Author: Vancouver In The Box

Post-pandemic mobility trends

More moves to Alberta and to Vancouver Island, and some are coming back to Vancouver.

Comparing mobility trends for the past 3 years, we see similarities between 2020 and 2022 compared to the “Core of the pandemic year” 2021. Does it mean that we are back to routine? Look at our numbers.

The numbers are taken from our database of hundreds of clients we have packed in the past 3 years 2020-2022. Since we work with most of the movers in the lower mainland, they have seen a similar trend.

Moving away from the city

During 2021, what we call the “Core” year of the pandemic, about 11% of clients we have packed moved out of Vancouver to the suburbs and the Okanagan (2%). These are mainly families, where the parents moved their office into the house or apartment and needed more outdoor space for the kids and working space for themselves. This number shrank in 2022 to 9%; closer to what it was in 2020 – 8%.

Moves within the city of Vancouver

We see a change in the pattern regarding clients we have packed and moved within the city of Vancouver. 51% of those we have packed moved internally within the city of Vancouver, competing with 36% that moved within the city of Vancouver in 2020, and this year in 2022, 31%.

Coming back to Vancouver in 2022

While 2020 and 2021 are very similar, in each year only 0.5% of the clients we packed moved from the suburbs to Vancouver, in 2022, this number increased to 2%.

Moving within the Suburbs

Our clients in other cities in Metro Vancouver usually move within the same area. This includes about 15%-17% of our overall clients every year. Especially clients we packed in Richmond (3% each year) move into another house but stay in Richmond. As well as on the North Shore (North Vancouver and West Vancouver). In 2020 and 2022 6% of the clients we packed moved within North and West Vancouver, while in 2021 this number increased to 8%.

Moving to the Islands and sunshine coast

This year, 9% of the clients who used our residential packing services, moved to Vancouver Island, Sunshine Coast, and the Gulf Islands. This is close to 3 times the number of clients who moved to the Islands in 2021 (3.5%) and third more of clients who moved there in 2020 (6.5%).

Out of the province and overseas

Since we also pack boxes for long-distance and international moves, we saw a change there as well. Of those who moved from BC to other provinces in 2022 (10%), about 50% moved to Alberta. This Is 3 times more than the previous year. In 2020, 6.5% moved out to other provinces and among them, 1.5% to Alberta. During the core year of the pandemic in 2021, only 1.5% moved to other provinces, and a third of them to Alberta. Regarding international moves, in 2022 when international transportation started getting back to normal, we packed 4% of our clients for international moves, mainly to the USA. This number is similar to 2020 when 5% of our clients moved to the USA. During the core year of the pandemic, only 0.5% of the clients shipped their belongings overseas.

Moving to storage

Every year there is a solid percentage of clients who move their belongings to storage. In 2022 and 2020, Vancouver in the Box packed 20% of our client’s belongings into a temporary storage solution. However, in 2021 this number dropped down to 14%. Overall, there weren’t any fewer moves during 2021, but there were more domestic moves.

Overall, we see similarities between the numbers in 2020 and 2022. This means that moving trends are back to normal compared to the situation in 2021. But some trends are getting stronger, this includes moves to the Islands and from those who are moving out of the province, Alberta is the most popular for young families.

 

Limor Friedman, Director Vancouver In The Box

You may be moving a few blocks away just in Metro Vancouver or all the way from Vancouver to the Island or even to Kelowna. Everything can happen on the way and we want to save you another stressful factor during your moving process.

“The suitcase”

Prior to our residential packing day, we always ask clients to have a “moving day suitcase” ready. In this suitcase, you should pack essential items like medication, MSP card, some clothes and toiletries, a towel, important documents and yes -passports! This bag will go with you. Never send it in the moving truck. No matter the distance of the move everything can happen! (We have a full list here below)

Major weather event like the one we experienced in BC in November 2021 when major roads washed away and metro Vancouver disconnected from the entire country, can happen on a small scale and if it impacts you it doesn’t matter how many others are in the same boat, you want to be ready.

In fact, it is a major event if it happened to you and impacts you.

• We have had clients that couldn’t unload their belonging because the house flooded overnight in Victoria BC.
• We have had clients that last-minute city permits or toxic hazards prevented them from entering their new home.
• We have had clients that couldn’t reach their new homes because of wildfires in the Okanagan during the summer.
• We have had clients that left for the Okanagan In November 2021 and were waiting for the truck to arrive, but the roads were washed and that delayed their move by 3 weeks.

Always have an essential belonging in a suitcase – thinking what will you need if you are going for a few nights somewhere?

Here is a list of essential items you should carry with you in the car on moving day:

• Car keys
• Passport
• Toiletries
• Clothes for 2 days
• Towels
• Medication
• Baby’s food and diapers
• Important documents (related to the house, contract etc.)
• Cash
• Credit cards
• Chargers!
• Back up for your computer files.
• Snacks and
• Cutlery/ plates for the first 2 days after the move.

“The plan B”

Now when you have a suitcase ready you can be separated from your belonging and still be stress–free.

Another thing we recommend especially when moving over to the Island and taking a ferry or moving to the interior. We always have a plan B for clients in case they will have to store their belonging for a few days or a few weeks. Imagine if they had to open packed boxes to find essential items they need for a few days? Or how expansive it can be to go and buy new clothes?

When our team arrives on packing day, the team leader will always do a walkthrough with you, to find out what essentials you wish to carry with you. If we find a passport or a charger, we will point it out and ask in case you just forgot. Most moves end up smoothly, but even then, after a long day, you shouldn’t be looking for your toothbrush in a box. You should just open a suitcase find everything you need and get a good sleep in your new home.

