One of the decisions you will have to make is whether to rent a moving truck and load and transport yourself or whether to turn the reigns over to a professional moving company.
The thought of moving brings forth other thoughts of stress and frustration, and maybe even fear. But moving doesn’t have to be a project you loathe. Moving is an act of change, and with change should come excitement and anticipation for your new beginning. One of the decisions you will have to make is whether to rent a moving truck and load and transport yourself or whether to turn the reigns over to a professional moving company.
We would love to steer you in our direction because we are a full service moving company, equipped to provide you with everything you could think of during your move. However, we are conscious that there are other factors you must consider first, like your budget and timeframe. Because choosing between a truck rental and a moving company is an important decision for you, we’ve done the heavy lifting on the pros and cons of both options.
How Large of a Truck Will You Need
Here are a few average estimates for truck sizes based on the number of bedrooms in your home. The price for truck rentals increases with size
• 26′ will move 2-3 bedrooms
• 24′ will move 1-2 bedrooms
• 17′ will move an apartment
How Far Are You Going
When you hire professional movers, longer distances are usually more expensive. Don’t let the cost of a distance move scare you away. Driving a truck with freight across the interstate is, in most cases, better done with an expert to ensure safety and care is taken into the utmost consideration.
If your move is within the same city or just the next city over, think about the things you are moving and whether you want to enlist a group of friends to pitch in with the loading and unloading or if you prefer to place your trust in a professional moving company. If you choose to do it yourself, take precaution with appliances, wood furniture and glass objects.
Do You Have Moving Equipment
Here is where you can save money by hiring a professional mover. Most professional movers come prepared with all the equipment needed for your move. If you choose to make the move on your own, you will need to rent additional moving equipment such as dollies, blankets and other equipment. You should also make sure you have the proper tools available to disassemble furniture.
Who Will Help You
This question is quite simple. Without reliable help to make the move yourself, hiring a professional is the way to go. If you are constrained by your budget, take some cost cutting measures by starting the packing process early so you get everything organized and ready for your movers. Packing your items yourself is less you have to pay the movers. And, if you start early, you can pace yourself so you don’t need help getting things done in time.
Have You Waited Until the Last Minute
Moving is in fact a project and is best performed when you have ample time to organize and make decisions. Hiring a professional moving company can help minimize the stress associated with moving, but if you wait too long to hire a mover, you may wind up having to make the move yourself. Moving companies get booked up weeks in advance, so if possible make your appointment 6-8 weeks before your scheduled move date.
The Final Decision
Ultimately the decision has to be one that makes you comfortable. Review all of these areas and begin to map out the actual cost of your move. We can give you an estimate to help you better determine if it is more feasible for you to hire a professional mover or attempt to make the move yourself. When it all boils down, if the cost of hiring a moving company is equal to or even just a little more than the cost of renting a truck and moving yourself, you may want to simply hire a mover. Bringing in a team of expert movers means you can be worry free. Instead of anticipating chaos, you can anticipate peace of mind and getting comfortable in your new home.
Need additional moving resources? Review our moving tips and moving checklist or sign up for our interactive planning calendar.