Moving home without help is the option you want. In that case, let’s talk about the various things involved in the process of a do-it-yourself move.
Moving home is an Anxious Time, so let’s look at that first.
Some individuals become very tense during a move. But other people seem to handle it with ease and a grin. A normally happy cheerful person can get tense, so it’s nothing to do with your personality.
Clear steps to help make the move less tense:
1. Search around for moving supplies, these will be essential to pack away all your items, buy cheap supplies if you can’t borrow them. When you have established a moving date, get together boxes, paper (printed paper marks, so try to avoid), plastic boxes, bubble wrap and maybe some old blankets.
2. Packing up your possessions takes a lot of time and energy, start the packing weeks before the move. Packing the night before the home move is definitely not a brilliant idea. The last day should be reserved for packing those belongings you forgot about, therefore make sure the rest is done at least a day before your move. Start off by packing those belongings you are not going to want or need until you get to your new house; such as DVD’s and kitchen gadgets. As the day you move house gets nearer, the more you have packed early on the less you have to get anxious about.
3. Be hard-hearted and dispose of items that never get used and just litter the cupboards. Out-dated magazines, clothing, kitchen items and ornaments which are stuck in the cupboard can be disposed of so you have a jumble free home. Charities are thankful for donations so you could consider giving them away, or even do a garage sale.
4. Keep a list - this is one of the most important things to think about when you are moving home yourself. Have lots of lists that include new items to be bought, things you are giving away, things you are taking with you; even list the items that need delicate handling. The day you move will be less anxious for having a lot of lists.
Preparing for Moving Day
Don’t hesitate to ask your family members, friends or associates to assist you packing and unloading your car/truck. By having all this support, the job of moving house will be a lot faster and swifter. For those that are happy to support you, laying on food and drinks goes a long way to saying thank you. This way, your supporters will be enjoying the day in a relaxed way and the work will get done quickly and pain-free. A separate issue of yours should be your kids. Daycare, whether its a family member or a day care resource should be arranged so the kids are looked after. To stop your kids getting tense, let them watch their personal space being packed, that way they know you are not throwing away their favourite toys. If you have a family animal, make sure they have another place to go on moving day if you can. When moving pets, take preventative measures to avoid the family pet from getting sick in the car. Also, pack your animal’s possessions separately so it can be unpacked right away at your new home. When you are making the journey make sure your family pet is never left by itself. Just like kids, pets need to be kept close, so make sure you have a leash handy if you have to take a break.
Make sure you search for a fair Truck Rental Firm for Moving
To transport all your possessions, you will probably need to hire a truck, as most of us will find our cars are just not spacious enough. The experience of hiring a truck will depend on you. Here are a few points to take in mind:
1. Mass is the most important factor when choosing a van to rent. Make sure you give yourself a margin of up to 15% more space than you think you want. This is called ‘playing it safe and sound’ and gives room for those last minute items you forgot about. Additional room is better than not enough.
2. With many rental firms out there renting removal vehicles you would expect most prices to be about the same. Unfortunately, that is not correct. Compare prices from different businesses; ask neighbours for recommendations, ring companies and use the net to search.
3. If you have leased a car before then you won’t find much change when renting a truck. As soon as you have a moving date, rent your vehicle, don’t leave it to the last minute when you may end up with something that doesn’t meet your needs. By planning ahead your vehicle will be ready and available for you on moving day.
4. Another point to think about is insurance, it is a excellent idea to purchase your own insurance. You may be adept in driving a car, but driving a larger van is very different. If you make a mistake and have a mishap then this could be very pricey Some extra minutes finding the insurance and few more dollars will assure you a stress-free move.
5. How long do you want it for? - Make sure you lease the truck for a period of time thats lets you finish everything without having to rush. A van that is due back and you haven’t finished is going to increase your stress and cost you dollars. Late returns can turn out to be very expensive as rental companies charge large fees for this.
Suggestions for taking your car.
Some people have two vehicles, so you need to think about how you are going to move it, if you do. If you can’t find someone to drive it for you then think about the alternatives - shipping, towing or transporting it on a trailer. Think about the cost of transporting it - if its not worth it then think about giving it to a relative or selling it. Make sure the main car is capable of towing your second car and that all safety safety measures have been taken with the vehicle to be towed. Boats, trailers, motorbikes, four wheelers, etc. may need specialist provisions to be towed. Call the dealer who sold you the vehicle if you are unsure on the correct procedures or search the net.
Prepared in cooperation with Jay Banks, Vancouver BC realtor and Vancouver Moving Handbook creator