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If you’ve just rented one of our self-storage units – congratulations! The next step is getting your belongings to our facility. But this isn’t always easy. Heavy appliances or bulky furniture don’t always fit in a standard car, which means you have two options: hiring a removalist or a truck/trailer. But which option is better for self-storage removals?
In this article, we compare removalists and hire trucks across a range of different categories, such as price, convenience, time and budget, and give you guidelines for choosing the best one for your needs. Let’s dive in!
Price
If you’ve ever moved house, you’ll know how expensive removalists can be. Hourly rates can vary from $100 to $250 per hour, depending on where you live and what you’re moving. There can also be extra charges for tolls, difficult locations and travelling to and from the depot. This makes it a pricey option, even if you’re moving a short distance. Of course, you may find a removalist willing to do it for less through your local paper or Airtasker, but they won’t necessarily be experienced. If you go down this route, check their references and reviews!
On the other hand, trailer or truck hire will cost you a fraction of the price. A trailer could be as little as $40 for four hours, while a truck with a tail lift could be $160 for the same number of hours. It all depends on how much you have to move and how long it’ll take you to load and unload it. What’s more, some self-storage facilities provide rebates for truck hire. At StoragePlus, new customers who use a trailer or hire truck can take advantage of moving credit. This means you’ll get $100 off your storage when you show us your receipt.
Convenience
While removalists can be expensive, they save you the trouble of carrying, loading and securing items in a truck. All you have to do is dismantle furniture and pack boxes. Having said that, some removalists offer these services for an additional fee, which could make your life a whole lot easier, particularly if you’re short on time.
Trailers and hire trucks, however, are completely DIY. This means that you (and your family or friends!) need to do the heavy lifting. It can also be tricky securing furniture to a truck or trailer if you don’t know how to do it. It may involve some trial and error – and your belongings may not always arrive in one piece. In addition, you’ll need a waterproof cover if you’re using a trailer in inclement weather. However, larger trucks or vans come equipped with ropes and padding, and the provider will have online videos or instructions to make the process easy.
Time
Due to their experience, removalists can load and unload trucks quickly and efficiently. Whether you’re moving a whole household or some heavy appliances, they’ll do it in a fraction of the time. However, there are certain times of the year when removalists are busy and you may need to wait until they’re available. If your belongings need to be removed asap, then you may need to consider other options.
If you’re moving your belongings using a trailer or hire truck, factor in pick up, loading, unloading and drop off times. Add some extra time just to cover yourself. Carrying or tying down items can take longer if you’re doing it for the first time or you’ve only got one other person helping. Also, larger trucks can be difficult to manage if you’ve never driven them before, which means you might drive slower than usual!
Insurance
When something is damaged or broken by a removalist, public liability insurance will cover the costs. Unfortunately, a truck or trailer won’t provide you with the same advantages. Home contents insurance doesn’t cover items in transit, so you’ll have to foot the bill if there are any losses or damage. If you’re worried about the risk, you can take out stand-alone transit insurance. This can be purchased from your home insurer or truck hire company (if available).
Verdict
In the end, choosing between a removalist and a hire truck will depend on your time, budget, physical ability and preference. If you’ve got limited funds and you’re confident driving a large vehicle, opt for a truck or trailer. It’ll save you money and you’ll have more control, particularly if you’ve got someone to help you with the heavy lifting.
If you have large items, mobility issues or you’re too busy to move, let the professionals do the work for you. You’ll get the job done faster and you won’t get a hernia loading those heavy items onto the truck! Alternatively, enjoy the best of both worlds – transport the small, fragile stuff by car and leave the difficult items for the removalists.
Whatever option you choose, StoragePlus will make sure you have everything you need once you arrive at the self-storage facility. This includes free forklift and palette services or access to packing supplies from our Box Shop. If you’ve got further questions or you’d like to take advantage of our moving credit offer for hire trucks/trailers, feel free to contact our friendly team!
