More and more people are agreeing that working from home is pretty fantastic. Last year, an Indeed survey revealed that 65% of employers believe their employees are more productive when working remotely. Now that more workplaces are embracing this shift, our homes need to adjust accordingly. If you’re a business… Read More
Moving cities or across Canada can seem like an endless task. Don’t shoot the messenger—we’re here to tell you that the work isn’t over after you unpack the last box or buy the last of the furniture. In our last blog, we talked about how to take… Read More
It’s freezing out there. Now that the holidays are over, it’s a bit harder to love the biting cold. One thing you do love is your new home, but Jack Frost can make that difficult sometimes, too. When it’s not prepped for the season, your house isn’t the best shelter it can be. A house for all seasons Just like anything else you own, your house needs care and attention to stay in good shape. Winter takes its toll on many houses—and many homeowners neglect to maintain theirs in advance. Instead, they call for help after the damage is done. And if you ever wonder why your heating system isn’t doing the job, there are probably more subtle reasons your house isn’t keeping out the cold. Here are the best ways to winter-proof your home before and during the winter season. 1. Inspect every window and door for leaks If you feel a draft when sitting next to your living room window, it’s time to do something about it. Seal your windows by applying caulk to where the window meets the exterior siding. Make sure your doors are sealed, too. Drafts can sometimes creep through electrical outlets and light switches, so use spray foam insulation to seal those properly. 2. Check your drainage It’s easier than it sounds. Take a look at the soil around your foundation. Are there sunken spots? Is there water building up around your foundation? Fill any gaps with extra soil to prevent water from falling in and building up. Overly saturated soil around your foundation will go through cycles of freezing and thawing (known as the frost-heave cycle) that can damage and destabilize your foundation over time. 3. Clean your gutters While you’re outside, you might as well check your eaves. Any debris—leaves, twigs, dirt—can clog your gutters, which prevents them from draining melted snow and rain. This way, you can stop household leaks before they happen. 4. Inspect your roof Yes—a lot of winter-induced damage comes from above. Loose, damaged, or missing shingles are prime points of entry for freezing air or melted snow. Avoid leaks by checking your shingles while you clean your eaves. You should consider calling in a professional roofer to conduct maintenance and repairs. 5. Cover exposed pipes in unheated areas The tiniest pipes can cause the biggest problems. Frozen water pipes are incredibly common, but they’re inexpensive to prevent. Pad any exposed pipes, in your basement or attics especially, and thaw frozen pipes to avoid future damage. 6. Get your furnace serviced Nothing is worse than an unexpected deep-freeze. To ensure your furnace never fails, schedule routine maintenance. 7. Stay warm by design If home repairs and exterior maintenance aren’t your forte, you can still work warm wonders for your new home. Consider choosing fabric sofas over leather. Use rugs wherever there’s hardwood or laminate flooring. And—this should be a no-brainer—always keep a couple of throw blankets in your living room and bedrooms. Canadians are strong enough to brave the cold. But we shouldn’t have to brave it indoors. Make your shelter stronger by scheduling professional maintenance and checking up on the health of your home. We don’t just want to help you have a smooth move. Two Small Men with Big Hearts cares that you have a happy transition to your new home. For more useful household tips, look through our blog. Read More
At Two Small Men, we strongly value community building. We’ve been proudly donating our professional moving services to hardworking organizations within the communities where we live and operate for years. Read More
Does the thought of tackling a weekend’s worth of household tasks and errands overwhelm you? You’re not alone. Keeping track of moving tasks is easier said than done. We want to be organized. We’ve tried hundreds of times to keep a consistent schedule and plan ahead. We’ve heard hundreds of different approaches and methodologies to staying organized while staying sane. Maybe nothing has stuck with you yet because the methods you’ve tried weren’t simple enough. Kanban is an organizational approach that’s so insanely simple, we’re sad we didn’t invent it ourselves. Kan you explain that, please? Kanban is a $10 word to flaunt at your next trivia game. It simply defines a specific way to visually drag tasks from conception to completion. Next time you see a Toyota, think of Taiichi Ohno, the