In the world of doing business or buying a product where choices need to be made, it almost always comes down to what you need versus what it will cost. Sure, in a world where money doesn’t matter, you would choose the easiest, most hassle-free, or best option. This philosophy doesn’t change when the time comes to move versus hiring movers and deciding the pros and cons. However, home-moving is a relatively rare occurrence compared to other activities. Therefore, when the time comes for you to move your location to another place, take a closer look at the pros and cons of moving yourself or hiring professional movers.
The pros of hiring professional movers to do the job
- Let them do the work. The first and most obvious benefit of hiring movers is that they do all the heavy lifting. All you need to do is supervise the move and watch your items go from one place to another. No need to worry about hurting your back or knees.
- Packing things. Depending on the moving company you choose and the level of service you request from them, professional movers will even help with packing your items. Getting professional help for packing fragile items can be invaluable. Because one of the most stressful aspects of moving is packing and transporting fragile items and moving heavy objects. A full-service moving company will do both for you.
- Insurance. Moving companies generally provide insurance coverage for the work they do. This can include liability and building insurance, also known as COI. If any of your belongings were to get damaged or broken during the moving, you would get reimbursed for it through the liability side of things. Building insurance covers any damage that happens to the building. In fact, some building owners require moving companies to have COI coverage.
The following are some of the cons of hiring movers
- Loss of flexibility. Once you have agreed to the terms, picked a moving date, and signed on the dotted line with a moving company, there will be little or no wiggle room. If something were to come up on moving day and you cannot go forward with moving, then it could be costly to make changes.
- Time plus distance. Professional movers can be great for local moves. However, if the move is going to be cross-country or long distance, it may take a good deal of time. Sometimes it can take weeks to complete the trip. Keep this in mind when moving certain items.
The pros of moving yourself
- Savings on cost. Depending on how far you will be moving, and the number of items you are transporting, you can save a lot of money if you do the move yourself. When moving yourself, the only cost involved will be the vehicle you choose to move with and a few accessories.
- You’re in control. When you do the move yourself, you have complete control. You get to decide what stays, what goes, how items should be packed, and what type of truck should be used for the move. No matter how professional a mover is, no one will treat your belongings as well as you do. You can also decide when to start the moving process and how much time to spend on it. Sometimes flexibility can be more important than cost savings.
The cons of moving yourself
- Physically fit. Is your back feeling all right? How about your knees and arms? The most important factor to remember when you make a DIY move is your physical condition. You will be doing all the heavy lifting and, of course, the packing and driving. Therefore, count on keeping the “little” things in mind, such as whether the halls and doorways are wide enough, whether stair climbing is involved, materials needed for packing, and so on.
- Plan, plan, and more planning. When it comes to moving, don’t underestimate the power of planning. You will be responsible for every little detail regarding the move. This could be as important as the size of the truck or van or something as small as renting a dolly. Moving day is not the day to find out the van you rented isn’t large enough to accommodate your favorite TV chair or sofa.
In Conclusion
As you can see, deciding which method to go with for moving comes down to some practical questions. It boils down to your time frame, budget, the size of your home, and the distance involved. Once you crunch all the numbers, deciding which route to take will be a lot easier.
