DIY Move – 5 questions to ask yourself
Moving can get expensive fast which is why many people choose to DIY their move. A DIY move is a way to save money and gives you flexibility when choosing the date and time of your move. While a DIY move will save you time and money, there are a lot of things to consider and to ask yourself. To help you stay organized, we’ve compiled a list of the 5 questions to ask yourself if you’re thinking of doing a DIY move.
1. Did you change your address and set up mail forwarding?
Changing your address and setting up mail forwarding are critical steps in your DIY moving process. Mail forwarding is a simple way to redirect your mail to make sure you don’t miss out on any important documents and letters after you move.
To set up mail forwarding you can visit Canada Post online or go to your local post office. Mail forwarding does not, however, include packages so make sure to manually change your address on websites like Amazon.
Changing your address with the Canadian government is crucial when moving as well as changing your address with your Internet provider or electricity company to name a few. To avoid delays in setting up those services, change your address at least 2 weeks before moving.
2. What moving truck rental company will you choose?
A DIY move usually means you won’t hire a moving company and instead you’ll most likely be renting from a truck rental company. There are so many out there so if you’re planning to take on the move yourself, make sure you hire one you can trust.
What to look for in a moving truck rental company
- At least 4 different moving truck sizes
- A shop that sells moving supplies
- Storage units for rent
- Excellent customer service (call to check)
- Good customer reviews (over 4 stars)
- Close proximity to your home
3. What moving supplies will you need?
When hiring a moving company, moving supplies are usually included in the price. If you’re doing a DIY move, you’ll need to purchase or rent these supplies yourself.
Some of the most common moving supplies are:
- Cardboard or plastic boxes in various sizes
- Packing tape
- Permanent markers
- Bubble wrap
- Scissors
- Mattress bag
- Vacuum bags
- Tool kit
- Cleaning supplies
- Trash bags
For large and heavy items you may need to buy or rent these supplies:
- Shoulder dolly
- Hand truck dolly
- Appliance dolly
- Floor sliders
- Cargo straps
- Plastic stretch wrap
- Moving blankets
If you have fragile items, instead of purchasing supplies like bubble wrap and padded blankets, you can save money using newspapers and clothes to protect them. You can opt to purchase or rent moving supplies from your local hardware store or even directly at the truck rental company when picking up your truck. Shop around to find cheap prices. Remember that it’s always best to hire the best moving companies to handle oversized or fragile items.
4. How will you stay organized?
With sometimes hundreds of boxes to pack yourself and so many things to move out of the house, the organization can be difficult during your move. To stay organized, the first step is to prepare in advance. Some important tasks to prepare in advance are to create a moving checklist, sell or donate your unwanted items, and to book your truck rental company. If you’re not planning on renting a truck, make sure your mode of transportation is large enough and, most importantly, is available for the day of your move.
5. What are your post-move plans?
You’d think the moving chaos would be over by the time you settle into your new home, but no, there are so many more things to do after you move including paying for all sorts of unexpected purchases.
When settling into your home, you’ll be surrounded with boxes and furniture that aren’t in the right spots. Your first post-move plan, before unpacking anything, should be to clean the place. The next step is to make a plan and determine what goes where. The best way to get rid of the clutter is to plan some time to unpack after the move. You should plan at least 2-3 days to get properly settled into your new home.
The bottom line
Above are important questions to ask yourself before you start your DIY move. These questions will help you make the right choices and avoid complications. Remember that preparing in advance is key as it will facilitate the whole process.