industrial engineer at the iconic automotive company who pioneered the Kanban method. Onho developed Kanban as a way to match inventory levels to actual consumption, ensuring the perfect amount of product was being produced—no more, no less. This worked wonders for efficiency and profitability. It’s not just a lifesaver for manufacturers anymore. Like many breakthrough inventions, Kanban has evolved and branched out into different forms. The methodology has had a moment in the last few years. It has taken on a simpler form for people who love (or need) to keep themselves organized at home or work. In its simplest form, it organizes your tasks into to-do, in progress, and completed. The essential components of a Kanban board are: Columns. This is how you organize which tasks are at which stage of completion. Your columns can be To-Do, In Progress, and Completed—or more complex than that. Visual signals. Sticky notes, cue cards, tickets, or anywhere else you can write a task and move it across columns on the board. Work in progress (WIP) limits. You can only have a certain number of “in progress” tasks at a time. You decide the number, but remember: the less multitasking you do, the faster you’ll get through each task. Delivery point. This is the “completed” stage. The goal of Kanban is to get your tasks to this point as quickly (and stress-free-ly) as possible. Whether you use corkboard, whiteboard, or an online task management tool, the possibilities for your Kanban style are as endless as your to-do list. What does this have to do with moving? Here’s why we think Kanban works wonders for home moving scenarios: Every task you could possibly think of comes out of your head and onto paper. So, you stop wondering if you missed something important. You can see, at a glance, how many tasks are in progress. Moving tasks across the Kanban board shows tangible progress and keeps you motivated. Need we say more? Kanban is revolutionary for a reason: it turns a load of seemingly unmanageable tasks into a visual, engaging, and sometimes fun activity. Don’t forget to add “Research moving companies” to your Kanban board. Your future self will thank you. You can get that task started by reading about what Two Small Men with Big Hearts does to help home movers. Read More
You’re dusting off old shoeboxes filled with childhood relics. Struggling to find a new purpose for their childhood bedroom. You’ll never be fully prepared for the day your kid moves out.Whether you’re feeling relieved, terrified, or a mix of both, helping your kid move out is a universally difficult experience—and you’re not alone.From student movers to post-grads, everyone needs helpYou might already give the best advice in the world, but it can feel like you’re talking to a brick wall. We believe there’s always a better approach to helping out your kids. It just takes some time and patience—and so will adjusting to a home without your kid.Before you pass on wisdom to (AKA lecture) your young adult, consider these tips for making the transition easier for both of you.1. Help them budgetIt’s tempting to tell your kid to save every penny and funnel everything into retirement. You want the best for them, but you don’t want them to live in total squalor, do you?Even if your kid is street-smart and good with money, they can still benefit from some guidance. Help them set realistic savings goals and build a budget that fits their lifestyle. They need to know that there’s no single “right way” to budget and that researching different approaches will benefit them in the long run.Keep in mind: if you want your kid to take your wisdom seriously, you need to take the emotion out of this discussion. Put all your worries aside and interview them as though you’re a financial advisor. You can start with questions like: What spending categories will govern your budget? Do you plan on keeping an emergency fund? What’s your contingency plan if you lose your income or get evicted? Hear them out, listen to their reasoning, and advise where it’s necessary. They might not apply your advice right away (or even five years from now), but it’ll still live in the back of their minds. Someday, they’ll thank you for it.2. Promote independence before their moveA critical part of this transition is helping your child achieve independence before they start living on their own. If they don’t already, they should start buying all their groceries, booking their health appointments, managing their bank accounts, etc. This level of self-sufficiency is the most basic requirement for moving away from home.If they practice this several months before moving, living alone won’t be that major of a change. They will be more prepared to encounter unexpected problems on their own, and you’ll have more peace of mind.3. Set rules & boundariesYour kid never said that they’d be knocking on your door to ask for money two years from now. But it could