We pack – You relax

1. Before you start packing:

The biggest mistake people do when their house is sold and they have a closing day is to buy boxes and start packing. Yes, residential packing takes a lot of time but, a long time before you start boxing your belonging, your best step is to de-clutter and get rid of items you don’t need.

2. “I don’t have a lot of stuff”:

It’s very common to underestimate how much stuff we have. When everything we have is inside cupboards and drawers it is hard to imagine how many boxes, we need to move our belongings. Most people will look around and think, “I don’t have a lot of stuff “. Packing a small kitchen in a 1-2-bedroom apartment takes about 10-15 boxes. An Ikea bookcase with 5 shelves needs to be cleared into 8-10 boxes. Instead of assuming, try to walk inside your house like a stranger and write down room by room how many boxes you think you have. To be safe, always overestimate and add 15% extra.

3. “Free boxes”:

As much as you like to reuse and recycle, before picking up free used boxes from friends or a back alley of a store, make sure you know where these boxes were used before. Insects like bedbugs and silverfish live inside cardboard boxes. If your friend has a cat and you are allergic to cats, your packing task will turn into a nightmare. Few companies in metro Vancouver will rent out plastic boxes that will always arrive clean to your home and will be picked up after you are done unpacking.

4. Where to start:

Start with seasonal items and things you don’t use frequently. A day before the move: pack important documents, passports, and MSP cards with toiletries and clothes you will need for the next 2 days in a suitcase and place them in your car before the movers arrive.

5. What not to pack:

Finally, leave all the keys to your old house (storage, garage, shed…) and all appliances’ manuals in one spot for the new owner.

The hazardous items:

There are a few items that can put everyone in a big danger and can’t get packed into a box and sent in the moving truck; first is the propene tank – big or small, please carry it in your car and make sure you can see and control it during the move even if it’s a 5-minute drive. Second is the cylinder tank that the household used for the soda stream maker (or any other oxygen tank like a divers tank). The third is the fire extinguisher. These items can explode while in the box inside the truck.

Our client & employee safety precautions

None of our team members have traveled outside of Canada for the last two weeks, nor are they showing any symptoms of illness. Anyone that does not meet these criteria will not be allowed to work.

For your protection and ours, all packers are required to wear masks and gloves. Masks may be taken off if the packer judges it necessary.

Preparation for packing day

Please designate one person to interact with our staff on moving day. Avoid bringing “helpers” and make sure children are in a separate area while we are working.

We will confirm the following on our 24-hour confirmation call

Please do not provide our packers with food or drinks. We will bring our own.

Before our arrival, please make sure all windows are opened and there is airflow in the space.

Please keep in mind your home is our workspace

We will do our best to work while keeping our distance – we ask that you do the same, and avoid staying in the same room as our workers.

Please designate a washroom for our team to use. Each one of our packers has a personal towel and personal hand soap.

If our team finds the job site environment to be too dirty, too crowded or if anyone is showing symptoms or not cooperating, we may choose to stop the work and reschedule. We ask that you respect this decision.

Please have your own pen ready to sign documents at the end of the day.

Our boxes and supplies

We never transfer boxes from house to house. Not only because of the coronavirus but also because we want to avoid bringing bugs or pet hair to a new home.

When using reusable boxes we work with suppliers who always ensure to bring us clean and sanitized boxes.

We only use new wrapping paper and never reuse paper between jobs. This way we can avoid bringing unwanted debris, dust or residue into your new home.

A planned move is a safe and smooth move. 

Planning a move and you have no idea how to pack the beautiful large painting you love and cherish? Whether it’s oil on canvas, acrylic, or paper with a glass frame, if you want it to arrive in one piece in your new home, you should learn how to pack it properly, and use the right materials to wrap each type of art. 

Here are our 5 points guidelines to properly pack your art:

Note: Packing with bubble wrap isn’t the right solution for everything. In some cases, it can damage the art.

1. Protect your picture frames

Protect your picture frames by stack standing on the frame versus lying down. If you have few medium picture frames, stack them in a large box, with paper between them, to avoid scratching the frame.

2. Large wall picture frames & art that won’t fit In a small box will fit in special “mirror boxes”.

There are two sizes of boxes and if the art is even bigger, you can always combine two mirror boxes into one. If the box is bigger than the frame, be careful of the art being loose and shifting in the box.  To avoid this, stack some paper, roll a small mat (wrapped in a bag), or use a pillow.

3. Most of the time you don’t have to wrap your art with anything,

But if you are moving long-distance or shipping overseas, you should wrap the art or add some extra cardboard protection. Pictures with glass frames are best protected with bubble wrap or paper pads- these are 3 layers of strong paper.

4. Packing with bubble wrap isn’t the right solution for everything,

In some cases, it can damage the art. Oil painting, for example, is sensitive to hot and cold temperatures. We recommend that you avoid using bubble wrap or paper when you pack an oil painting, as bubble wrap can hold moisture and damage the painting.  Using paper can be harmful, as the oil changes form with changes in temperature – which means the paper can stick to the art and cause damage. We also recommend asking your movers to bring the oil painting into your new place as soon as possible, to avoid leaving it in the hot truck.

5. A valuable piece of art in the moving industry is usually anything over $1000.

As most moving and packing companies will have a $1000 deductible on their insurance, they will require special care for high-value items. We will add to this, irreplaceable items, that may not have monetary value in money, but do have sentimental value. This type of art needs special care – a wooden crate for example. These crates are custom-made for your art. When we do an estimate, we will always ask you If there is any irreplaceable art that may need special care.

6. Important tip about storing your art…

Always make sure you store art in temperature-controlled storage. Take a picture of your art and its condition before you pack and store it.

Don’t want to deal with all that? That’s what we are here for.

Packing is the most time-consuming of every move. Give us a call or send an email. We will estimate first, send a written quote, and come to pack professionally.

We pack – you relax. [email protected]