Is a Self-Move Right for You?
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The essentials
The two essential ingredients of a successful move are
Loading/Unloading and hauling
capacity. Whether you rely on friends and borrowed
vehicles or hire local college students and rent a truck
to do the job, you need not only enough strong helpers
but also the right hauling capacity. If you lack either
of these, it's best not to self-move.
Convincing friends can be tricky. If the move is short,
the weather cooperative and you have enough help to make
the work light, a move can actually be fun. A quick
shuffle of furniture followed by pizza and a
house-warming party is a do-it-yourself mover's dream.
But consider all that could go wrong: a strained back, a
broken heirloom, and, worst of all, bruised friendships.
Is it really cheaper?
Consider whether moving yourself actually makes economic
sense. If you are moving a long distance, calculate the
cost of travel: gas, tolls, meals, lodging, and so on.
Add in the costs of renting a truck large enough to
handle all your belongings, insuring valuable
possessions, hiring additional help, and even the cost
of pizza at the post-move party. Then get some estimates
from professional moving companies and decide how costs
compare with a self-move. If a professional move will
cost you more money, ask yourself if it's still worth
the decrease in stress and hassle. In the end, you might
find it's easier and more worthwhile to hire
professionals. But if you decide it makes sense to take
on a self-move, the next step is to examine the details.
The three "Ps" of moving
Pack: Well before moving day arrives, pack up everything
but the bare essentials in your old home. Well-packed
goods take up less space, are easier to handle and are
less likely to be damaged.
People: Line up as many people as you can at both ends
of the move. More people means less strain on each
individual and a faster move. Even so, be sure to match
individuals with tasks. The people you ask to carry the
couch up two flights of stairs should be in good shape.
Power: Make sure the truck is big enough for the job.
The goal should be to have enough space to make loading
and unloading easy, and to complete the move in one
trip.
Following is a guideline for estimating how much truck
you'll need.*
10-foot truck: 1 to 2 furnished rooms
14- to 15-foot truck: 2 to 3 furnished rooms
18- to 20-foot truck: 4 to 5 furnished rooms
22- to 24-foot truck: 6 to 8 furnished rooms
* Equipment varies from one company to the next, so ask
for advice from your truck rental representative.
Choosing professional movers
Choosing a moving company may seem like an overwhelming
task. Where do you start? What qualities should you look
for? The following checklist summarizes the steps in
choosing a moving company.
Give yourself plenty of time
Planning well in advance makes it more likely you'll
find a good company, and also gives you time to figure
out how much the move will cost. Start your research at
least eight to ten weeks before the move.
Ask family and friends for recommendations
Were the movers on time? Were they professional? Did
they have enough people and the right equipment for the
job? Did they damage anything? If you need more
information than your friends can provide, contact local
consumer protection groups for performance records on
movers. If your employer is transferring you, ask your
relocation agent.
Determine the size, distance, and timing of your move
How much do you want to spend on your move? How much
work do you want to do yourself? Knowing these important
facts will help you get a cost estimate and decide what
company is best for you.
Cost factors
Size: The weight of your move. The more weight, the more
cost.
Distance: The number of miles you're traveling and the
states of your old home and your destination. Some
carriers only serve certain states.
Time: The time of year you decide to move. Moving during
peak times, such as the summer or holidays, means that
you'll pay more for your move.
Self-service vs. full-service
The final major cost factor when hiring a professional
moving company is deciding between a "self-service" and
a "full-service" move. In self-service moves, the
company transports your belongings from old house to
new, but you have to pack and unpack everything at both
ends. In a full-service move, the moving company not
only transports everything, but also packs and unpacks
all your household goods. Most people who hire
professional movers choose full-service. Although you
could do a self-service move to save money,
long-distance moves with lots of heavy, valuable items
are best left to the professionals. In addition, cargo
insurance for do-it-yourself moves is limited to $25,000
and covers only damage caused by such disasters as
crashes or fire
Obtain a written cost estimate
Most companies give free estimates, so be sure to ask
ahead of time. If the estimate is not binding, however,
the final cost may differ. Factors that might affect the
cost of the move include:
Packing: Many moving companies will help you pack, but
keep in mind that help costs money. If you want to save
money, it's best to pack as much as you can on your own,
leaving only the hardest tasks for the movers.
Appliances: Many movers will disconnect major appliances
(for example, washing machine, ice maker) at your old
home and reconnect them at your new home. However,
movers typically charge for this service.
Staircases: Do you love your new four-story house?
Movers won't. Expect additional costs based on the
number of staircases they need to use.
Pianos: Despite the beautiful music they make, pianos
are big, unwieldy objects. Movers typically charge extra
for each piano they move. Many companies will provide
quotes online.
Determine what items moving companies will not transport
Some common examples include hazardous items such as
paint, cleaners, aerosol cans, or gasoline; personal
valuables such as jewelry, important documents or furs;
pets; and plants.
Decide on coverage
Valuation is carrier liability and is usually based on
weight. Valuation should be not be confused with
insurance. The coverage only applies to cases in which
carrier negligence can be proven. It covers your
property by assessing the three different value
categories described below:
Standard coverage: Movers provide their customers with
minimum insurance for every item. This coverage is based
on weight alone, and is required by law to be at least
$.60 per pound. So if your 1 lb. Babe Ruth autographed
baseball was destroyed during the move, standard
coverage would only insure it for $0.60.
Assessed value coverage: This coverage is based on how
much you must pay to cover the assessed value of any of
your property if it's damaged due to carrier negligence.
If the computer you bought for $2,500 now goes for $300,
the current price is all that's covered.
Full replacement value coverage: This coverage is based
on how much you must pay to cover the full replacement
value of any of your property if it is damaged due to
carrier negligence. Under this coverage, the carrier
must pay to obtain a new replacement, no matter the
cost, of any piece of property damaged. |
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