Frequently Asked Questions — ABE Moving, Victoria, BC

Local moves in Victoria are typically billed hourly. For a two-person crew, market rates generally run $120–$200 per hour depending on the company and time of year. A studio or one-bedroom move usually falls in the $300–$800 range; a two-bedroom home runs $800–$1,400; a three-bedroom home typically $1,400–$2,500. These are market-based ranges — your actual cost depends on how much you have, how far apart your locations are, access factors like stairs and elevator waits, and whether packing is included.

At ABE Moving, we bill in 15-minute increments (not rounding up to a full hour) and have a 1.5-hour minimum on local moves. We give you a free estimate before we start so you have a realistic picture of what to expect. Request a free estimate online or call us and we’ll walk through it with you.

Most of our local Victoria moves are billed hourly, with a minimum of 1.5 hours and 15-minute billing increments after that. Hourly billing is straightforward and fair for most residential moves because the actual time depends on factors we can only estimate in advance — how packed everything is, elevator availability, building access, and so on.

We do offer flat-rate pricing for student moves. Our solo dorm or studio student package starts at $179 flat — no clock running, no hourly surprises. See our student moving page for details.

For summer moves — July, August, and September — book four to six weeks ahead if possible. That’s Victoria’s busiest moving season, coinciding with the academic calendar and the majority of lease turnovers. Availability fills up quickly, especially around UVic move-in weekend in early September.

For moves in the spring (April to June) or fall (October to November), two to three weeks is usually enough lead time. If your move is tied to a fixed date — a property closing, a care home transition, or a lease end — book as soon as you have that date confirmed.

Every ABE Moving local move includes wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes (so they travel on the hanger, wrinkle-free), moving blankets on all furniture, shrink wrap on all upholstered pieces, and five free moving boxes. You don’t need to source any of these separately.

Packing labour is separate — we can pack some or all of your home at an hourly crew rate plus materials. If you want to pack yourself but need supplies, we have boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and packing paper available through our moving supplies service.

Our crew comes equipped for the full range of Victoria building situations — walk-up apartments in Fernwood, high-rises in James Bay, heritage homes in Fairfield with narrow doorways, and everything in between. We use furniture dollies, stair-climbing equipment, and moving straps designed for heavy and awkward pieces. For buildings that require elevator booking windows, we work within whatever time slots you’ve reserved and coordinate with building management when needed. If you have specific access concerns, let us know when you book so we can plan accordingly.

ABE Moving carries insurance coverage on items we move. If something is damaged in our care, contact us directly — we’ll assess the situation and make it right. For items of high sentimental or monetary value — antiques, heirlooms, fine art — we recommend discussing your specific coverage needs before the move. Some pieces benefit from a declared-value arrangement or third-party insurance. We’ll walk you through the options during your free consultation. For guidance on how we handle fragile and irreplaceable items specifically, see our article on packing antiques and family heirlooms.

Yes. Our crew is equipped with hand tools and power tools for furniture disassembly and reassembly. We photograph the piece before disassembly so reassembly is accurate, and we keep all screws and small parts in labeled bags to make sure nothing goes missing. Flat-pack furniture, bed frames, shelving units, and most standard furniture is straightforward. If you have a particularly complex piece, let us know in advance.

Yes. Items that can’t or don’t need to be boxed are moved using heavy furniture blankets for protection and straps for securing during transit. For heavy or awkward pieces — large mirrors, gym equipment, oversized artwork — we use the appropriate equipment for the job. For truly irreplaceable or high-value items, custom-built crates are an option worth discussing. If you’re not sure how something should travel, ask us when you book and we’ll give you a straight answer.

Yes — and we do it well. Our packing crew uses sturdy boxes, heavy-duty tape, bubble wrap, and packing paper, with each item type handled according to what it needs. Fragile items are individually wrapped; dishes go into reinforced dish barrel boxes with cushioning between each layer; clothing stays on hangers in wardrobe boxes; artwork and mirrors go into mirror boxes. Every box is labeled with its contents and destination room, which makes unpacking straightforward.

We offer both full packing (we pack the entire home) and partial packing (we handle the kitchen, the fragile items, or whatever you specify — you do the rest). For full details, see our professional packing services page.

