Moving Decisions: Move Yourself or Hire A Company

By Ashley Paskill on November 9, 2019

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There are a lot of decisions to make when it comes to moving. Whether you are moving on campus or a college apartment or are moving out after you graduate, there are a lot of things you need to consider. One of those decisions is whether you want to hire movers or want to go it alone. There are lots of pros and cons either way as well as factors to help you make your decision.

Consider the cost

One of the major factors of deciding what moving method you decide on is the cost. In order to make the best decision, call around to moving companies to see what they charge and compare them to the quotes of the truck rentals. Even if you decide to rent a moving truck and move yourself, you have to factor in the cost of renting the truck plus any other fees that may be included.

Ask friends and family to help

While there may be some “controversy” on whether you should ask friends and family for help or not, it is worth a shot. Many times, these people are satisfied with being paid with food. If you feel uncomfortable reaching out or you are not getting any responses, you may want to start your research to look for a moving company.

Even if no one is willing to help you move, they may have valuable experience with a moving company. They may know who is really good or who to avoid. Reach out to friends and family whose move is similar to yours to get some advice. Most colleges have class level Facebook pages, so you can post on them to see if anyone has any advice.

Your experience level

If you have never moved before and you do not know anyone who has, you may want to hire a moving company to see how it is done. Movers have special equipment to move even your most fragile items, while you may not know how to properly move these things. Even if you have done it or know someone who has, it can still be stressful.

If you move yourself, you will have to know how to fit everything into your car or moving truck without breaking anything fragile. However, many moving companies have the expertise needed to be careful, and they often have policies in place where they will replace anything that is broken. Moving does not have that kind of protection so you will have to pay for anything that breaks in the moving process.

The hidden hassles

When you move, you have to consider where you will find a gas station to fill up the truck and actually return the truck before unpacking. This can be long and tedious. Hiring a moving company can help simplify the process as they have their trucks and you will not have to deal with the hassle of returning the truck and getting gas.

Image: WesternSydneyRemovalist via https://weheartit.com/entry/333286109

Amount of belongings

If you have a lot of stuff, it may be easier to hire movers to help you pack. Luckily, if you only have a little bit but you still want movers, you can choose a package where you pack everything and the movers do the rest. However, to save the most money, move yourself if you only have a few things since you might be able to fit them in your own car or van.

Lose control?

When you hire movers, depending on the level of the package you choose, you are putting most of the control in their hands. While this is comforting for some, others like to have control over everything. In this case, either a smaller package from the moving company or moving yourself is better. If you are okay with the moving company helping in multiple aspects of the move, hiring a moving company will work for you. Also, if you move yourself, you have control over your timeline, while you have to follow the timeline of a moving company if you hire one.

A middle ground

If you are still unsure, there is actually another option. You can pack everything yourself and pay to have your items transported. The process is simple: all you do is pack your belongings in boxes. A moving container company will send you a container where you place your belongings. The company will pick it up and transport your stuff to your new place. You still have to pack everything up and unload it once you are done, but you do not have to worry about renting a moving truck. This option is also a monetary middle ground as it costs more than renting a truck but less than a full-service moving company.

Moving on any level can be stressful, especially with so many decisions. There are so many factors to consider, even if you are trying to figure out if you should move yourself or hire a moving company. Luckily, there are various options for everyone based on different factors. Be sure to take everything into consideration before deciding for sure.

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