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How to move Long Distances with Pets

Moving to a new home in a new city can be an interesting time. The anxiety that is attached to the move and the relocation process can be equally difficult for the members of your family including your beloved pet. As your premier Castlegar movers, we would like to offer you the following helpful tips on how to make your long-distance move as pet friendly as possible.

Start Practicing

Like anything, practice makes perfect. Long before your actual move, be sure to get your pet accustomed to the car. Start this process by taking them for short car rides and then slowly increase the length of time. This way, when it comes time for your move, your pet will be familiar with the experience.

Invest in a Carrier

A good carrier is a must if you are moving your pet long distances. Ensure that the carrier is:

Large enough to allow your pet to stretch out and move around.
Made with durable materials.

Attach a Collar

A collar is an essential when it comes to moving, for a few reasons. The first is that you are going to need somewhere to attach a leash when you need to take your pet for walks. The second reason is that attached to it should be your contact information as well as your pet’s name, in case your pet gets lost during the move. The information attached to your pet’s collar should include:

Your first and last name.
Your cell number.
The address to your new home, including city and province.
Your pet’s name and any other pertinent information.

Important Documents

When packing for your long-distance move it is a good idea to include your pet’s information and documents with your other important papers. Put these items in a convenient and easy to access place (in your car) in case of any type of emergency.

Book the Right Hotel

If you are driving long distances and need to stop somewhere to sleep, be sure to reserve a pet-friendly hotel room. The last thing that you want to do after driving all day is to have to drive around looking for a pet friendly hotel – plan ahead.

Get Acquainted

As soon as you arrive at your new home, you will want to get your pet acquainted with its new surroundings. The first things unpacked should be your pet’s food and water bowl and any special toys. The sooner you start this process, the sooner your pet will feel at home in its new surroundings.

These long-distance moving tips will ease the anxiety of your pet (and yourself) and make the process less stressful for all your family members. If you would like any other information on how to make your move a pet-friendly one or are interested in some of our long-distance moving services, please contact us today. We would love to be part of your next moving experience.

How to Make the Most Out of Your Long-Distance Move

Whether it be relocating for a new job or just a fresh start, a long-distance move requires forethought, planning and preparation. One of the most overlooked aspects of a long-distance move is the relocation of you and your family. As the premier movers in Castlegar, we would like to share the following tips on how to make the most out of your journey when moving long distances.

Plan your Route

A successful long-distance move is all about proper planning and sticking to that plan. Your cross-country road trip needs to be a part of this plan. Use Google Maps or another road app to plan the most direct and fastest route to your new home. When planning the details of your journey, be sure to include the following information in your itinerary:

The hotels that you will be staying at.
Where the nearest gas stations are.
Extra time to accommodate rush hour traffic, bathroom stops etc.

Stick to the Budget

Long-distance moves can be costly. The best way to keep the costs at a minimum is to set a moving budget. When setting this budget, be sure to include the total cost of your cross country road trip. Some of the expenses that you are going to want to include are:

Gasoline for the trip.
Miscellaneous costs such as any unforeseen vehicle repairs.
Food costs including meals, snacks and treats.
Lodging costs.

Reserve

When creating your itinerary, it is a good idea to reserve the hotels that you want for each night of your road trip. There is nothing more frustrating than arriving at your destination for the night only to find out that this hotel is full. The last thing that you are going to want to do after a long day’s drive is to go around trying to find new lodging. Plan ahead.

Here’s the Deal:

A great way to save money on your excursion is to book lodging with a kitchenette. This will allow you to prepare your own meals and save money on eating out.

It’s all About the Journey

Try to keep in mind that part of the fun of a long-distance move is the adventure – it is all about the journey. If you have the time and patience, try to incorporate a mini holiday into your trip. You may never see that part of the province or country again, so why not make a few slight detours and see some of the spectacular wonders that make Canada such a special place to call home.

These tips should make the long-distance moving process easier and allow you to enjoy your time on the road. If you would like other tips on how to make the road trip more enjoyable or are interested in our long-distance moving services, please contact us today. We would love to be a part of your next move.

