Moving is stressful and if you’re doing it yourself, it’s crucial that you’re organized when moving your home or business. Packing everything is one big item on the to-do list but the other big component is how to get your stuff from point A to point B. Figuring out what size truck to rent for all your things sounds daunting. It would be nice if you could just shut your eyes and envision your beloved treasures magically fitting like a glove in the first truck you rent. Unfortunately, no magical genie will appear, so it’s critical that you rent the right size truck or your move could quickly turn into a nightmare.
One of the most important things you need to figure out before you contact a moving company is how much stuff you have. The easiest way to start is to go room by room and make a list of the major pieces of furniture you have. Things to include are beds, dressers, tables, couches, and entertainment centers. Basically, if it won’t fit in a box, it’s a large piece of furniture.
Once you’ve got your list, visit your local moving truck company. They’ll have some guidelines for you to follow so you can decide which size truck best matches your needs. There are two ways they categorize stuff going in a truck so you can be prepared when you walk in the door:
By number of bedrooms: This is a simple and easy way to determine what size truck you need because they base the truck’s capacity in terms of estimating how much furniture you have in each bedroom. For example, one bedroom may have a queen-sized bed, one dresser, and two nightstands. Remember, this is just an estimate, so if you’re a furniture collector, you’ll need to let the truck company know that you have more than the average number of pieces in each bedroom.- By cubic feet: Some moving truck rental companies base your needs on the cubic feet measurement of the truck. If you want to be more precise, this is the option for you. Simply take the number of furnished rooms you have in your house and multiply that number by 150. Here’s an example—if you have five furnished rooms, you’ll need a truck with 750 cubic feet of space. Remember to include the kitchen if you’re moving your appliances because they take up a lot of space and need to be packed in a particular way due to their components.
When Choosing a Moving Van, Don’t Forget….
Don’t forget that in addition to the furnished rooms inside your home, if you have a garage full of stuff, you need to account for that as an additional room. You also need to remember and account for space in the truck for items like a bike, grill, and outdoor patio furniture. Make sure to tell the moving truck dealer about these items so they can account for it in determining the size of the truck you’ll need.
Getting the right moving truck means your stuff won’t be tossed around like popcorn if it’s too big or broken if you must jam it all in to fit.
Happy moving!
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