Tips for a successful self-move
Few things in life are more arduous and exhausting than moving. While moving into a new home can be exciting, the process of moving is rarely enjoyable. Such is the reason many people turn to moving companies when it comes time to change addresses. However, moving companies are an added expense and not right for everyone. Many people choose to self-move to save some money.
The process of self-moving can be intimidating, particularly for people whose move will take more than one day. Anticipating problems beforehand is often a great way to ensure the move goes off smoothly and with as little stress as possible.
“Truck rental: When self-moving, many people find themselves in a race against time to get everything packed onto and then off the truck so they can return the truck on time and avoid what is often hefty late fees. Such a race only adds more stress to an already draining day. Particularly for people whose move will be more than one day, inquire about how much it will cost to keep the truck an extra day. This will eliminate the stress of getting everything done by a set time.
“Map your driving route: Even if you’re moving down the street, the route you take might have to be longer than you expect thanks to factors you didn’t consider ahead of time. One of the more common problems self-movers encounter is low overpasses that their truck cannot fit under or roads that don’t allow commercial traffic. This can be disastrous for a number of reasons. If not anticipated beforehand, you won’t realize the obstacle until you drive up to it. Turning around a large truck on a busy road can be challenging and dangerous. Driving on restricted roads can also earn you a traffic ticket.
Also, researching and finding a new route can be time-consuming, a big problem if you need to get the truck back by a certain time. Combat such problems before you encounter them by driving your planned route ahead of time .
“Cover your valuables: When self-moving for the first time, many people are appalled as to just how dirty most rental trucks are. If you haven’t planned on covering up nice furniture or other valuable items beforehand, it can be a big waste of time digging out blankets and covering everything up once you have the truck and are ready to go. With respect to cleanliness, expect the worst out of a rental truck, and protect valuable items accordingly.
“Load the heavy items at the front of the truck: The “front” of the truck is the wall closest to the truck’s cab. Load the heaviest items, such as dressers, tables and furniture, on first. When packed tightly against the wall, these items won’t move around once you start driving. Certain items, such as couches and mattresses, should be turned on end so they take up less space.
“Don’t be a hero: At times, you might be tempted to lift certain items by yourself in the hopes of trimming some time from the move. However, moving is a marathon, not a track meet, and you don’t want to waste energy that you’ll need down the road. Heavier items should always be loaded and unloaded by a minimum of two people.
“Lock it up: While moving trucks come with a lever that keeps the door shut, these levers aren’t locks. Anyone moving overnight should purchase a padlock to put on their truck to protect themselves from theft while they sleep.
“Don’t forget entertainment: Oftentimes, a moving truck has the most basic of radios, with no cassette or CD player and sometimes only an AM radio. Anyone whose move is a considerable distance should bring along a radio with a CD player to help combat the boredom.