Moving to or from a studio should be a seamless experience. With movers by your side, not only do you save time, but you also have the equipment and supplies of the professional movers in your pocket. Expert movers, like Rent-a-Son, are fully trained on how to handle heavy objects and fragile valuables. This means you won’t have to worry about damaging your walls or breaking your glasses during the move.

However, if you choose to work with the wrong studio apartment movers, you can set yourself up for a stressful, expensive move. Read on to learn the five common mistakes people make when hiring movers, and how you can avoid them.

5 Mistakes People Make When Hiring Studio Apartment Movers

1. Hiring Inflexible Studio Apartment Movers

When you’re moving out of a studio apartment, it might seem like any moving company can handle the job. However, one of the most common mistakes people make is hiring movers who aren’t flexible enough to accommodate the unique challenges of a smaller space.

Studios come in all shapes and sizes—some are in basements of houses, others are in tall condo buildings. You need movers who will be able to adapt to the unique needs of your situation. For instance, a studio apartment move may involve navigating narrow hallways or small elevators. In other situations, parking may be tricky (especially if you’re living downtown).

What you should do instead: Look for movers who understand the nuances of smaller-scale moves and offer services tailored to them. A reliable moving company will be willing to adapt its approach, such as providing smaller, more agile teams and equipment suited for compact spaces. If they are unwilling to accommodate your requirements, it’s an indication you need to look elsewhere.

2. Hiring Studio Apartment Movers Who Are Used to Larger Jobs

Hiring studio apartment movers who typically only take on larger residential jobs, such as detached properties and townhouses, you may be about to make a costly and inefficient mistake. These companies often bring oversized teams and equipment designed for multi-bedroom homes, wasting time and unnecessary expenses.

What’s more, their equipment and larger teams may end up causing damage to your studio, putting you on the hook for expensive repairs just as you are leaving the property.

What you should do instead: Again, make sure your moving team is happy to take on a smaller studio move. If they consider you a “small job”, it could be a red flag to watch for. Instead, you should find a mover who is interested and grateful for your business.

3. Not Shopping Around for Quotes

So maybe you decide to go ahead with the first mover you spoke to because their quote met your expectations. Or maybe a colleague recommended a mover and just accepted their quote. Those are both recipes for overpaying for your moving services.

While it might save you time initially, skipping the process of comparing quotes can end up costing you more. Without exploring multiple options, you can’t evaluate what value you are receiving and what services should be included. Basically, you are potentially making an unwise financial decision.

What you should do instead: Reach out to several moving companies to get quotes from them. Ask them to be thorough in their quotes. That means they should provide clear line items for things like hourly rates, moving supplies, overnight fees, and the like. “Cheapest” should not be your guiding metric. You will not get what you don’t pay for so, instead, look at the value a slightly more expensive company provides.

4. Failing to Verify the Reputation of Your Movers

Let’s be honest—residential moving scams are a reality. Often, it’s students, young adults, and new professionals who tend to get caught in them because they are looking to save every penny on studio apartment movers. Online forums, such as Reddit, are full of horror stories of unknown movers holding items for thousands of dollars in ransom.

What you should do instead: Do your homework before hiring a moving company. Start by checking online reviews on platforms like Google, Yelp, or the Better Business Bureau to see what past customers have said. If the mover or moving company doesn’t have reviews on these platforms, that’s a major red flag. Star ratings and reviews are by far some of the most effective ways of gauging whether the mover is reliable and honest.

5. Scheduling the Move During Peak Hours

Short-distance moves, such as within 80 kilometres of your studio, are typically priced at an hourly rate. That means you will be paying for your movers’ time from the moment they arrive at your old studio to the moment they finish unloading at the destination.

Scheduling the move during rush hour traffic, when busy building elevators and hallways are crowded, can really slow down your move and add up the hourly rates. What’s more, movers may levy an additional surcharge because you decide to move during peak hours.

What you should do instead: That’s obvious—plan your move during off-peak hours to complete the move faster. Early mornings, weekdays, or mid-month dates are typically less busy and more affordable. Also, make sure building management is aware that you have booked the elevator.

Things You Should Look for in Your Studio Apartment Movers

Now that you know what to avoid, here are a few things you should look for in your studio apartment movers:
  • Accredited team: The Canadian Association of Movers accredits movers. Though it is not a guarantee of quality, it does demonstrate that the mover you are considering adheres to industry best practices.
  • Confirm insurance: Under Canadian law, movers are required to provide a minimum liability coverage of $0.60 per pound of cargo. Reputed movers will also offer additional coverage options.
  • Trained team: Moving isn’t just lifting and shifting, it requires physical fitness and awareness of how to pack and load items. Make sure the moving company evaluates and trains its studio apartment movers—essential for the safety of their crew and your belongings!

Rent-a-Son: The Studio Apartment Movers You Need

“Efficient, friendly and took great care with all of our belongings”—those aren’t our words, those are the words of a satisfied client. Rent-a-Son is one of the top residential movers in Canada, and we have over 2,000 reviews on HomeStars, Facebook and Google Reviews to provide it!

Speak to us to find out how we can make moving to or from your studio effortless. Talk to us by dialling our number at 416-913-9021 today!