Hire a Professional Moving Company or DIY

When planning a move, the most important decision is whether to hire a professional moving company or take on the burden of moving on your own.

Customers sometimes consider moving themselves, as they are thinking of a significant cost savings. In reality, when you compare the tangible and intangible costs of a DIY move to a full service move, it is not the case.

A recent survey asked DIY movers if they would do it on their own again – 4 out of 5 said absolutely not.

Cost Comparison: Move from Los Angeles, CA to Chicago, IL (8,000 pounds)
2-Bedroom Home, plus 1 Motorcycle and 2 Scooters

	Do It Yourself (DIY)	Full Service Mover
Truck Rental (26 ft)	$3,109	$6,497
Packing & Materials	$2,100	$1,143
Loading Labor	$600 (3 men)	Included
Driving the Truck to new Home	Your Risk and Responsibility	Included
Unloading Labor	$600 (3 men)	Included
Fuel	$608	Included
Transit Protection for Belongings	Unknown	$361
Vacation/Personal Time from Work	8 days	3 days
Total	$7,017	$8,001

Hire a Professional Mover vs. Do It Yourself Move PDF

DIY Moving Cons

Misinterpreting the Scope of the Move
- Improper furniture protection and poorly packed cartons
- Inadequate protection of motorcycle and scooters for transit
Navigating the Challenges of Driving a Rental Truck
- Are you prepared to drive an older straight truck cross country?
- Rental truck will likely have to stop at all weigh stations
Safety Concerns
- Action plan if the truck breaks down on highway
- If repairs aren’t possible, all the contents are unloaded and loaded onto a new truck
Travel Expense
- Cost of fuel, lodging, meals, tolls and parking on the road
- Cost of time off work
Personal Injury
- Significant exposure in an accident – you assume all liability
Transit Protection
- Do you have enough coverage for your belongings in transit?

When comparing both options, include all direct and indirect costs that are part of the equation. Contact our company for an estimate and compare it to the cost of a DIY move. Once all the cost variables are compared, typically there isn’t a huge cost savings when you do it yourself.