Moving? 5 Ways to Get Your Stuff from Here to There

You have a big move planned, and you’re worried about how to get your stuff from point A to point B. You probably had no idea the process was so complicated. After all, there’s not just one way to move anymore. There are a variety of options you can choose from, each with a different price and with different pros and cons.

To make your decision easier, we’ll outline the main ways you can move your stuff. Evaluate your options so you can choose the one that works best for you.

1. Hire a Moving Truck

When people think of moving, this is usually the first option they think of. Hiring a moving truck certainly comes with its perks. After all, you’ll have professional movers who cannot only drive your things from one location to another, but can also help pack and load your things. This is especially helpful if you have valuable, hard-to-move objects like a piano or fragile furniture.

The problem with hiring a moving truck? It can get pricey. This is especially true if you’re moving farther than the next city over. Depending on your moving company, you may receive additional charges, such as:

• • Moving fragile items
• • Moving long distance
• • Special services (such as disconnecting gas mains)
• • Moving to or from metropolitan areas with higher pay rates
• • Packing
• • Supplies
• • Moving insurance

As you can see, the costs of moving with a company can really add up. However, you may find the security and convenience worth the cost.

2. Rent a Truck

If you want to save money by doing most of the work yourself, you can rent a truck from a moving rental company. This allows you to load your own belongings and travel at your own pace to your new destination, where you’ll unload your belongings and return the truck to the nearest facility.

While not as expensive as a moving company, renting a truck can also get costly. You pay for the length of time you rent the truck, so a long trip will cost you more.

3. Tow a Trailer

Another attractive do-it-yourself option is to rent or purchase a trailer hitch. This way, you can pull a trailer full of your belongings behind you as you drive to your new home. This is typically less expensive than renting a truck.

How much weight can your car tow? Check out this handy chart.

4. Use Moving Containers

Some companies offer moving containers. They drop the containers off at your house, you fill them at your convenience, and you call them to pick them up and transport them to your new location. This can be convenient, as you won’t have to worry about keeping your stuff secure during your drive.

The downside to moving containers is that they may arrive at a less-than-ideal time. If they arrive before you do, you’ll have to pay for storage costs. If they arrive after you do, you’ll have to go without needed belongings for a while.

5. Ship Your Things

You can also pack and send your belongings via truck, train, or plane. Costs vary widely, so make sure you do your research before choosing this option. As with moving containers, be aware that your belongings may arrive before or after you do.

What About Moving a Car?

Now here’s a difficult moving problem to deal with: how do you move your car?

You can pay a company to move your car for you, but this can get expensive. A cheaper option is to tow your car behind another car or truck. You’ll just need to buy or rent a hitch for your car. Ask a trustworthy company to help you select the right kind of hitch to pull your car.

Questions to Ask Yourself

Clearly, there are many options for getting your stuff from here to there. Although some options are usually more expensive than others, remember that the following circumstances will affect the cost of any option:

• • The number of belongings you have
• • The size and weight of your belongings
• • The distance to your new home

Before you choose an option, ask yourself:

• • How far do I need to move? Will this option be best for the length of my move?
• • How many belongings do I have? (If there are many, a trailer or truck may be a better option.)
• • Do I have large or fragile items? (If so, they probably shouldn’t be shipped.)
• • Is this the most cost-effective option for my particular move?
• • Is this the most convenient option for my family and me?

Remember, there is more than one option for getting your stuff from one place to another.

Take your time to choose the best option; ask professionals for information about your specific move and ask advice from friends who have recently moved. Don’t settle on one option before considering all your options.