Can You Move Yourself or Should You Hire Movers?
First of all walk around your home, closets and garage and see how much, how bulky and how heavy the furniture is. Can you move it yourself or do you need to hire professionals. If you have a few items maybe you and your friends can move but if you have a houseful of possessions that you have been collecting for 20+ years, maybe you need to save your back?
Should you get rid of stuff you don’t use anymore? Absolutely, go through the closets, boxes in garage or attic and get rid of those old dishes, books, clothes you haven’t worn in years, furniture you are saving……..saving for what? Do you have collectables; dolls, Hummel’s, Beanie Babies (oh yes…we all have boxes of those), records, or something that is taking up a huge amount of space and you will have to pay to move them. You can sell these items, donate them to a thrift store, give them to relatives, or rent a storage space. Move the stuff before you get the bid as you will definitely get a better price. What about the boat that hasn't gone out in the water for years or the broken down scooter taking up space in the garage. Sell them quickly before they lose all their value. What about that old sports equipment?
Get Several Bids- Find out what the professionals are going to charge. Call a local mover and perhaps 1 or 2 big companies and get an estimate. If you are going with a mover, you must schedule the move ahead of time and it is never a firm date June-August are the busiest times so you don’t want to wait until the last minute and find they cannot assist you. If you can move in the off season, you will probably save yourself some money but sometimes that doesn’t work into the schedule.
Buying Boxes vs Finding Free Ones? If you are moving across county and the load may be moved from a small truck to a large truck and maybe then back to a small truck to unload in a big city that does’t allow the semi trucks into the downtown area. So you want boxes that will take the moving back and forth but if you are just moving across town, perhaps freebie boxes or the ones sold at the big box home improvement stores. Many stores sell put together boxes and packing tape.
What type of Packing Materials? Bubble wrap, tissue paper, packing paper, popcorn, or hall/bed linens. Blankets, sheets, pillows and towels make excellent packing fillers and it is something that is going anyway so pack accordingly.
Tape- Sparingly or heavy? I am a firm believer of lots of packing tape. If the box collapses but you have tape all around it, the contents wills stay secure.
How to pick a Moving Company? Get some referrals from your friends or workers or read reviews on Angie’s list. Many of the companies are owned by the same parent company so check that out too so you get some fair bids.
Get the bid in Person? Do not let someone give you a bid over the internet or telephone as you will definitely end up paying more later.
So whether you opt to 1) pack yourself and have professional movers load and move 2) have them pack and move or 3) you rent a truck or van and move yourself, just make sure you consider all the possibilities ahead of time. Don’t move your own furniture or heavy boxes if you have a bad back as your medical bills will out-weigh the savings of doing it yourself. If you have expensive furniture or heirlooms, you don’t want your buddy to drop it down the steps bringing it in. So the 3 questions to ask yourself are how much stuff, what's the value, and how is your back?
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Kristin Hamilton DRE #01492138 Keller Williams Realty – I am a full time agent and deal in all types of real estate transactions. Trusts, Probate, Short Sales, Standard Listing, Single Family Homes, Apartments 1-4 units, Duplexes and Condos. I am also an experienced REO agent. I sell real estate in the Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, and Los Angeles Counties. I am a trained and experienced Short Sale agent. If you are looking for a professional and experienced agent, I am just a click away. Google me at Kristin Hamilton-Real Estate Agent. Homeowners and Buyers both will find my services top notch and successful. Call me to sell your home; both traditional and short sales.
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