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 |
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
-
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
-
Personal Injury
-
Transit Protection

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.