Are Movers Worth It? Should You Hire a Moving Company?

Should I hire a moving company?

This is, without a doubt, the first question that comes to your mind when you start planning a house move.

And you need to come up with an answer really quick, as the course of the entire relocation process – how you’ll organize your move, what moving supplies you’re going to need, what moving tasks you’ll have to complete, etc. – depends on your choice.

To be able to make an informed decision and ensure your successful moving experience, you need to have all the relevant information – you need to know what benefits you’ll get, what risks you’ll face, and if hiring a moving company will be worth it.

In other words, you need to know the pros and cons of hiring movers.

Read on to find out the most essential advantages and disadvantages of hiring a moving company, so you can make the right choice for your move and ensure your peace of mind.

Benefits of Hiring Movers

Professional movers do not just provide the muscle power and means of transportation needed for a house move – they make the relocation process safer, more efficient, and less stressful.

1. Using professional moving services MAKES YOUR MOVE SAFER

Safety tops the list of the many benefits of hiring professional movers. It is the most important thing during a house move, so when safety is ensured, you have little to worry about – your relocation is likely to go smooth as silk.

Professional movers will ensure the safety of your items 

• They have professional packing and moving supplies that allow them to provide the best possible protection for your belongings and prevent damage during the moving process;
• They have professional moving trucks and know how to safely drive them in any weather conditions, traffic conditions, and road conditions;
• They’re properly trained and have the expert skill and technical know-how to pack and handle different kinds of items in the safest and most efficient way possible;
• They have rich experience, so they’re well aware of the various risks and challenges of the relocation process and know how to avoid or overcome them;
• They handle items with professional care and expertise – Good movers not only know how to safely pack, load, secure, transport, and unload household items but also take care to actually do so. They work with diligence and consideration, so the risk of damage to your belongings is greatly reduced – the pros are highly unlikely to drop an electronic device, bump a delicate furniture piece into a corner, or stack a box of breakables under a heavier carton.

Professional movers will ensure the safety of your property

• They take precautions to protect your home from damage during move-out/move-in. The pros bring suitable property protection materials (plywood sheets, carpet protectors, corner guards, moving blankets, masking tape, etc.) and use them to protect floors and carpets, stairs and banisters, walls and windowsills, doors and doorways, etc. from scratches, dents, dings, and other kinds of damage during the moving process;
• They use specialized moving equipment (moving dollies, moving straps, furniture pads, furniture sliders, hoisting cranes, etc.) that allows them to take your items out of your old home and into your new one without causing any damage to the property;
• They are knowledgeable and experienced so they know how to safely maneuver your belongings around.

How to Prevent Property Damage When Moving

Professional movers will ensure personal safety

• They do all the work, so you (and your family members and your friends) don’t need to lift and carry heavy items and don’t risk personal injuries during the move;
• They use protective floor coverings to create an even, non-slip surface, thus reducing the risk of tripping and falling while carrying bulky items around;
• They use safe lifting and carrying techniques that help them avoid personal injuries;
• They wear personal protective gear that keeps them safe and helps them prevent accidents (protective gloves, for example, ensure a good grip, so the risk of dropping an item is smaller).

10 Moving Safety Tips to Avoid Injuries When Moving

2. Using professional moving services SAVES YOU TIME

Time is likely to be your second biggest concern when moving house – there are too many things to do, tasks to complete, and preparations to make and each of them takes too much time.

And you still need to go to work, take care of your family, etc. – you may simply not have enough time for it all.

Hiring professional movers will solve that problem – the experts will take care of your move so that you can take care of everything else. And they will do the job in record time.

• Your chosen movers will organize the pick-up, transportation, and delivery, provide the necessary supplies, and do all the work (or as much of it as you want them to), so you can deal with other important things – taking care of the paperwork, saying your goodbyes, planning your trip, preparing for your new life, etc.;
• Your hired movers will transport your shipment to your new home, so you won’t need to deal with driving a large and heavy moving truck along narrow city streets, bumpy country roads, high-traffic areas, or other risky conditions – and you won’t spend days on the road in the event of a long-distance move;
• Your properly trained, highly experienced, well-equipped movers will complete the job with enviable speed and efficiency – they know what to do and how to do it and have the means and the skills to perform each task in the fastest and most effective way possible. The pros can pack up an entire household in several hours and load the moving in even less time. With professional packing and moving services, your relocation will be over before you know it.

How Long Does It Take to Move?

3. Using professional moving services SAVES YOU EFFORT

Moving involves a lot of hard work – packing tons of boxes, dismantling bulky furniture, carrying heavy items, cleaning your old home and your new one, etc.

It takes a lot of energy and elbow grease and can leave you completely drained and exhausted, not to mention that the physical strain can cause muscle injuries, back injuries, hernia, and other health issues.

