Best Way to Move: Is It Better to Hire Movers or Move Yourself?

The process of moving comes with a ton of choices. Which Realtor to hire, which house to buy, and which furniture to move – are all hard enough decisions to ponder. You’ll also have to figure out if is it better to hire movers or move yourself. Thankfully, we’re here to help you figure that out.

Deciding whether to hire movers or move yourself largely depends on your budget, proximity to the new home, the complexity of the move, and your personality. Many folks are simply unable to physically carry a couch and mattress down a flight of stairs. Not to mention, you may not have friends who are handy or can handle the heavy lifting. That leaves many of us with the one option of hiring movers. There are, however, plenty of people out there who have successfully completed numerous DIY moves – and saved a pretty penny while doing so .

Before making your decision, take a look at the pros and cons of each option.

Moving Yourself

Pros

• You have total control over your move – T he greatest pro to a DIY move is that you are in complete control over the entire moving process. Not only do you get to choose the truck and all of your moving supplies , but you can handle all the moving boxes yourself to ensure that nothing breaks in the process. Committing to a DIY move means that you have the flexibility to decide when to begin the move and when to end the move. If you’re moving in bad weather , you can decide how best to protect your belongings. You’re also in control of how to load the truck , and you don’t have to worry about movers dumping boxes and furniture in the wrong rooms.
• You’ll save money – If you’re on a tight budget , then a DIY move is probably for you. Even if you’re just relocating next door, the expenses incurred from hiring a moving company can quickly add up and exceed expectations. However, if you rent a moving truck , you could save thousands. For instance, U-Haul’s largest moving truck option (26 feet) holds four-plus bedrooms, and costs start around $40 to rent. When selecting your U-Haul, you can choose add-ons and loading supplies for a fee as well.
• Pack however you want – Along the same lines as the last pro – when preparing for a DIY move, you don’t have to worry about packing all of your belongings perfectly. Movers will want all of your boxes to be sealed and ready to go when they arrive. But by moving yourself, you won’t necessarily have to box up odd-shaped belongings, such as lamps and plants. You won’t have to obsess over how to box up other items , like simple pillows and blankets, either. You can pack as little or as much as you want – as long as everything is in that truck on moving day, you’re good to go.

Cons

• Doing all the heavy lifting – Possibly the worst thing about a DIY move is that you’re going to have to move everything yourself. That is unless that duty happens to fall on the shoulders of your strongest (and clearly, best) friends. Still, lifting all of those boxes and clunky pieces of furniture is not going to be a walk in the park – especially if there are stairs involved. If you or your friends are inexperienced movers , you could mark or scratch up the walls while lifting couches and beds down the stairs. A one-bedroom apartment may be easy enough to move without professionals, but a five-bedroom may just break your back.
• Takes a lot of planning – Don’t get us wrong, hiring a moving company also takes planning. But coordinating an entire move yourself will take A LOT of planning . You’ll have to figure out the logistics of getting your stuff from point A to B. You’ll also have to plan out the best way to properly load the rented moving truck – which items go in first and last – and how they are arranged inside the truck.
• Unexpected problems arise – If something unexpected happens – like your couch getting stuck in the door – you may be out of luck. Without the assistance of professional movers and certain moving tools, you could end up wasting hours trying to fix the situation – instead of relaxing on that couch inside your new home.

Hiring Movers

Pros

• • You won’t have to lift a finger – Leave the heavy lifting to the professionals. After all, these trained movers were hired for a reason. By enlisting a reputable moving company , you won’t have to worry about lifting and carrying your heavy couches down the stairs and out the door. You also won’t have to worry about straining muscles, scratching up new floors, or begging friends to help with the lifting. Instead, you can focus on babysitting your children, watching your pet, and other important tasks. Or you can just kick back and relax.
  • The move will be efficient – Assuming that you’ve hired a legitimate and experienced moving company, expect your movers to be reliable . Unlike friends who can flake, the moving company is under contract to assist with all agreed-upon aspects of the move. The moving company should arrive on time with the appropriate supplies and equipment – saving you from the not-so-fun task of gathering dollies and furniture pads at the last minute. In the long run, hiring a reputable relocation company saves the customer a lot of moving hours.
  • Less stress, overall – In general, hiring movers saves you from many of the common moving-day stresses . In addition to a moving company’s time-saving benefits, hiring help will also save you from maneuvering a giant moving truck down the highway. Moving trucks are notoriously tricky and challenging to drive. Trailers aren’t much easier either. If the idea of loading and driving a large moving truck stresses you out, then we highly recommend hiring movers to help.

  Cons

  • Less flexibility – When you hire professional movers, you limit your control over the move. From the date and time of pickup to how the movers load your belongings, there’s not much you can do to change when and how you move. In the worst-case scenario, you could end up waiting weeks for your moving truck to arrive if the relocation company has multiple stops along the way. Hiring a moving company may not be the best option for those who like to be in complete control.
  • It’s expensive – According to HomeAdvisor.com, the price of a local move typically ranges from $875 to $2,350. The estimate may include an hourly rate, a flat fee, or both. Local movers usually charge $25 to $50 per hour for each worker. This may or may not even include a truck and a furniture dolly. The estimated cost to hire movers to move a four-bedroom household runs up to $1,200. The cost to move out of state ranges from $2,200 to $5,700, mainly depending on distance and weight. (The average home’s belongings weigh about 7,500 pounds.) Talk about pricey! So even if you’re moving as close as down the street, hiring a moving company will still cost you quite a bit.
  • It can be impersonal – Chances are, you don’t personally know your movers. Handing over your precious belongings to strangers can be a bit nerve-racking. That’s why it’s so important to do your homework, read reviews and check ratings before enlisting a moving company to help you with your relocation. We recommend hiring from Moving.com’s network of licensed and insured movers to avoid moving scams and rip-offs. Also, make sure that the moving company performs either an in-person inspection or a video survey of your home before giving you a moving quote .

