Your moving timeline – Do you have all the time in the world to move? Even a small move can take weeks – if not months – to complete. If you have ample time to complete your move and prefer to do it in incremental stages, then using your own car or a rental van makes perfect sense. If, however, you need the move completed in one day or weekend, it might make more sense to hire professionals to get it done.
The distance of the move – How far away are you moving? When moving long distances, it makes sense to either ship items to the new home or to hire professional movers to drive belongings to your destination. If moving close by, you may be able to move yourself in a car or with a truck rental.
Your storage needs – Need a place to store items before, during or after the move? Renting a small moving container is probably your best bet for a successful move. These containers double as storage units, so you won’t have to stress about finding a self-storage facility upon moving to the new home.
Your time and energy – Do you have the time and energy to handle a small move without the help of professionals? If you’re capable of handling the heavy lifting by yourself, then a DIY move using a truck rental or your personal car isn’t a bad idea. On the other hand, if you don’t have the time or energy to handle the move, then hiring professionals might be the right choice.
Your budget – Ultimately, how you move largely depends on what you can afford. Those on a strict budget should consider using their own car or renting a moving truck for the day. Those with a more flexible budget may want to consider hiring professionals or renting a moving container.
For small moves involving a dorm room, studio apartment or one-bedroom apartment, you’re probably better off using a moving container, rental truck, uShip, Ship Smart, MiniMoves, labor-only movers or moving yourself. Most full-service moving companies have minimums, so no matter how small your move is, you’ll still have to pay the minimum amount. If you’re looking to save money on a small move, hiring full-service movers is not the right call. On the other hand, if you’ve got a big budget and value convenience over all else, then hiring full-service movers might be the right choice for your move.
Pack yourself – While it’s certainly convenient to have movers do the packing, it’s also fairly costly. Save money by packing up your belongings yourself. Thankfully, packing should be fairly simple with small moves as there’s not much to pack. Read our suggestions on how to save money on packing supplies.
Move yourself and/or enlist friends – Up for a DIY move? Save money by doing the job yourself. If you can manage to convince your friends to help, this will speed things up.
Purge items before packing – One of the best ways to save money and time on small moves is by purging items beforehand. Donate, sell and/or toss anything you don’t plan on using in your new home. Read our guide to purging your belongings before a move.
Choose less expensive moving dates – Seasonality and moving dates matter when it comes to a move’s cost. Rates for everything from rental trucks to moving companies tend to be higher during peak moving season (May – September). To land a less expensive rate, aim for a move during the off-season – and/or one during the mid-month and mid-week. Read more information on the best times to move.
Compare quotes – Always, always, always compare quotes from multiple companies when choosing a moving service. From truck rentals and moving containers to moving companies and mail couriers. Check and compare prices from different companies before enlisting one for the job. Some companies even provide price match guarantees where they’ll match another company’s lower price.
Take advantage of discounts – Finally, don’t forget to take advantage of discounts. Common discounts offered by moving service providers include discounts for military members, teachers and students. When requesting a quote, ask what discounts the company offers.
Not everyone has the time and energy to carry out a move – no matter how small. Fortunately, there are plenty of professional moving companies that can handle the task for you. To find the best moving company to move your belongings, check our extensive network of reputable and reliable movers. All relocation companies in our network are licensed and insured, so you can rest assured that your small move will be in good hands. Good luck and happy moving!
If you’re planning a move and decided to choose a DIY approach rather than hire movers, you might be wondering what’s the best way to prepare and move furniture. While small items like clothes are easier to pack, carrying large, bulky furniture pieces can be more challenging. Without proper precautions, upholstery can be ripped, glass furniture can break and wooden pieces can get gouged. Preparing for moving furniture is critical to prevent damages to your items before they even arrive at the new place.
Preparing Furniture for a Move
As you get ready to pack your furniture for a move, having the right equipment and learning a couple of tricks can make the process easier and safer.
Beyond cardboard boxes, packing tape and bubble wrap, there are other furniture moving supplies you ought to consider. Many of these supplies are available at local hardware stores or online. However, some moving companies will also rent out these supplies, which might be a more affordable option.
If you’re planning to move large furniture, make sure you have these furniture moving supplies on hand:
Moving blankets
Movers In CalgaryBefore packing, take the time to thoroughly clean and dust all your furniture. Dust and leftover debris can scratch your furniture during the moving process. Besides, cleaning the furniture before you move also means you won’t bring any unnecessary grime into your new home.
When possible, take the time to dismantle your furniture completely. This will make the furniture much easier to move, prevent damage while moving and make it easier to pack your moving truck. This is also one of the most time-consuming tasks of preparing your furniture for a move, so plan accordingly.
Here are some pieces that you should consider disassembling:
Remove the legs and tops from all tables, if possible
Take bed frames entirely apart, including the headboard and footboard
Remove knobs and other removable pieces from dressers and desks
Remove the cushions and legs of couches and chairs
As you dismantle everything, it can be easy to lose small items. Use a sealable plastic bag to hold screws, hardware and other small items for each piece of furniture. Label the plastic bag using a permanent marker and tape it to prevent losing any hardware during the move.
Use newspaper, towels and other soft items like sheets to wrap fragile objects you’re planning to pack. Using this method can help you make the most out of your packing supplies as you’ll be able to transport more items with fewer boxes.
How to Wrap Furniture for Moving
The best way to protect and prepare furniture for a move is to spend enough time wrapping everything correctly. Bubble wrap is best to protect delicate pieces, such as glass table tops, lamps and ceramics. Plastic wrap is perfect for upholstered items like couches and mattresses.
For wooden furniture, avoid using bubble wrap or any kind of plastic wrap as they can damage the furniture’s surface. Instead, use a moving blanket or furniture pads in between so the plastic wrap doesn’t directly contact the wood.
Now that your furniture is prepared to move, it’s time to set your home for moving day. Having a moving day plan will help you move large furniture pieces safely.
When moving furniture, having a plan will help you save time and effort. While you can dismantle certain pieces, sofas, cabinets and dressers are still large furniture pieces. Measure all your furniture pieces and your doorways and hallways to determine how you will move them.
Determine whether you will have to remove the door frame or any wall base moldings to help the furniture go through more efficiently.
Clear Doorways and Hallways
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