Whether you are moving across town or across the country, orchestrating a move is a lot of work, which requires planning and organisation. While it is possible to organise a seamless move, to do so homeowners should start well in advance, even when the temptation is to procrastinate. From deciding on a moving day to packing, moving requires several weeks to plan, and if doing it alone, a good portion of your day for many weeks in the lead up to the move.
Other decisions homeowners have to consider include whether to hire removalists or attempt to move your entire life to a new address on your own. There are many benefits to hiring a removalist over opting for a DIY approach but if going it alone a good plan should always include renting a moving van or truck. With the right vehicle at your disposal, you can better pack and move your belongings without worrying that your things will become damged in transit.
Keep reading to learn how to choose an appropriate moving van when you’re moving home.
Budget Your Expenses
When working out a budget for your move, be sure to include supplies such as boxes, linen and plastic covers, packing tape, etc.. If hiring a moving company, you will find companies that charge their customers a flat rate for moving and other moving companies that might charge customers by the kilometre.
Whether moving with a removalist or adopting a DIY approach, consider including insurance to cover any unexpected damages. For a move within town, the likelihood of your items getting damaged is lower. However, moving across the country with furniture, fragile pieces, and more significantly artwork might require coverage in case of damage due to moisture, rodents or from things moving around in the vehicle en route.
Estimate The Number Of Rooms Being Moved
Before renting a van through a removalist or a self-service company, make sure you have an estimate of how many rooms you will need to have moved. Most moving companies use this as a measure to determine cost but while you might live in a four bedroom home, you might not have that many items. To guarantee you are not paying for too much space, consider getting a rough estimate of how many boxes all of your belongings will fit into comfortably.
Rent In Advance
Those looking to rent a moving van or a removalist should plan early. Some websites suggest that those looking to move lease their van or set a date with a removalist at least 1-2 weeks in advance. However, the earlier that homeowners make their reservation, the better simply because if there are any changes in your plan you have time to adjust your schedule.
Take Pictures Of Your Belongings
Before packing items, homeowners should take pictures of their belongings. This is a good idea as those homeowners going with a removalist can protect themselves in case their belongings are broken or are damaged in some way during the move. Furthermore, your pictures also act as an inventory of the items that are being moved to the new location, so if anything is missing, there is a record of it.
Make Sure To Fill Up
If leasing from a self-service moving company, make sure to budget money to fill up the rental upon dropping it off. The cost of filling up for you is less expensive if you do it yourself, as opposed to being charged for the rental company to do it for you. Even if you travel within town and use very little gas, make sure to fill up before returning the rental vehicle.
Moving Day Madness
To avoid any delays in your move, pick up the rental the evening before you start out if moving self-service. Also, have a route for getting to your new destination, and get up early to avoid heavy traffic and be aware of any bad weather that may impact your move. Alternatively, if using a removalist, consider calling the day before to confirm your move to ensure there are no surprises on the day of your move.
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