happen.You might have promised to take them in temporarily if they lose their apartment, but there’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to support them if they get fired from their job. What’s their contingency plan? How much money can they borrow in times of need?Conversations like this are tough, but you have to have them. Clear expectations are important to maintain a healthy relationship with any adult—including and especially your child.Expectation-setting isn’t just important for financial reasons. You’ll also have to negotiate the time you spend with each other. If you expect your kid to visit for every single holiday on the calendar, you might be disappointed. Decide early which important occasions are reasonable times for them to visit home, and how often they’ll be back for more casual visits.4. Hire a professional moving companyMany people miss out on this seriously stress-relieving solution. You and your family already have a hundred little logistical details to sweat over. Not to mention all the double-checking to see if your kid’s packing list has everything it needs.Consider finding local movers and packers to reduce your family’s workload. A moving company can pack boxes for you, and some even provide packing supplies. You might need more hands for large, heavy furniture or fragile items. Two Small Men with Big Hearts has movers in every province that can transport your kid’s belongings locally or across several provinces.This advice might be a lot to consider, but it’s what you need to give your kid an easy, worry-free journey towards independence.Is your kid ready to go? Help get their move started by getting a free moving estimate. Read More
You’re ready and thrilled to start a new chapter of your life. It’s time to move into a new home with your partner for the first time. It might be a bit of a struggle. Read More
You might not hear much about it if you’re from somewhere bigger or farther away—like Saskatoon or Halifax—but we think Kamloops is painfully underrated.The third-largest city in BC, Kamloops is a long-time haven for Canada’s nature lovers, families, business professionals and adventure-seekers.And it’s more than just a pillow stop on your way to Vancouver. Back in 2017, a total of 1.8 million people visited Kamloops—and thousands of Canadians move to Kamloops every year. We don’t need to tell you that’s huge. Very few cities in Canada are as sought-after as this one.If you’re still looking for reasons to move here, we have a few up our sleeves.1. You love the outdoorsWe might not be the most populous nation, but Canada makes up for it with unmatched amounts of green scenery, lakes, mountains and plenty of fresh, pine-scented air. It’s common knowledge that the Rocky Mountains are the crown jewels of Western Canada. People travel here from oceans away for ski trips, hiking adventures, and relaxing getaways.Kamloops is at the heart of this natural marvel.We’re not just crazy about the mountains here. In Kamloops, there’s always something picturesque to see, whether you love grasslands, hoodoos, canyons or vineyards. Its semi-arid climate promises hot summers, which means plenty of opportunities for boating, fishing, hiking, and especially golfing. Did you know that Kamloops has the highest number of golf courses per capita in Canada? (Most people don’t.) 2. Skiing is your styleYou get the best of all seasons here—summer, spring, fall and winter all have their time to shine in Kamloops. But winter definitely stands out (in the best way possible).Skiers love Kamloops for its abundance of slopes. The Sun Peaks Resort alone has 4,270 acres of skiable terrain. Nestled between Sun Peaks’ award-winning ski hills are unique shops, eateries and cafes in a cozy, European-style village.Imagine hating winter with all of this in your backyard. It might be impossible. 3. You have the travel bugYou can love the peace and tranquillity of Kamloops and still crave city lights. If you ever want a metropolitan getaway, Kamloops is only four hours away from Vancouver. It’s a very scenic drive.While there are plenty of lakes in and around Kamloops, Alberta’s stunning Lake Louise is a five-hour drive away. Seattle isn’t too far, either, if you ever need to go south of the border. 4. You want to grow in your careerKamloops is rich in employment opportunities and enjoys a diverse economy. You can find great careers in financial services, technology, healthcare and many more industries. 5. You like to learnKamloops is home to Thompson Rivers University, the largest post-secondary institution in BC north of Vancouver. With 120 undergraduate and graduate programs, and 50 career diploma and certificate programs, TRU is a great education option.It’s time to find local movers who can take you to Kamloops.Moving to Kamloops soon? Need an affordable mover? We’re ready to make your journey easy. Two Small Men with Big Hearts is a residential moving company that’s happy to reduce your workload. Have the best move possible. Talk to us for more advice or to get an estimate for your move. Read More
