Remember when moving day meant stuffing garbage bags with clothes and throwing them in the trunk? Yeah, those days are gone. Now there are time constraints to consider, things to organize, and just plain, more stuff to deal with. Moving is still exciting. It’s just different. The question now becomes; can my friends and I move me, or should I hire a pro?
We all have to watch our budget, but is cost the only factor to consider when deciding whether or not to hire movers? What about time commitments, or finding enough people available to help? How many garbage bags do I need? Things like that. Only you can decide the best way for you to move your life from one location to another. Knowing what you’re up against first can help you choose. Let’s chat about it.
Cash Factor
How much does hiring a mover cost vs how much does it cost to move myself? It sounds like a simple question. It can be a tricky one to answer.
How Much Do Movers Cost?
Every cost related to hiring a moving company depends mainly on three things:
How much stuff is there to move?
How far is it going?
How many moving services and how much labor is the company providing?
Once those questions are answered, there are other, minor additions too. Moving insurance, tips, and the time of year are examples. The easiest way to know exactly how much a simple professional mover is going to cost is to simply call and get a free quote.
A reputable moving company will be happy to give you a straight answer after exchanging topline information which allows some companies to add extra charges to your quote.
That’s not a good enough answer though. Here’s the skinny. Including every cost variable, hiring a moving company to move a 2-bedroom apartment full of normal stuff, across the city, costs at least $500 and probably more like $1000 to $1500. Full service moving that includes packing up and unpacking all your things starts closer to $2000, and goes up fast after that.
DIY Moving And The Cost Of Beer
The cost of moving yourself depends on a whole list of variables. These will be different for everyone, but here are a few costs to think about.
Rental Truck
$50
Truck Insurance
$10
Truck Fuel
$50
Babysitter
$40
Petsitter
$40
Sitters for friends' kids and pets
$25
Pizza (for the good stuff)
$50
Beer (for the cheap stuff)
$40
Moving supplies
$30
Time Variable
Priceless
Friends' time variable
Also Priceless
Stress-Free Move
Priceless
In reality, and depending on how much beer they can drink, DIY moving can cost well under $500 before considering the variable costs.
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Ready To Wear Many Hats?
From a money perspective, it might feel like a no-brainer to call in some favors, rent a truck, and just move yourself. But, let's face it, big decisions are seldom that easy. Asking friends to help you with a move may prove to be more of a challenge than you anticipated (think herding-cats-level frustration).
So, the true cost of DIY moving can only be figured out by guestimating the value of avoiding these job titles.
Organizer
Manager
Insurer
Driver
Caterer
Laborer
Now, add in the value of a full day of your time and your helpers’ time and you can see that the cost beyond the cash starts to add up quickly.
So You Just Want Me To Hire muuv, Right?
The short answer to this question is "no." While we are in the moving business, we recognize we are a service industry. So we want your move day to be the best day ever, whether you choose to move with us or not.
Deciding whether or not to hire a moving company can only be your decision. Hiring movers costs cash but saves time and effort on your part. On the other hand, you can move yourself but it isn’t without plenty of other costs. The choice is yours. Whether you choose to hire a mover or go it alone, this isn’t an easy decision. And you have more decisions to make after this one. Give us a call and let's get through this one together.
