Should You Hire Movers or Move Yourself?

Planning on moving sometime soon? Have you already found your dream home and are in the process of selling? No matter where you happen to be on the home selling/buying spectrum, you’ll likely have some belongings to move.

That’s why moving companies exist. They’re available to help people haul their belongings from one location to another. Depending on how much stuff has to be moved and how large and heavy it is, moving can be a really labor-intensive job. It’s certainly not a task for the faint of heart.

But is this a job that you think you can tackle yourself? If you’re looking to save some money or want to have more control over the moving process, you may have considered moving your things on your own by renting a cube truck and maybe enlisting the help of a couple of friends.

Or should you leave this big job to the pros who have the equipment, experience, and muscle to do it quickly and efficiently? Whatever decision you make, be sure to take a few things into consideration beforehand.

How Much Stuff Do You Have to Move?

If you’re moving out of your parents’ basement and just have a futon and dresser to move into a home you just purchased, then moving yourself might be fine. All you’d probably need is a pickup truck and an extra pair of hands to load these minor items and haul them over to your new abode.

But what if you’re moving from a home you’ve lived in for years and have an entire house full of things to move? You’d be amazed at how much stuff you have to pack and move after living in the same house for a while. If you have a house-load of furniture to move – including beds, dressers, tables, and sofas – the job will be an incredibly challenging one if you decide to go it alone.

In the case of the latter situation, hiring a moving company might be a better idea. Don’t underestimate the challenge of dismantling furniture, carrying it out of tight doorways, loading it up on a truck, and reassembling it when it arrives at your new place. And all those dozens of boxes of things that you’ve packed will also require plenty of space that only a professional moving company’s truck would be able to accommodate.

How Far Do You Have to Go?

The actual distance that you have to move your belongings should also play a key role in your decision to move yourself rather than hiring professionals. If you’re just moving down the street or around the corner, then moving yourself with some friends might make sense if you’ve got the ability and equipment to do so.

But if you’re heading across the city or even across state lines, it probably makes more sense to enlist the help of a professional moving or shipping company to make sure all of your stuff can arrive at your final destination in a timely and efficient manner.

Do You Have a Lot of Valuables to Transport?

If your home is full of really delicate items that are high in value, the last thing you want to do is make them vulnerable to damage. In this case, it would probably be a better idea to have them handled by professionals who are specifically trained and have the right equipment and tools needed to transport them as carefully and safely as possible.

Not only that, but you can also take advantage of insurance policies that movers and shippers provide to cover the cost of any damage should any occur. If you or your buddies break anything, you’ll need to suck up the loss.

Are You in a Rush?

If you’ve got all the time in the world to move your things little by little into your new home, you may be able to take a DIY approach. But if you’re in a time crunch, you don’t want to waste any time with nuances that can creep up if you take on a job that you’ve got no experience with.

If you’re adamant about having everything moved and set up in your new home within a short period of time, then hire movers to help you out to make sure you meet your deadline.

Can You Afford the Cost?

Movers obviously charge for their services. They’re not in the charity business. Depending on where you’re located and the extent of the moving job, the cost can fluctuate. But you can bet on spending at least $1,000.

If you can afford that price tag, hiring professional is probably your best bet. Buying a home comes with a number of costs, and moving is one of them. It’s best to budget for the cost of moving along with all of the other expenses when you buy a home so you’re not scrambling to gather up the funds needed to pay professionals to help you move your belongings.

The Bottom Line

If you don’t have much stuff to move and have the equipment, capability, and friends to help you out, then moving yourself might not be such a bad idea. Plus, you could save yourself some money. But if you’re not the type to do much heavy lifting, have a ton of stuff to move, and are moving quite a distance away from your old place, hiring professional movers might be your best bet.