Moving yourself has several
advantages over hiring someone to move
your things: it is cheaper, you have more
flexibility about the timing of the move,
and strangers will not be handling your
prized possessions.
Be careful, though, because
unless you are Arnold Schwarzenegger, a
long day of awkward bending and heavy
lifting can leave you with a sore (or
injured) back.
Here are a few tips that
should help make moving yourself easier:
Rent a two-wheeled
hand-truck and a few moving
dollies to make trips back and
forth from the truck easier.
Wrap your furniture
with padded moving blankets (you
can rent these, too), taping the
blankets closed with tape before
you put the piece on one of the
dollies.
Make sure your truck
has a loading ramp. This will
enable you to roll your hand
truck and dollies right on to the
truck without having to lift
anything.
Don't forget to make
arrangements with the management
of the place you are leaving as
well as your new home. They may
have strict rules about move-in
times and procedures because of
insurance regulations.
On the day before
the move, do a walk-through of
the path you will have to follow
with your boxes and furniture so
that you will be prepared for
navigating narrow doorways,
corners or steps.
We have had good luck with
Ryder, but have not heard any major
complaints about any other name-brand
company. Ryder gets about $95 per day for
a 15 ft. van with a loading ramp and an
automatic transmission. These are not
hard to drive, but we recommend you have
a friend guide you into parking spaces. A
hand truck will run you about $10, each
dolly will cost about $10, and mover's
blankets will cost about $1 each.
