Hiring a Mover vs. Moving Yourself
There are two ways to move: you can do it yourself or you can hire a professional moving company. When considering moving yourself it often comes down to weighing the monetary cost against the cost of time and inconvenience that are associated with a move. To make the right decision start by answering the following questions:
Making an Economic Decision
Whether to hire a professional moving company depends on many factors such as a stress-free move, cost and time associated with the move. To make the best economic decision one needs to weigh various options in order to make a decision that works best for each individual’s needs.
Economically speaking, on the surface, it may seem to make more sense to move yourself (with the help of a few friends) rather than hiring a professional moving company. However, due to unforeseen expenses you often can end up spending more money than you had originally planned.
Moving yourself can be the most inexpensive method, but it also is the most time-consuming. In addition to the pre-planning that must be done, self and non-professional movers must also do the packing, transporting and unloading themselves.
You also need to calculate and include the cost of travel: gas, tolls, meals, lodging, packing materials and your time to prepare. Add in the costs of renting a truck large enough to handle all your belongings, insuring valuable possessions, hiring additional help, and even the cost of pizza at the post-move party.
Then get estimates from professional moving companies and decide how the costs compare with the time and effort that goes into a self-move. If a professional move will cost you more money, ask yourself if it's still worth eliminating the stress and hassle associated with a self-move. In the end, you might find it's easier and more worthwhile to hire a professional moving company.
Do-It-Yourself Versus a Professional Move
Consider the following key factors when making a decision on whether to hire a professional moving company or doing the move yourself:
Renting a Truck
Do it yourself: You need to determine the right truck size. Often people without any moving experience can only guess, which means that they often end up renting a truck that is either too big (a waste of money) or too small. This often will delay your move as you scramble to rent another truck. Both can increase your budget and cause delays. At Father & Son Moving and Storage we are experts with both commercial and residential moves, and we know exactly what size truck you will need.
Professional moving service: Professional movers bring the right size truck on moving day.
Proper Packing and Loading
Do it yourself: Preparing and packing your belongings for travel by truck is a skill that requires experience. An imbalanced load may cause damage to your valuables as well as prove to be dangerous if you experience a weight shift in transit.
Professional moving service: A professional moving service will pack your truck without the hassle in a manner that insures your belongings are safe and secure.
Manpower
Do it yourself: It is almost a cliché how friends and family can become scarce when it is time to ‘load the truck’. Loading furniture and fully packed boxes is physically demanding work that will challenge the strength and ability of almost anyone.
Professional moving service: A professional moving service will bring the right number of crewmembers that are trained in proper lift techniques and have the stamina and endurance to properly load your belongings.
Extra Charges
Moving yourself costs less, but be sure to weigh the cost differences accurately. You may also incur unexpected expenses like packing supplies and possible damage to your belongings. Another thing to keep in mind is that your final bill may not always match up with the initial quote. Some moving companies tack on extra charges for additional supplies and insurance. You will also foot the bill for gas and mileage.
Father & Son Moving and Storage keeps all this and more in mind when completing your commercial or residential move. It is often the unforeseen costs that can make a DIY move exceed your budget. Let our experience, our fleet of trucks and equipment, professional moving staff, and organizational skills help you with your next commercial or residential move.
