Posts Tagged ‘moving truck rental’
March 16th, 2011 | 
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Why are so many of us in need of moving cheap? So much has happened in the last few years that have changed the way we see our homes. Times have gotten so tight and look like they are just going to get tighter before these hard times are over. Is your home a comfortable place to live or is it a financial black hole.
If you are moving to make your budget stretch farther than getting a full service moving company is also going to be out of the question. Moving cheap is the only answer. If you are getting ready for moving cheap this year then here is a list for you to get started with.
Moving Cheap How to List
1. Schedule your moving truck rental early. Don’t wait for the last moment to try to get a moving truck. These days moving trucks are going fast. If you call a rental truck company and they can’t guarantee a truck for you at the location you want on your dates then you need to call another company until you have your guarantees. There is a well known moving truck rental company that is now keeping their customers guessing. They won’t tell you where to pick up your truck until the last minute and you could end up driving an hour each way to get it. Don’t use this company unless you have no other choice. You will pay extra in miles and gas.
2. Exhaust all sources of free boxes first. There are so many ways to get free boxes, you just need to ask. Go to all sorts of stores, hospitals, and neighbors that have recently moved. I have extensive posts about where to find moving boxes on this site to give you ideas.
3. Get friends and relatives to help you pack the truck. Sometimes it can be hard to ask for help, but if your money is tight you are going to have to do it. I have moved several times with just my husband and I doing all of the heavy lifting and I can tell you that moving this way isn’t as much fun as it sounds. Even if you can get a few people to help for an hour or two with your heaviest furniture it is worth it.
4. Plan everything perfectly. Make sure you are packed before you get the truck and you can move straight from one place to the other with as little hotel stays as possible.
Find the cheapest ways of doing everything at all times to keep your move cheap.
When it comes time to move you have a lot of things you need to get done before you can head out on the road. One of the major considerations is whether to use a rental truck, like U-Haul, Ryder or Budget; or to rent a moving container, like Pods. Here are some things you might want to think about when making that decision.
Pros of using a rental truck
One advantage of using a rental truck is that you have control of what you are moving, and how it is moved. You can pack it like you want, which is great to be able to do. Another advantage is, compared to using a moving company that packs everything for you, it is fairly cheap. You can take your time moving if you need to as you drive across town or across country. You also know exactly where your stuff is all the time. That can give some peace of mind compared to putting it in a container and saying so long.
Cons of using a rental truck
You usually have a shorter time frame to pack a truck than you would a self-service container. Loading a tuck is harder because you usually have to take your stuff up a ramp to get it into the truck. As fun as it may sound, driving a big truck across the country can be difficult, and unless you have someone following in another vehicle, you are limited on space for passengers. Having a second vehicle can free you somewhat as you travel to a point on your trip, but paying for gas on two vehicles can be pretty spendy. Usually the truck needs to be filled far more often than the follow vehicle. Towing a vehicle sucks even more gas, and in our experience can mess up the alignment on your car.
You also will need to decide who is going to drive the truck, and how the driving will be split, if it will be. Finding a place to park a truck is also a pain, and you run the risk of annoying the other patrons at the local McDonald’s when you take up three or more spaces with your U-Haul and a possibly a car in tow.
Pros of a self-service storage container
One major advantage of a self-service storage container, like moving PODS, is that they sit on the ground and are pretty easy to load. You usually have up to a month to pack the thing, and once you are done, you just have it picked up and you don’t have to deal with it until you reach your destination. You also can have the container stored indefinitely so you can take more time traveling and even sight see more easily. You don’t have to worry that something will happen to your stuff while you are driving. You don’t have to unpack a truck and then repack your stuff into storage if you don’t need it immediately. You save money on fuel because trucks are gas guzzlers. If you are moving with more than about three people, such as a family of five, a regular car or truck or whatever is much more comfortable than a big 20 foot tuck.
Cons of a self-service storage container
You may not be able to have a container sitting in your apartment parking lot or, for business use, outside your business for a month as you pack. You can’t just move the container if the landlord or another tenant doesn’t like it or needs to access the parking spaces. If you own your own home, there may be a Home Owner’s Association and they may not allow a container to sit on your lot, even if it is your own driveway. For short distance moves, a truck may be a better bet since you may end up paying less than you would for a container rental. Once the container is picked up, you have a harder time getting to your possessions.
Conclusion
Basically, to decide whether to get a U-Haul or a moving PODS container, do your homework. Check prices for the size of the truck or container you need, the distance of your move, and the cost of other things, like gas, and how fast you need to move, vs. how much freedom you need if you want to explore as you move to your new home.
Posted in Moving Pods, Moving Truck Rentals | 
Tags: moving pod, moving truck rental | 
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