If you are torn between hiring a full-service moving company or opting for a moving truck rental and taking on the task yourself, it might be helpful to consider a few of the pros and cons of moving yourself.
PRO: You Have Total Flexibility
When you opt for a moving truck rental, your time is truly your own. You won’t necessarily need to be 100% ready before the moving truck arrives, so if you still have a few things to pack or you want to move in stages, hiring a truck might make sense.
We do find, however, that having that moving contract and using professional movers can help you get organized and stay organized. When you know that movers are arriving at a set time and you have to be ready, this can push you to complete all of your packing and organizing more quickly.
Keep in mind that we can plan your move at a time that is most convenient for you. If you want to get an early start, we can be there at 7 a.m. sharp, ready to go. But if you prefer to start the move at 9 a.m. or 10 a.m., we can do that, as well.
PRO: Moving Yourself Is Cheaper (Or Is It?)
Opting for a moving truck rental will save you money, because you won’t be dealing with the additional cost of paying for professional movers to haul items in and out of the truck or up and down stairs.
For a local move, a one-day rental for a large moving truck, such as a truck from U-Haul or a similar company, might cost about $40. Additionally, you will pay about a dollar per mile and, of course, you’ll have to pay for gasoline. So if you keep the truck overnight, and you are only moving 10 miles away, the total cost (before taxes) might be about $150 or so once all related costs are factored in. This seems like a great deal, until you consider the cons.
CON: Finding Help Can Be Difficult
Let’s face it; no one really wants to help you move. You may have friends or family willing to do it, but it’s definitely not at the top of anyone’s fun list. Ensuring that you have able-bodied helpers on your moving day can be tricky, but when you hire professional movers, at least you know that someone else will be handling all of the heavy lifting.
CON: Your Helpers Will Lack Experience
While it’s great when friends and family help, these individuals are not professional movers. Pros know how to navigate heavy items on stairs, and get oddly sized furniture through a doorway without damaging the furnishings or the home itself. We also know how to lift heavy items without causing injury to ourselves, and that’s huge. Lifting items incorrectly can cause strains or even serious injuries, and you can avoid this risk with professional movers.
CON: Truck Organization May Be Lacking
It might seem like a small factor, but professionals know the best ways to load up a moving truck. We know where to stack boxes and how to arrange furnishings and appliances for maximum efficiency and maximum protection. This type of organization makes loading and unloading the truck far easier and faster. Good truck organization can also keep items from being damaged, which leads to the next con on our list . . .
CON: Items May Become Damaged
While there’s just no way to ensure 100% of the time that nothing will be damaged in a move, using professional movers can improve the odds. Professional movers can wrap and crate delicate items, and will have moving blankets, tarps and covers on hand, as well as a furniture dolly and utility dolly and moving straps. You can rent some of these items, but they can cost between $20 and $50 per item, so this cost can add up.
Keep in mind, when you hire professionals, you also can purchase insurance to cover any damages that occur during the move. When you opt for a moving truck rental and do it yourself, moving insurance isn’t an option, so if you break something, you will have to repair or replace the item and that’s the way it goes.
CON: Moving Is Exhausting
Whether you opt for a moving truck rental or use professional movers, the whole process of moving is exhausting. Even if you never lift a couch or a heavy box, there are so many other tasks that you have to handle, that it can be a relief to hire professionals and know that the heavy lifting will be handled by someone else. If you are moving from a three-story apartment to another three-story apartment, do you really want to haul that sofa and that fridge up and down the stairs?
CON: You Have To Do Everything Yourself
While a moving truck rental might seem more cost-effective, professional movers can handle many tasks beyond the loading and unloading of a truck, and this can be a huge advantage and make moving far easier. You can add on services such as packing or unpacking, disassembly or assembly of furnishings, and appliance set-ups.
While a moving truck rental might cost less, it’s often well worth the money to hire a professional moving company. At Move 4 Less, we are committed to providing you with top-quality moving services at the lowest possible prices. We make moving as easy as possible, and take every precaution to protect all of your furnishings and belongings. To get a free quote, just head to the top of the page and fill out our quick form and we provide you with a cost estimate as soon as possible.
