Moving and Storage in Saskatoon

When a move needs storage in between: what to ask a moving company about storage, coverage and claims, and why the cold matters in Saskatoon.

Possession dates don't always line up. If your things need to wait between homes, ask whether the moving company stores goods itself, how storage is charged, and whether loading into and out of storage is billed as separate moves.

Ask whether the storage is heated in winter, as the Office of Consumer Affairs suggests, and what can't be stored: it says things affected by heat or cold, such as medication, candles and cleaning products, shouldn't go in the truck or into storage. In an average January, Saskatoon's daily low is −20.7 °C, and on about 15 days the high doesn't get above −10 °C (Environment Canada 1991–2020 normals).

The Office of Consumer Affairs suggests a room-by-room inventory of what is being moved, kept somewhere safe. With storage in the middle, that list is how you check that everything came back. It also says claims often must be made within 30 days for local moves and 60 days for long-distance moves, so check your things when they are delivered from storage, and ask what deadline applies to you.

Ask what coverage applies while goods are in storage, and get it in writing. The Office of Consumer Affairs says to find out what insurance covers your things for the whole storage period, and what protects them from theft, fire or water damage. Don't assume the coverage for the move itself carries on in storage: check with the moving company and your home insurer.

Common jobs

• Short-term storage between homes
• Longer-term storage
• Storing part of a household
• Delivery from storage to the new home

Have this ready when you call

• Your move-out and move-in dates
• Roughly how much needs storing
• Anything that must not freeze
• Where you are moving from and to

Common questions