So, you are moving, but don’t want to spend too much money on it or you are a DIY-er who likes to get done things by yourself, except… that dresser is too big or too heavy to carry by yourself, or you have a piano/hot tub/insert another giant item’s name.

The good news is that you have control over your move. Every step of the way you can enlist help – or not. From packing to loading to unloading all the way to unpacking. The biggest question you need to ask yourself is how much is your time worth to you? I like to do things on my own but sometimes I just need some help or expertise, or it looks easier on YouTube than what it is.

This first post is for those of you who have the athleticism, the time, and a good friend you can call in. So here is what you need to move your items:

1. Get boxes and containers for your loose items: you can order these online, but if you just want to pick some up around town, you will most likely find everything you need at U-Haul. You could look around on Facebook Marketplace to see if someone is giving away used boxes, too. The nice thing about U-Haul is that they give bundle discounts and will buy unused boxes back as long as you keep the receipt. Get supplies too: most items can be wrapped into just paper (newspaper might work, but the print might leave a mark on your dishes); I would use a bubble wrap and paper for wine glasses, China, crystal and really anything that you really care about. Always use a box that fits your item. And always tape your box shut; just do it – it’s so much easier to carry. I will do a post about packing, too, in a little bit.
2. Get a truck or a van that can fit your items: again, you can go to U-Haul; there aren’t a lot of places that rent out trucks at those rates to civilians. You will need a driver’s license of course. Tip: It takes about 10 minutes for just one truck to be checked out so if you don’t want to wait in line for too long, go to the U-Haul on Boundary Ave or W Dimond. I have yet to see more than one person in line there. This is also where I do my supply shopping. Keep in mind though, that U-Haul trucks only have ramps but not lift gates, which come in very handy when you are moving heavier items. The clearance on the truck is pretty low so you want to be careful when backing into a driveway, so you don’t hit the asphalt. Also, if you are moving in the wintertime, U-Hauls don’t have the best tires; we’ve seen a lot of those trucks halfway in a ditch.
3. Load your truck: this is where a friend comes in handy. Start with the boxes, heavy on the bottom, then tuck in some of the fragile boxes in the middle so they don’t move around much. Lighter boxes go on top, but make sure to use other boxes, mattresses or tie-downs to keep the top boxes from tumbling down. Sturdier furniture can probably bear the weight of a few boxes, but they weren’t really made to withhold the movement of the truck/road with weight on it. You should use moving pads or blankets to protect your furniture and be sure to check for any dirt or pebbles before laying them on top of the furniture.
4. Unload your truck: hopefully your friend is still around, and you haven’t had too many ideological differences about how to properly load a truck. There really aren’t any tricks in unloading a truck.
5. Dump run: moves are a great way to get rid of things you no longer want. The Central Transfer Station is open Monday through Saturday (as long as you don’t have to dump any hazmat, fridge, tires, etc. you can use the one in Anchorage) and if you drive a U-Haul in there, you might have to go to the commercial side and the minimum charge is about $23.

So, if this sounds like something you can do yourself, you should. However, if some of these points sound challenging to you, you can hire help just for a couple of hours to help you with the heavy stuff.

What’s the benefit of hiring a professional? You have a better chance to get the job done on time, without much risk of injury where you would possibly have to miss work and minimize risk of damage to your belongings. Friends or random help might also not show up on time, or leave in the middle of the job, whereas most moving companies won’t risk their reputation and leave people hanging. You don’t have to go all out; a lot of companies have a 2-hour minimum that if you prepare everything, you have a really good chance of staying under.

Here are some small moving companies near Anchorage that are known to be reliable and do a good job:
Green Gorilla Movers
The Moving Man
Hassle Free Hauling
Allen’s Professional Moving Services (907) 338-7755
Allstar Moving (614) 425-1021