by Deborah Mesher, Architectural Designer and Diana Vela, Move Manager
Deborah: What is a Move Manager?
Diana: We are like the conductor of the orchestra when it comes to moving houses and prepare them for renovations or sales. We handle all the nitty-gritty details like assessing the scope and complexity of the move itself, the timing, the budget, getting quotes from and coordinating movers, scheduling packing and unpacking and organizing the temporary residence, all scaled to a client’s needs and budget. Think of us as your personal moving guru, taking the stress out of relocation. Move managers are sometimes professional movers too, but not always. Moving On Organizing is the only move management company in Toronto that has its own moving truck and crew.
Deborah: What concerns do you hear most about moving?
Moves are always cited as one of the most stressful events in people lives, along with renovations. Doing both at once can be exponentially more complicated. Not having the right support in place can add a lot of stress during a move, and costs can balloon. Be specific with your movers about furniture placement and where to leave boxes. The good ones will help you get your rugs laid just so. The bad ones will heap your belongings anywhere that's easy for them. A move manager can help you figure out what’s important and communicate that with movers.
Deborah: How should a homeowner prepare for an upcoming renovation within their home?
Diana: Depends on what renovations are involved. It's different to prepare for a kitchen/bathroom renovation than it is for new floors or a basement underpinning that is separate from other spaces, but I'll say PLAN it out! If you or your belongings are staying in the house (not recommended if it's a big reno!) think about how you can continue living without adding extra stress to your daily habits. Think through accessibility in and out of the house, areas for the contractors to set up and work, material storage, dust and noise control.
Remember that you can always hire us help! If you can’t afford professionals or would prefer to do it yourself, make sure all loose items that can fit are boxed up and sealed with tape, labeled clearly with a room destination and contents. Make sure a decent parking area for the moving truck is secured and/or elevators booked. If you have pets - have a plan that keeps them out of harm’s way.
Deborah: What questions should a homeowner always ask a potential mover?
Diana: Do you charge an hourly or flat fee? Do I have to pay for travel time, fuel or insurance? Any other fees? Do you provide re-useable or single use moving boxes? How do you protect my furniture and belongings during the move? Are there wardrobe boxes on the truck, how many, and do you charge to use them? Will you have mattress bags? Will you disassemble (and reassemble) beds and other large furniture?
Deborah: What is a ballpark cost range for a renovation move?
Diana: We build packages that cater to our client's needs, but our turnkey, full service moving solutions can range from $10-20K+ for most Toronto houses---which amounts to about 1-2% of a small to medium renovation construction budget.
Deborah: What do you wish homeowners knew about moving?
Diana: Manage your schedule and expectations carefully. Rarely do we move into a post-renovation situation where trades have completed all of their work. We've often moved clients into homes without counters or non-functioning bathrooms. Having construction trades on site during move day makes things challenging for everyone. Send the trades away for a few days, and have the house professionally deep-cleaned before your move day makes settling in easier. We can get you unpacked quickly so you can get on with enjoying your new space that you waited so patiently for!
Learn more about Diana and Moving On Organizing here.