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RELOCATING? TIME TO FIND A MOVER? HERE'S HOW ...
Even though moving your entire household seems like a huge undertaking, it's really just a matter of managing a lot of details. Here are some tips to help your move be as smooth and headache-free as possible:
Tip 1. Check with the Canadian Association of Movers to find a really professional mover in your area. Their website at http://www.mover.net/consumers.htm includes useful consumer tips and information.
Tip 2. Also check with the Better Business Bureau to ensure that no major complaints have been filed against your preferred mover. Their national website is located at http://www.canadiancouncilbbb.ca.
Tip 3. Who will be actually handling your precious possessions? Remember to ask your mover if they will be handling your goods for the entire move or whether they are subcontracting the move to someone else.
Tip 4. Don't assume that the best mover is the one with the coolest website or the glossiest advertising.
Tip 5. Get written estimates and compare. Ask at least three movers to quote their best price, and don't necessarily opt for the lowest bidder. Ask friends too about their moving experiences; find out which mover provided the most satisfaction.
Tip 6. For long-distance moves, it's probably best to choose a mover who is affiliated with one of the big international van lines, such as Allied, United, North American, and Atlas. For local moves, however, there are many reputable, independent movers who will do an adequate job, perhaps for a slightly lower price.To screen out the cowboys, check with your local BBB.
Edgemont Moving and Storage (Atlas)
Tip 7. Beware of any mover who asks for money on deposit. Payment on delivery is the accepted industry practice.
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TIME TO FIND A STORAGE FACILITY? ...
If you need to store some items for a few weeks or you are seeking long-term storage arrangements, you will first need to decide whether you prefer a conventional full-service storage facility (in which case you should probably consult your moving company), or a self-service "mini"-storage unit, where you can have 24-hour access and can store anything from a few boxes to an entire range of equipment, supplies, boats, RVs, etc.
A thrid option you might wish to consider (especially for long-term storage without access) is containerized self-storage, where you pack your items into a container which is then collected and professionally stored for you. Vancouver has literally hundreds of storage locations offering a wide range of services. Here are just a few useful links to get you started:
Aaaaah-So Easy Mobile Mini-Storage
Yaletown Mini-Storage
Downtown U-Lok Mini-Storage
U-Haul Storage
NEED SHORT-TERM ACCOMMODATION? GET GREAT DISCOUNTS FROM EXPEDIA!
Sometimes you need to bridge that gap between moving out of your old home and moving into your new one. Maybe you've taken possession, but your furniture is stuck in a blizzard somewhere between Moose Jaw and Medicine Hat. Fear not, for great discounts are to be found! Just contact the good folks at Expedia.ca for the best room rates in town, and it'll be good night, sleep tight, and dream of the new decor for your dining room.
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SPEAKING OF DECOR ... HOW TO FIND A DECORATOR
Hiring a CDECA professional interior decorator is one way of ensuring that your new home interiors are designed with taste and flair.
The Canadian Decorators' Association website lists accredited members on their links page by location, with members in Abbotsford, Langley, North Vancouver, Vancouver, and West Vancouver.
TIME FOR SOME TLC? ... FIND A REPUTABLE BUILDER
Perhaps some areas of your new home will need a little tender loving care before (or soon after) you move in, so you need to find a reputable local construction firm that specializes in home renovations.
Undoubtedly the best place to start is the Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association, who have an extremely useful links list on their website.
Accredited local construction and renovation professionals, including 73 renovation specialists, are listed in over 120 different service categories, making it easy to find just the right skills to get the job done right.
AND FINALLY ... THAT GLORIOUS WEST COAST GARDEN
Ah, the joys of gardening ... not? Well, let's face it, the final results may be glorious, but the hard labour required to achieve them can be back-breaking.
And now for the good news: the Vancouver area has probably the largest contingent of landscape gardeners anywhere in North America, all but a mouse click or a phone call away. Just try these links:
GardenWise: BC Landscape & Nursery Association
Organic Landscapers/Gardeners in Greater Vancouver
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