Rental Trucks vs Storage Containers vs Moving Company Service

Ok, so your going to move, you have taken a new job in another city and you got to get your stuff there. You have moved yourself since you've been in college and now your considering doing it again. So here's what I would encourage people to do-

Compare the services!!!

Basis for comparison-

Origin Location-

Condo in Cotati, Ca. 94931

Destination Location-

Apt. in Chicago, Il. 90622

Most all moving services use a zipcode to zipcode mileage guide

Mileage 2600 miles

Your shipment consists of a fairly furnished 1 bedroom apt. consisting of the following

1 bedroom set/new queen bed

1 living room set with Flat screen TV/several video games

1 kitchen set and dishes

2 bicycles/ camping equipment in a storage locker

We are talking in the neighborhood of 3500#s of stuff

And 1 fairly new "Green" 4 door sedan automobile

Most all moving services need to know the approximate weight of the shipment to determine the size of the truck or container you need to ship your goods

Time frame-

You have 4 weeks before you move-

So let's start the comparison- this is what we found in calling up reputable companies based on their type of moving service- All services are using the same criteria as stated above

Rental trucks-

One way 18' truck- Flat $2,500.00

8-day time frame for pick-up and drop off

Additional costs to be added

Finding or paying for help to load and unload Pizza and Beer or Cash- $200.00

Rental of pads, handtruck, purchase of rope or bungy cords, to secure load- $200.00

Packing material purchased at the truck store- $125.00

Fuel- 10 miles to the gallon- 2800 miles 1.95 per gallon - due the math- $546.00

Cost for lodging, 4 day cross country trip @ 75.00 per night - $300.00

And let's talk about eating- 25.00 per day 4 days -$100.00

Car tow trailer/ straps / and additional cost of fuel (Miles per gallon will drop) $400.00

Truck Insurance and Cargo Insurance -$125.00

And here's a cost that is often times overlooked- Your time it takes to do this!!!

Grand Total- $4,496.00 Show me the Money

Storage Container Shipping:

1st month rental(Minimum 30 days)- $488.95

Transportation- $2,601.04

Re-deliver- 65.28

Tax - $252.42

Pads,material,rope, bungy cords- 200.00

Time frame-

drop, load and pick-up origin- 3 days

Transit cross country- 8 days

deliver, unload and pickup -3 days

14 days total

Load and unload the container- Pizza/beer or cash $200.00

You drive car back-

Food/ Lodging /Fuel- $625.00

Don't forget the time involved in this process!!!

Grand Total- $4,432.69 Not Bad

Moving Company-

Loading at origin, transportation to Chicago, unloading at destination -$2,950.00

Pads, straps, bungy cords, handtrucks, ramps, all provided

Labor to load - all included

20,000.00 Replacement value coverage/ $500.00 deductible- $97.00

Packing material - 150.00

Tip if the men do a good job - $100.00

Time Frame- Load to delivery 12-15 days

Car Carrier for your car/ 14 day delivery- $1200.00

Airplane trip- 400.00

Grand Total- $4,897.00

(If you drove your own car cross country and spent 625.00)

New Grand Total $3,922.00 WOW!!

What an interesting comparison, the do it yourself moves are not much cheaper than letting a professional moving company do the work!!!! The convenience factor of not having to do the work, traveling across country could out way the additional cost. Or you can drive back and enjoy a lessor cost with out all the labor-

Any one of these services can have their problems and delays, so nothing is not without some risk of going wrong. You can't rely on what might happen bad, but plan to make sure if it does it does not interfere with your life's schedule.

If any one reads this let me know of your own experiences, cost savings or good advice-

Meanwhile we will be thinking about another pertinent topic in the search for the perfect move!!!!

To learn more about our services go to www.movetopia.com