Moving day is approaching and it's time to make a decision as
to what moving company you should choose. You want to find a balance between
price and reputation as well as seek out the best value for your money. You may
also consider moving yourself - after all who will take better care of your
belongings than you regardless of how experienced the Dallas movers are?
On the surface it appears as though moving is a simple process
and the only thing you need is stamina and the ability to lift heavy items but
as you delve into the details you may find that moving yourself is not as
simple as you were hoping it to be. There is a lot of prep work required for a
successful do it yourself move. Below is a checklist, not necessarily in the
order of importance:
1) Van/Truck - your
mode of transportation
·
Some of us have smaller loads that can be
completed with a few trips of a pickup truck. Just be sure to check the weather
for rain or if using a rental truck, make sure the truck has a lift gate and/or
walk board (ramp).
·
If you need to utilize a rental truck, you should
consider whether or not you feel comfortable driving one as it does take some
skills to back up a 26 foot truck into a tight apartment complex.
·
Confirm the daily charge per mile rate with the
truck rental company as well as insurance. If moving a short distance, U-Haul
might be a good option as they offer low daily rates but higher cost per mile.
Longer drives will be cheaper using Budget or if you have large, heavy items,
Ryder or Penske will be a better option as they offer lift gates on their
trucks.
2) Moving equipment –
important for the protection and ease of handling your items. Keep in mind that
you will want to prep your furniture with moving pads and wrap mattresses with
plastic covers to protect from damages.
Hand trucks and dollies come in handy to move efficiently. Listed below
is the basic equipment you will need:
·
Moving pads
·
Tape
·
Hand truck
·
Dolly
·
Straps to secure the load
3) Help - even if most
of your items are lightweight, if it safer to have an extra hand. Moving a bed
alone is hard especially if there are stairs involved. If you don't have a
friend to assist then you can consider hiring a couple of guys. Moving
companies sometimes hire out their helpers or you can check craigslist.
·
Be sure to hire help carefully, you don't want
someone without any moving experience dropping your boxes. Be sure to get a
written confirmation from the helpers as well as cell phone number.
·
Know your abilities: things might look easier
than they actually are; I have moved customers that told me they didn't know
how difficult it was going to be and hired me to help complete the move. Can
you lift heavy items while walking down or up stairs? Can you stack a truck
correctly? Can you drive a truck? Can you dissemble and reassemble? Do you have
the time? Does your building require liability insurance?
Asking the right questions will help you determine if you
really want to do the move yourself.
Upon reading this article, you should be a little bit
clearer as to whether or you not you want to move yourself. Remember if you
decide to skip the fun, Small World Moving is here to help! Just give us a call
for a free no obligation price quote that will be affordable and sometimes even
more cost effective than completing the move yourself.
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