If you choose to use professional moving services, you will save yourself all that effort and potential risks – the pros will do all the hard work for you, so you won’t need to lift a finger:

• They will pack all your stuff (if you requested full packing services or opted for a full-service move) or those of your belongings that require special packing care (if you requested partial packing services);
• They will disassemble larger furniture pieces – and reassemble them after the move;
• They will do all the heavy lifting;
• They will load your items on the moving truck and secure them inside;
• They will drive the moving vehicle all the way to your final destination;
• They will unload your belongings, take them to their designated places inside your new home, set up the furniture, connect the appliances, unpack everything, and even remove the packing materials for you – as requested.

What to Expect From Professional Movers

4. Using professional moving services MINIMIZES HASSLE

“Moving chaos” has become a set phrase for a reason – the hassle of the relocation process is truly tremendous. There is just too much going on at once.

Professional movers bring order and efficiency to the relocation chaos and streamline the moving process, making it smooth and hassle-free:

Your move will be easier to plan

When moving without professional help, you need to get packing supplies, rent a truck, arrange for extra hands to assist you on moving day, plan the best route to your new location, etc.

When working with a moving company, all you need to do is set the date and time and state your requirements – the movers will take care of everything else.

They will coordinate the logistics, provide the necessary supplies, and perform the relocation in a safe, timely, and efficient way.

The relocation process will be much more efficient

Professional movers are well-trained and highly experienced, so they work with great speed and precision – they can finish a moving task in minimum time (as mentioned above), use the optimum capacity of the packing containers and the moving truck, and coordinate all their activities so that everything runs like clockwork.

Every relocation problem will be promptly solved

Over their long years in the moving business, professional movers have encountered all kinds of obstacles and challenging situations and learned all kinds of clever tricks that allow them to overcome difficulties in a quick and efficient manner.

Whatever problem arises during your move, they will be able to offer a good solution.

You will be able to take advantage of various additional services that will facilitate your move

Moving companies offer a number of accessorial services that can make your move safer and easier – or solve a big moving problem.

You may need

• crating services for valuable, oddly-shaped breakables,
• disassembly and reassembly of furniture for large, heavy pieces,
• hoisting services for bulky items that don’t fit through the doors,
• shuttle services for properties that are not accessible by a large moving truck,
• split pick-up or delivery services for items that need to be picked up from (or delivered to) different places,
• storage services for keeping your items safe until your new home is ready, etc.  

your movers can provide the specialized services you need and ensure the success of your relocation endeavor.

How to Make Moving Easier

5. Using professional moving services MINIMIZES STRESS

Having a reliable and experienced moving partner will take much of the moving stress off your shoulders. And that is, without a doubt, one of the greatest benefits of hiring professional movers – if not the greatest one.

You won’t have to worry about packing supplies

Your hired packers and movers will bring everything necessary, so you won’t need to wonder how much and what type of packing materials you’re going to need and won’t need to spend any of your time looking for packing supplies and any of your money buying them.

You won’t have to worry about time

Time is one of the biggest moving stressors – using professional moving services will save you time (as explained above), so you won’t need to rush things and do everything in a hurry (thus making severe moving mistakes).

You won’t have to worry about money – you will know the final moving cost in advance

When performing a DIY move, it will be very difficult to estimate your actual moving costs – you won’t know how much money you’re going to need to cover all the related expenses.

When moving with a moving company, on the other hand, you will have a price estimate right from the start – the movers’ quote will include all the charges (materials, labor, transportation, extra fees, etc.), so you won’t be surprised by any last-minute or forgotten moving costs (just make sure you request a binding, not-to-exceed estimate from your chosen movers).

Get Your Moving Cost Calculated for Free

You won’t depend on others

When using professional moving assistance, you won’t need help from family and friends.

You won’t have to ask them to spend their free time helping you, you won’t have to wait until they have spare time to help you, you won’t have to wonder what to do if they make excuses at the last moment and don’t come to help you, etc.

Instead, you’ll be able to have a meaningful goodbye;

You will have peace of mind

When you work with reputable movers, your items will be in good hands and your move will be as safe as possible (as detailed above).

Even if the worst happens and some of your belongings get lost or damaged during the relocation process, you will get a refund – all professional moving companies offer moving insurance and assume liability for damages that occur while your items are in their custody.

20 Ways to Handle the Stress of Moving

A bonus benefit of hiring movers: It may save you money in the long run

As hard to believe as it may be, paying for professional moving services may actually save you money.

The cost of hiring a professional mover may be higher than the cost of performing a self-move – though that may not always be the case, considering how much it will cost you to rent a moving truck, purchase packing supplies, rent or buy the necessary moving equipment, get gifts for the friends who come to help you move, get insurance, pay for fuel, road tolls, meals, and lodgings on the way, etc.

However, the risk of damaged items, property damage, and personal injuries will be much lower, so you won’t have to spend money on repairing or replacing broken things or getting medical care.

If you move yourself and accidentally break your plasma TV, ruin your brand-new hardwood floor, or break your leg, you will lose much more money than you would have paid for professional moving services.

And if you need to take unpaid time off work to complete your move, your losses will be even bigger. Hiring movers is often your more cost-efficient option – especially when moving long distance.

The Biggest Risks of Self-Moving

In a word – when you hire a professional moving company, you’ll have less work and less responsibility, the moving process will be safer, faster, and smoother, and your items will have a better chance to arrive at your new home intact and unscathed.

