This is my archive

City Spotlight: Surrey

Whether you’re planning on making the move to Surrey or just stopping by for a visit, you’ll never be short on things to do in this awesome city. Part of greater Metro Vancouver, Surrey is British Columbia's second largest city with a population of 500,000 residents - and growing! Read More

8 Things to Do On Your First Day in Your New Home

You’ve finally taken possession of your new home! With so much excitement going on, it’s hard to know where to begin in the process of really getting settled. Here are a few tips to help get you started.8 Things To Do On Your First Day In Your New Home  Unpack Your Essentials Give Your Pets a Break Organize Your Boxes  Take a Stroll  Tidy Up Keep Your Energy Up  Locate the Fuse Box and Water Shutoff Valve  Set Up Furniture  Unpack Your Essentials   The first thing you’ll want to do is unpack your moving essentials box. This will ensure you have access to all the important things (toilet paper, cleaning supplies, extra clothes etc.) throughout the day without having to dig through boxes or run to the store.   Give Your Pets a Break   Just like you, animals are susceptible to moving-related stress. Once you arrive in your new home, give them a break from the noise, commotion and new smells. Put your pets in a separate room with familiar items such as their bed and toys. Make sure they have access to their food and water and let them relax while you go about organizing the house.   Organize Your Boxes   Speaking of organizing, before you begin the task of unpacking, you’ll want to make sure all your boxes are in the right place (labelling ahead of time is a lifesaver!). Focus on getting the majority of your belongings distributed to the right rooms throughout your new home. Keep in mind, a good moving company will be happy to do this for you – saving you time and your back!  Take a Stroll    Now that you’ve had a chance to get a little more established, give yourself a break and head out for a walk (if you have a dog, they’ll probably appreciate this too).  This will give you the chance to do a little exploring and maybe even meet a few people in your community. At the very least, you’ll want to stop by your neighbours’ houses to introduce yourself – this will get your relationship off to a great start.   Tidy Up   Once you’ve finished moving in and organizing all your stuff, you’ll likely have to clean up a little. Moving often means a lot of foot traffic which, in turn, means a lot of dirt being tracked into your new home. While your moving company should take extra care not to make a mess, a little clean up will likely be unavoidable - especially if you’re moving in the winter. It’s a good thing you packed cleaning supplies in your essentials kit! Now you can give your floors and counters a quick wipe so they’re clean when you begin to unpack.   Keep Your Energy Up   Cleaning, organizing and unpacking will be a lot easier if you have the fuel to keep you going. Depending on what you’re able to tackle, it may be too early to do a full grocery run. At the very least, run out and grab a few snack items such as bottled water and granola bars to ensure you can keep up with the demands of the day.    Locate the Fuse Box and Water Shutoff Valve   Just in case. You’ll want to familiarize yourself with both the breaker box and the shutoff valve in the event of a mishap while you're setting up your appliances, putting in light bulbs, testing your plumbing etc. You’ll generally find the main water valve on the outside of your home or in the basement.   Set Up Furniture   At the end of your busy first day, you’re sure to want to have a few places to sit down and relax. Make sure you have your bed(s) set up, as well as your kitchen and living room furniture. This will cover all your bases in terms of having somewhere to eat, sleep and unwind as you get settled. Here again, a good moving company will be happy to set up and arrange your furniture for you.   Enjoy a seamless home move with our super handy home moving checklist. From start to finish, we’ll walk you through everything you need to do to prepare yourself for the big day.    Read More

Tips for Making Your Rental Feel Like Home

Even if you’re moving in to a rental, your new home is still your castle! Sure, you may have a few rules to follow because you don’t own the property, but that doesn’t mean you can’t customize your living space to really make it your own – and we can tell you how! Read More

Moving During the Holiday Season: How to Make it Easier

You don't always get to choose when you move. Sometimes a change in job, or a family situation, or something else means you have to move at a time that might not be ideal. If that time happens to be during the holiday season, it can be even more difficult. But, there are a few things you can do to make moving during the holidays easier on yourself and your family. 5 Tips for Moving During the Holiday SeasonHire a Moving CompanyThere are a lot of reasons why DIY moves aren't always the best choice. When you're moving during the holidays, they can be even more stressful. You don't want to have to call on friends and family to do all kinds of work at a time of year when they want to be spending time with their own families. That's why the best choice is to hire a moving company. Not only will it give you a break from all the work, chances are your move will be completed faster - letting you get back to your regular holiday activities in no time.{{cta('8af4710e-3a0d-4d10-93ae-b4555c8c763f','justifycenter')}}Make Time for Regular CelebrationsIn the hustle and bustle of moving during the holidays, it's easy to forget about your normal traditions and celebrations. The key to having a stress-free move is to remember to take time out of the moving process to celebrate or spend time with family like you usually do. Don't let opening moving boxes become a substitute for opening gifts if that's something you normally do. Instead, try to make the holiday celebrations as normal as possible and you'll find yourself feeling much less run down by moving.Lighten Your Load by Giving BackOur number one tip for having a less stressful move is to downsize and declutter first (this can actually save you money as well). This tip is particularly relevant when you're moving during the holidays because not only will it help if you have less work to do packing and unpacking, but there are a lot more people who are in need during this time. Shelters and charity organizations are always looking for more items during the holidays, so you can be sure the things you're getting rid of will help someone else have a happier season.Be Considerate of the WeatherWe all know that Canadian winters are unpredictable. You never know when a snowstorm could hit or freezing rain could fall. That's why if you're moving during the holidays, it's important to consider the weather in your plans. Certain weather conditions might impede your moving company (and yourself) from being able to drive as fast as usual and slippery sidewalks and other conditions can mean the moving itself can be slower than usual. No one wants to be injured before the holidays, so take your time when walking and driving and allow your movers to do the same.Take Special Care when PackingWhen you're moving during the holidays, you can reduce your stress and the amount of work you have to do by packing even more carefully. If you take extra care when packing and labelling your boxes you can have a much easier time when it comes time to unpack. If you have holiday decorations, indicate that they should be left in the main areas so you can save time from having to move them down from the attic.Moving this holiday season?Edmonton MoversCalgary MoversVancouver MoversIf you're planning a move this holiday season, Two Small Men wants to help! We can help make moving during a less-than-ideal time a lot less stressful for you and your family. You can get started by getting your free moving estimate today!    {{cta('8af4710e-3a0d-4d10-93ae-b4555c8c763f','justifycenter')}} Read More

What Should I Do While My Movers are Here?