Yes. For safety and legal reasons, we don’t transport hazardous materials — gasoline, propane tanks, paint, fireworks, or other flammables. We also recommend that valuables like cash, jewelry, important documents, and high-value electronics travel with you rather than on the truck. Weapons, ammunition, and pets require separate arrangements. If you’re not sure about a specific item, call or email us before moving day — it’s much easier to plan around something in advance than to figure it out on the day.

Yes. A few tips that help: water plants a few days before the move rather than the morning of (soggy soil is heavy and unstable), place them in sturdy boxes with air holes, and secure the plant so it doesn’t shift. We keep plants upright and in a monitored spot during transit. For very large or delicate plants, let us know in advance so we can plan the right space for them in the truck.

Yes. For a safe move, use sturdy double-corrugated boxes, wrap each bottle individually, and pack them snugly so bottles can’t shift. Label the box clearly — “Fragile – Alcohol” on multiple sides. If you’d rather have us pack your bar and cellar, we’re happy to do that as part of a packing service. We’ll handle it carefully.

Yes — we’ve built specific pricing for student moves because the standard hourly model doesn’t always work well for a single dorm room or studio. Our solo student move starts at $179 flat rate — one room, one price, no clock running. We also offer split-truck options for two to four students moving out of the same building or area on the same day, which reduces the cost for everyone involved.

Student discounts apply across all services: 5% off standard moves and 10% off full-service packages that include packing or storage. Show your student ID at booking. For full details on all our student options, see our student moving page.

Yes — senior moves are a significant part of what we do, and we approach them differently than a standard residential move. Moving a home that has been lived in for decades requires patience, care with items that carry real sentimental value, and an understanding that sorting through a lifetime of belongings takes time. Our crew works at the client’s pace, asks before packing, and labels everything clearly.

We offer full senior moving packages that include packing, disposal and downsizing coordination, and in-home consultation at no obligation. We received the 2025 BBB Torch Award for Ethics from the Better Business Bureau of Vancouver Island — an award that reflects the standard we hold ourselves to on every move. For more information, visit our senior moving page.

Yes. Our storage service works differently from a self-storage locker. We come to you, pick up your belongings, and take them to our secure climate-controlled facility in Malahat — monitored with video surveillance and alarm systems 24 hours a day. When you’re ready, we deliver everything back to your new address. You never need to arrange your own transport or make multiple trips.

This is particularly useful for students with a gap between semester leases, for families in the middle of a renovation, or for anyone between moves with belongings that need somewhere safe. For full details and pricing, see our storage page.

Yes. We specialize in both Victoria–Vancouver and Victoria–Calgary moves. Victoria to Vancouver runs $2,500–$4,500 for a standard two-bedroom load including BC Ferries costs; Calgary and Interior BC runs $3,000–$7,000 depending on volume and destination. These are market ranges — your actual cost depends on how much you’re moving and exactly where you’re going.

Long-distance moves require more planning than local moves — scheduling around ferry availability, coordinating delivery windows, and making sure items are packed for a longer transit. We’ve done this route many times and understand what it takes. See our Victoria to Calgary page or Victoria–Vancouver page for more detail, or call us to discuss your move specifically.

First, double-check your booking confirmation — verify the date, time, and contact details. Check for any missed calls, texts, or emails from the company, since delays from traffic or logistics sometimes come with a message you may have missed.

If your movers genuinely aren’t coming, call the company directly. If you’re unable to resolve it with them, ABE Moving offers emergency same-day and next-day bookings based on availability. We understand how disruptive a no-show is on moving day and we’ll do everything we can to help. Call us at 250-220-9334.

The complaints we hear most often about the moving industry — and that we’ve built our whole approach around avoiding — are: damaged or lost items due to poor packing technique; overcharging through hidden fees, estimate discrepancies, or vague invoices; late or failed arrivals; poor communication; and unprofessional behaviour from crew members.

At ABE Moving, we give you a clear estimate before we start, bill in 15-minute increments, send a professional crew that treats your belongings with care, and answer the phone when you call. We’ve been doing this since 2005 and our reputation depends on every move going well.

Yes, absolutely. No job is too small. If you need two chairs and a bookshelf moved across town, or you’re rearranging a home office, we’ll send the right crew for the job. Our 1.5-hour minimum applies on local moves, which covers most small moves comfortably. Call us or send an estimate request and we’ll give you an accurate picture of what it will cost and how long it will take.