There are several types of household goods moves — which one is right for you?

Full-Service Moving Choosing a moving company may seem like an overwhelming task. Where do you start? What qualities should you look for? Planning well in advance makes it more likely you'll find a good company, and also gives you time to figure out how much the move will cost. Start your research at least eight to 10 weeks before the move. Most companies give free estimates, so be sure to ask ahead of time. If the estimate is not binding, however, the final cost may differ. Factors that might affect the cost of the move include:

• Size: The weight of your move. The more weight, the more cost.
• Distance: The number of miles you're traveling and the states of your old home and your destination. Some carriers only serve certain states.
• Time: The time of year you decide to move. Moving during peak times, such as the summer or holidays, means that you'll pay more for your move.
• Packing: Many moving companies will help you pack, but keep in mind that help costs money. If you want to save money, pack as much as you can on your own, leaving only the hardest tasks for the movers.
• Appliances: Many movers will disconnect major appliances (for example, washing machine, ice maker) at your old home and reconnect them at your new home. However, movers typically charge for this service.
• Staircases: Do you love your new four-story house? Movers won't. Expect additional costs based on the number of staircases they need to use.
• Pianos: Despite the beautiful music they make, pianos are big, unwieldy objects. Movers typically charge extra for each piano they move. Many companies will provide quotes online.

For more tips and articles about moving, click here.

Self-Service Moving The newest, and quickly proving most popular, way of moving is commonly called "do-it-yourself" or self-service moving. In self-service moves, the company transports your belongings from old house to new, but you have to pack and unpack everything at both ends. Most of these companies move or ship locally, nationally and internationally and may offer basic minimum insurance coverage at no cost to you. If your small move is within the same state, an hourly charge is generally applied. Additionally, most can provide safe and secure storage in the event that your destination is not ready, but make sure to check with your mover in advance of the big day.

Read tips on loading and unloading a moving truck. For more tips and articles about moving, click here.

Small Moves Small movers specialize in moves and/or relocations that are too small to meet commercial van line minimums. They also offer shipping services for consumers who need to ship items that are typically too large or cumbersome for conventional mail services. In a nutshell, think of small movers as an alternative to using self-service movers or the do-it-yourself option with the advantages of full-service movers. If you want the benefits offered by a full-service mover, but don't meet the requirements, or simply want to move a treasured item to another location, "small movers" are a good answer. Their typical list of services includes:

• No minimum weight requirements
• Prices are usually based on item weight
• Local, long distance or international moving and shipping
• Estate distribution
• Corporate relocation
• Air freight delivery
• Full households, partial loads and single items
• Antiques and precious heirlooms
• Pianos
• Automobiles and motorcycles
• Oddball items
• Packing and crating
• Storage

For more information about small moves, click here.

Complete Self-Moving The two essential ingredients of a successful move are "personpower" and hauling capacity. Whether you rely on friends and borrowed vehicles or hire local college students and rent a truck to do the job, you need not only enough strong helpers but also the right hauling capacity. If you lack either of these, it's best not to self-move. Consider whether moving yourself actually makes economic sense. If you are moving a long distance, calculate the cost of travel: gas, tolls, meals, lodging, and so on. Add in the costs of renting a truck large enough to handle all your belongings, insuring valuable possessions, hiring additional help, and even the cost of pizza at the post-move party. Then get some estimates from professional moving companies and decide how costs compare with a self-move. Following is a guideline for estimating how much truck you'll need:

• 10-foot truck: 1 to 2 furnished rooms
• 14- to 15-foot truck: 2 to 3 furnished rooms
• 18- to 20-foot truck: 4 to 5 furnished rooms
• 22- to 24-foot truck: 6 to 8 furnished rooms

Read tips on loading and unloading a moving truck. For more information about self moving, click here.

Storage

Many times a move will involve storage, whether for an "in-between" time while you are looking for a new home, or just for those extra household goods that don't make it to the new home. Through the RPS Relocation Storage Facility Locator, you can get pricing, facility and container information from a vast number of self-storage providers.

Shelley Seale is a mother and writer based in Austin, Texas.

January 2007