The Pros and Cons of Renting a Portable Storage Unit

Should you rent a portable storage unit or hire a Sunnyvale professional moving company? 

The question is out: should you rent a portable storage unit or hire a professional moving company? Honestly, it all boils down to your needs, which might sound surprising coming from a Sunnyvale professional moving company. There are pros and cons to both depending on the nature of your move. (Some people have chosen our Sunnyvale professional moving company for one move and rented a portable storage unit for another). 

Whether you’re moving from a three-story home across the country or from one apartment to another in the same neighborhood, these are a few pros and cons to help you make an informed decision that makes sense for your move. 

Pros and Cons Of Renting a Portable Storage Unit

The Pros:

Renting a portable storage unit is notably cheaper than hiring a professional moving company to move your belongings for you. If you’re on a budget, this might be the more appropriate option for you. 

Portable storage units are convenient. A truck drops it off and then picks it up after it’s ready to be delivered to your new home. Once the unit is completely unloaded, they will pick it up and that’s that. 

Portable moving containers are great for storing your belongings during the move, especially if you’re moving out of a rental and have a lot of cleaning to do to earn back that deposit.  

Rental a portable storage unit allows for more flexibility in your move. Maybe you’re moving for a job with a TBD start date, but you want to get a headstart on packing. Whatever the circumstance, a portable storage unit can sit for weeks while a professional moving company is unable to do so. 

The Cons

While portable storage units include a lock, they can still be vandalized or broken into. If this should happen, the rental company is not liable for anything stolen or damaged.
  
Portable moving storage units are cheaper than a professional moving company because you have to do the work yourself (or bribe a few of your friends with pizza to help with the heavy lifting.)

If you’re deciding between renting a storage unit or a moving truck, you will find that the storage unit is more expensive upfront. However, moving truck rentals often have additional fees, so it’s best to decide which rental is best depending on the distance of your move.  

If you are a senior citizen or have physical limitations, then choosing a portable moving container will be more of a hassle than a help. 

If you want to place your portable storage unit on the street, you may need to contact your local government and get a parking permit. Check with your local government or HOA to see if there are any regulations against keeping it in front of your house.  Sunnyvale Movers

Final Thoughts

Renting a portable storage unit makes sense if you’re on a budget, need a flexible moving time, or you’re strong enough and willing to do the move on your own. If you need to move in a rush, you have bulky or valuable items (grand pianos, dining room tables, antique furniture), or you do not have the physical capabilities to move on your own, we suggest hiring our professional Sunnyvale movers instead. 

Researching Sunnyvale Professional Moving Companies? Contact us today for a free quote!  (415) 518-6433

What Not To Do When Hiring Professional Movers

What Not To Do When Hiring Professional Palo Alto Movers

If you have decided to hire a professional Palo Alto moving company instead of moving yourself, then you are probably wondering how to find the perfect professional moving company for your needs. While you can do a quick search online to find local Palo Alto movers and long-distance movers, finding the right professional moving company will take a little more digging. As you begin your search, here are a few things you do NOT want to do when hiring professional movers.

Forget to Collect Multiple Quotes:

You should be collecting quotes or estimates from each moving company you consider. This way, you can compare prices as well as what is included in each quote. On the surface the overall price may be similar among all candidates. But some may not include additional fees that would reflect your specific needs.

Not Asking Questions:

There are a lot of moving parts associated with a move, and it is up to you to make sure your professional moving team has all the information they need to do their job properly. This requires good communication, or asking the right questions. Reliable movers will provide you with all the documentation and information you need to get answers. If you ever feel like you don’t know where to start with questions, or that the moving company is avoiding questions or being vague, find a different moving company.

Selecting A Professional Moving Company By Price Alone:

As with anything, the least expensive option is typically not the best value. Make sure you consider more than the price when hiring your professional movers. Some moving companies will entice movers with a low cost upfront, but the issue is this price is much lower than competitors. This is a red flag, and usually means they do a poor job or that nice low price is stripped of additional fees that will inevitably be added later.

Not Asking Movers To Perform a Walk-Through:

Before you agree to hire professional movers, be sure they perform a formal walk-through. This helps them understand how much space they will be working with, whether there are any tight doorways or stairwells, and if there are any additional areas that will need packed (i.e. shed, basement, attic, garage, etc.). This will also help them determine the overall weight of your load. If you have lots of bulk furniture or antiques, then these details might factor into the overall quote. You would rather have these additional fees upfront than budget for a lower estimate and end up paying more later. To help the process along, prepare a moving inventory list so they can check through the list as they walk through your home. 

