, and plan accordingly. Give yourself enough time to unpack and buy new things you might need. It’s stressful enough to start a new job, you don’t want to be moving at the very same time.

Look at the Schedule

Finally, think of your schedule. Most people don’t work on the weekends, so the best day for a move might be Friday or Saturday. Mornings are always better, since there is less traffic to be held up by. Can you get a holiday in there to have an extra day to unpack? That could also be a great option. You might also need to take a day or two off work to get enough time to pack and unpack. If you are on a tighter budget, considering when your paycheck comes is a great idea, to have enough money for extra expenses, there will probably be some.

We hope that the tips mentioned above prove to come in handy while planning for your next move. For more information on our storage or moving services, please contact us and we’ll be happy to answer any of your questions.

Avoid the Break:  Moving Fragile Items in the Winterbroken package

Moving fragile items is usually a grim task but moving these items in the winter months is just a little more suspenseful.  Here are some tips to make sure the tricky items in your home always arrive safely, especially in the most slipper months of the year.

A successful move starts with getting everything from the old home to the new home. It ends with everything making it there in one piece. Even the short or routine moves can end with items being broken. What are some of the most common things that break and how can you make sure they don’t? Let’s take a look!

Kitchenware

Plates, glasses, casserole dishes all mixed in with pots and pans. What could go wrong? Broken kitchenware is one of the most common problems with a move. With some packing and planning, we can prevent this breakage. Start by keeping breakables and non-breakables separate. Pack your pots with your socks if you have to, but don’t put them in the same boxes as your plates and glasses.

Next, do not skimp out on the packing materials in the kitchen. There are even moving boxes specially designed to move plates and other breakables. They are made for a reason, so spend the couple of extra dollars and utilize them.

Keep the heavy items on the bottom and get lighter as you move up. Don’t stack plates on top of mugs or glasses. Keep the plates on the bottom and put your wine glasses on the top of the box. Remember as you are putting them in, they should be placed standing up not on their sides. Think of it as the same as putting dishes in the dishwasher or drying rack. This will offer the most protection to them.

Electronics

Not only are your electronics fragile, they are expensive to replace. Take extra time when packing these guys up for a move as they can break very easily. Start by carefully disassembling your electronics. Label all of the cords and cables that go with each one so that you are sure that you can hook everything up correctly in the new home. Also, make sure to keep all of the cables and accessories with the item that they belong to. Trying to figure out which cable goes where is a game that can end up in damaged electronics.

Use double layer boxes for extra protection when packing. These are sometimes called china boxes. The extra layer will give some padding and protection to everything that goes into the box. For larger items you can use large boxes, but make sure it is clearly marked what goes into the box. The one exception is your television. Always save the original box of a TV for moving. If you don’t have one, see if you can pick up a box for a similar sized TV at a local store.

Fill up all the empty space in the box with packing material. This can be a great place to save by packing your bedding with your electronics. You want to make sure that there is enough padding to protect the electronics if they get bumped around as well as prevent shifting of the items.

Of course, you can always choose to have professional movers move your fragile possessions for you. Pioneer Moving and Storage can make sure your Kamloops move goes smoothly with nothing broken at your new home.

How to Prepare for Moving in the Winter

If you’re being as budget-conscious as possible for moving houses (or apartments), perhaps you’ve decided to move in the wintertime. That’s a good option, as movers in Kamloops tend to be less busy in the winter, so moving on the day and time of your choice shouldn’t be a huge issue.

But moving in the winter can also be a challenge. Especially if you’re travelling a great distance with a lot of cargo, the roads may be icy, making it a slower process, as you and your movers must be careful on the roads. Here are tips to keep in mind if you’re planning to move this winter.

Double-check your confirmation.

Since winter is the off-season for most movers in Kamloops, you’ll likely have gotten a wide selection of moving days and times to choose. But since the weather is less predictable this time of year, be sure to check that all the plans are still the same a day or two before your move is scheduled.

Also, keep checking the weather. If you see a storm possibly coming, there’s no sense in getting stuck in it—better to delay your relocation than get yourself in an unsafe situation!

