Professional Movers vs. DIY Moving: Definitions, Pros and Cons

When planning a move, one of the key decisions to make is whether to handle the process yourself or leave it to a professional moving company like Mayflower. Either way, moving takes a lot of time and may be difficult without the proper preparations and know-how. While self-moving is often more affordable, hiring reputable movers such as Mayflower can provide greater convenience and peace of mind.  

Each option presents advantages and disadvantages depending on individual needs and circumstances. Considerations like budget, timeline constraints, physical ability and personal preferences should all factor into the decision.  

This article will compare the benefits and drawbacks involved in both self-moving and full-service professional moves. Ultimately, the right choice comes down to what’s best for you. 

Full-Service Moving  

A lot of people mistakenly believe full-service moving is an all-or-nothing choice. At Mayflower, there’s plenty of flexibility in our full-service packages where you can easily mix-and-match moving options like packing, transporting, specialty items, unpacking and storage to design a move precisely to your needs. A quote from Mayflower will always include the following: 

• A personal move coordinator  
• Qualified drivers and equipment  
• Full Value Protection (which you can waive) 
• Loading, transportation, unloading and standard furniture placement  

From there, you can build out a full-service plan to include these and other services: 

• Custom crating and safe transportation of specialty items  
• Disassembly and reassembly of standard bed frames  
• Storage 
• Car or vehicle shipping  

The Benefits of Hiring Full-Service Movers  

There’s a lot less pressure on you when you leave handling and coordinating your move to reputable professionals. After all, moving cross-country is a big adjustment and the less time involved in dealing with a million and one large and small move-related details gives you more time to focus on friends, your family and your job. 

If you’ve gone the DIY route before, you know it’s usually tougher than you anticipated and unexpected hurdles are often the norm. From getting together a volunteer “move crew” of friends to help pack and load to unpacking and settling in on the other end, the whole move process can be mentally and physically exhausting. Are you (and your back and shoulders) up to dealing with heavy sofas, large appliances and bulky mattresses?  

Professional movers like Mayflower have the resources, experience and ability needed to oversee and expedite everything, door to door — along with moving protection that reduces the risk of having to replace damaged items out of pocket. If you have many belongings, specialty items and even vehicles needing to be moved cross-country, it may be easier and more efficient to hire full-service movers.  

The Drawbacks of Hiring Full-Service Movers

Even moving a short distance is generally more expensive when hiring movers due to time, labor and equipment costs. You’ll also be subject to the mover’s larger schedule, which means planning around their availability. That’s why it’s important to start the move process as early as possible by getting a quote and schedule in place.  

The nice thing is that you can address both these perceived drawbacks at the same time by getting a no-obligation quote from Mayflower. It costs nothing, it automatically sets a timeframe and the price may be more affordable than you thought. 

Moving Yourself  

A DIY move puts you (literally) in the driver’s seat. If you’ve ever self-moved before, you know the drill. 

First, you put together a rough idea of what needs to happen when. Our own eight week moving checklist can be a big help, even for self-movers. Then you start collecting moving supplies including boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, etc. and tackle the packing process as best you can.  

Now it’s time to figure out how all of this will be transported to your new home. You can borrow or rent a work truck; hopefully, it and your car will be big enough to handle the job. If it’s a rental, the cost will depend on the size of the truck and how long you need to rent it. They may also charge extra if you can’t return it to the same location where you picked it up. 

Now the real work starts. You (and hopefully your “move crew” of friends and neighbors) start handling all the heavy lifting, loading and figuring out how to make the most of the space you have available. Hopefully, you already thought about getting equipment like dollies and furniture sliders to make things a bit easier.  

After a somewhat stressful drive to your new home (that truck maneuvers differently from your sedan, doesn’t it?), you’re ready to relax on a comfortable sofa and give yourself a pat on the back. Unfortunately, that sofa and all the rest of your belongings are still on the truck waiting to be unloaded — and your “move crew” is back where you left them in your former town. As you begin off-loading and unpacking, you silently hope your insurance will cover any damage. 

The Benefits of DIY Moving 

Of course, a DIY move can save significantly on labor, service fees and equipment rentals. You also have almost full control over your moving schedule, setting your own timelines and moving at your own pace, provided you’re not a procrastinator who tends to leave everything to the last minute. DIY moving also means you can choose how your belongings are loaded, transported and unloaded. If that’s something you’re comfortable with and knowledgeable enough to take on, no problem. 

The Drawbacks of DIY Moving

DIY moving often requires significant planning, preparation and execution, meaning more time is needed to complete the move. If you tend to leave things until the last minute, you might be overwhelmed. 

Moving is physically demanding. Unless you’re in relatively good shape, packing up and loading the contents of a typical four-bedroom house will be quite a strain, putting you at risk of getting injured. Also, unless your move is completely thought through, factors such as truck rental insurance, fuel and the need to procure last-minute supplies can easily slip your mind, adding overlooked or hidden costs to your move.  

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Get Your Custom Full-Service Moving Quote From Mayflower  

Whether you choose a professional mover or move yourself, rest assured we want you to succeed Every Step of the Way®. That said, we hope you’ll check out the useful content we have available on subjects like packing your belongings and settling into your new neighborhood, as well as our guides to regional cuisines, cities and more. And our digital magazine, Welcome HOME, is a must-read for any savvy mover! Mayflower is here to help Every Step of the Way®.  

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