Searching for quotes from professional Palo Alto Movers? Call Moving Forward today for a free quote! (415) 518-6433

7 Tips For Relocating Your Elderly Loved One

There comes a time when your parent, grandparent or elderly loved one cannot live on their own anymore. Helping them understand it is time to move to either an assisted living facility or to your home can be a difficult experience. Not only are you handling the logistics for your loved one, but the emotional challenges can be exhausting. It is not easy to move from a home where your family as made so many beautiful memories together. It’s also not easy losing your sense of independence. All this and more are hard realizations your loved one will be going through, and it will mean the world if you handle all the details so they don’t have to.

San Francisco Movers

1. Get their Medical Needs in Order - First and foremost, if your loved one will not be able to see their current doctors, make sure they have new doctor referrals before they arrive. Medical needs should be first priority, especially if your loved one will not be moving into an assisted living facility. 

2. Prepare the New Floorplan Ahead of Time - If your loved one is moving into a smaller home or  simply a new location with a assisted living, request the blueprint of the space beforehand so you can plan the layout to suit your loved one’s needs. This will also help you get a feel for what can move with them and what may need to go into storage. 

3. Out With The Old For a New Experience - It’s likely your loved one has been in their current house for a long time, so their will be plenty of donatables to sift through. Organize three bins into “Donate”, “Throw Away” and “Sell” and together go through clothes, knick-knacks and even furniture to determine what stays and and what goes. Remind your loved one that this is not just an ending but a fresh start. 

4. Get The Family On Board - This is an event when all family hands should be on deck. The more love and support you can provide, the easier the move will be. Of course, request assistance from family members well in advance, and don’t expect them to do all the moving. Hire professional San Francisco Movers to take care of all the heavy lifting and hauling. 

5. Rent a Storage Unit - There are bound to be some belongings that hold tremendous value but are too big and bulky to go into the new space. Rent a storage unit to store these items and provide your loved one with some piece of mind. If it is important for your loved one to be part of the planning, let them be in charge of choosing the storage unit facility, as it is a relatively stress-free decision and they will know exactly where their belongings are at all times. 

6. Create a Travel Plan - Your loved one is likely to have certain health needs that could complicate their relocation. Prepare a list of procedurals and necessary items to make the move as comfortable as possible. This may include an itinerary that includes meal and bathroom breaks and medication or mobility considerations. If your loved one is travelling by plane, be sure to call the airline ahead of time to brief them on the situation so they can make proper accommodations. 

7. Hire Professional Movers in San Francisco - You have a lot of details to take care of, moving and hauling should not be one of them. Save your energy for the details that truly matter to your loved one, so you can make this experience as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. HIring professional movers with great ratings and reviews will give you a bit more peace of mind.

Preparing to relocate your loved one? Call Moving Forward Professional Movers in San Francisco to get your Free Quote. 

How to Pack Your Car For A Move - Redwood City Movers

As you pack up your belongings for your move, you will probably notice there are some items you would rather pack in your car, as opposed to the Redwood City Movers truck. Items like plants, electronics, and jewelry will most likely be riding with you in the car. Many of these personal belongings are also valuable, so you will want to be careful with the way you pack your car. Here are 7 tips for packing your car properly before your move. 

Redwood City Moving

1. Take Advantage of All Space - The first mistake people make when packing their car is fitting two or three boxes in the back and thinking it’s completely full. Consider all the spaces in your car that you can fit items, including storage compartments, the trunk, seat pockets, and ever underneath the seats. 

2. Pack Your Most Essential Items First - As you pack, things might feel a little chaotic, so make sure you pack the essential items like your smartphone, wallet, keys, identification cards and other valuable items first. You don’t want to get halfway to your destination and realize you’ve left the keys to your new house at the old house! 

3.  Pack Upon Arrival Items Last - If you packed strategically, you will likely have a “survival” box with necessary toiletries, electronics, medications, and other items that you will need on hand. Make sure this box is packed last so it doesn’t get buried as you pack.

4. Think Outside The Box - While moving boxes might work inside the big rectangulare moving truck, they aren’t as practical in a car because they are so bulky. Consider what belongings would be best packed outside of boxes. Try bags, hangers, and vacuum sealed bags. This will save you tons of space.

5. Keep Your Car Balanced - As you pack your car, make sure you evenly distribute the weight in your car so you don’t risk turning over in it. Start by spreading heavy items through the care to keep it balanced. While this will keep you safer, it will also help keep your fuel bill low. 

6.  Keep You Windows Clear - While it’s tempting to stuff your car to the brim, make sure you are considering safety first and leaving plenty of clear space through the windows. It is extremely important to keep your window clear so you can see behind you while you drive, especially if you are moving across the country. 

7. Be Careful With Fragile Items - Take special care to pack all your fragile and valuable items with plenty of cushion. It is also a good idea to keep them in plain site so you can check on them throughout the ride. 

Need assistance with the bulk of your belongings? Call Moving Forward Today For Redwood City Moving FREE Quote.