I Never Hire Movers Without Doing This Essential Task (It’s Easy to Forget!)

As someone who moved regularly during college (I’ve had nine Chicago neighborhood zipcodes so far), I’ve had the opportunity to try moving in a bunch of different ways — from having my friends and family help, to using a little red wagon to move everything a few blocks down the street myself, to hiring professional movers. Every time, I learned something new about the best way to move and whether or not a moving company is the right choice for the job. 

Thanks to all my changes of address, I’ve learned what makes a move worth the cost of hiring pros — and when you might want to DIY the process.

Here’s exactly what you should consider before hiring a traditional moving company, based on my own experiences and recommendations from moving professionals.

If it’s a short distance, you may be better off just renting a truck and doing the move yourself if you can. Although, you might make an exception if you’re moving to another apartment or condo in the same building. Tiam Behdarvandan, CEO and founder of Let’s Get Moving, says the cost for that will likely be labor-only — which is usually cheaper than full truck service and might be less of a hassle than trying to move yourself.

According to Behdarvandan (and in my own experience), medium- to long-distance moves are almost always easier when professional movers do the job. Your best bet for figuring out the cost for your moving distance is to use a moving calculator or call a moving company directly.

Consider how much will fit in your car, if you have one, and if you have an efficient way to get large furniture from one place to another. 

Also, if you plan to rent a moving truck, think about whether you’ll actually be able to drive it. “Driving a truck isn’t easy, especially in metropolitan areas,” says Matt Graber, co-owner at Cool Hand Movers. “Moving companies are adept at navigating in large box trucks, avoiding parking tickets, using the correct roadways, and being conscious of avoiding bumps and knocks to your items along the way,” he adds.

This might be the most important question to ask in order to decide if movers are worth the cost. Take inventory of everything you own and think about if you really want to spend the time it takes to move it. Consider how fragile or heavy it is and whether you have (or are willing to buy) the materials you need to protect your items.

“People often underestimate the amount of strength and skill that goes into a smoothly executed move,” Graber says. “Properly blanket-wrapped furniture can mean the difference between settling easily into your new home or spending on both disposal and new furniture if something gets severely damaged,” he explains. You can also check on the moving company’s insurance policy to see whether your belongings are covered.

If you don’t have many things or are buying a lot of furniture that’s being delivered to your new place, you might not need the full professional move.

Depending on where you’re moving, you might not be allowed to move yourself in. This is particularly common in major cities, and likely in high-rise buildings where there are limitations on what’s allowed to happen on the property.

“Some properties require moves to be conducted by licensed companies with a certain amount of insurance,” Graber says. “Especially in large cities, you might not be allowed to just have your friends help you move.” So, call to check if your new spot has similar requirements.

If you think pro movers are the best way to go, get multiple quotes from different movers at least one month before you plan to move (earlier if you really want to scour for deals). From there, check your budget to see if you can afford it. 

If you decide not to go the route of professional movers, the process doesn’t have to be as overwhelming as it seems.

Instead of packing yourself or using pro movers, you could hire someone on an app like TaskRabbit. Marshall Aikman, owner at Amazing Moves Moving & Storage, is a fan of doing a “speed pack” if you have a smaller budget but want to hire movers for packing. “This is when special large boxes with internal partitions are used, which speed up the packing of dishes, books, and various small items,” he says.

You can also “hire” your friends: Many of my moves were on shoestring budgets, so I paid my friends and family in pizza and drinks (sometimes even at a date later than the move itself). I recall one move where I planned a s’mores party a month after I actually moved for all the people who helped me.

Behdarvandan suggests getting creative with packing materials by using suitcases instead of boxes, padding items with clothing, and using trash bags as ad-hoc garment bags. “Keep [clothes] on the hanger, bundle about 10 to 15 together, and slide a garbage bag over them,” he says.

Aikman suggests trying a “staged move,” where you move in chunks or stages, on different days — although that might not be doable depending on your situation. You can use movers for the heavy items like beds and large furniture, and then move everything else yourself.

You could also use a rideshare service for smaller moves — just pick the XL options. It might get pricey, but will likely cost less than using a traditional mover. Behdarvandan also suggests using a mobile storage unit, like PODs. You load it up, the company moves the container, and then you unpack it at your new place. 

If you are DIYing your move, I’d recommend not getting too creative. In my professional-by-experience opinion, a little red wagon is not the way to go — there’s not much worse than taking a corner too tightly and watching your books and dishes spill all over the sidewalk.

Check out the The New Mover to discover the latest tips and most innovative hacks to make your next move the smoothest one yet. This content was presented by a sponsor; it was created independently by our editorial team.