  Hybrid move: part DIY move, part hiring professional moving help

  Think about it: The average cost of a local move is $1,250; a long-distance move is $4,890 (distance of 1,000 miles). These estimates are based on a two- to three-bedroom move of approximately 7,500 pounds. That’s a lot of money. Whether you are moving on a budget , don’t have much stuff , or don’t have to go far , you can DIY your move , or parts of it, instead of hiring a full-service moving company . Part of the beauty of the DIY or a hybrid move is the potential to save money, and, with some planning , lots of it.

  Sure, you can try to enlist your family and friends to help with your DIY move in exchange for pizza and a cold beverage, but we recommend that anyone who intends to move without the help of a professional moving company should at least consider hiring moving-day labor to assist with the job. Not only, let’s be realistic, not many friends or family members will be thrilled at the prospect of hauling heaving boxes and furniture, but enlisting the non-pros means that the day could end in potential injuries, back pain, stress, broken or damaged belongings, and frustration.

  Outsourcing moving-day labor means that you will pay a few professionals by the hour (typically it’s two hours minimum and then you will be charged in increments of 15-30 minutes) to load the truck you’ve rented at the old destination and unload it at the new. This applies to not only rental trucks but also storage units and moving containers. Furniture disassembly and assembly may be also included, as well as packing and unpacking, but not all companies offer those.

  So, if you’re thinking of going the hybrid move route, be sure to check out our reviews of the best moving labor companies: HireAHelper, Bellhop and U-Haul’s Moving Help.

  Some more to think about

  Still not sure whether hiring a professional moving company is the right decision for you? We’ve compiled a list of questions to help you make your decision.

  How much time do you have?

  Time is one of the most important aspects of your move. Consider how much time you’ll need on both ends: moving out of your current home and into your new one. Do you have hard deadlines for either? If yes, it may make more sense to hire professional movers. They can not only do the work for you, but they can do it quicker and more efficiently. Plus, they’ll do it within a scheduled timeframe. Keep in mind that you don’t need to hire them to do everything at both ends. Maybe you have the time to pack your boxes but need help unpacking your new home so you can start a new job or get ready for the holidays. Use them as you need them.

  How much is your time worth?

  This may be the most important question of all. Start by getting three in-home quotes from professional moving companies. Once you have their price quote and how long they anticipate it will take to move, estimate how long it will take you to get the job done with the help of family and friends. Include your time packing, loading the truck, and whatever tasks you would have the movers do. Be honest. It will take you much more time to get the job done than the movers.

  Next, multiply your hourly rate by how many hours you estimate it will take you to move. For example, if you earn $50 an hour at work, multiply that by your estimate of a 12-hour day. Don’t forget to factor in your partner’s time and hourly rate, the cost of moving supplies, the cost of renting a truck, and gas for driving it. By the time you’ve added all these expenses to your hourly rate, it may cost you less to hire professional movers! You can use our Packing Calculator to estimate how many boxes you may need and our Moving Cost Calculator for moving estimates overall.

  How far are you moving?

  It takes a lot more effort to move to a new state or even a new country than to move down the block. If you are moving nearby, you may be able to take smaller boxes and items over to the new house during the week, minimizing the work that needs to be completed on moving day. The logistics are also relatively simple for a nearby move. You just need to gather supplies and helpers, pack your boxes, rent a truck, and load and unload on moving day. On the other hand, long-distance moves can get complicated since you have to cross state lines. And, if you’re moving overseas, your belongings will have to clear customs. Better to let professionals handle these situations than stress yourself.

  What do you need the most help with?

  Hiring professional movers doesn’t have to be all or nothing. You can hire them to help with just those tasks you feel you can’t handle. So, if you just need help disassembling, lifting, and reassembling furniture, hire them to do that. However, if packing all your belongings seems overwhelming, have them help. Maybe you own a few things that you’re unsure how to pack. Professional movers can pack a special piece of art or your wine collection. Ask yourself what is causing you stress when it comes to moving. If hiring movers takes that stress away, it may be worth it.

  Do you have the supplies you need?

  Of course, you’ll need boxes and packing tape. Moves also usually require additional supplies, like dollies, moving blankets and ratchet straps. If you don’t have these already, you’ll need to rent or purchase them. Plus, you’ll probably have to recruit help on moving day. Finding family and friends who are willing and able to work for pizza can be a challenge, too. When you hire professional movers, you don’t have to worry about any of that. They’ll bring the boxes, packing tape, moving supplies, truck, and manpower.

  How good are you at packing?

  Packing is a skill, and let’s face it, we’re not all good at it. You need to be able to pack your items well enough so they won’t be damaged if the box is accidentally dropped. That can get a little tricky when you are dealing with fragile or unusually-shaped items. Additionally, you should be good at moving large pieces . Can you successfully maneuver a couch down that staircase with a 90-degree turn without damaging the walls? If these tasks seem a little overwhelming, let movers tackle them.

  Are you in physically good shape?

  Moving is physically taxing. Hiring movers makes sense if you have back pain, a bad knee, or a chronic shoulder injury. You may also want to hire movers if you have difficulty bending, twisting, or standing on your feet all day. Don’t have the stamina you once did? Movers can help there, too. Not only can they save you aches and possible injuries, but they’ll save you time because they can do the work much faster than you can.

  Made up your mind?

  We’ve got you covered if you’ve decided to hire professional movers to help with some or all of your move. We have an extensive network of reputable and reliable movers who can do all the heavy lifting as well as pack and move your entire house. And, because they’re licensed and bonded, you can rest assured your belongings will be in good hands.