How to Choose a Montreal Moving Company

To verify the legitimacy of a mover in Montreal, check if they are licensed with Commission des Transports du Quebec, carry cargo and damage insurance and can provide references of at least 3 clients they moved in the past month. Most importantly, make sure you feel confident and comfortable about hiring that Montreal moving company.   Before choosing your moving company in Montreal, make sure to ask them the following questions:  

• IS THERE A MINIMUM NUMBER OF HOURS?
• WHAT SIZE TRUCK WILL THEY SEND YOU?
• THEIR PAYMENT TERMS AND METHOD
• WILL THERE BE A SIGNED CONTRACT BETWEEN YOU AND THE MOVER?
• WHAT IS THE TRAVEL/ TRANSPORTATION CHARGE?
• ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL CHARGES SUCH AS FUEL, MILEAGE OR PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT?
• ARE THERE ANY CHARGES FOR EXTRA HEAVY OR BULKY ITEMS, FLIGHT OF STAIRS, APPLIANCES ETC?
• IS THE WORK GOING TO BE DONE BY THE COMPANY ITSELF OR SUBCONTRACTED/ OUTSOURCED?
• WHAT ARE THE SURCHARGES IF MOVING OUTSIDE OF MONTREAL?

PREPARING FOR THE MOVE

For a more efficient move make sure to have enough moving supplies such as boxes packing tape, newsprint, bubble wrap, shrink wrap, large garbage bags etc. Most Montreal movers recommend packing your belongings in boxes of the same size and shape, this leads to fewer trips to the truck for movers and therefore, decreases the total moving time. The most space efficient and easy boxes for movers to carry are 2 or 3.1 cubic feet. Dismantling your bed, TV unit, dining room table and other furniture before the movers arrive will also save you some time.

PACKING

Proper packing could avoid you a lot of stress when you get to your new home. Use a labeling system for your boxes, or simply write on the box the room it’s going to and the nature of the items inside. Do not make your boxes too heavy; make sure any box could be lifted by one person. Empty all drawers from dressers, night tables, and other furniture, this will make the furniture easier to handle and less likely to get damaged.

Packing Fragile Items:

For packing breakables such as dishes, glasses, and china use white packing paper, you can also use regular newsprint, but you might need to wash each piece separately when unpacking. Start by making a soft bed of crumpled paper in the box; place the heaviest items on the bottom and the lighter and more fragile on top. Finish by adding a bed of crumpled paper on top of the box. Don’t forget to mark the box “Fragile”.  

Valuables:

Do not pack for hauling any valuables such as jewelry, sums of money, expensive artwork, collectibles, important documents or other items of extraordinary value, since most moving companies will not cover them in case they are damaged, lost or stolen without costly additional insurance. Take the extra valuable items with you in the car, this could avoid you plenty of potential disputes.

Bedding, linens, and pillows:

Pack linens, sheets, and pillows in clear plastic garbage bags. It’s easy to pack and unpack and a great way to identify which bedroom the bag belongs to. Also, it makes a good cushion for stuffing into odd spaces on the truck.

Clothing:

For clothes you don’t want to get wrinkled, wardrobe boxes work the best. A wardrobe box can hold the equivalent of two feet of closet space. If wrinkles are not an issue, fold clothes into a medium to large-sized box Clothes from drawers can be packed into boxes of luggage or garbage bags. Make sure the boxes aren’t too heavy to move.   Moving in Montreal could be a pretty stressful process, but it doesn’t have to be! Remember that moving could also mean a new home, a housewarming party, new furniture, and sometimes a whole new start.   © Dynamic Moving and Transportation Inc. 2011