Ottawa Moving Company
The most affordable time to move in Ottawa is during the off-peak season from October to April. With lower demand, moving companies often offer discounted rates and greater scheduling flexibility.
Common Mistakes to Avoid While Moving
7 Mistakes to Avoid for a Hassle-Free Relocation
Relocating to Ottawa marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter, but it comes with its own set of challenges. From navigating the city’s vibrant streets to adapting to its unpredictable weather, a successful move requires thoughtful preparation. Whether you’re moving within the city or settling into a new neighborhood, careful planning is essential to ensure a smooth and stress-free transition.
Not Decluttering Before Moving
Decluttering is a key step in any move, particularly if you’re transitioning to a smaller or differently configured space. Even when moving to a larger location, streamlining your belongings is always a smart choice.
A common mistake is packing items you plan to discard after the move. Instead, consider hosting a garage or yard sale before you leave your current space. It’s an excellent opportunity to lighten your load, earn a little extra cash, and start fresh in your new home.
Tips:
- Go through each room and separate items into categories: keep, donate, sell, and discard.
- Consider hosting a garage sale or donating to local charities before the move.
Over Packing Boxes
Packing boxes is straightforward, but estimating how many you’ll need can be tricky. Fortunately, many moving company websites provide box calculators to help you determine the right quantity for your belongings.
If your move is a few months away, start saving delivery boxes or ask friends and neighbors to set theirs aside for you. While you can purchase packing supplies from a moving company or online, costs can add up quickly depending on how much you need. By collecting boxes early, you can reduce or even eliminate the need to buy additional packing materials, saving both time and money.
However, keep in mind that used boxes may not be as sturdy as new ones, so assess their condition to ensure they can handle the weight of your belongings.
Tips:
- Use smaller boxes for heavy items and label each box clearly with its contents and destination.
- Start collecting boxes in advance or use online box calculators to estimate your needs accurately.
Waiting Too Long To Pack
It’s easy to procrastinate packing because it takes so much time. It’s best to start early to avoid feeling rushed as the moving day gets closer. It is possible to pack quickly, but it just adds more stress to your busy schedule.
While it’s possible to pack quickly, doing so often leads to mistakes, such as improperly packed items that can cause damage.
By giving yourself plenty of time to pack, you can stay organized, protect your belongings, and enjoy a smoother, more relaxed moving experience.
Tips:
- Create a packing schedule and stick to it, starting weeks in advance.
- If time is tight, consider hiring professional packing services to ease the burden.
Not Setting a Realistic Budget
It’s easy to understand the cost of moving. If you are hiring a moving company, there are packaging, deposits (if there is a difference in your moving dates), and possible insurance.
In Ottawa, moving costs vary depending on house size, move requirement, season and service required.
Tips:
- Create a detailed budget that includes all potential expenses
- Get clear, itemized estimates from moving companies to avoid surprises.
Improperly Packing Fragile Items
Rushing to pack your essential items can lead to improper handling, increasing the risk of breakage for fragile glassware or other important belongings. Take your time to pack carefully and securely to protect these items during the move.
Tips:
- Use bubble wrap, packing paper, and sturdy boxes for fragile items.
- Label these boxes as “fragile” and consider letting professional movers handle valuable or delicate items.
Not all moving companies are the same. Choosing a moving company based solely on price can result in poor service, and damages to your property/belongings.
It’s crucial to research and choose a company with a proven track record, proper licensing, and positive reviews. Look for movers who offer transparent pricing, comprehensive insurance options, and a clear plan for handling specific needs, such as fragile items or heavy furniture. A reliable moving company will also be familiar with local bylaws and work proactively to avoid delays or complications on moving day. Taking the time to find the right movers can save you stress and ensure a smoother relocation experience.
Tips:
-
- Research Ottawa-based moving companies with good reviews and proven expertise.
- Verify their insurance, certifications, and experience with similar moves.
- Ask about additional fees for stairs, long carries, or challenging access points.
Not Booking Movers Early
Ottawa’s moving season peaks in the summer, which means if you’re planning to move between May and September, waiting until the last minute can be costly. Moving companies get booked quickly, and if you don’t secure one early, you may end up paying a premium for a company with lower availability, or worse, relying on an inexperienced team.
Tips:
- Start planning your move 2-3 months in advance.
- Secure your preferred moving company early to avoid last-minute compromises.
Our happy customers
We’ve helped thousands of people move
They moved our stuff twice and have had nothing but positive things to say. Punctual, quick, and without damaging any of our stuff. Pricing is also very competitive. If you're looking for someone to move within ON, I would highly recommend.
Siena Domaradzki-Kim
2024-01-07
Great move, very professional, very careful with our things. Would recommend this moving company to anyone.
Chad Bowie
2023-11-07
Responsive, punctual, professional, respectful, friendly, accommodating and careful. Everything went smoothly. Would use this company again.
Joel Lemieux
2023-11-02
We hired them to help move our 10x20 storage unit which was filled with mostly furniture.
Movers showed up on time, were professional, took good care with our stuff, were quick and efficient.
They were polite and did finacl checks of the truck to make sure nothing was left.
All in all it was a great experience. Would definitely use them again.
Cheryl W
2023-09-16
This company went above and beyond. On time, communicated along the way, the team were thorough and receptive to our needs as we had our baby with us and some items had to be packed last minute. Would HIGHLY recommend!
Benjamin Halliday
2023-09-10
Debo and the crew were phenomenal. They were careful with all our furniture and super professional and friendly the entire time. They were also super accommodating with us. We will definitely use them again!
Han Wang
2023-08-25
Moving can be very stressful but A Mile Above truly go above and beyond to make your move as easy as possible. They arrive on time, they are friendly, they take great care of your belongings and ensure to communicate every step of the way. They exceeded my expectations, THANK YOU Debo and your team. I highly recommend.
Farrah Vilfort
2023-08-19
Debo and his team were amazing! They arrived early on the day of our move and help assembled some furniture before they left! This was our 3rd move in two years and Debo and his team were the best movers we’ve had thus far. Don’t think twice about booking with them - you’re in great hands.
A
2023-08-11
Used this moving company for a move from a 3 bedroom townhouse to a storage unit. The group of 3 men were friendly, careful and efficient! My belongings were well protected and stored attentively. Communication was excellent via email and I was quoted quite precisely but the movers were able to fit the move into 1 trip instead of 2 which I thought was great. Will most definitely use this company again in the future.
Alyssa Palmer
2023-07-31
Ready to move? Get a quote now!
What is the least Expensive Month to Move ?
The most affordable time to move in Ottawa is during the off-peak season from October to April. With lower demand, moving companies often offer discounted rates and greater scheduling flexibility.
What Do Most Movers Charge Per Hour?
On average, movers in Ottawa charge between $100 and $150 per hour for a team of two, including a truck and basic supplies. Rates may vary based on factors like the size of the move.
