We all love saving money, and when it comes to moving, renting a moving truck might seem like an affordable option, but it can be fraught with difficulties. We’ve compiled a short list of why we firmly believe it can be smart to hire professional movers rather than renting a truck and going the DIY route.
1. Reservations Aren’t Always Guaranteed
It’s just like the old Seinfeld skit, car rental companies are great at taking your reservations, but they aren’t always great at actually holding your reservation. Unfortunately, moving truck rental companies can be just the same as car rental companies.
Because we offer same-day moving services, and often get called by people in a bit of a panic, we’ve heard plenty of horror stories from customers that placed a reservation with a moving truck rental service only to show up and find that there were no trucks available or that the only trucks available were too small or much larger and more expensive.
When you rent from a professional moving service, such as Move 4 Less, we not only take your reservation, we hold it as well. Your service is reserved and set for a specific time and day, and we show up on time, just as agreed.
2. It’s Not Always As Cheap As You Think
Sure, we all see those advertisements for “rentals as low as $19.95,” but these costs are just used to draw in customers and they are rarely the prices that you actually will pay for the moving truck rental.
Hidden fees are quite common, so it’s crucial that you read your rental contract thoroughly. For instance, many companies advertise a cheap rate but then charge by the mile, and this cost can really add up. You also might be charged extra depending on how much fuel is left in the truck when you return it. Other fees include renting moving blankets and dollies, which aren’t typically included with your truck rental.
You also will need to purchase additional insurance, as your automobile policy might not cover the costs of damages to the moving truck. It’s crucial that you contact your insurance carrier to ask about coverage and that you read up on what the rental company’s insurance coverage includes.
Furthermore, gasoline isn’t cheap and moving trucks aren’t exactly known for their amazing fuel efficiency. Obviously, the gasoline isn’t included in the rental price and if you are planning a fairly long-distance move, this cost can add up.
3. Those Trucks Can Be Hard To Drive
Unless you’ve driven a really large truck before, you probably will be very surprised just how difficult it can be navigating a huge truck through traffic and on narrow side streets, etc. While it might not be a huge issue for a very short move, if you are planning a long-distance move consider what it will be like to drive a moving truck a long way and in what might be unfamiliar territory.
It might feel like a snap to drive a truck when you bring it home from the rental place, but these large trucks drive differently once they are loaded down with belongings. Don’t be surprised if driving the truck feels quite a bit different once you’ve packed it up.
4. Moving Truck Rentals Aren’t Always In Top Condition
Obviously, this isn’t a perfect world, and there’s always the chance that any moving truck, even in great condition, could end up with a flat tire or another issue that puts a wrench in your moving plans.
However, you are far less likely to encounter truck issues if you hire a professional, reputable moving company. We keep our fleet in top condition at all times, because it just makes good business sense and we want our employees to be as safe as possible. Of course, rental companies don’t want their trucks to have issues, but they often do.
After all, especially with national truck rental companies, these trucks are going all over the country, and while paperwork is supposed to be maintained, it’s pretty easy for an oil change or inspection to get missed from time to time, and this puts you at risk for mechanical issues.
Furthermore, even if you do run over a nail and pop a tire, it’s not always easy to control a big truck in this situation, especially for those with no experience driving a huge loaded moving truck. Our drivers are professionals and can handle these mishaps, keeping themselves and your belongings as safe as possible.
5. Moving Yourself Is A Pain
Literally, we hear many stories from clients that have injured themselves doing a DIY move. It’s not uncommon to strain your back, of course, but we’ve also heard plenty of stories where people banged their heads or ended up with stiches or even broken bones and sprains due to moving injuries.
Furthermore, even if you don’t hurt yourself, it’s not uncommon that someone will drop or damage a valuable piece of furniture or an appliance or other costly item. Professional movers have all the equipment needed to move heavy and expensive items and keep them safe, and they also have the experience needed to move items up and down stairs and through doorways.
Generally speaking, it’s well worth the expense to simply hire professional movers and skip the whole moving truck rental process. We can do all of the heavy lifting, leaving you free to handle the thousands of other details that tend to come up during the moving process. If you are thinking about renting a moving truck, give the team at Move 4 Less a call and ask us for a moving quote. We think you will be surprised to find how affordable it can be to hire quality movers, especially when you factor in all of the benefits of hiring someone else to do the work.
