Any change brings both sadness and excitement. Moving is not any different. The process of moving to a new place is complex and full of anticipation, nostalgia and excitement. Unwanted stress, however, can creep in during your transition. How can you move in a stress-free and efficient manner? Should you do it yourself or hire a professional?
Consider these factors when deciding whether you should hire a professional residential mover or do it yourself. This will help you make the right decision.
DIY moving vs hiring a professional moving company
A new adventure awaits you when you move to a different place! With all the excitement, there can be a bit of stress. How can you make it as stress-free and easy as possible? You can either do the move on your own or hire a professional moving company.
Let’s examine the factors that will help you make a well-informed decision if you are weighing up the pros and cons.
Pros of hiring a professional moving company
- Masters of Moving: Professional moving companies know how to safely and quickly pack your belongings into a truck and transport them to your new house. They are experts in handling bulky furniture and fragile items.
- Moving heavy objects is dangerous! Professional movers have been trained to lift heavy objects safely and are strong enough. Moving companies also offer insurance, so you are covered if your item is damaged during transit.
- Moves are a frenzy of activities! Professional moving teams can take on the heavy lifting, allowing you to concentrate on other aspects of your transition.
- Moving companies offer a variety of convenient extra services. There are many extra services available to help make your move easier. These include packing, unpacking, furniture assembly and disassembly as well as storage.
Cons of hiring a professional moving company
- Cost considerations: Hiring a moving team is generally more expensive than doing it yourself. Get quotes from several companies to get an idea of costs. Remember to weigh the costs of hiring professionals against the time and energy you will save, as well as the peace of mind they can bring.
- Share Control: If you are someone who is hands-on, it can be difficult to give control to a moving service. It’s a great way to relieve stress, but it also means you have to trust others with your belongings.
- You’ll have to plan around the availability of your movers rather than deciding on your own pace. Book your movers in advance, particularly during busy seasons.
Weighing DIY Options: Pros and Cons
It’s empowering to be in charge of your move. You can save money by doing it yourself and have full control of the process. It’s a huge commitment, so let’s look at the pros and cons.
Pros of a DIY move
- Budget-Friendly. If you are moving locally or with a limited amount of items, DIY moving can be an option. Renting a vehicle, purchasing packing materials, and asking friends to assist can reduce costs, particularly for smaller moves.
- You are the boss! You decide how and when everything is packed, loaded, and moved. You decide how fast (or slow!) you want to move.
- The “I Did It” feeling: There’s no doubt that conquering an obstacle on your own brings a sense of pride!
Cons of a DIY move
- Be prepared to spend a lot of time on a DIY move. It’s not easy to pack up everything, drive, unload, and then repack.
- Moving furniture and boxes is hard work, especially if you don’t go to the gym often. If you lift incorrectly, it can lead to sore muscles and even worse injuries. Remember that getting family and friends to help out isn’t easy.
- Professional movers are trained to protect your belongings by packing and moving them in the safest way possible. Even if you are careful, you can still break something if you do it yourself.
- The stress of the mess: Moving yourself requires a lot of preparation, like renting the correct size truck, figuring all the packing supplies you’ll require, and dealing with the stress of driving through unfamiliar terrain. All of this can start to pile up, and it can feel overwhelming.
- You’re responsible: You’re responsible for any damage that occurs during a DIY move. This could be something inside your home or even the rental truck.
Factors to consider when deciding between a DIY move and hiring professional movers
It’s important to make the right decision about your move. Do you want to do the move yourself, or hire a moving team?
Here are some factors you should consider when making the right choice for you.
1. How far are you going?
You can manage short moves in town on your own. Rent a small truck and make a few trips. What about those long-distance, big moves? It’s an entirely different game! Professional movers are well-versed in handling interstate moves. They can transport your belongings safely and efficiently.
2. The stuff factor
A DIY move becomes more difficult the more things you own. Consider the size of your home. Will you be moving a tiny apartment or a large 3-bedroom house that is overflowing? You might want to hire a team of movers if you have a lot of stuff on your plate. It will save your sanity and your back.
3. Budget
What is the budget for your move? You can save money by doing your own moves. Don’t forget the costs of renting a truck, buying moving boxes and bubble-wrap, and filling the gas tank.
Professional movers will give you an accurate quote from the beginning. Compare quotes from several companies to get the best deal. Remember that the lowest price is not always the best value. You want movers who are reliable and will take care of your possessions.
4. Are you in a hurry?
Honesty is the best policy when determining how much time can be realistically devoted to packing, unpacking, driving and loading. Professional movers are a great option if you’re pressed for time. Professional movers can do the job much quicker, so you can focus on other moving-related tasks. If you are flexible, then a DIY move may be for you.
5. Feeling strong?
It is not fun to move heavy furniture or boxes! Professional movers can handle heavy lifting if you are worried about your strength or the strength of the helpers. It’s not fun to move into a new home with aches and pains, or even potential injuries.
6. What are some of the most difficult items to handle?
Got a piano? A massive antique dresser? A delicate piece of artwork? Professional movers are trained to move specialty items. Even the big furniture can be disassembled and reassembled by them. You can do it yourself if your move is mainly furniture and boxes.
Mix and match moving options
Guess what? There’s no need to choose between a DIY move or hiring movers who offer full service! You can find some cool options that will make your move much easier, especially if it’s a mix of services you need.
- Hybrid Moves: Save Money and Do It Yourself! You can customize your hybrid move! Hire movers to help you move. You can pack all your stuff in advance, then have them load the truck and transport it, as well as unload everything at your new home.
- Portable Storage Container (Super Convenient! This option drops a storage unit at your door. The company will pick it up at your convenience and take it to your new residence. This is great for moving with a flexible timeline!
- Moving Container Companies – These companies are similar to portable storage in that they deliver a moving box to your home. They also drive it to your new home. Consider it a middle-ground between hiring a full-service moving company and doing everything yourself.