‘Ins and outs of moving yourself All successful moves have one thing in common: a healthy dose of careful planning. Ryder Truck Rental _ Canada Ltd., the country‘s largest truck rental and leasing compaâ€" ny, offers some helpful advice on how to plan for a stressâ€"free move. Commercial van lines offer cusâ€" tomized profesâ€" sional . service, assisting in the What Are My Moving Options? packing process and handling all driving, loading and â€" unloading. While _ moving with a commercial van line will cut down on your work, it will also cut into your budâ€" get. A study just completed by Ryder showed that doâ€"itâ€"yourself movers can save from 30 to 80 perâ€" cent of a profesâ€" sional mover‘s costs depending on the distance moved. For examâ€" ple, a typical proâ€" fessional mover charges about $3,350.00 for an 800 kilometer move, while a doâ€" itâ€"yourself move of the same distance using a rental truck costs about $750.00 While saving money is the priâ€" mary consideration for most people who move themâ€" selves, doâ€"itâ€"yourâ€" self movers also enjoy a greater degree of control over their moves than those who hire commercial movers. In fact, the advantages of selfâ€" moving often perâ€" suade people to move themselves even when they can afford to use a van line. When Should I Begin The Process? Regardless of the moving option you â€" ultimately choose, _ Ryder recommends planâ€" ning your move well in advance. : MARY GLOVERâ€"LABUTE 842â€"7000. / e o 6 6 o 6 06 6 0 6 6 6 6 08 6 o e If you opt for a commercial van line, you‘ll need to select one about two months before moving day. To find the right movâ€" ing company, ask friends who have moved recently, real estate agents or your â€" local chamber of comâ€" merce for their recâ€" ommendations. Then get a written estimate and a listâ€" ing of services from at least three movers. If you decide to O m m e rCia move â€" yourself, don‘t wait until the last minute to reserve a rental truck. Ryder sugâ€" gest reserving one at least two weeks before you move, especially during the peak summer moving season. This should help to ensure that the right size truck is available to meet your moving needs. Leading truck rental comâ€" panies can also provide the movâ€" ing supplies you‘ll need â€" boxes, padâ€" dling, heavyâ€"duty tape and rope, wrapping paper and labels. It‘s also a good idea to gather information about your new homeâ€" town in the weeks prior to . your move. Request a newcomer‘s inforâ€" mation package from the chamber of commerce or city hall of your new town. Parents should make a speâ€" cial effort to share this information with their children, whose needs and anxieties require special attention during the moving dren with their new community ahead of time, will make them feel better about reloâ€" moving process cating and more involved in the Schedule disâ€" connection dates at your old address for all utilities, and order the necessary office your new address and movâ€" ing date so that mail will be forâ€" warded to you without delay. Fill out the changeâ€"ofâ€" address cards the post office has available and send them to banks, insurance compaâ€" nies and magazines to which you subâ€" scribe. vour new home as soon as you know your moveâ€"in date. Give the post Acquainting chil onnections for Drop a note WHO SHOULD I NOTIFY? 0 ‘arents with your new address to friends and relatives as well. Depending on how far you move, you may need to open a new bank account. If so, remember to transâ€" fer any automatic payment or deducâ€" tion programs to your new accounts before closing out the old ones. Most credit card compaâ€" nies provide changeâ€"ofâ€"address notices with monthly _ stateâ€" ments; send yours in as soon as possiâ€" ble Other important things to take care of include finding out when you‘ll need a new drivâ€" er‘s license and license plates, if you are moving out of province, and _ collecting important papers, such as your chilâ€" dren‘s school records and the family‘s medical, dental and finanâ€" cial recprds. n start saving news papers for wrapâ€" ping dishes and glassware, as well as plastic bags for covering _ lamp shades and other goods that newspaâ€" pers might stain. When you begin packing, start with those objects that aren‘t used every day. Make sure fragile WHAT‘S THE WHAT BEST WAY TO SHOULD I DO PACK? wWITH MY CAR? items are wrapped individually, and use crumpled newspaper, towels or bubble wrap to fill boxes so their contents won‘t bounce around. Since you‘ll be loading and unloading the boxes yourself, Ryder advises limâ€" iting the weight of each box to 30 pounds. Finally, label each box with a list of its contents and indiâ€" cate where you plan to put them in your new home. You can leave clothing and other items in furniture drawers, but you may want to carry each drawer sepaâ€" rately to your truck to lighten your load. Don‘t pack paint, _ alcohol, lighter fluid or any other flammable liquid. These items are unsafe to move and many provinces prohibit their transportaâ€" tion. Most truck rental companies, including Ryder, rent safe and easyâ€" toâ€"use car towing equipment â€" that attaches to the rear of your truck. Although â€" most truck rental comâ€" panies carry a complete line of car carriers that can tow cars, miniâ€" vans or light pickâ€" up trucks, comâ€" mercial van lines and auto transport companies can also move your car. Your insurance agent will be able to tell you if your current homeownâ€" er policy also covâ€" ers your belongâ€" ings while en route to a new home. If not, many truck rental companies offer coverage of their own to proâ€" tect your goods while in transit. Most commercial movers provide a standard coverage level which can be supplemented for (See RE 21) DO I NEED INSURANCE?