Top 5 Alternatives to Renting a U-Haul for Your Move

If you are a frequent mover and have some experience moving across the country, the majority tends to rent a U-Haul to transport your belongings. However, the method mentioned above is very costly. Some of you might want to avoid it, especially if you are on a tighter budget. Luckily, we’ll list a couple of more affordable options to help you save money and time while being extremely effective. So, if you want to make the most out of the move and choose an affordable and effective option, consider reading the following text about the alternatives to renting a U-haul.

1. Professional Moving Services

Although hiring a professional moving service might sound like an expensive option, try comparing it to renting a U-Haul for your move.

If you wonder why to hire a professional mover, you’ll see that hiring professionals are a much cheaper way of moving, especially if you book on time and pick a certified company to handle the whole thing for you. Besides the actual transportation, some of the most common services include packing, loading, unloading, and unpacking your belongings. If you arent sure about the price, consider that movers offer lower rates as long as you book on time (a week or a month in advance) and avoid specific dates (like holidays). Also, the rates are much cheaper in the autumn or winter in comparison to spring and summer periods.

Remember that not all companies are legit, meaning that you should look for a reputable moving service with a solid work ethic. You should also know how to identify rogue movers in New York City? The best parameters to help you decide are customer reviews and recommendations from family and friends.

Furthermore, if you are a skeptic, consider getting an insurance policy in agreement with the chosen moving service to ensure your belongings are well-protected.

2. Moving Containers

According to the most recent surveys, renting a moving container can be a solid option for renting a U-Haul for your move.

In fact, moving containers come in all sizes, meaning you can pick the size according to the amount and dimensions of your belongings. Some are incredibly massive, while others are relatively moderate in size.

Renting a moving container is an ideal alternative as it’s very affordable, especially for individuals. How to find them? We recommended doing some research on the internet regarding renting a suitable moving container. Don’t forget to compare prices just to be sure you get the best deal possible. There are benefits of a moving container rental that will allow you to save a bunch of time and money. However, this option is best for individuals. It can be challenging for families to fit their belongings in only one moving container.

3. Decluttering

Consider getting rid of certain items you don’t actually need. There are ways how to declutter before the move, including:

Getting Rid of Everything

Yep, you heard that right; consider getting rid of everything you know.

This goes for individuals moving cross country to start a new life and office moves where it’s way cheaper to buy new supplies.

Donating

If you like giving to the community, we recommend donating at least some of your belongings (that are usable and in good conditions) to various charities and unprofitable organizations that will put them to good use. You can look up the local charities online and choose the right one. Besides simply decluttering, donating your belongings will result in multiple benefits, including:

• if you donate a part of your stuff, you’ll need a smaller container( or a smaller moving truck) for moving.
• if you donate everything, the only thing you need to do is buy a ticket for yourself and your family members.
• throw a Garage Sale

Another great option regarding decluttering is throwing a successful pre-move garage sale — a great way to get rid of excess stuff and earn money while doing it.

If you opt-out of getting rid of all the items you own, consider there are a few benefits, including:

• no transportation fee
• no packing materials and no packing
• extra money

4. Purchase or Rent a Trailer

If you are experienced and have moved before, you know how stressful the whole process can be. Therefore, think about renting a trailer (or even purchasing if you are a frequent mover).

All you need to do is pack your belongings safely (it’s essential to obtain suitable packing materials) and load them into the moving trailer, which is a brilliant money saver if you plan on moving by yourself.

After you’ve finished, you can even sell the trailer and set your expenses to zero.

5. Rent Somewhere Else

However, maybe some of you already decided to rent a U-Haul for your move. Although ads and some customer reviews state this is the best company for moving rentals, think again. There are a bunch of other companies that offer their services for much lower prices. Consider renting somewhere else rather than U-Haul for your move. All you need to do is do some research before the actual move, and you’ll find out that numerous companies are cheaper than renting a U-Haul for your move.

Summary

In any case, moving is a timely process that will definitely cost you a certain amount of money. After you’ve obtained the right packing supplies and packed them, the next step is to decide how to transport your belongings in the most effective (and cheap) way. Although the most popular choice is renting a U-Haul for your move, we recommend taking a look at some of the best (and cheapest) alternatives, including:

• Hiring a professional moving company to handle the whole thing for you; keep in mind that booking a couple of weeks or a month in advance can save you a decent amount of money.
• Consider renting a moving container, especially if you are an individual, as these things can handle a significant amount of stuff. Don’t worry; they come in various sizes and dimensions.
• Decluttering is a great option if you want to get rid of an excessive amount of belongings by donating or throwing a garage sale.
• Some might even want to rent or purchase a trailer depending on your own preferences and how often you move.
• Besides renting a U-Haul, there are many cheaper companies as long as you do thorough research on the subject. You can even ask family and friends for recommendations.