Door to door moving is one option among many in the self moving area. There is no driving involved with door to door moving, just loading and unloading the truck. This is an Overview of Door-to-Door Moving and how it works:
1. You contact a shipper who offers door to door service
2. The shipper estimates the trailer size depending on your needs.
3. The trailer arrives, usually 24 hours in advance, and you pack your items; when packing is completed, you lock a wall into place which partitions your items from others.
4. The trailer then moves to other locations to take on more items until full.
5. The trailer then arrives on a specified day and you unpack your space.
6. Usually the trailer sits overnight allowing time for you to unpack.
Why Door to Door Moving Is Better
Door to door moving can be a better option for moving. Here is a list of some advantages.
1. No handling a truck, traffic or dealing with parking issues.
2. No need for professional movers because you handle the packing and shipping.
3. No paying for an entire trailer since you "share" the cost by paying for only the portion you use.
4. This is the lowest average cost for a long distance move.
Potential Red Flags
Door to door moving does have its issues and problems as does any type of moving option. Considering the following issues with this option will help the decision:
1. This is not a local moving option
2. If your items are going into storage, and then to the new location, this can be a more costly option because of unloading and reloading needs.
3. You will need to have your own help with loading and unloading.
4. You are using a standard shipping trailer not a moving truck; possible shifting, bouncing, and insulation from damage need to be addressed.
Packing well is a much misunderstood idea. When using a door to door service, remember these tips when you are packing:
- If it can break you need to wrap and tape it to insulate it as much as possible.
- Place heavy and bulky items on the bottom of the box or stack.
- Wrap valuable items in soft material such as clothing or sheets
- Packing loosely will cause shifting and possible damage.
- If you must ship food, seal it very well in airtight and moisture resistance containers.
The option of door to door moving for long distance moves is a viable one. Depending on the distance and the amount to move, a variant of this is to move by UPS as well.
