On the move?
Should you hire movers or do-it-yourself?!
Moving is a big job. The whole process comes with numerous choices that can leave you feeling completely overwhelmed even before you start packing the boxes.
Deciding whether to hire movers or move yourself, depends on your budget, your proximity to the new home, the complexity of the move, and your capabilities.
Before making the decision, take a look at the pros and cons for both options…
The pros and cons of moving yourself
Pro: Full control
The greatest benefit to moving the contents of your house yourself, is that you are in complete control from start to finish. You choose the truck and all the moving supplies. You handle all the boxed and unboxed items to ensure that nothing breaks in the process.
You fully control how to load the truck, and you never have to worry about movers leaving boxes and furniture in rooms they don’t belong in. You also have the flexibility to decide when to start and end the move.
Pro: Savings
Pro: If you are relocating on a tight budget, renting a moving truck and doing all the work yourself can save thousands of dollars. Call around to compare professional fees versus truck rental fees.
Pro: Pack however you want
Professional movers will need all boxes sealed and ready to go when they arrive. By moving yourself, you won’t have to box up odd-shaped belongings like lamps and plants. You can pack as much or as little as you want. You will be good to go as long as everything is in the truck on moving day.
Click here for tips on moving valuable items.
Con: Heavy lifting
If you choose a DIY move, you are going to have to move everything yourself.
Even if you convince your strongest friends to help, lifting and transporting numerous boxes and clunky pieces of furniture will not be easy—especially if you have a lot of stairs on either end of the move.
If you aren’t an inexperienced mover, you could easily mark and scratch up the walls while lifting couches, dressers, and beds down narrow hallways and endless staircases. A one-bedroom apartment is easy to handle without professionals, but a fully furnished five-bedroom home is another story.
Don’t forget to consider unexpected issues. If you end up getting your couch stuck halfway up a set of stairs or wedged in the back door, you may find yourself spending countless hours trying to get it out.
Con: Planning
Hiring professional movers requires planning, but coordinating an entire move yourself requires ALL the planning. You will need to figure out the logistics of getting your stuff from point A to point B. You will need to plan the best way to properly load the rented truck to best utilize the space. This requires organizing which items get loaded first and last, and how they are arranged inside the truck.
The pros and cons of hiring professional movers
Pro: You don’t lift a thing
Doing it this way, leaves all the heavy lifting to the professionals! When you hire a reputable moving company, you won’t have to worry about lifting and carrying heavy boxes, mattresses, or appliances. You also won’t have to worry about straining muscles, scratching floors and walls, or begging friends to help.
When you hire professional movers, you focus on the kids, the pets, and odds and last-minute tasks at either end of the move. You could also just kick back and relax!
Pro: Efficiency
Hiring a reputable relocation company can save you hours of stress and struggle. Unlike friends and family members who can back out at the last minute, professional movers are under contract to assist with all previously agreed upon aspects of the move.
The moving company should arrive on time with the appropriate supplies and equipment to help keep your items from damage. This way, you avoid the purchase of things like furniture pads and a dolly.
Pro: Less stress
If the thought of loading, unloading, and driving a moving truck makes you anxious, hiring movers will help alleviate some of the stress.
Con: Less flexibility
Hiring professional movers limits your control over the move. From the date and time of pick-up and delivery to how they load your belongings, there’s not much you can do to change when and how you move.
If the moving company has multiple stops along the way, you could end up waiting weeks for your belongings to arrive. If you want complete control of your move, doing it yourself might be the best option.
Con: Expensive
Even if you are moving nearby, hiring professional movers to load, transport, and unload your stuff will cost you much more than renting a moving truck and doing all the work yourself.
Con: Impersonal
Having complete strangers handle all of your belongings can be distressing. If you choose to hire movers, do your homework! Read reviews, check ratings, and shop around for quotes before making the final decision.
It’s also a good idea to read which items you should always move yourself.