Moving Tip of the Week: Rental Trucks

As Cincinnati movers, our customers often ask us who they should select as their provider for a rental truck. As there are only three large competitors in the Cincinnati Area (Penske, Uhaul, Budget), here are a few tips to put you in the right direction.

1. The first thing we feel you should always look for is customer service. If a company is incapable of treating you right or making you feel comfortable, odds are they treat their truck inventory the same way.
   
2. Price is always a factor, but how far will that price get you? When renting locally, most companies charge you a base price in addition to a mileage charge. Each company is different, so be sure to compare all companies. When moving one way, or long distance, each company will give you a flat rate for the truck. What you need to watch out for here is how many days they give you to use the truck and how many miles are included in that price. Uhaul gives you a set allowance of miles and charges for each additional mile over, while both Penske and Budget give you unlimited miles. Make sure you can complete your move with the provisions given from each company.
   
3. What is the condition of the truck? Which ever dealer you decide to rent your moving truck from, be sure to take a good look at the trucks they keep on their lot and the condition they're in. Is the tire tread good? Are there a lot of visible dings and dents? Is the cargo area swept out and clean? Do all the lights work? If you can answer no to any of these questions, it is probably a good idea to select a different dealer.
4. How old is the truck? If a truck is rented to you that has well over 200,000 miles on it, it is definitely worth asking for a lower mileage truck. Always ask your dealer how often they service their trucks to be sure your receiving a road worthy vehicle.
   
5. Ramp height can also be a determining factor when selecting a truck rental company. Uhaul is universally known for having the lowest ramps and therefore easier to load, while Budget's are a medium height, and Penske's are the highest in the industry. Some companies also offer a lift gate, but they normally slow the moving process down.
6. Be sure to compare the different types of insurances that are offered by the respective companies and also check with your insurance company to determine if they cover you driving the truck and/or its contents.
   
7. Our last suggestion to help you select a truck rental company is to read their customer reviews. There are places all over the internet, and even on the company's sites themselves where customers have written reviews about their experiences. When in doubt, google the company, and look for their reviews in the local business section.

From all of us at Move Cheap Cincinnati Movers, we hope your move is a great one!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

From all of us at the Move Cheap Cincinnati Movers, we hope you and yours have a great turkey day!

Moving Tip of the Week: Prepping Appliances

As Cincinnati movers, Move Cheap's service is all about saving our customers time and money without sacrificing quality. A key tip in saving time is having your appliances prepped before we arrive to move them, and/or ready to install when they are unloaded in to your new home.

• Refrigerators are easy enough, but if you have an ice maker or a water dispenser, you also have an attached water line. Before disconnecting this line from your fridge, be sure to turn it off first. Not doing so could cause a small lake to form in your kitchen! Once the power and water have been disconnected, you may want to remove any shelves from the inside of the fridge that don't seem stable. We have also found that its a good idea to measure the new space where you plan to place your fridge. There's nothing worse than moving into your new home only to realize your fridge won't fit.
• Dryers are usually lite and easy to move. It's the dryer's plug that can cause a moving nightmare! Some dryers have a 3 prong power cord, while others have a 4 prong. Before moving into your new home, check to see what type of receptacle (or power outlet) has been installed for your laundry area. If you need to change cords, one can be purchased at your local Sears or Lowes. Your dryer vent hose may also need to be looked at as some laundry areas may require a longer hose.
• Washers will generally be the heaviest of your appliances, but that can be avoided if you run it through an extra spin cycle to help get rid of the access water collected inside. If you haven't moved in some time, it will be necessary to check your water connections to be sure they haven't rusted shut or need to be replaced. Before disconnecting, be sure you turn the water source off. Lefty loosey, righty tighty!
• Gas Appliances will need to have their gas valve closed before disconnecting.

As your Cincinnati Movers, we will always be happy to disconnect and reconnect your appliances at no extra charge if you choose for us to do so, and we will always bring the tools to do the job correctly. However, being prepared ahead of time can save you time and money in the long run.

From all of us at Move Cheap Cincinnati Movers, we hope your move is a great one!

Free Tickets To The Reds Vs. Bengals Charity Basketball Extravaganza!

From now through December 31st, 2009, all customers who book jobs directly through Move Cheap Cincinnati Movers will receive a pair of tickets to the 19th Annual 2009-2010 Bengals Vs. Reds All Star Charity Basketball Extravaganza for the Smith Family Foundation! Just say 'Who Dey!' when you place your order, and the tickets are yours once your job has been completed. The event will be held on February 12th, 2010 at the Fifth Third Arena Center. We hope to see you there!

Moving Tip of the Week: Flat Screen TVs

As a Cincinnati Moving Company, customers often call us and ask how they should prepare their flat screen television for transport. As the cost of these televisions have fallen, nearly every household in America now has one. Here at Move Cheap Cincinnati Movers, we want everyone's television to make it through the moving process so it can be enjoyed in their new home. Here are a few tips that we recommend when moving your flat screen.

• If at all possible, always keep the original container the TV was packaged in. This will be the best box to transport your TV as it was designed for it.
• If you don't have the original box, Uhaul now offers a box for flat screens. Keep in mind, however, that this box is costly and will not work for every television.
• If you do not have the original, and cannot find a box that will fit, your next best option will be to craft one. You'll want to protect the screen with a non-abrasive blanket, and then wrap the television with plastic wrap. Once that has been completed, you'll need to fashion corrugated cardboard on the outside of the wrapped TV, and tape it securely. It is now ready for transport!
• While being prepared and positioned into your moving truck, your flat screen television should NEVER be laid down flat. All flat screens whether they're LCD, LED, or Plasma, should ALWAYS remain vertical. Laying them flat could cause the technology to malfunction, and it creates a larger surface area to sustain damage.
• Once your TV has arrived at your new home, it's always a good idea to remove it from its packaging and plug it in to be sure it wasn't damaged during your move.

From all of us at Move Cheap Cincinnati Movers, we hope your move is a great one!

Move Cheap To The Rescue!

One of our local storage affiliates, Simply Self Storage in Norwood, Ohio, recently lost a section of their facility to a fire. They sprang into action and called us, the Move Cheap Cincinnati Movers, to relocate the units in the surrounding areas to prevent any type of water or weather damage to their customers' belongings. Three crews and a couple days later, we are happy to report that all of their clients have been moved and their possessions safe. We'd like to give kudos to the management of Simply Self Storage in Norwood for acting with speed for their clients best interests. We would also like to thank you for giving Move Cheap the opportunity to serve our community.

Moving Tip of the Week: Light bulbs

As Cincinnati movers, we feel it is important to share our wealth of moving knowledge with our customers so that you can have a better moving experience. This weeks moving tip involves light bulbs. We recommend to all of our customers that they remove the light bulbs from all of their lamps, entertainment centers, and other items to prevent shattering during your move. What most customers don't know is that the inside of a moving truck is constantly vibrating. This can sometimes cause loose light bulbs to work themselves out of their sockets resulting in a break, and in the case of larger bulbs, a large pile of glass. Before your movers arrive, it is a good idea to place your bulbs in a separate and well padded box marked as fragile glass for your movers to identify.

From all of us at Move Cheap Cincinnati Movers, we hope your move is a great one!