Tips for a Rainy Moving Day

Moving is already busy enough, so adding rain to that equation will only complicate things more. Everyone hopes for a dry weather move, but unfortunately, sometimes the forecast just doesn’t cooperate. As your premier Castlegar movers, we would like to offer the following tips on how to keep your belongings dry and safe during a rainy day move.

Be Safe

Safety should always be your top priority when moving and rain makes everything just a little more dangerous. When moving during the rain, keep in mind these important safety tips so that you and the movers stay safe.

Be wary of lightning, especially when moving any metal appliances outside.
Always wear non-slip footwear.
Dry off any slippery or smooth surfaces such as tile.
Use dry gloves to get a better grip on wet items and prevent any slippage.
Always watch your step on slippery surfaces such as the stairs and ramp in the moving truck.

Prepare your Home

It is important to rainproof your home when moving. Surfaces can quickly become slippery, so place old towels, mats or rugs in entrance ways and along corridors so that people can wipe their feet. By placing these items on the floor you will also keep your carpets and floors mud free. Depending upon how wet it is, you may want to think about laying down disposable runners in your home to keep your floors dry.

Protect your Household Items

Rain not only makes things more slippery and cumbersome, it can also ruin household belongings. Some ways of protecting your items include:

Park the moving truck as close to your home as possible. This will minimize the distance and lessen your belongings exposure to the rain.
Prioritize loading. You may want to move more cumbersome and heavier items first while saving the more fragile items for later.
Use plastic wrap to keep your items dry. Take extra care with fragile or delicate items as well as with electronics.
Always hold boxes from the bottom to ensure that the bottom doesn’t drop out. Seal them to limit moisture.
Dry your items as soon as they have been loaded into the moving truck or your home. You want to reduce the exposure to moisture to prevent mildew or mold from setting in.

No one wants to move in the rain, but sometimes it is unavoidable. By following these important tips and guidelines, you should be able to keep your belongings dry and safe even in the worst of downpours. If you are interested in other tips for moving in the rain or are interested in our many long distance moving services, please contact us today. We would love to be a part of your next move.

Packing an Essentials Box for your Long-Distance Move.

Regardless of whether you are moving across town or across the country, an essentials box may be one of the most important boxes that you pack. Organization is the key to any successful move, then an essentials box is a must for a stress-free move. As your premier Castlegar movers, we would like to provide you with the following checklist of what your long-distance essentials box should contain.

Your essentials box should contain a variety of household items that will prevent you from having to unpack multiple boxes.

Here’s the deal:

Make sure that your essentials box is not packed with your other boxes in the moving truck. Instead, ensure that this box travels with you, in case your items are delayed.

Kitchen Essentials

Your kitchen essentials should contain enough cutlery and dinner plates to feed your family for a single meal and should contain:

Cutlery, plates, bowls and glasses for all members of your family.
A pot and skillet.
A cutting knife, spatula and serving spoon.
Snacks, beverages and food for an easy dinner, breakfast and lunch.
Garbage bags.

Bathroom Essentials

Your bathroom essentials are some of the most important items that you will need and should contain:

Any type of needed medication.
Contact lenses and solution, if applicable.
Toilet paper.
Toothbrush and toothpaste.
Makeup and moisturizers.
Soap and shampoo.
Washcloths and hand towels.

Cleaning Essentials

You may need to do some last minute touch ups or cleaning at either your old or new place. Make sure that your essentials box has the following cleaning items:

Disinfectant wipes for countertops.
Cleaning sponges and clothes.
Dish soap.
A small dustpan and broom.
All-purpose cleaner.

Emergency Essentials

An emergency kit is an important part of any essentials box and should contain:

Bandaids and disinfectant.
A flashlight.
Gauze and medical supplies such as anti-bacterial ointment, medical tape, and tweezers.
A small tool kit with a multi-purpose screwdriver and needle nose pliers.

Important Items

There are certain items and documents that you will want to include in your essentials box:

Chargers for your cell phones.
Personal electronics such as iPads, or laptops as well as their chargers.
Health records.
Passports and personal identification.
Title to home and mortgage documents.
Birth certificates and social insurance numbers.

A well packed essentials box will make your long-distance moving experience far easier and less stressful. Make sure to label the contents in your essentials box and only use reinforced undamaged boxes. If you would like more information about how to pack an essentials box or are interested in the moving services we provide, please contact us today. We would love to be a part of your next long-distance move. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

www.kootenaimoving.com – Castlegar movers

Packing an Essentials Box for your Long-Distance Move.

