Hiring Professional Movers

Full service movers are responsible for the entire moving process: loading the truck, driving it, and unloading your items at your new home. Most moving companies also offer professional packing services. Professional movers are licensed specifically for household moves, and they are trained to handle large appliances and fragile items. Most importantly, they offer insurance to protect your valuables during the move. While full service moves are the most expensive, saving time, avoiding hassle, and protecting your items may be worth the money.

Do-it-yourself Move

If adhering to a strict budget is your primary consideration, consider a do-it-yourself move. You are responsible for renting or borrowing a truck, packing your home, and loading and unloading your items—even large pieces of furniture and heavy appliances. With the help of a few friends and family members, a DIY move can be a fun experience.
You will be responsible for driving a rental truck or hauling a trailer over the distance of your move. If you are inexperienced or nervous about driving, you may want to reconsider a DIY move.

Renting a truck and providing your own labor may save money on the base cost of your move, but you might miss work to plan and execute your move. Pay lost should be considered when comparing prices between DIY and full-service moves.

Self-Service Moving

A new moving option has emerged: self-service moving. You pack, load, and unload your goods but the self-service moving company drives. These services will drop off a crate or “pod” at your home, where you spend as long as you need packing and loading. When you are ready, a driver will pick up your crate and take it to your new home or a storage facility.  At your new home, you unload the crate and let the company know when to remove it.

Self-service moves give you control over the "work", but lets someone else handle the challenging driving. The distance of your move, and your storage needs determines the price of self-service moving. As a general rule, self-service moves are less expensive than hiring full service movers and only slightly more expensive than a do-it-yourself move. When you consider rental costs, gas, tolls, and time loss, self-service moves sometimes emerge as the least expensive moving option.