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Compare dates before choosing a booking
Write down the dates you can move, when keys are available and when the old property must be empty. A weekday only helps if you can take time away from work and both properties allow access. A lower quote does not save money if you must pay for an extra night elsewhere or make an additional trip. Include those personal costs in the comparison before changing your date. The goal is a workable total plan, not choosing a particular day because a general article calls it cheaper.
Send the same room list, large-item inventory and access notes when requesting alternative dates. Ask the provider to explain any price difference. It could reflect a different vehicle, a different scope, a minimum booking or terms for that date. Do not assume that a weekday discount or a weekend surcharge exists. Check availability and get the quote in writing before cancelling an existing arrangement. Keep the estimate separate from the eventual bill if the service is priced by actual hours.
For apartments and condos, speak with both building contacts before comparing arrival times. Record the permitted moving window, elevator reservation and loading entrance for each address. An available crew does not guarantee that the building will allow the move at the same time. If one building allows entry only after the other reservation ends, tell the team before booking so waiting and travel can be included in the plan.
A date-comparison checklist
Use this table to compare dates for your actual route. It is a planning checklist, not a claim about market-wide prices or availability.
| Option | Check first | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| A weekday | Time off work and both building schedules | A different date can have personal costs as well as moving costs |
| A weekend | Written rate, availability and building access | Do not assume either a surcharge or an unrestricted moving window |
| Month-end | Lease handover and key collection times | Fixed deadlines can limit the order of the move |
| A winter date | Weather plan and safe access | Snow or ice can affect the route from the vehicle to the door |
| A summer date | Your household schedule and crew availability | School or work arrangements may decide which dates are practical |
| A date with an extra stop | The full route and inventory for each stop | Additional carrying and driving belong in the estimate |
Ask about rescheduling terms and minimum hours before confirming any date.
How this works with hourly moving rates
Optimum publishes three moving packages: $100 an hour for two movers with a small cargo van, $120 an hour with a medium truck, and $130 an hour with a large truck. These published figures are not a promise about every date or a fixed total for the move. Ask which package applies to your inventory and date, and have the minimum booking and any additional terms confirmed in writing.
Fuel, mileage, furniture assembly and disassembly, and insurance are included in the moving packages. Packing materials and 13% HST are extra. Confirm when billable time starts and ends, how travel and waiting are treated and which extra services you have requested. A package that includes fuel does not mean every minute spent travelling is unbilled. If you need packing or cleaning, ask for those tasks to be itemized so you can compare the moving work separately.
Access can change the hours needed without changing the hourly rate. Tell the team about a long walk from the loading space, a tight staircase or limited elevator time. Do not assume a short drive means a short job. Keep boxes labelled and ready, and arrange a clear route through both homes. Those are details you can control even when your handover date is fixed.
Ways to make any moving day cheaper
These practical preparations help the crew understand the job and reduce avoidable work on the day.
Book the elevator early
In a condo, book the service elevator at both ends as soon as you have a date. Ask how long the booking lasts and whether pads and a certificate of insurance are needed.
Be fully packed before the crew arrives
Have boxes taped, labelled and ready in an agreed area. Tell the team before booking if you need packing help rather than adding it unexpectedly during loading.
Get rid of things before the move
Every item you donate or remove before move day is an item nobody carries twice. Junk removal before the move can shrink the truck you need.
Pick the right truck size
A truck that is too small means a second trip. Tell the mover the real number of bedrooms and the big pieces, even if you plan to get rid of a few things.
Avoid rush hour
Discuss the arrival window and route with the team. Traffic varies; an early start is not a guarantee of a shorter journey.
Clear the parking
Arrange an approved loading place with the property contact. Check local restrictions rather than using cones or another car to reserve public road space without permission.
Planning a move on a busy day
If your lease or closing date is fixed, start with that deadline. Ask the property contact when keys can be collected and returned, and whether any flexibility is actually available. Do not move items into the new property before you have permission. Share the confirmed times with the moving team. If you want to transport small belongings yourself, keep a separate inventory so the quote accurately describes what the crew will move.
Arrange cleaning after the belongings have been removed, allowing access for a separate visit. Ask for the moving and cleaning schedule to be confirmed together if you want both services. Keep essential documents, medication, keys and overnight items with you. A clearly sequenced plan makes the handover easier to manage even when there is no cheaper date available. Sending a request starts the conversation; it does not reserve the date until the booking details have been agreed.
Check your moving date with us
Send your date, both postal codes and the size of your home. We confirm the truck, the arrival window and a time estimate, and tell you if a nearby day would run more smoothly.
Your questions, answered
A few more things to know
Is it cheaper to move on a weekday?
It depends on the quote for your job and date. Ask for an alternative weekday quote with the same inventory, vehicle and services. Compare minimum hours, extras and your own time-off costs before deciding.
Should I avoid moving at month-end?
Only if another date works for your keys, lease or closing arrangements. Confirm building access and ask the team about available dates. There is no guaranteed price saving from changing the calendar alone.
Is winter a good time to move?
It can work if safe access and an appropriate weather plan are in place. Discuss rescheduling terms, clear the agreed route to the door and tell the team about any access issue. Do not assume winter automatically means a cheaper quote.
Do you charge more on weekends or at month-end?
The published vehicle packages are $100, $120 and $130 per hour. Confirm the rate for your date, minimum hours and any other terms before booking. HST and packing materials are extra.
How far ahead should I request a moving quote?
Once you have a workable date and enough detail about the inventory and access. If the date is not final, say so and ask how availability and booking changes are handled.
What time of day should I start?
Choose a window that fits pickup, delivery, keys and building reservations. Ask the team to review the route and likely waiting. A morning start is not suitable for every building or handover.
Can I move boxes myself and hire movers for the furniture?
Yes, describe the furniture and any other items you want the crew to handle. Keep your own boxes separate and confirm whether you need a vehicle package or separately quoted loading and unloading help.