Protect your floors.

Since you may be moving between your house and the snowy outside when moving belongings in and out of the moving truck, be sure to give your floors extra protection. Put down some plastic tarps inside and floor mats outside each door.

Turn off the heat.

It may sound unpleasant, but the heat won’t be doing much good when you keep having to go in and out the front door during the moving process. No sense wasting the energy! On the flip side, having a nice, warm retreat in place for a few minutes of a break here and there isn’t a bad idea, so consider plugging a space heater in in the bathroom.

Keep your pets elsewhere.

Either board them at a pet care center for the day, or take them to a family member or friend’s house. Dogs, cats and other domestic animals will likely be on edge during the moving process and will only serve to disrupt everyone.

Clear your walkways.

Nothing is worse than slipping and falling on ice—especially if you’re in the middle of moving! Ice is dangerous anyway, so it’s always a good idea to clear your sidewalks and driveways in the winter.

Check on your new home’s utilities.

You don’t want to show up to a house with frozen pipes, do you? Make sure the heat, electricity, and water in your new home are all working well before you move in—at least a few days before!

Use trusted movers in Kamloops.

We here at Pioneer Moving have been serving the Kamloops area for over 16 years. Our team has moved families in all seasons, so you can be sure your belongings are in good hands. Be sure to contact us soon if you’re planning to move in Kamloops this winter!

Making the Most Out of Your Long-Distance Winter MoveKamloops Moving Company on Moving in December

A long-distance move is quite a chore no matter what season you choose.  However, a winter move provides an extra set of challenges that you will need to account for to keep you and your belongings safe.  As your premier Kamloops movers, here are some important tips to help you navigate the extra challenges of a long-distance winter move.

Weather Watch

Although you can do absolutely nothing about the forecast and chances are you have booked your moving date well in advance, it is never a bad idea to keep an eye on the weather.  If snow is in the future, you may want to allow yourself extra time to clear space for the moving truck.  If a cold snap is forecasted, you will need to dress appropriately and provide extra protection for breakables.

Here’s the Deal:

By being prepared for the weather, you will be able to better manage your long-distance winter move.

Get Shoveling

Snow and ice can be treacherous for movers.  Before moving your first box, be sure to clear all paths, driveways and any other areas of snow and ice.  Sprinkle some salt on slippery patches to clear them away and provide a safe and stable path from your door to the moving truck and your vehicles.

Protect Against the Elements

The snow and cold can damage your belongings, so if you are planning a winter move, be sure to provide extra protection.  Breakables become very brittle in the cold weather and can easily break.  When wrapping up glassware use an extra layer of bubble wrap or newspaper.  If it is snowing, be sure to wrap up boxes and any electronics in a blanket or tarp.  This will keep your belongings dry and add an extra-layer of protection in the cold.

Dress Appropriately

When you are moving, you are going to be in and out of the elements all day long.  The key to being comfortable for the move is to layer your clothing.  You will want to be able to quickly add or subtract a layer or two and keep dry all day long.  Some clothing items that you will want to keep out for moving days include:

  • A hat or toque to keep your head dry and warm.
  • Mitts or gloves.
  • A winter jacket.
  • A sweater for easy layering.
  • A sturdy pair of winter boots for added grip.

With a little foresight and some extra preparation, moving in the winter should be no problem. If you would like more information on these or other long-distance winter moving tips, please contact us today.  Our professional and friendly staff offer a wide range of moving services and would be glad to assist you on your next long-distance winter move.  We look forward to hearing from you soon.

 

 

 

 


We sell a complete line of packing and moving supplies, as well as providing professional Packing and Unpacking services.

Pioneer Moving and Storage

231 Andover Crescent Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada V2C 6X2
Tel: 250-573-6083
Cell: 778-220-3720
Toll Free: 1-877-746-5423

Member

  • Long time and active member of the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce and past President

Proud Agent of...

gcvl logo

Weekly Departures to:

Calgary, Edmonton
Saskatoon, Winnipeg
Toronto, London
Ottawa, Montreal
Fredericton, Halifax

image
Kamloops Mover

Kamloops Mover