Even with the help of a skilled, friendly, fabulously efficient moving company, moving day can still feel a little hectic. Especially when you don't know what you should be doing with yourself! Don’t sweat it – it’s pretty common to feel a little out of place or uncertain when you’re movers are moving/packing. That being said, there are a few things you can do to make moving day easier for both you and your movers. Read More

City Spotlight: Winnipeg

We’re back again with another City Spotlight! In November, we're highlighting another great city where we have a Two Small Men office and where many of our team members live and work. This month our spotlight takes us to the capital of Manitoba. Keep reading to see what the people of Winnipeg love about living and working in the city.Moving to Winnipeg? Unlike some of the larger cities in our province, you don't hear a lot about Manitoba's capital. But, that doesn't mean it isn't a great place to move. In fact, we think you'll be surprised by all the activities you'll have to do once you get settled in there.All About WinnipegLike we said before, Winnipeg (located where the Red and Assiniboine Rivers meet) is the capital city of Manitoba. It's a fairly southern city, only a short 110km from the Canada-US border.Because of it's location between the Eastern provinces and the Western ones Winnipeg has become known as the "Gateway to the West." This location, and title, means the city has one of Canada's most diversified economies.At the 2016 census there were 705,244 people living in the city, making it Canada's 7th largest. Interestingly, Winnipeg represents more than 50% of the entire province's population which is the highest population concentration of all the provinces.What's the History?Winnipeg is named after the nearby Lake Winnipeg. The word itself comes from the Western Cree words for Muddy Water. It's well known that the region was a popular trading location for First Nations people, likely because of its proximity to the two major rivers.Once Europeans arrived in the area, both the North West Company and the Hudson's Bay Company had forts in the area of the present-day city. Winnipeg really started to take off as a city after the arrival of the railway in 1881, which allowed it to become the "gateway" we mentioned before.Things to Do in WinnipegNow that you know a little more about the city, if you're planning to move to Winnipeg, you're probably wondering what things there are to do. As a local Winnipeg moving company, we've learned a lot about what interesting things there are to do there. Here are some of our favourites:{{cta('90653a15-223b-4dfc-a0c3-e6c0936c2a6b','justifycenter')}}Arts and CultureWinnipeg has some very interesting cultural experiences. Firstly, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights - the first museum built with the purpose of illustrating the evolution, crisis, and the future of human rights around the world.You might also be interested in checking out the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Many notable dancers have trained and performed here, and the current company travels around the world performing, so being able to see them in the their hometown is a treat.Fun Fact: The Royal Winnipeg Ballet is the first ballet to be given the royal title under Queen Elizabeth II.There's always plenty to see and do at The Forks National Historic Site, which is one of the city's most visited attractions. You'll find museums, boutiques, a marketplace and more here.SportsWinnipeg has a couple of professional sports team to cheer on. There's the Blue Bombers football team and the Winnipeg Jets hockey team, who just returned to the city from Phoenix in 2011 after leaving in 1995. There are also a few University sports teams to root for, and lots of opportunity for you to partake in sporting activity of your own.Just for FunThe Assiniboine Park and Zoo is open year round, so if you're moving to Winnipeg this winter, that's something you can check out right away. Another winter activity is the Raw Almond pop-up restaurant located right on the frozen river in Jan-Feb every year.Later in the year, there's also some great summer festivals in Winnipeg, including Manyfest on Broadway, which offers free admission. If you have young kids, they'll love visiting the Manitoba Children's Museum for fun, interesting, and educational activities.Your Winnipeg Moving CompanyAs you might be able to tell, we love having one of our offices in Winnipeg, and we think our team members there would agree that it's a pretty nice place to move. If you're moving to Winnipeg, trust our experienced, local moving company to get you and your things there safely and efficiently. Get your free moving estimate today!{{cta('8af4710e-3a0d-4d10-93ae-b4555c8c763f','justifycenter')}}// // // Read More

How to Throw a Successful (stress-free) Housewarming Party

Just moved into a new home? You’re probably excited to start showing it off to friends and family, but with all the stress of moving finally dying down, are you ready to take on the stress of planning a housewarming party? Probably not. The good news is, throwing a housewarming party doesn’t have to be stressful – by following a few simple tips, you can host a party like a pro (if there is such thing as a professional party-hoster).  Read More

Do You Know How To Move Plants?

When you’re moving there are often two “categories” of things you plan to move. Your belongings, and the living things in your household like children and pets. But there is one item that can often be forgotten because it can fit into both categories: your plants. Plants are your belongings, so it might be your first instinct to just pack them up, but they are also living things and require special care and attention to move. Read More

Top Things to Do in Calgary | City Spotlight

Did you know that Two Small Men has more than 35 locations across the country? Our team members love the communities they live and work in, and they’re always excited to share their favourite things with people moving there. We were inspired by this, and decided to start a new series on our blog called the City Spotlight. Once a month we’ll be highlighting one of the cities our movers are located in. This week’s city spotlight: living in Calgary! Read More

- of