Your essentials box should contain a variety of household items that will prevent you from having to unpack multiple boxes.

Here’s the deal:

Make sure that your essentials box is not packed with your other boxes in the moving truck. Instead, ensure that this box travels with you, in case your items are delayed.

Kitchen Essentials

Your kitchen essentials should contain enough cutlery and dinner plates to feed your family for a single meal and should contain:

Cutlery, plates, bowls and glasses for all members of your family.
A pot and skillet.
A cutting knife, spatula and serving spoon.
Snacks, beverages and food for an easy dinner, breakfast and lunch.
Garbage bags.

Bathroom Essentials

Your bathroom essentials are some of the most important items that you will need and should contain:

Any type of needed medication.
Contact lenses and solution, if applicable.
Toilet paper.
Toothbrush and toothpaste.
Soap and shampoo.
Washcloths and hand towels.

Cleaning Essentials

You may need to do some last minute touch ups or cleaning at either your old or new place. Make sure that your essentials box has the following cleaning items:

Disinfectant wipes for countertops.
Cleaning sponges and clothes.
Dish soap.
A small dustpan and broom.
All-purpose cleaner.

Emergency Essentials

An emergency kit is an important part of any essentials box and should contain:

A flashlight.
Gauze and medical supplies such as anti-bacterial ointment, medical tape, and tweezers.
A small tool kit with a multi-purpose screwdriver and needle nose pliers.

Important Items

There are certain items and documents that you will want to include in your essentials box:

Chargers for your cell phones.
Personal electronics such as iPads, or laptops as well as their chargers.
Health records.
Personal identification.
Title to home and mortgage documents.
Birth certificates and social insurance numbers.

Getting ready for a long-distance move? Make sure to pack an essentials box.

Preparation Tips for your Long-Distance Move – Part 2

When it comes to a long-distance move, preparation is key. There are so many different factors that are a part of this kind of move and if even one is overlooked or forgotten, the whole moving process can be chaotic and stressful. As Castlegar’s premier movers, we would like to offer these important tips that will make your long distance move a smooth and stress-free experience.

Get to Know your New Home

Before making your final move to your new home, you should take a weekend or a few days to get acquainted with your new town. When visiting this neighbourhood, make sure to familiarize yourself with some of the following key areas:

Local grocery stores.
Restaurants in and around your home that are accessible during the unpacking phase of your move.
Local schools and universities, if they are applicable to your family.
Various routes to and from work to alleviate stress due to congestion or rush hour traffic.
Key points of interest for any hobbies that you or your family may have.

Here’s the Deal:

A long-distance move to a new town or city can often be overwhelming and even scary. Try to eliminate as much of this anxiety as possible by being proactive.

Change of Address

In today’s world, changing your address is a little more complicated than just a visit to your local post office. You will also need to contact the following service providers:

Credit card companies.
Insurance companies.
Other service providers such as internet, cable, investors and cell phone.
Your bank. You may need to close out your accounts if you are also transferring banks instead of just branches.

Take the time to go through your contacts and let them know your new address. This includes business associates and other people you will want to keep in touch with. Do not rely on having your mail forwarded to your new address as this is often unreliable.

Important Calls to Make

With so many factors to remember when moving long-distance, one often overlooked job is placing some very important phone calls to your utility providers. These calls include:

Your hydro company. Make sure to not only cancel your power, but also have power at your new residence. No one wants to unpack in the dark.
Gas company. You will want heat in your new home, especially if you are moving during the winter months.
Water, if applicable.
The city to cancel property insurance as well as services such as garbage or recycling.

These important long-distance moving tips will ensure that your move is as stress and anxiety free as possible. If you are interested in other helpful long-distance moving tips or would like to see how we can help with your next move, please contact us today. We look forward to working with you soon.

Preparation tips for your long distance move – Part 1

The requirements for a successful long distance move are a lot different than a move across town or to a neighbouring city. There is far more planning and preparation as well as other logistics involved in any long distance move. As the premier Castlegar movers, we would like to share the following tips to help you prepare for a worry and stress free long distance move.

