February 4, 2010 -
Relocation is really a stressful activity.
It also requires a good amount of financial support. If you are in a
position where you can spend quite a handsome amount, you can very well hire
door to
door relocation
services and relieve yourself from most of the moving stress. However,
if you are undertaking a budget moving then you have to usually depend on
self service moving. Sometimes, it gets very cheaper to hire truck rental
for moving. Although, it places much stress on you but then you can save a
lot of money that would, otherwise, have been invested in paying for
relocation services. Anyway, you
can make all the moving process somewhat lesser stressed through following
tips for managing truck rentals.
- Plan ahead and get early booking of truck. The price of renting a
truck depends on supply and demand. Its demand is higher on week days,
end of the month and in peak season (summer months). Try to avoid
booking on these days. You'll save a lot of money. If anyway, you have
to move in summers, get an early reservation for truck. Rearrange your
work schedule so that you can move during the week.
- Ensure to have several quotes from different truck renting companies.
Pre determine the size of required truck in order to get the right
quote.
- Ensure that you understand all the clauses of your rental agreement.
Understand the details from the rental representative.
- Purchase the insurance policy.
Generally the rented trucks are not covered by driver's credit card or
auto insurance policy. Buy special coverage from the truck rental
company.
- Test drive your rented truck. Do it for about 30-40 minutes and check
for any oil leaks, problems in tires, brakes, lights, directional
signals, windshield wipers, speedometer and odometer.
- Ensure to get the phone number and address of the truck rental
company where you will be leaving the truck and storing your goods. Also
make clear whether the truck rental company offers free
warehousing or storage in
transit. If so, get its details too.
- Check and update your driver's license. All renters should have valid
drivers' licenses. Disabled renters should prove that the person who
will be driving the truck has a valid license.
- Many rental truck companies also rent and sell additional moving and
packing supplies. Hand trucks,
dollies, moving pads, packing materials like boxes, tape, rope, etc. are
all sold by them. Make sure to get information about them. A hand truck
or a dolly saves you from the stress of lifting heavy objects. Furniture
pads save the furniture and other household
goods from scratches.
- If the rental company offers towing packages to tow a vehicle behind
the truck, then go for it. A car carrier
carries your car on a trailer which is attached to the rear of your
truck. It is good for four-wheel drive and all-wheel vehicles. A tow
dolly is good for front-wheel drive vehicles as it lifts the front
wheels off the pavement and pulls it behind your truck.
