Moving Tips

A Moving Decision: Hiring Professionals or Doing it Yourself?

Congratulations, you’re moving! (or thinking about it, anyway.) Whether you’ve just bought your first condo or are upgrading to a larger home, the big question still remains:

Should you do it yourself or hire a moving company? 

Here are some questions and helpful tips that will help you figure out your best option:

How much do you want to spend?

Doing it yourself is cheaper than hiring pros, but the time savings can be worth using movers.

How much time do you have?

 If you’re doing a DIY move, you’ll have to pack, rent a truck, load it, drive it to your new place, unload, feed your helpers, return the truck, unpack – then collapse in utter exhaustion. Movers can do it all for you with no pizza or beer required.

How far are you moving?

Factor in the cost of gas (Google “mileage calculator” to estimate fuel costs), and remember that truck rental companies charge more for one-way rentals.

How much stuff do you have?

If all your earthly possessions will fit into the back of a pickup truck, that’s probably your best option. If you’re relocating a 4-bedroom home, it gets a bit more complicated; unless you have a huge, loving family filled with strong men who own trucks, movers might be your best bet here.

Your Moving Options


Option A: Do it Yourself

 PROS

 CONS
  •  It's the cheapest alternative, especially for smaller moves
  • It may not be as cheap as you think. Be prepared to spend money on truck rental, gas, and food and drink for your helpers.
  • It's a great deal of work for everyone involved
  • Remember: Free labour is never actually free. Unless it's your adoring, selfless mother carrying that sofa bed up five flights of stairs, you'll probably end up owing some favours.
  • Your friends and family could end up breaking your belongings, which you or your home insurance will be on the hook for. Even worse, they might also hurt themselves.

Option B: Hire Full-Service Movers

They pack it, they load it, they drive it there and they unload it into your new home. All you have to do is stand by with a cheque or credit card ready.

 PROS

 CONS
  • It's EASY! Someone else does all the work for you and saves you serious time, hassle and muscle strain.
  • If anything gets damaged, the movers' insurance will take care of it.
  • Full-service moving is by far the most expensive option.
  • Having someone pack your things can feel invasive.
  • You don't get a chance to purge your stuff. When we pack, we naturally throw away things we don't want such as old clothes, chipped dishes, out-dated decor etc. If someone packs for you, all that stuff comes with you to your new home.

Option C: You Pack, They Load and Deliver

Pack up all your stuff in the weeks leading up to your move, then sit back and relax (or supervise) as capable people haul your boxes and maneuver your sofa out the door.

 PROS

 CONS
  • No heavy lifting! Capable and experienced people take all the furniture and boxes out of your home, load it onto their truck and deliver it to your new place.
  • If anything gets broken, most reputable movers are insured.
  • It is still more expensive then doing it yourself.
 

Option D: You Pack and Load, They Deliver

The moving company drops off a container in your driveway/front yard/parking lots, and you load it at your leisure. Then they take it away, drop it at your new place, and you unload it yourself.

 PROS

 CONS
  • You have the comfort of knowing you're packing and unpacking your own belongings.
  • You don't have to worry about driving and manuevering a big truck.
  • You can take a few days to load and unload your container - you don't have to rush to fill a truck that's only been rented for the day.
  • Don't worry about tripping over boxes as you pack. Just load them into the container as soon as you pack each one. (This is a great option for people living in small spaces).
  • It's almost as much work as a do-it-yourself move.
  • You have a container on your lawn or parking spot for an extended period of time which may annoy you, or your neighbours.

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Need more information about your moving options? Contact me, and I will be happy to offer ideas and recommend good truck rental operations and moving companies that are proven and dependable.