There’s going to be lots of different things occupying your mind in the run up to a big move. That means it’s all too easy to overlook some aspects of your planned move that are more important than you might think.
Getting some key decisions wrong could have unwelcome consequences. Such as not putting the right thought and attention into your cargo van rental needs, for instance, has the potential to make your move more hassle than it needs to be, and could even create the sort of unnecessary that could easily be avoided.
When you have the right cargo van for the job in hand it makes all the difference. It allows you to organize your move with maximum hassle and minimum stress. Here’s some essential pointers to consider before booking your cargo van rental.
Follow these helpful guidelines and you’ll be picking up the right cargo van for the job.
Size Really Does Matter
Naturally enough, if you are guided a bit by budget your mindset will be to try and get away with a van rental that costs you the least amount of money. Unfortunately, that often turns out to be a false economy.
You should make it a top priority to book a van that is the right size for your needs, even if the cost is slightly over your anticipated budget. If you choose a van that is too small, you will end up making multiple trips, which could be more costly than paying for a bigger van in the first place.
It can be hard to estimate what sort of capacity you need. As a general guide, the typical contents of one room in your home will equate to about 10 cubic meters. Using that calculation, you can work out the cubic capacity of your van required to get you moved with the minimum of trips and fuss.
To give you some idea of what that cubic capacity equates to, the contents of a typical apartment will usually fill a small van. If you are moving the contents of four rooms or more, expect to need a truck that has a capacity for about 90 square meters of items.
Take Care with The Booking Process
When making your choice of van rental company, bear in mind that the headline rate quoted isn’t always the cheapest price that you end up paying. You have to take into account additional costs that can quickly inflate the total price.
Check for standard terms and conditions such as how much mileage you can do within the fixed price, and what charge you will have to pay per mile if you exceed that number. Other points to check include how much insurance costs, whether you can add an additional driver, which could be helpful if you have a long journey ahead, and whether your license allows you to drive the van you want to hire.
Check Collection and Drop-Off Times
This information can often prove crucial. Any mistake on your part with the timings, especially the return time, could easily increase your rental costs through additional charges.
Most van rental companies will try to offer a degree of flexibility, but they will have rules and time limits that you should adhere to. Allow yourself enough time to check over the vehicle and inspect for any damage beforehand. Also, be sure to check when you can return the van in order to avoid additional rental charges.
Another thing to ask when arranging the rental and collection of your van is whether it comes with lashing straps and other equipment to help you secure your load. You don’t want to arrive to pick up your van and discover that you have to pay more, or have to shop around, to get the safety equipment to keep you and your load safe during transport.
Help with Your Move
If you have made the decision to rent a cargo van and do the move yourself, rather than hire a moving company, that’s a decision that is going to save you lots of cash.
However, there are physical limits to what you can do on your own. With that in mind, it’s often a smart strategy to spend a bit of the money you have saved on asking some family and friends to help you on the day. There’s bound to be a small army of volunteers who will be happy to lend a hand with your move, and a bit of cash will help sweeten the deal. You will still save money compared to the cost of hiring a professional mover.
From your point of view, it will also make the whole moving process a whole lot easier and less demanding when you have some extra pairs of hands to help you load and unload.
Shop Around for Quotes
Give yourself enough time to shop around for van rental quotes. The first company you contact could turn out to be the best deal, but it makes sense to get at least three quotes so that you can compare how much they are charging and what extras you are getting included in the price.
Once you have all the information available for a fair comparison you will be able to choose a cargo rental company that meets your needs and suits your budget too.
Moving home is something that is always bound to raise the stress levels. Although it’s an exciting prospect to be packing up and going somewhere new, there’s all sorts of challenges to overcome and tasks to complete before you shut the door and start to enjoy your new surroundings.
If you follow these simple but essential steps for choosing the right cargo van that matches your requirements, it should make the whole process a lot simpler. It will also help keep the stress levels down when you know that you are collecting a cargo van that is going to be just right for the job.