Monday, November 24, 2014

Moving Tips - The Challenges of Moving in Ottawa



Buying a new home in Ottawa is exciting. But, the process of packing up your belongings and moving from one home to another is usually less exciting. Moving can be stressful, but it doesn't have to be.

Real estate professional Marnie Bennett offers some tips on how to make your move to your new home as stress-free as possible.

Pick the Day Wisely
A lot of people choose to move on a weekend, particularly on a Saturday. While a weekend move makes sense, as you'll likely be off from work, it can actually be an inconvenient time to move. A lot of businesses, such as your bank or the post office, are closed on weekends or, if they are open, close early those days. If you have a last minute issue that requires urgent or personal attention, you likely won't be able to get to those businesses during a weekend.

It's also usually less expensive to move on a weekday than on a weekend. If you're using professional movers, they might charge you less to pack up and transport your possessions. If you're renting a van, you might pay a lower flat fee or less per-mile rate on the weekend.

Lists and Labels are Your Friend
If you have ever said "I must have lost it in the move," you have probably learned the hard way that creating a list of your possessions and labeling each box clearly can help you considerably. As you pack the items, record in a notebook or on a spreadsheet what goes into each box. Number the boxes and assign the numbers to each list. It’s also a good idea to write on the outside of the box the room in which the box is to be placed.

Give Yourself Plenty of Time
Even if you have a small home, you will want to give yourself a few weeks to pack up your items. Start packing items you use infrequently and start three or four weeks before the move. You don't want to leave everything for the day before, as things are likely to get lost or broken if you rush to pack.

Gather Supplies
When you're moving to your new Ottawa home, almost invariably you will need more packing supplies that you thought you would need. It is frustrating to run out of boxes or tape or newspaper (for wrapping fragile items) when you're in the midst of packing up a room. Moving supplies are available at an array of places. If you're on a budget, you can find moving boxes for free by asking politely at a liquor store or a supermarket. People who have recently moved will sometimes offer their boxes for free on Craigslist or other classified websites.

Trimming Your Possessions
Moving gives you a great opportunity to trim your clutter. You probably don't want to pay to haul items you'll likely never use again. As you pack, take the time to purge yourself and your new residence of items you don't need, such as toys your children have outgrown, books you know you won't read again, and broken objects which you will probably never get around to repairing. You can either donate or discard these items. What is really important though is that you don't bring junk into your new Ottawa home and start the clutter all over again.  Some folks simply leave what they don’t want behind – BUT this is neither a considerate, polite nor recommended course of action as how would you like it if someone left your new home filled with their old garbage?

Last Minute Packing
There are some things you will want to hold off on packing. Keep any important documents, such as your passport, closing documents, valuables and any personal papers with you while you move.

Visit www.bennettpros.com for all your real estate needs.

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