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AVOID THE NIGHTMARES OF DO-IT-YOURSELF MOVING

Planning to rent a truck and move yourself?

Many people planning a move believe the do-it-yourself way is easier and more economical than hiring professional, licensed movers. Quite often the reverse can be true. The cost of the average professional local move in New York is usually less than $1,500, the average professional move to Florida from New York less than $2,500. A truck rental may be as much — certainly more costly than you think. Moreover, the hidden costs of damaged goods, serious personal injury or other unforeseen problems can quickly turn a do-it-yourself move into a very costly nightmare.

FIRST, OH MY BACK.....do-it-yourself movers can not only damage the items they move, but injure themselves or friends and relatives as well. If you already suffer severe back pain, you won't be foolish enough to move yourself; if you haven't experienced severe back pain, you certainly won't want to. Even though everyone who works for a professional, licensed mover knows how to lift and carry, movers are required to provide liability insurance for their employees for protection against lawsuits if an employee is injured during your move.

YOU NEVER KNOW.....when you rent a truck, you never do know who used it before, or for what purpose. And, you don't know what — if any — cleaning and treatment the truck received before it was rented to you. Most professional moving companies use exterminating practices after every move to avoid any infestation problems from bugs, lice or other pests.

BACK IT IN? HOW????.....many do-it-yourself movers have never driven a large truck before. You will need to maneuver a much larger vehicle than you're used to, and must consider clearance through low underpasses, visibility and "blind spots."

I NEED MORE BOXES!!!.....ask just about anybody who has done a move themselves, and they no doubt have stories about searching grocery stores, liquor stores and other possible locations for empty boxes for packing. Poor packing is an important consideration since improperly packed goods can be broken or damaged during a move.

HANDLE WITH CARE.....those who help you move are probably not skilled in handling and maneuvering large and bulky furniture through narrow hallways and doorways, often resulting in costly damage to walls.

DID I FORGET TO MENTION?.....when you rent a truck and move yourselves, you are usually dependent upon friends and relatives to help you. So you can be left short-handed if their plans suddenly change — as they often do — making your move longer, more difficult and more expensive than you may have anticipated.

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Long Island Moving & Storage Association,
1936 Hempstd Tpk, Ste 129, East Meadow, NY 11554
Telephone (631) 765-6097 Fax (631) 765-6097