Moving Long Distance: 3 Different options
Moving long distance can be a logistical headache, especially when you have a lot of furniture. Aside from logistics, it can be a very expensive, stressful, and frightening process for many.
In addition to the thousands of dollars it usually costs to move long distance, you’re required to trust the method you use to move with the safety of your furniture and belongings through a long transit. For these reasons and other case-by-case circumstances, many people who move long distance prefer to have different options.
Today, our expert team will break down 3 commonly used options that still allow you to receive professional assistance from movers, but offer different methods for the long distance transportation for your items.
Option 1: Full service moving assistance.
In the event of a full service move, your moving company will load up the truck, drive the truck to your new home, and unload it themselves.
This is always the easiest and most stress-free option for moving, but will usually cost you more when using a qualified and fully insured company.
We highly recommend this option because it minimizes the risk of damage to your items in transit.
Option 2: PODs or U-Pack units with loading and unloading assistance from professional movers.
The second option you may use to move yourself is renting a U-Pack or POD unit, storing the unit outside of your home, and hiring two different teams of qualified and insured movers to assist you with moving your furniture and boxes onto and off the unit(s) (i.e., one team for the load up and one for the unload upon arrival).
The main drawbacks of this option are the need for space to store the unit(s) at both locations and the overall logistical headache of working with two different companies.
The quantity of items you’re moving may be problematic as well, because if your items require multiple units, space to store the units may be scarce. Especially throughout the D.C. metropolitan area, in towns like Chevy Chase, Bethesda, and Kensington, space for the storage of your units will be difficult to find.
Not to mention, the delivery window of PODs and U-Pack units tends to be less precise and may vary by a number of hours or days depending on your selected delivery option.
This variability in delivery time can cause difficulty with properly scheduling the use of movers which may lead to extra fees, as well as issues with moving specific items into your home on time. Additionally, the method by which the POD and U-Pack units are lifted on and off of their trucks (i.e., by crane) isn’t very gentle and poses the risk of damage to your items.
However, using this option can save you a few hundred dollars on the actual transportation of your items. Additionally, this method may serve you well to break your move up into multiple trips if that makes it easier for you. Not to mention, the unit can also serve as a place to safely store your furniture if you have a move out date prior to your move in date.
Lastly, this option can serve you in the event that your new home is being remodeled, as you can temporarily store items and furniture outside of your house in the unit until the remodel is complete.
Option 3: Drive your own rental truck with loading and unloading assistance from professional movers.
One less common option for long distance moving is the cheapest, but usually the most time consuming and stressful. In alternative to using PODs, U-Pack, or hiring movers to handle transportation, you may drive your furniture and items using a rental truck and contract moving labor assistance on both the load up and unload.
This option is better for those needing to save money, as it’s typically the cheapest option. Additionally, this option may be good if you prefer to drive the distance and make a road trip out of your move. While it is the cheapest option, keep in mind that renting and fueling truck for a long distance move is still very expensive. Depending on the distance, you may need to factor in the cost of a hotel for rest time as well. Additionally, you may need to factor in the cost of transporting your car if you plan to bring one.
The main drawback of this option is the fact that you’ll be required to drive a large truck by yourself, which can expose the safety of you and your belongings to risk in the case of disaster. Always prioritize the safety of you, your passengers, and your belongings by accurately assessing whether you’re capable of confidently driving a box truck for the distance of your move.
Similarly to the arrival time variability of the last option, also consider that predicting the arrival time of your truck may be difficult due to inexperience. Always factor in extra time than you believe is needed to properly time the arrival of your movers and avoid extra fees.
All in all, these are 3 options for moving long distance. While all offer trade-offs, some save you stress, some save you time and money, and some offer more flexibility than others.
Balancing these trade-offs can be difficult, but always consider the unique circumstances of your situation and feel free to reach out to our team of experts for advice on your upcoming long distance move.
Are you getting ready to move homes? We proudly offer full service moving and packing assistance within the D.C. area for local and long distance moves.
Contact us today for a free estimate ⬇️
Call or Text: (240) 855-9787
info@movingmoco.com
www.movingmoco.com
