Moving is a task that many people must face at some point in their life. It can be an extremely daunting process to take on, and it's not something you should do without the proper knowledge. You have two options for moving: DIY or hiring a professional company. Both come with pros and cons, so we'll break them down for you before making your decision!
DIY Move
More and more people are increasingly foregoing professional moving companies and considering DIY-style options when it comes to relocating to their new home. The reason for this is quite simple professional movers are expensive.
If you're looking to do it yourself, there are three different ways to go – rent a moving truck, use a self-service moving container company or move everything using your vehicle. Each of these options has its pros and cons.
Rent a moving truck
If you rent a moving truck, it's important to remember that even though the initial cost is lower than paying movers for an entire day of work, your out-of-pocket costs are going to be relatively high. You have to factor in gasoline, time off at work, and tolls.
Use a Self-Service Moving Container Company
A cheaper option might be opting for a self-service container company – but you need a place to store them while they do all the heavy lifting for you.
Move everything using your vehicle.
If you are determined to move everything on your own, it's a good idea to do the math first. Determine how many miles you will be traveling and calculate what that means for gas expenses. Figure out where all your belongings would go in the car – is there enough space? And finally, take into account any time off work needed so that no one has to help drive during rush hour traffic!
Pros of DIY Move
The benefits of a DIY move are numerous, and the cost difference between doing it yourself and hiring movers can be significant. That's because you will have to pay for more than just moving services; professional movers usually include things like packing materials, transportation costs (truck rental), and insurance for your belongings in transit, labor fees, etc.
A few pros to consider:
The satisfaction that comes from saving money with every step taken
Knowing exactly what went into making this happen — no surprises along the way. You know how much everything costs upfront, so there's less risk!
Cons of DIY Move
The cons of a DIY move, however, are also plentiful. You'll need to be prepared for some rather tricky tasks like lifting furniture and carrying boxes upstairs — not to mention the time it takes away from your family or work obligations! And you can't forget about all that heavy lifting: according to the American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA), most people underestimate how much weight they'll have to carry themselves. In many cases, professional movers will use dollies or hand trucks when moving heavier items, so you don't end up with sore muscles and strained backs.
A few cons:
Needing a stretch break now and then since there's no stopping in between
Equipment for heavy lifting and loading - hand trucks, dollies, trolleys, or other equipment.
Having to constantly carry things upstairs from the bottom level of the home (in a two-story house) without help
Hiring a Professional Moving Company
Hiring a professional moving company can be beneficial for many reasons. Moving companies can be contacted and hired online, which makes everything so much easier! All that needs to be done is filling out an estimate form with your moving requirements, and they'll get back in touch with you right away. Some may even offer free quotes as well.
You don't break any sweat by doing all the packing yourself and loading up the truck while additionally not having the added expense of gas money since these guys will come to pick up from your home location on their vehicle (no worries!).
Pros of Hiring Professional Moving Company:
Less time-consuming and less tiring - you won't have to worry about lifting heavy objects or doing strenuous tasks, which will leave your whole body feeling sore at the end of the day (or even sooner).
Professional movers know how to pack all sorts of furniture with care to get damaged during transport. This is especially important if you're transporting items such as antiques, pianos, glassware, etc.
Moving companies often come along with their equipment like hand trucks or dollies to make things easier on them ("more cost-effective"). Not only does this result In a more efficient packing process, but it also cuts down on the amount of time that they will need to spend at your house.
Your belongings are likely to be handled with care – It is better and safe to always hire a professional moving companyas they have years’ worth of experience in handling fragile items and know how to pack them accordingly (the best way possible). They'll also use padding for protection!
Moving companies have their insurance policies, so if something does happen, you're protected. They have a team of professionals who are there to do the heavy lifting for you. There's no need to worry about accidents or mishaps when it comes to hiring professional movers.
On top of all these benefits, hiring a moving company is usually cheaper than performing a DIY move. Why? Simply because you're paying someone else's wages, you don't lose any money instead of when you perform the job yourself where there's an opportunity cost associated with doing something else instead or not getting paid for work hours you spent on assembling furniture, etc. Moving companies generally charge on a per-hour basis, so you know exactly how much it will cost before the move begins.
Cons of Hiring Moving Company
Moving companies are expensive. Prices vary but generally, they're costly, and many people have budget constraints, so it may not be possible to hire a moving company for this reason alone.
If you find an affordable price, the quality of service might be compromised because, most likely, these providers will offer lower wages, which means less experienced staff or those who don't want to take on more responsibilities due to their experience levels.
When you hire a moving company, you don't have the flexibility to change the date, and there are no refunds if you want to cancel. It can be not easy to find a company that offers all of your required services.
You have limited control over how your belongings will be loaded on the truck as they're driven from one location to another.
Conclusion
So, which should I use?!
Whichever best suits your needs, of course! There isn't necessarily a "right" answer as both have their pros and cons, but if we were you, we would probably hire a company because they specialize in moving things from place to place. That way, the risks, and challenges are less.
