Should You Hire Professional Movers or Do It Yourself?

Moving to a new home is exciting, but it also comes with the question of whether you should hire a moving company or handle the move on your own. In this guide, we'll explore the pros and cons of hiring movers and offer tips for how to decide. Read on to figure out if hiring movers, a DIY move, or opting for a mix of both methods is the right choice for you!

Pros of Hiring a Moving Company

Whether you're moving cross country or relocating locally, opting to hire professional movers can take a huge weight off your shoulders—mentally, emotionally, and physically! Here are some key advantages of hiring a moving company.

Less Stress & Physical Effort

Professional movers can significantly reduce the stress of moving by handling the toughest parts of the job for you—like packing the moving truck, driving it, and loading and unloading. Letting experts tackle the heavy lifting means you can avoid the most taxing work, put energy toward other parts of your move, and feel more relaxed throughout the moving process.

Added Convenience & Time

Hiring movers often saves you a lot of time. A skilled moving crew works efficiently to pack up and move your belongings, which can be much faster than doing it yourself. What might take you an entire weekend might only take professionals a single afternoon. This also frees up time to handle other tasks instead of spending days moving boxes.

Professional Expertise & Safety

Experienced movers know how to handle fragile or bulky items with care, using techniques that prevent damage​. Movers come equipped with the right tools—such as dollies, straps, and padding—to move your furniture and boxes safely. This reduces the likelihood of your items getting scratched or broken in transit. It also means you won't have to risk injury trying to move large items by yourself​.

Insurance & Peace of Mind

Most reputable moving companies offer valuation coverage or insurance options for your move. This provides peace of mind that if something unexpected happens and an item gets damaged, you can be compensated. You can rest easy knowing the movers you hired are accountable for handling everything carefully.

Efficiency with Big Moves

For long-distance moves or large households, hiring a moving company is often the most efficient choice. If you’re moving across the country, for example, professional movers can help coordinate the complex logistics​. They also handle the loading, driving, and unloading so you don’t have to manage a multi-day road trip with a huge truck.

Cons of Hiring a Moving Company

While hiring movers can be a great help, it’s important to consider the potential downsides as well. These are some common disadvantages of hiring a moving company.

Cost

One of the biggest drawbacks of hiring professional movers is the price, as moving services can be significantly more expensive than moving by yourself—especially for long distances or large loads. You’re paying for the movers’ time, as well as the truck, fuel, and sometimes extra services like packing. If you’re on a tight moving budget, hiring a full-service moving company might not be feasible​. To accurately assess your budget, use our free moving cost calculator.

Lack of Control

When you hire a moving company, you have to give up a certain amount of control. You won’t be scheduling every detail on your own terms—rather, you’ll need to work with the movers' availability and timelines. There’s also a chance of delays or scheduling issues if the moving company is running behind, which can be frustrating​.

Research Required

Not all moving companies are equal—some are scammers, while others can have hidden fees or less-than-stellar service. This means you can’t just hire anyone—you need to do a bit of research to find a reputable, licensed moving company you can trust. Checking reviews, asking for recommendations, and verifying credentials is an extra step you’ll have to take.

Less Flexibility

Though they'll try to work with you as much as possible, professional movers operate on schedules that may not be 100% aligned with your ideal plan. During busy seasons—like summer or the end of each month—you might need to book well in advance to get your preferred moving date. If your schedule is tight or changes unexpectedly, a moving company might not be able to accommodate last-minute adjustments.

Should You Hire a Moving Company?

Though it's helpful to be aware of the various advantages and disadvantages of hiring a moving company, you might still be going back and forth between moving yourself vs. hiring movers. Both DIY moving and hiring professional movers have their place, and the right choice for you will depend on your unique situation—including your budget, the distance of your move, your timeline, the amount of belongings you have, and more. The following guidelines can help you figure out which option makes more sense for your circumstances.

Consider hiring a moving company if...

• You have a large or long-distance move: If you're moving a whole household, relocating far away, or have lots of heavy items, professional movers are often worth it. Long distances add complexity that movers handle well, and large loads can be safer in the hands of a trained team​.

• You’re moving on a tight schedule: If you need to move out and in very quickly due to lease timing or other factors, like relocating for a job, movers can swoop in and get the job done faster than you can alone. If you can't afford to take much time off work or you have other obligations, hiring movers saves valuable time​.

• You can't find others to help: Not everyone has a big crew of friends or family available to help on moving day. If you’re short on help or don’t want to ask for it, professionals help fill that gap. This is an especially important consideration if you have mobility issues or injuries, or if you’re just not comfortable lifting heavy boxes and furniture. Your health and safety matter—there’s no shame in getting help to avoid injury.

• You want a low-stress experience: Moving is known to be stressful, but hiring movers can turn a lot of that into a hands-off experience. If the thought of driving a huge truck or packing endless boxes makes you anxious, it might be worth the cost to hire a moving company to do it for you. This way, you can oversee and give directions, but you won’t be physically exhausting yourself.

Think about opting for a DIY move if...

• You have a short-distance or smaller move: When you’re only moving a short distance (e.g., within the same city) or you don’t have many belongings, a DIY move can be quite feasible. For example, moving out of a small apartment across town with just a van-load of stuff is manageable without professional help—and hiring local movers might not be worth the added expense​.

• You’re moving on a tight budget: If you want or need to save as much money as possible, you might choose to rent a truck and recruit some friends instead of hiring a full-service moving company. While there will be more work for you to do, you'll likely be able to significantly cut costs. Just remember to factor in all other moving expenses, such as truck rental, gas, and packing supplies.

• You have enough time and help: If you’re not under a tight deadline and you have loved ones willing to pitch in, opting for a DIY move means you can spread the moving tasks out across several days or weeks to make the process easier on yourself.

You can also consider a combination of both options—hiring movers for the heavy lifting of large furniture and appliances while handling the rest of your belongings yourself. To make this process even smoother, you might also consider using short-term self storage for nonessential items. This allows you to unpack and organize your new home gradually or provides a solution if you find yourself with time between homes. Whichever approach you decide on, considering all these factors and solutions can set you up for a smoother, smarter move!

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Preparing for a move? Check out Extra Space Storage's Moving Resources Hub for guides, calculators, movers near you, and more. Need a place to store excess belongings while you move? We have self storage facilities throughout the U.S. to help with your transition. Find a storage unit near you!