Do-It-Yourself Moving - Minneapolis Apartment Rentals

Do-It-Yourself Moving

DO-IT-YOURSELF MOVING - One way to save hundreds of dollars is to make the move yourself. Here are some guidelines to do-it-yourself moving.

The alternative to hiring a professional moving is handling the move on your own. Although working with an experienced moving company may help ease the burdens of relocation, perhaps you don't want to deal with the contracts and schedules, the game of phone-tag, or the costs.

Depending on how many items you need to pack and move, it may be more cost-effective to do the move yourself.

A small move consisting of 12 boxes and no large furniture may require only a mini-van or a small rental truck and can be accomplished in a matter of hours with a few people.

In these cases, it would be needless to hire a moving company and pay the workers by the hour.

The most successful moves are the ones that are manageable within your time schedule and your manpower, in terms of the distance you'll need to drive and the items you'll need to move.

If the move is considerably larger and the process takes longer to complete than anticipated, especially in long-distance moves, consider the trade-off of missing work and a sizable portion of your paycheck.

Add to this the extra expenses of a self-move, such as fuel, food, lodging, and tolls. How much money will you really be saving?

Factors to Consider

In theory, a self-move may be easier and more economical, however, in practice, this is not always the case. Before deciding whether to handle your own move, here are some factors to consider:

Do you have time to do the entire job?

Packing, loading/unloading, & driving can be very time-consuming. Relocation is a process that cannot be left incomplete with hope of finishing at a later time.

How many items do you need to move?

Larger residential self-moves are more difficult. There may be heavy furniture and appliances that need to be packed and loaded.

Are you physically capable of loading/unloading on both ends of the move?

Assess your situation. Never take on a role too big or over-exert yourself under any circumstances. Cross-country driving is very tedious.

Will you have family & friends whom are willing to help?

Always have people help you through the relocation process. Remember that safety is the primary concern. Anyone handling heavy furniture is susceptible to injuries, even professional movers.

However, moving companies have liability insurance for their employees in case of injury. Obtaining extra insurance for your self-move would be more costly.
Keep in mind that the availability of your family & friends depend on the timing of your move. You may have to consider hiring labor on both ends of your move.

How much is your shipment worth?

Extra coverage may be necessary for your items because the coverage provided by the rental truck company will only protect your items if the damages are caused by vehicular malfunctions, not load shifting or driver-caused accidents. However, insurance companies charge a lot less when you use a professional moving company. Much more damage is expected to occur during a self-move. You're solely responsible for any damages to your items.

Are you licensed to drive a big truck?

You may need a special permit to drive one. Rental trucks handle differently from your average car. They are top-heavy and the braking distances are longer.

Will you be making arrangements for your spouse, children, and pets?

There may not be enough space in the truck for your family and your pets. You'll have to make provisions for them to follow in a separate car or to reserve flight seats. If you are making a long-distance move, factor in the costs of food and lodging.

Options to Consider

Pickup & Delivery Services (PUD)
An alternative to a self-move is a pickup & delivery service. Moving companies that offer this service drop off an adequate-sized trailer at your home. You will have at least two days to load all of your items at your convenience. You will still need the help of several family members and friends or hired labor for your large furniture and boxes. You should have everything packed before the trailer is dropped off. You can control the cost of your move because you only pay for the space in the trailer that you use.

Once you've finished loading, you call the office to schedule the pickup. The trailer is transported by a professional driver to your destination.

You still maintain the majority of responsibilities as you would in a self-move, however this service saves you the troubles of driving an unfamiliar vehicle as well as the difficulties of the tedious long distance drives.

Unlike a rental truck, expenses such as toll fees, gas, flat tires, and engine blowouts are covered by the moving company.

Hiring labor
If you have large furniture and appliances that need to be loaded and you cannot secure the services of enough friends or family members, you should consider contacting a local moving company and hire workers by the hour. They will save you from having to lift heavy items. A big advantage is because they are professional movers they will know how to maximize the space in the trailer. You can save money because you only pay for the space in the trailer that you use.
If you require additional help at your new home, contact a local moving company in that area and reserve workers to be present when your shipment is delivered.

Source from Getamover.com

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