Recommend a Mover in Toronto

February 22, 2007 8:38 AM

Can anyone recommend a reliable moving company in Toronto?

We're moving from a 2-bed to a 2-bed in the same city and I am just too old and broken to do what I've always done in the past -- buy a case of beer and ask every friend I have to help out. I am hyper organized so packing will be taken care of (and I also found some great general moving tips in this thread). Most of our furniture is of the knock-down Ikea variety and we don't own a piano or anything odd like that so I expect professionals could move us in no more than a half-day, maximum.

I'd prefer not to spend more than $400 (including tipping) but have no idea if this is reasonable or not. I have never hired movers in my life so I really have no idea what to look for from a reputable company etc, and google searches and craigslist mostly turn up ads. Also, we're planning on moving mid-week and mid-month and are flexible about specific dates, hopefully this is good for a price-break since we can move "off-peak" hours.

posted by id girl to home & garden (5 comments total)

The Accordion Guy blog in Toronto had an entry about this with lots of comments about good and bad moving companies in the GTA.
Original blog entry.

Amusing follow-up where one of the 'bad' companies called to complain.
posted by Cyrie at 8:47 AM on February 22, 2007

Yeah. Uh, I hate to be an asshole, but no. I think they don't exist. I know Accordion Guy IRL and I've had similarly shitty and incompetent and drawn-out experiences every time I moved with a company. One time my trunk was three weeks late and I got it back because Canada Customs seized it at the US border. May I add that my stuff shouldn't have been entering the US.

I never tried an actual big moving company. They obviously charge a lot more than mobsters and drug runners who might deliver your stuff. My best/most reliable moving experiences always involved a huge amount of my own blood, sweat and tears, a rental van, and a half-dozen disgruntled friends helping out - your previous experiences, too.

Unless you have a job that will pay your moving expenses and handle the insurance, I suggest you interview companies that have big ads in the yellow pages - ones that don't have 4 "A"s before their names.

Good luck!
posted by Mrs Hilksom at 10:18 AM on February 22, 2007

Whatever you do, do not not not use "Two strong men with little brains", or whatever that firm is called.
posted by docgonzo at 10:27 AM on February 22, 2007

I had a good experience with a small mover who primarily does Toronto - Montreal for less than 400, he can probably do intercity. I know him personally. E-mail is in my profile.
posted by Clementines4ever at 11:29 AM on February 22, 2007

A friend of mine just moved, and he highly reccomends Emerald Movers. They're slightly more expensive than normal, but they do an estimate and they have a good reputation with the Toronto BBB, for what it's worth.

Bunch of good natured Irish guys, according to him.
posted by generichuman at 3:19 PM on February 22, 2007