Publication date: 08/05/2011

When moving, thinking ahead saves time, money

No matter how tough the housing market is or what the economy is doing, there will always be people who are moving. Regardless of whether the move is into a first home or relocating for the third time because of work, you'll have to decide whether to do it yourself or hire a professional. Just like you've heard me say about anything in home improvement, when making a decision on moving, you'll benefit from planning.

First let's look at professional movers. Kevin Balduc, manager of Two Men and a Truck in Troy, (248) 356-6683, www.twomenandatruck.com, said that while his company provides packing services, the customer is charged an hourly rate in addition to the cost of packing materials. So the more that can be packed before the movers arrive, the cheaper the move would cost.

He first advises throwing out any items you really don't need. Next, he suggests packing clothes, dishes and other household items in sturdy boxes that can be easily stacked and disassembling bed frames and other items that need to be taken apart so the movers don't have to do it.

"It is also common for people who are moving locally to take a lot of small items to their new house on their own and then hire us to move only the big stuff, which saves them money," said Balduc.

Like most movers, Two Men and a Truck charges hourly rates while loading and unloading the truck, and a standard rate for the weight and mileage for moves less than 40 miles. Moves that are more than 40 miles are subject to regulated rates by the Michigan Public Service Commission, but total costs can vary based on the number of additional services required.

The state of Michigan mandates that movers provide insurance that covers 60 cents per pound per item for damage, "but that doesn't come close to covering damages for most items," Balduc said. "That's why we offer additional protection plans that customers can purchase."

If you are considering moving everything yourself, it's a good idea to rent a truck to move the large items. Select the correct-sized truck based on your contents and the distance involved. Consider things such as furniture dollies and pads, fuel, insurance, and of course, lining up all those friends you've helped move over the years. Remember that a lot of parents rent trucks and trailers for moving the kids to college in the fall.

Also gaining in popularity for those who want to do it themselves are PODS storage containers, www.PODS.com. PODS containers come in 12- and 16-foot sizes and are rented on a monthly basis. The container is delivered to the customer's home, and once the customer has filled it with furniture and household items, it can be transported directly to the new home or taken to the local PODS storage facility until the customer is ready to move.

"Our customers are generally people who want to move on their own, but the advantage of a PODS container is that it allows you to pack your moving container at your leisure instead of having to do it all in one day," said Ashley Morton, a PODS customer service representative for southeast Michigan, (734) 637-6755.

She said PODS are also popular for people doing home renovations who need to store large items during the remodeling process.

Along with the monthly fee, Morton said there are also charges for delivery, fuel and a storage fee if you keep the container at a PODS facility.

Moving is one of the most stressful things you can do as a homeowner. With the right planning and a little organization, you can make the experience more tolerable and less costly whether you do it yourself or hire the professionals to help you out.

Note: This article was accurate at the date of publication. However, information contained in it may have changed. If you plan to use the information contained herein for any purpose, verification of its continued accuracy is your responsibility.

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