Yet, the up-front moving costs are likely to be higher and you won’t have control over the moving process. You need to consider both the pros and cons of hiring a moving company before making your final choice.

Disadvantages of Hiring Movers

Despite the numerous benefits of hiring movers, there are some good reasons to make you think twice before booking the services of a professional moving company:

1. Using professional moving services can be EXPENSIVE

The average moving cost is about $2,000 for a local move and $4,500 for a long-distance relocation.

Depending on your specific relocation needs and requirements (number and type of items you have for moving, necessitated or desired additional services, time of your move, etc.), the cost of your move may be much higher than those mean values.

Spending so much money on moving services may not sound like a good idea – especially at a moment when you’ve already spent a lot on your new home and have a lot of imminent expenses to cover.

Self-moving may be your more affordable, more reasonable option. However, make sure you take into account all the commonly forgotten costs of moving on your own.

Hiring reputable, professional movers will cost you, but you will get what you pay for – professionalism and experience that will result in a safe and smooth relocation.

And if you do your homework right, you’ll be able to find cheap movers that offer quality moving services and will do a great job with your move.

Why Are Movers So Expensive?

Just make sure you start looking for movers well in advance, ask for recommendations, read moving reviews, check moving companies’ ratings and online profiles, request in-home estimates, interview the movers, compare the offers, and research the affordable moving company you like best in detail to make sure they’re experienced and trustworthy professionals.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire Movers?

2. Using professional moving services means LESS FLEXIBILITY

If you want to move with professional moving help, you need to find a reliable company that has an experienced moving crew, an appropriate moving truck, and all the necessary equipment available on your preferred moving date.

That is not always easy – especially not during peak moving times (the summer months, weekends, national holidays, etc.) when a lot of people are moving house.

You need to start hunting for movers well in advance and you may have to dig deep into your pocket to secure quality moving services for your relocation. And you may need to change the date of your move in order to fit in with the schedule of your chosen company.

Then, your movers may not be able to pick up your possessions at the most convenient time for you and you may have to wait for a long time until your items arrive.

What’s more, when you book a moving company, you have to be ready by the scheduled date – if something happens and you need to delay or cancel your move, you’ll be charged a cancellation fee.

All in all, flexibility is quite limited when professional movers are involved.

Related: How Far in Advance to Book Movers

3. Using professional moving services means LESS CONTROL

When moving with a moving company, you will have little say in the moving process.

The experts know their job and will do things their way – you will be able to give directions, of course, and will have stated your requirements in advance, but you won’t be able to micromanage the process and tell the movers what items to pack in each box or how to arrange your belongings in the moving truck.

And once they depart, you won’t have access to your possessions and won’t know what is happening to them until your shipment is delivered. You will have no control over the delivery, either – you’ll just have to wait until the movers arrive.

So, if you want to pack your belongings in a way that is meaningful to you, if you’re very worried that your items may get damaged, lost, or stolen during the move if you want to have everything under control, then a self-move may be your better option.

Keep in mind though, that professional movers know their stuff – you don’t need to control them, you can trust them to take good care of your items and perform your move in the safest and most efficient way possible.

Related: What Movers Want You to Know

4. Using professional moving services means TRUSTING YOUR CHERISHED POSSESSIONS TO STRANGERS

When using a moving company, you’ll be working with strangers and allowing strangers into your home.

First of all, you may not feel comfortable with strangers handling your personal items and sentimental belongings.

Then, you may not trust strangers to take good care of your treasured possessions – movers strive for efficiency and know exactly what they’re doing, so they do things very quickly and don’t give too much attention to individual articles.

You may be afraid that this may result in breakages or other damage to your cherished belongings.

When moving yourself, you will take special care with each and every treasured possession of yours and will offer a personal touch that professional movers can never provide.

Yet, you don’t have professional skills and lack packing and moving experience, so you may not be able to – will likely not be able to – ensure the safety of your belongings despite your efforts.

It may be better to hire experienced, trustworthy professionals to move your household items (just make sure you choose good movers you can count on) and just take your most valuable possessions with you.

5 Things You Should Never Entrust to Movers

5. Using professional moving services could place you at risk of MOVING SCAMS

As mentioned above, when using professional moving services, you need to entrust your belongings to the movers.

And these movers may not be as honest and reliable as they should be.

There are rogue movers out there – scam artists who look to rip off unwary customers. And if you’re not careful, you could fall victim to moving scams. If that happens, you will lose a lot of money – or you may lose all your earthly possessions. There is no such risk when moving by yourself.

It is, however, quite easy to avoid the risk of moving scams – all you need to do is research the movers well (so you know you’re dealing with licensed, insured, and reliable professionals) and learn to recognize the red flags of moving fraud (so you can avoid rogue movers).

Must-read: Moving Fraud Prevention Guide

To sum it all up – Using professional moving services will make your move safer and easier, but it will cost you. There are many more pros and cons of hiring movers, of course, but these are the most crucial ones – you need to weigh safety and convenience against price and make a choice.

So, is hiring movers worth it? What do you think?