Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Is it worth it to hire professional movers for a small move or to do it yourself?

Q. My husband and I are moving from our duplex (much like the size of a large apartment) to a house in the immediate local area. We have the basics: living room set, dinning table, bedroom set (1), washer and dryer, and other small furniture peices (computer desk, etc). Is it worth it to hire professional movers or to do it ourselves. And what would be the typical cost for a small move?

A. Depends on how the professional moveers charge you - either by the hour or by the weight of things they are moving and the distance they are moving it.

I've moved twice in the past 12 years and did it both ways. With professional movers, you get people who know how to lift and move large items most effectively. They will know how to pack them and how to cushion them to prevent them from being damaged during the move - and have those items on their trucks. If you do it yourself, you will have to buy these items.

Movers that are paid by the hour will give you all manner of excuses for not being in a rush. In my first move, I was going across town into the boondocks from a downtown house. It was mostly interstate driving and they followed me. Never saw a truck go so slow in all my life! I kept trying to get them to at least do the speed limit of 55 and they kept falling back. They wouldn't go faster than 40 the whole way and then they would brake at every traffic light even while it was green. They gave me some sorry excuse that they had trouble with their brakes and wanted to be sure they could stop if the light changed - to avoid jostling my furniture.

Professional movers have some of the sorriest rules I have ever heard of. They wouldn't take a folding bed because it wasn't in a box. They wouldn't take my bikes because they weren't in a box. They wouldn't take a mattress because it wasn't in a box. They wouldn't take a western saddle becuase it wasn't in a box. You get the picture. And when I suggested they load up my dog house - you got it - had to be in a box.

The advantage of hiring professional movers is that it will save you from personal injury such as a back strain. It's common when people try to move furniture when they really aren't experienced with that kind of activity. But if they lose something or neglect to get all your things off the truck, you will play heck trying to get them to admit they made a mistake - much less recover your missing item.

The first time I moved, I wanted the professional movers to take the things that were too awkward for me to lift or put in my car - like my dog house, bikes and folding bed. We've already been down that road.

I wanted to save money. I knew how long it took to get from point A to point B. I hadn't counted on the moving company hiring slowest drivers in the galaxy.

If the movers take your stuff, they will call for aid and move all your things into a second truck to get your things to the destination, no matter what. If you are moving yourself and have a breakdown, you are on your own. Do you really want to leave all your possessions in the back of a truck while it is in the repair shop?

If you don't own a pickup truck but have a friend offering you the use of theirs, don't do it. Go to U-Haul or Ryder and rent one. What your friend isn't considering is that heavy and large furntiure can dent the bed or the side of the truck if it the item is even remotely off balance in the truck. The legs of furniture can scrape the paint right off the truck bed. And even though you might think that a truck is a truck, this is not the case. Do you really know what your furniture weighs and what the truck is capable of carrying - safely? Trust me on this - rent a truck designed to move furniture and household items.

On my second move - I went three states away. Professional movers were a necessary evil. No matter what the estimate was, be sure and have MORE on hand because they will always gouge you and then try to make some sorry excuse as to why it cost more than the estimate. And don't try to pay the extra with a traveler's check. You wouldn't believe how many movers have never heard of them and don't know what they are - much less accept them. I insisted they were all I had.

There is no typical cost for any move. It all depends on who you hire to do it and how they charge you. Some have a flat hourly rate while others have a flat rate for the estimated weight of the items you have - while others will take the truck to weigh station to get written documentation of the weight of the truck with all your things in it.

If you can get a local mover who never goes out of the state, go with that company. They want to be home for dinner and they will work faster than a national mover.


What colors and themes go well with oak and dark green?
Q. I am planning on moving into a pretty small apartment with my boyfriend and we're planning on using his bedroom set which includes a nightstand and two dressers. They are oak with a dark green finish on the top. I want our bedroom to still look open and light and somewhat feminine. Too many ideas out there for dark green would make the room a cave so I need some ideas to make it look like the perfect mix of man/woman without washing out the light and space. Any ideas?

A. The main thing you need to do is find bedding that lightens the dark green up. See if you like any of these:
http://www3.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6E.aspx?DeptID=59474&CatID=59514&GrpTyp=ENS&ItemID=164e636&attrtype=&attrvalue=&CMID=59474|59483&Fltr=&Srt=&QL=F&IND=74&cmVirtualCat=&CmCatId=59474|59483|59514
http://www3.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6E.aspx?DeptID=59474&CatID=59514&GrpTyp=ENS&ItemID=14fa8db&attrtype=&attrvalue=&CMID=59474|59483&Fltr=&Srt=&QL=F&IND=79&cmVirtualCat=&CmCatId=59474|59483|59514
http://www3.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6E.aspx?DeptID=59474&CatID=59514&GrpTyp=ENS&ItemID=164e64d&attrtype=&attrvalue=&CMID=59474|59483&Fltr=&Srt=&QL=F&IND=116&cmVirtualCat=&CmCatId=59474|59483|59514
http://www3.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6E.aspx?DeptID=59474&CatID=59514&GrpTyp=ENS&ItemID=14626d5&attr
http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=294033&CategoryID=42305
http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=297396&CategoryID=7521
http://www.allmodern.com/Estrella-in-Pure-White-Bedding-Series-INH1397.html
http://www.allmodern.com/Amanda-Green-Duvet-Collection-BLL1173.html
http://www.allmodern.com/Cove-Cream-and-Moss-Duvet-Collection-AHM1141.html
http://www.home-decorating-co.com/croscill-hibiscus-bedding.html

I think I like the first one from Penney's best. It's not tooooo feminine but it will lighten up the space. If your boyfriend doesn't like what you choose, be sure to tell him that in order for you to be happy and relaxed in the bedroom, you need to decorate it and he does want you happy in the bedroom, doesn't he? LOL


Need decorating ideas for black bedroom furniture-please helpl?
Q. I have a small bedroom with a black bedroom set-queen bed, nightstand, dresser, and armoire. The walls are white with tan carpet. I went out and purchased a sateen black down comfort with a set of soft pink sheets but Im not sure Im going to be able to use it because there is just way way to much black. Can anyone suggest any ideas. Im just wanting a room that is pretty soft and romantic. I love the new furniture but I dont have any idea on how to decorate with it. Im not a "red" person, its never been one of my favorite colors. Any ideas on whether i should return the comforter and sheets and start over? I have no accents pieces yet so Im starting fresh.

A. pink works with black, tan works with pink, but I am not sure if you want to try all three. Maybe pull back on the pink to small items like alarm clock, bookends and such. Tan or white would be the best bet for the rest of the room. If you can paint, try a tan for 3 walls, leave 1 white and any trim white( paint is cheap and if you are renting be sure to ask first).You may want to use a throw blanket and some light decorative pillows on top of the bed to break up the black and try table runners or doylies on top of your cases. But if you are tight on money, Return the comforter and sheets to try something different.Maybe plain black and white will be pleasing, kinda go art-deco.


My wife found out about my one nightstand and now she is furious?
Q. Before we were dating, I had a small bedroom set and only one night stand instead of the usual two. I only had room in college for one. When I graduated, I sold it along with the rest of the stuff.

Now, she has found out about my one nightstand and is pizzed. I guess she thinks I should have kept it?

What would you do?

A. HAHA

You got me!





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Title Post: Is it worth it to hire professional movers for a small move or to do it yourself?
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