Find the Right Company

The most important decision that you will make when it comes to your long distance move is the company that you choose. Using the right company will ensure that your long distance move is done properly and the utmost care is taken with your belongings. Before deciding on a company, make sure to get an estimate and inquire if they specialize or even do long distance moves.

At Kootenai Moving, we have years of expertise in long distance relocating. We consider a long distance move to be over 300 km and provide no obligation free estimates. We also offer international moving expertise as well as packing and crating services. We will ensure that you are fully satisfied with your long distance move and will properly protect and wrap your belongings to keep them safe on their journey.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Because long distance moves are based on weight, it is important to determine what belongings you are taking with you and what belongings will not make the trip. A long distance move is also a great way to downsize and remove clutter and other unwanted junk from your life. Take some time to determine if you are going to need an item before making a final decision.

Here’s the deal:

If you are moving from Castlegar to Vancouver, you will not be needing any snow shovels or other snow removal tools such as a snow blower. It is best to sell, donate or give these types of items away.

Get Packing

It is never too early to start packing, especially for a long distance move. You will also want to have your packing supplies and materials ready as there is nothing more annoying than running out of boxes midway through the packing process. Your packing supplies should include:

Strong and undamaged cardboard boxes.
Packing tape and a sharpie for labeling each box’s contents.
Blankets to wrap your furniture and electronics.
Newspaper and bubble wrap to shelter any breakables and to prevent contents from shifting in boxes.

Pack it Right

Take the extra time to pack your items properly. A lot can happen over the course of a long distance move, so you will want to protect your belongings and prevent any damage. Properly label boxes so that you know the contents of each. This will save you time and unneeded stress when you are unpacking.

Do not over pack boxes as you do not want their contents falling out mid move. They should not be overly heavy as they could injure you or one of the movers.

These simple tips will have you well prepared for your long distance move. If you would like other tips on how to prepare for a long distance move or are interested in our free quote, please contact us today. We would love to be a part of your moving team.

Tips for Moving your King Size Bed

When it comes to moving your belongings, some things are easier to move than others. Usually the most challenging items to move are your furniture and bed. These items tend to be more cumbersome and heavier making them awkward and difficult to get from point A to point B. As Castelgar’s premier movers, we would like to offer you the following tips on how to safely and easily move your king sized bed.

Create a Plan

Before moving anything, take the time to come up with a plan of action. This plan should include the following:

A timeline – make sure that you leave yourself enough time to move all the parts of your bed including the frame and box mattress. This includes leaving enough room for these items in your moving truck.
Get the proper help to complete this task. You will need at least one other person or mover to help you move the bed parts into the moving truck.
Secure a moving truck and movers that have the storage to accommodate your bedding.

Here’s the Deal:

A thorough plan will save you stress and make your move easier. Do not skip this step.

Prepare the Packing Materials

You are going to need certain packing materials to move your bed without damaging it, staining or marking the mattress. These materials include:

A mattress bag. Make sure that you get the proper sized bag (king) and that it’s a durable plastic that will not tear or rip during the move.
Blankets to wrap your bed frame, to prevent any marking or damage.
Packing tape and plastic bags to store all the bolts and fasteners from your disassembled bed frame.

Step by Step

There is a step by step procedure to moving your king size bed. Make sure to pack all your bedding and move it separately from the mattress and bed frame. Label the bedding so that it is easily located when you are unpacking.

Next, remove the mattress from the bed frame and either store it in your bedroom or move it into another room to give yourself more space. Do the same with the box spring, if you have one.

Begin disassembling the bed frame and properly label and securely attach all parts to their respective pieces.

Stay Safe

Safety should be your number one priority when it comes to moving. To ensure a safe move, make sure to:

Hire movers to help move cumbersome and heavy objects such as your king bed.
Use the proper packing materials and transportation. Try to avoid putting your box spring and mattress on the top of your car.
Measure out doorways and corners to make sure that you will be able to get your bed components and mattress safely out of your old house and into your new one.

By following these simple tips, you should be able to move your king bed, frame and box spring into your new home without any damage. If you would like any other tips on how to safely and efficiently move your bed or other parts of your home, please contact us today. We would love to be a part of your next move. We look forward to hearing from you soon.