To prepare for long-term storage, sort your belongings, clean them, let them dry, and identify each box. Keep with you what you will need during the storage period. Before picking up, also agree on access, protection, and delivery conditions with the company.
Long-term storage: deciding what to keep and what to discard
Start with the items you might need before your furniture arrives. Documents, a seasonal garment, or a tool can become difficult to find once they’re stacked in the back of a box among all your furniture.
Plan for three groups: the items to store, those to keep with you, and those you want to get rid of. Make this selection before packing. This will avoid spending time and space on items you no longer want to keep.
- Keep your important documents, keys and medicines with you.
- Put aside the clothes and necessary items for your temporary stay.
- Identify the items you might need before the final delivery.
- Declare fragile or valuable items before they are taken for handling.
- Remove any food or products that may spill or give off odors.
At NordTrans, prohibited substances, items that are likely to spontaneously ignite or harm the hygiene of the warehouse are refused. Goods showing signs of infestation are also refused. In case of doubt about a product, have it checked for eligibility before picking it up.
Clean and prepare the furniture before packaging
Remove the furniture and remove any items left in the drawers. Clean the surfaces using a method suitable for the material, then let them dry completely. Do not immediately cover a furniture item that is still damp after cleaning.
For electrical appliances, follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding cleaning, preparation, and storage. Plan for any necessary power outages before the team arrives. Work on electrical, gas, or plumbing installations must be organized on your part.
Identify the removable parts: table legs, tables, bed elements and other pieces that could be separated for transportation. Agree with the company what you are preparing and what the movers will do on-site.
Place the screws and fasteners in a bag labeled with the name of the furniture. Keep the assembly instructions if you have them. Photograph the complex assemblies before you disassemble them to keep a reference when you reinstall them.
For furniture that already has marks on it, take some photos of its general condition and the affected areas as well. The goal is to have a clear record before the transport and to be able to recognize each piece upon its return.
Packing and identifying the boxes for several months
Use sturdy, well-maintained boxes that are suitable for the contents. Arrange the books and heavy objects in small boxes. Avoid containers that are overloaded, deformed, or impossible to close properly.
Package fragile items individually and prevent them from moving inside the container using an appropriate protective material. Inform the company about their presence: the material preparation of an item and its eligibility for insurance are two questions to be checked separately.
Write a number, the original item and a brief description of the contents on each box. For example, «Kitchen — box A — utensils» will be more useful than «Miscellaneous» when you are looking for an item several months later.
- Write the information on the top and on one side.
- Identify fragile boxes without limiting yourself to this single mention.
- Avoid mixing objects from different parts in the same container.
- Keep the parts of the same piece of furniture grouped together and identified.
- List the boxes to which you may need access during storage.
For televisions, computers, and audio systems, check the packaging requirements before closing the boxes. NordTrans’s contract requires the original packaging for the electronic devices to be eligible for an insurance claim.
Making an inventory and organizing access to the property
Your inventory can be simple: a box number, its contents, and the main furniture entrusted to the company. Keep a copy with you. Add any useful photos and note down the disassembled parts that come with each piece of furniture.
NordTrans offers a storage service in Montreal in a heated and ventilated space at 99, rue Chabanel Ouest. The goods are placed in a common warehouse, with separation barriers to delimit the space of each customer.
To view your belongings during storage, send a request [email protected] to arrange a time with the team. If you plan to collect certain items before others, explain this need at the time of preparation and have the details confirmed.
NordTrans can also take photos during unloading at the warehouse and during reloading for final delivery, upon request. These images complement your inventory and provide you with a reference to the goods entrusted to you.
Plan the duration, protection, and final delivery
Indicate the estimated duration, even if your move date remains approximate. Ask how to extend the storage period and when to provide the necessary information to arrange the delivery.
At NordTrans, the floor space occupied serves to determine the price. The first month of storage is free, and billing begins monthly after the second month. Confirm the applicable price by phone before booking, as well as the cost of transportation.
The same basic protection applies during the move and storage, subject to the terms and exclusions of the contract. Please consult the information on the’insurance and the protection of property, Especially for items that you have packed yourself or that require special packaging.
When the new address is ready, transmit the floor plans, access points, and delivery instructions. Keep your inventory at hand to check the goods received and quickly report any anomalies found.
Frequently asked questions
Can I store my belongings for several months?
Yes. NordTrans offers storage for a few days, several months or longer. Specify the intended duration and confirm the terms before picking up the items.
Do I need to know the exact surface to be booked?
Not necessarily. At NordTrans, the surface area can be determined after the goods are unloaded and arranged in the warehouse.
Can I come to see my belongings during the storage period?
Yes, by appointment with the team. Send your request [email protected] to arrange a time.
Can NordTrans deliver my goods after storage?
Yes. Collection, storage and delivery to the agreed address can be arranged together, at different times.
