Professional movers provide a valuable service
by moving thousands of people to new homes each year. While almost no move is
ever completely stress-free, when you use a professional mover, all of the
"heavy lifting" will be done for you. Movers will pack your
possessions, load them into the truck, drive the truck to your destination and
unload and unpack your shipment at your new home. Movers can also provide you
with warehouse storage, move your piano up and down flights of stairs,
transport your automobile, and service your appliances to insure their safe
transportation.
If you are considering moving yourself, especially if you will be moving
interstate, you should ask a lot of questions and compute the actual costs of
self-moving before you sign an agreement with a truck rental company. The information
in this part of the Consumer Guide will help you to calculate self-move costs
and give you a basis of comparison when evaluating the price and value of
professional moving.
Rental Charge. For an interstate move, you will need to provide
the origin and destination cities and the date you plan to move to the truck
rental company. Depending on equipment availability in certain locations,
prices may vary. Peak season runs from the end of May until the end of
September, so truck rental rates may be higher during that time of year. Most
people move at the beginning of a month or the end of the month, so prices may
be even higher during these times. The rental charge you are quoted includes a
rental deposit that may be refunded depending on the condition of the vehicle
upon its return, and a certain number of free miles (approximately 10% greater
than the estimated actual mileage). The rental charge does not include state
taxes or other equipment you may need to complete your move, such as cartons,
boxes, pads and dollies. You'll need a day or two to pack and another to
unpack, so be sure your quote includes these extra days plus the days you will
need for driving.
Make sure you rent the right size truck! Remember, efficiently loading a truck
is an art, not a science. After a long, hard day of loading all of your worldly
possessions into the back of a rental truck, the last thing you need to
discover is that you have run out of space but not out of furniture.
Automobiles. How many cars do you have? Are you going to drive or
tow the vehicle(s)? A trailer package from a rental company can cost an
additional $150, plus another $45 for the trailer hitch along with a $200
deposit depending on how many days you are renting the trailer. If you are
driving your own vehicle, you'll need to factor in wear and tear on your
vehicle (34.5¢ a mile is the current standard mileage rate according to the
IRS).
Insurance Charges. It may cost an additional $20 a day or more
for insurance during your move. Check the policies that are offered carefully.
Most car insurance policies do not cover truck rentals, so you will need to
purchase separate liability insurance and property damage insurance. Also, if
you tow your car, you'll need separate insurance to cover any damage that
occurs during the towing. Most of these additional policies do not cover you
against theft; so if your goods are stolen (truck theft can be a problem if you
are leaving the fully loaded vehicle unattended while you spend the night at a
hotel) you may not have any protection.
Pads and Dollies. You'll need to rent pads so you do not scratch
your furniture. Pads generally cost $10 a dozen; with a 26 foot truck (four
bedroom house), you will need at least 3-dozen pads. You may need appliance
dollies, utility dollies, or furniture dollies to help move heavy furniture and
appliances. Each dolly will cost an additional $5 to $10 per rental.
Per Move Value of Time. Who is going to do the packing and
unpacking? Who will pick-up, load, drive and unload the rental truck? Who will
drive the automobile? If you are doing all of this yourself, it takes a lot of
time. Figure out your average hourly wage and multiply it times the total
number of hours you estimate it will take to pack, pick-up the truck, load,
drive, unload, etc. for you and your spouse/family. This is your per move value
of time.
Packing and Loading the Truck. You might be able to collect free
boxes in anticipation of the move, but to minimize damages, especially for an
interstate move, it is highly recommended that you purchase specialized boxes,
like wardrobes, dish packs, and mattress containers. You'll need tape to secure
the boxes and paper padding to secure the contents of the containers before
they are loaded on the truck. The cost of packing materials may vary by state
and state taxes will also apply.
Expect to pay about $200 for a 4-bedroom home, plus another $100 or so each for
the kitchen and a home office, if you purchase your boxes from a truck rental
company. If you need wardrobe boxes for hanging garments, expect to pay about
$25 each. You'll also need tape and rope to secure your cartons properly.
Some truck rental companies also offer loading and unloading service to load
your furniture and the boxes that you have packed yourself. This service can
add several hundred dollars to the cost of your move; be sure to get an
estimate before your sign-up for this service. Plus, the rental company's
liability for any damage that occurs to your goods during the loading and
unloading process will likely be minimal or even non-existent.
Mileage Charges. Mileage charges are usually included in the
rental agreement but may be limited; an additional mileage charge may be
assessed at an average cost per mile, usually around 40 cents a mile for each
additional mile over the limit. Be sure to read your contract to see if there
are extra mileage charges or fees for one-way rentals.
Fuel Charges. When you pick up your truck, the vehicle will be
full of fuel. You must return the vehicle with a full tank or the rental
company may charge a higher than average price per gallon to fill the vehicle.
You'll need to calculate the cost of fuel used while driving the rental
vehicle. A 26-foot truck that is fully loaded will average about 10 miles per
gallon. If you travel approximately 1200 miles/10 miles a gallon, you will
consume 120 gallons of fuel. At an average price of $1.35 cents a gallon x 120
gallons, your fuel cost will be $162.
Appliance Servicing. Refrigerators, grandfather clocks, washing
machines, gas stoves, etc. all may require special preparation and handling to
prevent them from being damaged when they are moved. You may need to hire
several specialists to ensure proper handling of your possessions. These
appliance service charges will increase the cost of your self-move.
Destination. Is your destination residence available for
occupancy? If not, where will you store your possessions? You may need to
secure a warehouse and unload all your household goods into storage. The most
common storage facilities available for the self-mover are mini warehouse
storage units. While functional, these units may provide less than adequate
protection for your belongings. Security may be minimal, usually a manager
sleeping on the premise, no insurance coverage, and no protection from fire or
smoke damage.
When your new residence becomes available you will need to rent another truck,
reload all your possessions from the warehouse, deliver your goods to the final
destination, and unload everything one last time.
Other Additional
Costs to consider are:
1.
Good friends and relatives that help you move will add
additional expenses like food and beverages.
2.
Do you have children and are they too young to care for
themselves? If you are doing everything yourself, you may have childcare
expenses.
3.
Back injuries can occur when moving heavy articles like
furniture. You may want to purchase a back brace to reduce lower back strain.
4.
Can you drive to the new destination in one day, or will you be
required to spend one or more nights in a hotel? Who will watch the truck while
you sleep? Security may also be a concern.
5.
Tolls for bridges and/or highways may also be applicable.