Should I Move Myself Across Country or Hire a Moving Company?
Many of life’s circumstances can lead to long-distance moving. For example, many people make cross-country moves for employment opportunities, while others move near loved ones. No matter the circumstance, most cross-country trips are no fun to execute, and they require plenty of logistical planning and organizational skills to accomplish. Here are some key points to consider when moving across numerous state lines for both your household items and when it comes to shipping your car.
DIY Moves Versus Shipping Company Moving Services
Single people on tight budgets often consider the do-it-yourself (DIY) move to save money on the cost of moving cross country. Their moves are pretty straightforward and include carefully packing up their belongings, reserving rental trucks, securing people to load and unload trucks, and driving the vehicles to their final destination. Moving trucks can be rented fairly cheaply, and single people traveling by themselves with a vehicle can opt to get a truck with a trailer for their car.
Although it might be convenient to rent a trailer behind the truck to transport your car yourself, pulling a trailer takes some experience and skill to maneuver a truck with a trailer. One can hire people or get friends to help load and unload the truck at both locations. However, shipping companies’ full services are needed for families and people with many household goods or multiple vehicles. These shipping companies are moving experts but are also covered by insurance if accidents happen. For the additional cost of using a good shipping service, one gets peace of mind that one’s valuables are being transported safely and vehicles are not racking up unnecessary mileage.
Long Distance Moving Inventory Management
Many people who are not logistics professionals do not know how important it is to carefully track and manage their goods until something gets lost or stolen during a move. Inventory management is important in DIY moves because it allows movers to unpack their goods systematically and efficiently. When using moving services, the practice is critical because some boxes or valuable items can get lost, stolen, or broken. It is hard to recover or get reimbursed for items that were not properly inventoried in the first place. Taking photos with your smartphone’s camera is a great way to document the condition of furniture, appliances, and vehicles before they are handed over to shipping companies.
Cost of Moving Across Country
Some companies promise secure household goods transport and entice unsuspecting consumers with low prices. However, these prospective customers must be wary because unscrupulous movers can charge more after a move is underway, hold the goods hostage until the extra charges are paid in full, and tackle extra storage fees while ongoing disputes. There have also been situations where valuable items are broken or “misplaced” when disputes are unsettled for too long. These are all things to consider when choosing a cross-country mover to ensure your transition goes as smoothly as possible. Regulations differ for moving companies that only operate locally and those that service interstate moves. Before signing shipping contracts, it is best to thoroughly check out shipping companies’ reviews through consumer advocacy and business review platforms like the Better Business Bureau, Angie’s List, and Yelp.
Moving across the country?
While it makes sense for some people to perform DIY cross-country moves, families that own multiple vehicles may need the help of shipping their cars with a reputable auto transport company. For example, people who want to avoid excess wear and tear while getting their cars, motorcycles, or boats across the country should contact one of our car shipping professionals for a free quote.
