15 Effective Moving Tips To Make Your DIY Move Simple

A Do-It-Yourself move with a truck rental is your best way to move if you are on a budget. However, it is not easy since there are plenty of tasks involved from planning to packing and loading to unloading. To help reduce your workload and make the move a little easier, here are a few effective moving tips that can help save your work and stress so that you can enjoy your new home.

1. Purge before you start your packing. Use the moving opportunity to get rid of things that are no longer required. This way you can save on your packing materials, will be able to finish packing faster and depending on how thoroughly you declutter, might require a smaller size truck rental.

2. Start early. Make a moving checklist once you know that you are moving and then take your time, pace yourself and start packing little by little every day, so that everything is not left until the last minute. This will even help you gauge the size of the truck rental, as you can see the load all packed up.

3. Before leaving the rental lot with the moving truck, make sure to check it over for damage, point out any existing dents or scratches, broken pieces on the wiper blades and mirrors. Also, ensure that you have the appropriate truck rental paperwork such as ownership and insurance, the truck rental agreement and the return date.

4. Moving day is full of chaos, so make sure to use your time wisely by planning the day's schedule in advance. This way you can return the truck rental on time-saving yourself the overage costs of keeping the truck past the due date.

5. Before you begin packing the truck, remember truck rental companies carry many different things from many uses. So, in order to keep your household belongings neat and clean, it is advisable to place a covering of broken-down boxes cardboards or plastic sheeting on the floor of the rental truck. And once you finish loading it, cover your belongings with tarps, plastic or old blankets.

6. If there are several people helping with the move, only one person should be in charge of the actual packing of the truck, otherwise, the items will not be organized and tightly packed when the job is finished. More space will be lost if everyone is deciding where to put the boxes.

7. Most truck rentals come equipped with ramps for loading and unloading your belongings. Before using it, ensure that the ramp is fully extended and locked to the truck. To move your stuff, rent dollies and carts to reduce stress on your back and knees.

8. Place the heaviest items in the moving truck nearest the cab and along the walls, leaving the centre open for boxes and lighter items, so the truck is evenly weighted. Your appliances should go last so they can be placed first in your new home.

9. When loading the truck, pack in sections, and when a section is full, tie it off with rope and bungee cords to keep it in place while the truck is in motion.

10. Any heaters, lawn motors, or other items that hold kerosene, gas, oil and liquids should be emptied before loading onto the truck. Likewise, any appliance that you are moving should be completely drained a day or two ahead of time.

11. If any of your furniture or cabinets require disassembling before loading them onto the truck, make sure to put each set of their screws and other hardware in separate bags and tape or tie the bag to the item itself for easy retrieval at the destination. Wrap them up with bubble wraps to avoid scratches. If you are moving a flat-screen TV, wrap it, face it against a box and strap it in.

12. Professional Movers will not pack or carry flammable items and nor should you. This includes Paint, Gasoline, Lighter fluid and kerosene, Charcoal and other such items.

13. Do not put the following items into the cargo area of the moving truck. Medicine, important papers, documents, family heirlooms, and valuable jewellery. Anything that is expensive or difficult to replace should be kept with you. If you are moving within the city or close enough that you will keep the same bank branch, you can consider putting all your valuables into the safe deposit box while packing, moving and unpacking the moving truck

14. Put the toolbox right at the back door of the truck or in the cab. It will come in handy when you are ready to put your bed together. Since, your bed is the first thing you need to assemble so that when you are tired and ready for a nap, you do not have to worry about where you are going to sleep.

15. Put a few emergency bags at the rear of the moving truck. One bag should hold your overnight garments and personal toiletry items. Another bag or box should hold the house cleaning supplies, so you do not have to search for them when you arrive at your new home. Next bag should include a couple of towels, a roll of toilet paper, and a shower curtain so that you can use the bathroom to clean up before bed. Keep things like scissors, a flashlight, tape, paper plates and cups in a box near the doors of the rental truck for easy access.

Take your time to prepare and pack your belongings and then organize your moving truck in a strategic way. Packing and securing the truck rental in the right way will make both your moving in and unpacking process a lot easier. Stay focused and manage your move successfully. Happy Moving!