Tips For Using A Moving Truck Rental For A DIY Move

While it would be nice to hire a moving service to pack your things and move them for you, it's often a better choice to rent a moving truck and do the work yourself. It's certainly cheaper to rent a moving truck than hire a mover, and if you don't have a lot of belongings, it may be easier to just handle the move yourself along with the help of a few friends. Here are some tips for using a rental moving truck.

Consider Your Size Choices

Moving trucks come in different sizes. You can even rent pickups and vans. Consider the size you're capable of handling. If you've never driven a truck before, then driving the largest box truck might not be the best idea. If you're moving in the same city and can make multiple trips easily, then renting a smaller truck might be easier on you with city driving. However, if you're moving far away, then you'll have to rent a size truck that can haul all your things at once. Another thing to consider with renting a truck is that mileage could be an additional cost. So, while you might choose a small truck so you can drive it more easily, it may cost more if you make multiple trips due to all the added mileage and gas.

Rent Or Buy A Hand Truck

A hand truck isn't too expensive to buy, but you can also rent one for your move. It's useful for moving large appliances and furniture. You can even stack storage bins on it to move several at a time, so you don't have to make as many trips. A hand truck can make moving a lot easier and spare you from some heavy lifting that can get tiring during a long day of loading and unloading a truck.

Protect Your Valuables

Unless you have second-hand furniture that you're not worried about scratching or denting, it's good to protect everything you move with moving blankets, bubble wrap, or with some other method. Since you aren't a professional mover with experience in how to handle things and load a truck, your belongings may vibrate and jostle against each other when the truck is on the road. By wrapping things in moving blankets, your own blankets, or bubble wrap, you'll keep them protected and safe until they're in your new home.

You'll also want to use strong moving boxes or totes for fragile things such as dishes and lamps. If you don't want to buy a lot of boxes, you can put towels, sheets, and clothing into trash bags or dresser drawers for the move. However, things that can break or scratch should be handled carefully and boxed well in case you get tired and clumsy while moving all day.

Understand The Rules Of The Rental

Understand when you have to pick up and return your moving truck so that you aren't charged extra fees. Also, learn about other regulations such as insurance required and who is allowed to drive the truck. If you're driving a long distance, find out what to do if the truck breaks down or you have an accident. Knowing all the details upfront helps you avoid added fees and helps keep you calm in case something unexpected happens during the move.

To learn more, contact your local moving truck rental services.


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