At Two Small Men, we’re big believers in the power and importance of community building. We’ve been providing our services, free of charge, to hardworking organizations within the communities where we live and operate for years. It’s important for us to live up to our name in giving back to our fellow Canadians who allow us to do what we do best: namely, moving you into your new home! Read More
We overload our homes with stuff that we don't use. We have attics packed with dusty holiday decorations, garages with camping equipment, basements with old furniture, heirlooms everywhere, etc.Many of us don't even think about the stuff we've accumulated until it's time to move. Then, in the days before we move houses, we're stuck with long, headache-inducing to-do lists.But a little change in perspective can make moving so much easier. Think of moving as a rare opportunity — you can finally make the time to clear out old toys, collectibles, and everything that no longer serves any purpose.It's normal to feel sad, nervous, anxious when you're decluttering — but it can also feel great to donate your old stuff and to make someone else happy. Decluttering also means that you'll start life at your new place with a clean slate and a fresh perspective.Here's how you can declutter your home and pack lighter when you move. 1. Acknowledge the Emotional BaggageDecluttering is usually tough because a lot of your belongings have emotional value. Sometimes, you have two or three versions of the same thing — and maybe this abundance makes you feel safe. Maybe your mother gave you a hand-me-down that you’d feel guilty about throwing away.The golden rule of decluttering is to recognize that stuff is more than just stuff. If you try to analyze the emotional value of everything you throw away, you’ll realize that nearly everything matters to you in one way or another.From there, you can evaluate what stuff matters the most, which memories you want to take with you to your new place, and which memories will stay alive without material objects.It’s okay to take your time. Maybe put them aside for a while until you start preparing for other things. 2. Sort Your StuffDecluttering starts once you decide what goes and what stays. Sorting is an essential step in the moving process — especially if you're hoping for some serious paring down.Things like kitchen utensils or technical gadgets are something that you use every day. If you haven’t used something in over six months, give it away!The same thing goes for clothes that no longer fit you or shoes you haven't worn in the past year. You can easily buy these things if you need them in the future. 3. More Stuff = Longer Packing TimeThink about how much time you're wasting if you decide to take everything with you.Obviously, you can only commit a certain amount of time to packing. We talked about how hard it is to part with stuff that has emotional value — but if you don't use it, you should lose it.Think of every object as a time commitment. When you pack, everything needs to be dusted, maintained and protected from damage. Take note of how much your stuff tends to swallow your time and work accordingly.If it's not worth extra time in your moving process, then it’s time to say goodbye. 4. Pack Easy Stuff FirstIf you procrastinate the decluttering process, the pressure of the task will overwhelm you. We advise you to start early. Renting a portable storage container, like a BigSteelBox allows you to take your time sorting and packing, and acts as secure storage while you’re doing it. BigSteelBox can then move your items to your new home or store them at one of their secure storage facilities for as long as needed.To ease yourself into it, sort through your old mail or go through a laundry basket. As you work, make sure to separate your stuff into three piles: to keep, to toss, to donate. Once you've sorted everything, send these items to the trash can or a donation centre immediately. Plan for which items you'll approach next and work accordingly. 5. GiftS are Great — But They aren’t ObligationsYour friend gifted you that bright glittery "BEST FRIENDS" wall ornament, but you don't really put it anywhere. Just donate it! Just because someone gave you a gift, it doesn't mean you have to hang onto it forever.To help you let go of your emotional attachment, write down in your journal or somewhere what your friend or family member gave you. That way, you're able to honour your relationships by remembering the thought behind each gift without keeping the clutter.Need more expert advice for your upcoming move? Get in touch with our team. You can also ask us for storage services if you have nowhere to put your extra belongings. Read More
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