How to Avoid Costly Mistakes When Booking a Moving Service

It’s no secret that moving some of your most-loved possessions from house to house can be a very stressful thing to do - especially if you need to hire moving transportation to help you on this journey. Whether you’re relocating or downsizing, it is important that you completely trust the movers that you hire, especially if you are moving some distance away from your home.

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Unfortunately, many transport companies have a bad reputation and it's easy to see why. Untrained packers, bad driving and even theft can leave you with belongings that are damaged - sometimes beyond repair. However, don't despair - here are some easy things that will help you choose the correct move-in transport company.

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Get a company you trust

Before hiring the first company that comes to mind, always check online, or get word of mouth reviews and recommendations. You will need to trust the moving company with your worldly possessions, so it is important to choose a place that has a trusted client base. Contacting the company personally to ask them about their service, the way they work, and their experience is not enough – we recommend reading through their online reviews on trusted forums like Hello Peter to see what kinds of issues generally come up. It is also important to ask about any hidden costs that might crop up during the moving process so that you know that you will be sticking to your budget.

We also recommend asking the company for testimonials and client reviews to give you peace of mind when signing that contract. At Rent-A-Store, we share all our testimonials on our website and our friendly and well-trained consultants are always available to chat through any queries you may have.

Unless you’ve really timed well and taken any mishaps into consideration, then there might not be a need for you to hire a storage unit while moving. However, experts recommend that getting a storage unit – even for a short lease period during your move can ensure that you not only move on time, but that you can start the moving process earlier by taking furniture and other unused items to your unit ahead of the move.

Consider your budget

If you have a set budget for your transport (and you should), then chat to a consultant to find the best deal for you. You also need to take into consideration how far the transport needs to travel and how many boxes need to be moved. Make sure that the company is clear about what they offer and whether or not they have any cancellation policies. Rent-A-Store’s, free move-in transportation comes with a driver and truck or trailer depending on your needs. Plus, with every online rental, we offer 10 free packing boxes, saving you money on packaging!

Thinking about your budget also means that you need to make smart choices when moving homes. If your old, bulky furniture is going to cost more to move (and it generally would), then it might make more sense to sell it and use the money to buy new furniture – especially if you are moving to a new city or town that is quite a distance away from where you currently are.

Self-move or hire transportation?

Depending on where you are moving to, a question that usually gets asked is whether it is necessary to hire a moving company. If you are moving nearby and have friends and family who are willing to help, then there is probably no need for you to hire help. This will not only save you money but will give you peace of mind knowing that your valuables are with those you trust.

However self-moving comes with its own downfalls. Because you won’t have professional assistance, you risk your valuables breaking and damaging on the trip. This often happens with makeshift packing or using poorly made packaging material and could end up costing you more since you would need to replace or get rid of the damaged items.

However, if you are moving slightly further away but can’t afford to hire professional help, then it might make more sense for you to hire a trailer to attach to yours or a family member's car and use it for a few days or until you are all packed and safely moved into your new home.

Keep your valuables close

Just because you hired a moving company doesn’t mean that you need to give them your worldly possessions. If you will be driving behind the moving truck then we suggest keeping your valuables in your car such as your jewelry, electronics, and some clothing. A handy tip to quickly gather your clothing is to lay out a sheet and place your clothing on top of the sheet, while still on their hangers. Tightly fold the sheet around your clothes and pack it straight into the back seat or boot of your car to make for an easy unpacking. This also makes it super quick and easy to place straight into your new cupboard in your new home.

Drive behind your transport

One of the mistakes that many make in an area with a high crime or theft rate is not following their belongings. If you are physically unable to follow the truck yourself, then ask a friend or family member to assist you to ensure that your items get to their new destination safely and securely.

Storing goods with peace-of-mind

When you are moving house, you may need to temporarily or permanently store excess goods. It is important to ensure that the storage unit facility you choose has high security where the safety of your belongings is promised. At Rent-A-Store, we have invested heavily in security and each door is fitted with a unique tamper-proof bolt system. We have state-of-the-art security installed at all our locations.

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Image by: Kurhan