Many people consider the pros and cons of moving house by themselves, mainly to save money. Some manage the job quite well, with few hassles, but I have a different story to tell about a horror move we did ourselves. We had moved a few years before and had a second-rate moving company, with all the associated hassles this implies. We had damage to furniture and they dumped all the furniture wherever they thought and left before we realized that things needed to be moved.

So this time would be “different”, the “Man of the House” declared. This time we would do it ourselves and save all that money. “I can do a better job than those removalists, anyway!” he declared. I was very concerned, but MOH was adamant and so the packing of moving boxes began.

The plan was to rent a truck for a week, so that we could move slowly to avoid exhaustion and stress. We had family helpers to bring extra ‘muscle’ to the job. We booked the hire truck and arranged the utilities to be turned off at the old house and on at the new one, so that we had power at both houses for the week. It all seemed so simple!

A plan had been worked out well in advance of moving day, so we knew the order of moving items. The moving boxes that were packed with non-essential items, goods from the garage and spare furniture were to go in the first couple of loads. The last items were to be the beds, lounge room sofa, refrigerator and washing machine, as these were obviously still in use for the week. It was a great plan.

Unfortunately, the “man in charge” changed the plan without telling anyone and started loading things from all over the place in a rush to get it all finished (even though we had a week to do it).

The whole scene was one of panic, stress, frayed tempers and bewildered people.

At the end of the three days of mayhem it took to get moved, ‘the man’ was stressed to the point of collapse; he hurt his back and gashed his leg; paint was rubbed off furniture; the refrigerator got black marks that haven’t been able to be removed to this day; some items took weeks to turn up because they had been thrown into open moving boxes in a panic.

None of this has to happen! Here are some basic rules to remember if you have plans to rent a moving truck and move by yourself:

• Be prepared – get great advice and helpful tips from MovinGood.
• Have a plan and stick to it.
• Agree that the plan will be adhered to.
• Don’t take on more than you physically and emotionally can handle.
• Keep it simple.
• Keep communications open.
• Keep calm; rushing only causes damage.
• Have the proper moving supplies to protect your furniture – moving blankets are indispensable. Go to MovingSuppliesMart for the best moving supplies.

When moving house, if something can go wrong, it probably will, so be prepared to have to adjust your plan or do something differently. Careful preparation and an emotionally-stable “man in charge” will go a long way to ensuring that you can successfully move house by yourself.

This is a common question asked by people who are moving house. Many people believe that the moving company they choose will have moving insurance that will cover them in the event of an accident with the moving truck or something being broken in the move. Some people think that their home insurances will cover them while they are moving house.

Before your moving date, you need to find out if your household insurance policy covers you for moving house. Some policies cover ‘goods in transit’ but this may not cover actually moving house. Speak to your insurance broker or insurance company and ask exactly what coverage you have for house moving with your current policies.

When you are seeking quotes from moving companies for your move, one of the important things to find out concerns moving insurance. Ask what insurance they have, what it covers and how much cover is available. Many moving companies will offer you additional moving insurance, which they will arrange with their insurer, but be aware that this may not be your best option. The moving company’s extra moving insurance might come with a hefty premium and insufficient cover for your needs.  

It is a good idea to get several moving quotes from different companies as you will find there can be a wide range of prices and conditions offered. Compare the price quoted, exactly what this covers and what insurance is offered. Many moving companies’ insurance only covers anything you can prove was their fault, and this isn’t as easy as it sounds. To get up to seven moving quotes from reputable, local moving companies, go to MovinGood.com. You will also find more information regarding moving insurance and lots of helpful moving tips.

Before you make a decision about your moving company, check out the rates of moving insurance from your own insurer and from other insurance companies as well. This way you will know if the moving company is offering a good deal or if you are better organizing your own moving insurance. 

One important issue you need to understand about any insurance is the value of individual pieces that are covered by the policy. You may have a dollar value of coverage, which seems to be sufficient, but when you read the small print, you discover that individual pieces are only covered for a limited amount.

It is important to understand what the jargon used by the insurance industry means. “Full replacement” coverage means that you are insured for the amount of money needed to replace the item with a new one at the current market price. “Depreciation value” means that, because of an item’s age and amount of wear, you aren’t insured for enough to buy a new one of the same standard.

If you have special items like antiques, pianos or works of art, you would be advised to have moving insurance for these separately. Make sure they are insured for their current market value. Some of these items are best left to the specialists when it comes to moving them; pianos, in particular need specialized treatment.

So look into your moving insurance carefully before making any decisions. Don’t take your insurance for granted; accidents do happen and you need to know that your possessions are covered for any eventuality.