When people move, they have many decisions to make but the one of the main things that they need to think about is whether they will use be using a moving company or doing everything themselves. Moving companies, portable storage units and rental truck providers offer a lot of options and services to make people’s lives and moves run smoothly.
The things that they need to think about is how much they can afford for their move and how much work they are willing and wanted to do. From there they can choose the moving option that works best for them for a stress-free move that doesn’t go over budget.
Moving Yourself
When people try to move themselves, they pack their items, load them into their vehicles or rented trucks and use their own strength to unload at the other end. The choice would definitely be easier and cheaper if they own or can borrow a truck and are not moving too far away.
The pros of moving by yourself are that you have control over every aspect of the move. It also does cost less than hiring movers and can be done on exactly your timeline. However, the negatives are that it does create a lot more work, can take much longer than expected, and supply and rental truck costs can add up.
Costs associated with moving yourself
You will definitely save a significant amount of money when moving and doing all the work yourself, but that doesn’t mean that it will be cheap. It is important to consider these costs when you are deciding which option to take when moving.
- Truck rental: Of course something important to consider is that pricing of this will depend on the size of truck you need and the distance you’re moving. Renting a small truck will always be cheaper than renting a large one and you also need to factor in the cost of truck rental insurance when getting estimates.
- Gas: Remember to consider the cost of fuel when making your budget whether you are taking your own vehicle or renting a moving truck.
- Moving helpers: When moving yourself, you may need to get help from friends or family members. If you need some extra help, you should hire independent moving helpers. You can find these types of businesses on local classified websites and they generally partner with rental truck companies, so you can book and pay from the rental truck and the extra labor all at once.
Of course it might just seem like it is easy to do everything yourself these days, but the other alternative is by hiring professional movers.
Hiring Movers
Professional moving companies will and can do everything related to the move like; including packing your boxes, moving items from Point A to Point B, and unpacking your belongings at your new house. It is not the most cost effective, but it involves the least amount of stress and work for you.
The pros from hiring moving companies is that it is less work on the individual moving, they do the heavy lifting, and they insure that your belongings are safe. The negatives however is that you need to work on their timeline, you have less control over how the move goes, and it is more costly than moving yourself.
Costs associated with hiring movers
While some people may assume that moving companies are expensive, but using them may not be as expensive as you think. It is very important that you get an estimate for large or long distance moves.
- Basic charges: The company will charge you to move your items from your old home to your new one. Most companies will base the cost on the weight of your cargo.
- Insurance: Most movers must legally provide some liability coverage for belongings, but they don’t usually cover the cost of replacing a damaged or lost item. For comprehensive protection, it is important to purchase full-value insurance from your moving company or an insurance company.
Moving containers
Another option when it comes to moving is by using moving containers like PODS or U-Haul boxes. All you need to do is pack your items into a portable storage container and you can either move it yourself or have a shipping company move it. You can also hire independent moving helpers to load the moving box containers and transport them to and from the container provider. This option gives people the flexibility in deciding which services you want.
The pros of implementing this option is that it is cost-effective compared to full-service movers, it is a convenient way to pack and move, and the companies generally helps secure storage for your belongings. The negatives of using a moving truck is that it takes up space on your driveway, you are liable in the event of vandalism. And can be a lot of work to load and unload.
Costs associated with moving containers
The cost is often comparable to hiring movers, but it is important to consider these costs when comparing prices and making your budget.
- Container rental: Container companies charge per unit.
- Storage: A company will charge a fee to store your containers between the time they’re picked up and delivered to your new home.
- Delivery and pick-up fees: Some companies will let you pick up and return the unit yourself. You can also pay to get the unit delivered to and picked from your old house to new place.
- Shipping: The price of shipping will depend on the number of containers you use and the distance you’re shipping them.
- Moving helpers: They help take the stress away from moving
- Insurance: Insurance Company usually sell straightforward insurance policies to offer financial protection if items are damaged in transit.
Whichever option you decide to choose when it comes to your moving needs, each one has its positives and negatives. Whether moving yourself, hiring a moving company, or hiring a storage unit, moving can be a tedious stressful task. Any of these options will take away that stress and make the next chapter a positive one.
