Are you planning to move? Whether you’re moving across town or across the country, it’s a big decision choosing between a DIY move and hiring a moving company. Hiring a professional moving company is expensive, but if your budget allows for it, this can be a much more efficient and less stressful option than doing everything yourself. Check out the pros and cons of both so you can make an informed decision about what type of service best suits your needs.
DIY Move vs Moving Company
DIY Move
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Pros
Full control over your move: One of the most impressive benefits of a DIY move is that you are in control over every detail from start to finish. Not only do you get to choose your truck and all of the supplies, but you also plan the process of packing all items into boxes yourself so that they are as safe during transit as possible. You have more flexibility over the timing of a DIY move than with professional movers. If you are worried about the weather, it is wise to know what your options are. You’re also in control of how to load the truck, and you don’t have to worry about your furniture being dumped into rooms it doesn’t belong.
Save money: If you’re on a tight budget, consider making a DIY move. Moving from one house to another is an investment. Hiring a professional company will cost you more than just doing it yourself. Renting a moving truck instead of using a professional company will save you money. When renting a truck, you have the option to purchase add-ons and loading supplies for an additional fee.
You can use a truck that is big enough to fit everything you need when making your move. This isn’t an option for professional movers because they have predetermined trucks with set dimensions for furniture and boxes. With DIY moves, the truck’s size doesn’t matter as much as long as it’s not too small but also not so large that there are issues parking or navigating tight corners in the neighborhood. There’s no guarantee that a company will get into some areas where homes are only accessible by narrow streets or steep hillsides. In contrast, if you’re driving yourself, then these worries disappear altogether.
Pack as smartly as you want: Along the same lines of one pro – when you pack your belongings to make a DIY move, you are not worrying about making sure everything is immaculate before you get it into a truck. Movers some all of your boxes sealed and ready to go when they arrive. But DIY moving allows you better to take care of items like lamps and plants. You don’t have to worry about tracking down boxes for other items, like simple pillows and blankets. On the day of your move, you can load as little or as much as you want in that truck – as long everything is ready on moving day, you’re good to go.
Cons
Planning: Although you are focused on DIY moves, you should also consider the pros and cons of professional movers. But making your move yourself will take a lot of planning. One of the first decisions you’ll have to make is how and when you will move your items. One of the most important elements to note, aside from making sure everything is properly packed in boxes or items sealed shut to prevent damage, would be arranging all the furniture appropriately on the truck.
Heavy lifting: One of the worst things about a do-it-yourself move is that you will have to carry everything yourself. If friends are the only help you have, a DIY move becomes less stressful. However, lifting all of this heavy furniture up and down the stairs can be challenging, especially if there are many staircases to maneuver. Poorly performed DIY moves have an increased likelihood of doing damage to walls and floors. Moving to a one-bedroom apartment may be an easy task for DIY movers, but moving to a five-bedroom house could break your back.
Professional Moving Company
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Pros
You won’t have to do anything: Professional moving services will do the heavy lifting for you. On top of this, professional state to state movers are specially trained to move your belongings without any harm coming to them safely. If you don’t want to sweat and struggle with your heavy couches, it is time to use professional movers. In addition, DIY moves are for people who prefer to do things on their own. This is also a great option, especially if you don’t have friends or family members willing to help with the moving process.
Less stressful process: There are plenty of moving day stresses you will encounter when making a DIY move, so it is best to hire professional movers in general. The added help of professionals will save time not only on the laborious process of packing and loading your household items but also in potentially having to drive the big moving truck down some heavily trafficked road. The idea of maneuvering a large moving truck is enough to stress out any adult. If you’re unwilling or unable to drive your vehicle, then it would be best if you hired someone else.
Cons
Less flexibility: One of the many reasons to hire a professional out of state mover is to free up your hands for other tasks. When you move, it’s difficult to change the date or time of your pick-up or determine how the movers load your belongings. Worst-case scenario, a rented moving truck could end up taking 3-4+ weeks to arrive if there are multiple stops on the way. Choosing a way to move can be depending on numerous factors.
Impersonal: When you hire a professional moving company or decide to do it yourself, there are some risks related to the experience of your movers. Hiring movers is a bit like sending your most prized possessions off with strangers– you are handing over control of them. Knowing what to look for in a moving company or whether you should do it yourself is the first step toward your perfect move. For your peace of mind, we recommend hiring licensed and insured movers.
What’s Best for You
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It’s time to pack up your things and move. But what should you do? Hire a professional moving company or take it on yourself with the help of friends, family, and strangers who will be happy for an opportunity to eat some pizza? We’ve done both in our day, so here are some tips that might help you decide which route is right for you this time around.