Klamath Moving & Storage Company

Making Your Move

Hire a Van Line – Or do-it-yourself?

Any way you look at it, moving your household from one residence to another is tough.  It takes planning and plain old hands-on work.  But understanding your options and making the best choices can take a lot of the stress out of moving.  Mayflower Transit offers the following information to help you with these choices.

Once you know that you’re going to be moving, here are some of the key decisions you’ll have to make up front:

• Should I hire a van line, or rent a truck and do it myself?

• What are the pros and cons of each?

• What are the different options for each? 

Do-it-yourself moving verses hiring a van line

Packing and moving yourself can be a good option for settling into you new place.  And moving this way can save money.  But be sure you understand all the costs and dynamics involved in moving yourself.  Here are some things to consider when deciding between a do-it-yourself move or hiring a professional mover:

• Unanticipated costs – When calculating the cost of renting a moving truck, make sure you factor in expenses for insurance, fuel, tolls and the rental of moving blankets, straps and dollies.  If you need an extra day for loading and unloading, add that to you rental cost.  The move also will require packing tape and paper packing materials, and you might need to purchase boxes from the rental company.  (The time-honored tradition of collecting boxes from the local grocery or liquor store is always an option.  But be careful when gathering used boxes.  It’s not uncommon to find insects or other pests in them.)  Also, be aware that a random collection of boxes won’t stack as easily or efficiently into the truck.
   

• If you choose to hire a van line, moving equipment, accessories, boxes and packing materials may be included in your cost, along with the packing.  Be sure to ask what services and materials are included when you get a full-service move estimate.
   

• Insurance – If you’re moving yourself, find out about getting insurance on the contents of the truck because your renter’s or homeowner’s policy probably doesn’t cover your household goods while they’re in transit.  You can purchase coverage for vehicle damage, damage or theft of your belongings, or even medical and life insurance through the truck rental company (usually) or through your personal insurance agent.  If you’re using a professional van line, the cost of the move will include minimal valuation for damage or theft during loading, transit and unloading.  (Valuation is tariff-based coverage that movers provide while your goods are in their custody and care.  You may purchase additional valuation from your mover.)
   

• Loading and unloading – If you have friends to help with the loading at your old residence, great.  Try to line up some help with the unloading at the other end of the move, too.  In the case of a full-service van line move, a team of movers will load and unload your belongings.
   

• The big truck –Driving a big moving truck can be perilous – especially in bad weather.  Make sure the one who drives the truck is equipped to do so safely.  And be aware that breakdowns can happen.  Make a plan for what you will do if your rental truck should break down en route to the new residence.
   

• No-frills professional moving – Take a look at the do-it-yourself move programs some major van lines are offering now.  For most of these programs you do the packing and loading, a professional driver transports your belongings to your destination, and you do the unloading and unpacking.  Some van line offers this service only for interstate moves (from one state to another).  This kind of do-it-yourself move can save money, eliminate the stress of driving a big truck, and provide peace of mind while your belongings are on the road.  And it can free up the adults in the family to drive a second or third car to the new destination, if need be.
   

• Temporary storage – If, for some reason, you need to store some or all of your household furnishings, compare the cost of rental storage to the cost of storage in a van line’s warehouse.  And find out whether mini-storage rentals include insurance on you belongings.