Moving home to phoenix? As you begin packing boxes and storage containers, you may get a much better idea of how much space you need in a moving truck. After all, it can be challenging to estimate truck space you need for all your kitchen items stored in cabinets and drawers. After you pack non-essentials, you can determine how many additional boxes you need for the essentials that you will pack at the last minute. In addition to considering boxes, pay attention to how many furnishings or appliances you own and the dimensions of each. Remember to take advantage of vertical space in a truck. For your upcoming move you have decided to rent a moving truck but have no clue what truck size you should get – Sound like you? If you search the web you will find many references and opinions, some extremely generic (14′ will move 1-2 bedrooms) and others offering a more advanced opinion (12 ft. truck = 450 cu. ft.). The problem, we believe at least, lies in the interpretation of information provided – 1-2 bedrooms may mean something completely different in Arizona than in New York City.
I am not an advocate of off site storage, as it usually ends up costing money to store all the things we really don’t need – but when it comes to moving house there is good reason to use it under certain circumstances. Often we want to do work on our new house pretty soon after moving in. If this is the case with you, then why not consider moving some furniture etc.. into storage to make redecorating / re-carpeting etc.. easier? You could use a storage company**, or your removals company can often store your items for you on a rolling monthly basis, which can ease the strain of having to move everything around to accommodate trades people etc. Go to your rental agency with a general idea of what size of truck you need based on the above estimates, and also provide them with a list of all your large items and the number of each that you have to move. For instance, you might have three couches or two king-sized beds or two fridges to move. Often, larger items or specialty items will require a larger truck and possibly special moving tools.
In addition to labeling what’s in your boxes, add what room they’ll be going into, as well. When you arrive at your new home, unpack BY ROOM. The unpacking process will feel more manageable. And remember to label the SIDES of the boxes, not the tops. This way, you’ll be able to identify them even if they’re stacked. Many movers come with insurance, which means if something breaks, they have to compensate you. You might want to weigh the pros and cons though – they won’t want to be responsible for a television that isn’t properly packed in its original box and could end up charging you upward of $150 to pack it as they see fit. Also remember to book them weeks in advance – you’re not the only person trying to get out of your space on the last day of the month. Read even more details at a prayer for moving day. So you found a new place! It’s all wonderful and exciting until you start to think about how much crap you have. If you’re moving locally this should be a no-brainer. Truck rentals used for local moves are billable at a per day and mileage rate, the daily price may vary by $10-$20 depending on the size. In other words, spend the extra few bucks and get the larger truck just to be sure. Medium truck sizes are best used for 1-2 bedroom apartments as well as small homes. We typically don’t recommend this size to anyone with more than 1200 SqFt of living space. You will likely find that a larger truck (see medium sizes below) costs the same or sometimes less than a small truck. This is because most companies don’t have an extensive inventory of small trucks whereas they usually have a large inventory of medium trucks.
Take a look behind your living room TV. What do you see? Chances are it’s a mass of wires and plugs – working perfectly for you but confusing to say the least. A really great tip is to get some coloured stickers** and stick the same colour to each socket and each end of the cable – so that you can easily set everything technical up in your new home. To go one step further – why not take a photo of the setup so you can have a visual reminder as well. A good starting point will be rooms and items you use the least. The spare bedroom, garage or attic are usually easy places to start. Leave everyday items until the day before the move and keep any essentials items such as medication separately.