After you’ve picked out a new home or office, it’s time to move in. This is an exciting time, but it comes with its own share of stress. One of the biggest questions you’ll have to ask yourself is whether you will hire a professional mover or move everything by yourself. There is no correct answer to this question, but you should consider the pros and cons of DIY vs professional furniture moving. For a smaller-scale move, you might be able to handle everything on your own (and perhaps with the help of a few friends). But for larger-scale office moves, it would definitely be a wise decision to hire professional movers. 

In this article, we’ll talk about the pros and cons of DIY vs professional furniture moving so you know what to expect when planning your next move. 

DIY Moving

Do-It-Yourself moving has always been a popular choice for homeowners, renters, and small business owners. Some people like to be in complete control of a move from start to finish, and they like to know exactly how their belongings are packed and loaded. For those moving into a small home or office, or even relocating close by, DIY moving makes sense. It can save money and keep things on your personal schedule, but there are some drawbacks to it as well. 

Pros of DIY Moving

• Affordable. When you move things yourself, you’ll only incur costs for renting trailers and packing equipment. This may save you costs up-front, but remember that none of your belongings are guaranteed to arrive safely.

• You create your own schedule. If timing is important to you, you might want to consider a DIY move. You won’t have to wait for an available appointment from a moving company; instead, you can move whenever you are ready. 

• You have total control. With a DIY move, you become the project manager from start to finish. You can decide how to pack your belongings, load them into the trailer, and unpack them when you arrive at the new location. This can help you keep better track of your belongings so they are not lost or damaged during the move. 

Cons of DIY Moving

• Planning. There’s a lot that goes into a move. It’s incredibly hard work to pack up all your belongings, find a trailer to rent, and get your furniture safely from one location to another. Don’t underestimate how much work, effort, and planning goes into a move. 

• Physically demanding. Packing boxes, wrapping furniture, and unloading trailers is physically demanding. If you’re not careful, you could seriously injure yourself. You should take extra precautions to use proper lifting techniques and moving equipment to help load and unload trailers. 

• Takes a long time. Packing your furniture and belongings can take weeks—if not months—depending on how much you are taking with you. Because of this, you may find it takes considerably more time to move by yourself than it would if you hired a professional mover. 

• Lack of experience. Unless you’ve moved several times, you probably don’t have enough experience to make your move go as smoothly as possible. Mistakes can happen, which can cause harm to you and your belongings. Make sure you understand your limitations and decide whether it would be better to hire a mover to help.

Pros of Hiring Professional Movers

• They have years of experience. Even if you’ve moved a couple of times before, nothing will compare to the experience that professional movers have. They’ve handled a variety of appliances, furniture items, and household goods in dozens of other moves. They know the best way to pack up items and transport them without damaging your new home or office. Hiring professional movers can help your move go as smoothly as possible. 

• They do the heavy lifting. Professional movers know how to safely handle heavy objects and appliances. They also have the proper equipment to move large appliances without damaging them. This will save you from lifting heavy boxes and risking an injury. Even if you are physically fit, it’s best to leave the heavy lifting to the professionals.

• Highly Efficient. Professional movers know how to efficiently pack up your belongings, stow them in the moving truck, unload them, and place them throughout your new location. True professionals will arrive on time and will be fully prepared to handle the move from start to finish. Unlike friends, who sometimes flake or have to cancel their plans to help you move, professional movers will be there for you no matter what.  

• You’ll have peace of mind. Hiring professional movers gives you time to focus on other tasks related to the move. When you’re not overwhelmed packing, unpacking, and installing furniture, you can take care of everything else that needs to be done to finalize your move. 

• You don’t have to worry about towing a trailer. Professional movers use their own trucks to move your belongings, which means you don’t have to worry about renting and towing a trailer. Loading a trailer is difficult enough, and driving it to your destination is even more challenging. For your own safety and to make sure your belongings get to the desired location, leave the truck driving to the professionals. 

Cons of Hiring Professional Movers

• It can be expensive up front. Depending on the distance you are moving and how many possessions you are taking with you, hiring movers can get expensive. You should compare prices from several moving companies to see which is more in line with your budget. 

• You must work around their schedule. Hiring professional movers means you will have to work with their schedule of availability. You should schedule your moving date as soon as possible so the moving company has plenty of time to work you in their schedule. If something comes up on the day you planned to move, make sure to give them plenty of notice time (at least 24 – 48 hours) so they do not charge you a cancellation fee. 

• You have to do research beforehand. When selecting a professional moving company, you should spend a decent amount of time researching different companies. We suggest checking out local ratings and reviews, as well as getting information from family members, friends, and coworkers who have used professional movers. Make sure the company you are selecting is credible and reliable before you trust them with your belongings. 

• You have to trust them with your belongings. One of the hardest things for people to do is to trust others with moving their belongings. If you prefer to take responsibility for damaged goods, then hiring a mover may not be the best option for you.

There are a lot of factors to consider as you decide on DIY vs professional furniture moving. For short-distance, small-scale moves, you might be perfectly fine renting a trailer or moving truck and doing it yourself. However, for larger-scale home or office moves, we recommend hiring a professional who can help take some of the stress out of moving. Consider your options and contact us with any questions you might have about hiring professional movers.  

Trust the team that has helped people move for over 20 years!

Now that you know more about DIY vs professional furniture moving, you might be considering hiring a professional for the job. The next most important step is to select a company that is trustworthy, highly reputable, and reliable. If you’re looking for a team that has over 20 years of professional moving experience, trust Andrews Installation for your next move! We serve residents in cities across Arizona, including Phoenix, Scottsdale, Peoria, Tempe, Tucson, Flagstaff, and Goodyear.

If you need commercial or residential furniture delivery in Arizona, contact Andrews Installation Group today. Give us a call at 602-334-7912 or contact us online to schedule your next move.