An interstate move is a major undertaking and choosing how you want to get the job done is no easy task. After all, your choice will impact your budget, time and stress levels. To help you find the right balance between convenience and economic practicality, we’ve put together this comprehensive comparison of your two main options: hiring a professional moving company and doing it yourself.
A DIY Move vs. the Professionals: Understanding the Key Differences
First, let’s look at what these two options generally entail.
- A DIY move requires you to handle all the labor and logistics of the move yourself. Packing, truck rental, loading, driving, and unloading are all your exclusive responsibility.
- Hiring a Moving Company means professional movers will handle all or part of the move for you. Bekins, for example, will take care of logistics and transport and we can also handle packing if you’d like.
When choosing which of these two options is right for your cross-country move, there are several factors you can weigh, including:
- Budget
- What is the amount you want to pay?
- What is the maximum amount you can afford to pay?
- How does the cost of each option compare to your budget?
- Timeline
- When do you want to move out?
- When do you want to move in?
- What uncertainty is there about your planned move out/move in dates?
- Complexity and Scale
- How much stuff do you want to move?
- Are any of your items large, fragile, or hazardous?
- How far are you moving?
- Personal Preference
- How much stress does the moving process cause you?
- How much control do you want to have over your move?
- How important to you is convenience vs. control?
The Pros & Cons of a DIY Interstate Move
Pros of a DIY Move
A completely DIY move has no labor fees. Its bare minimum costs come down to just renting a truck and paying for fuel. This can save a significant chunk of change, as well as grant you greater scheduling flexibility, since you’re handling all the packing, loading and unloading on your own.
A DIY move also allows you to maintain complete control of your property throughout your move. While this doesn’t eliminate the possibility of mishandling or accidents, it does ensure that no matter what happens, you know who was responsible for it (you).
Finally, handling packing yourself can be a major opportunity to declutter. It’s a chore most people struggle to prioritize in normal day-to-day life, but can be easily accomplished in tandem with the packing process.
Cons of a DIY Move
One major drawback of a DIY move is the heavy lifting it requires. Whether you’re moving large, heavy items or repeatedly carrying smaller ones, it puts physical strain on your body which can lead to injury or exhaustion. Even the act of driving the truck itself can be strenuous. Handling a large vehicle for long distances requires concentration and stamina, and can be dangerous for inexperienced drivers.
Another con worth considering is the potential for hidden costs. Rental insurance, tolls, lodging and additional equipment fees are hard to account for, but can eat away at your planned savings all the same.
Then, of course, there are time costs to consider. It takes many hours to prepare to move interstate on your own, and those hours must come from somewhere. If you need to take time off work or away from personally valuable activities, that’s an additional cost that should be considered.
The Pros & Cons of Hiring a Moving Company
When you hire professional movers to handle your interstate move, you’ll typically end up paying higher costs in exchange for less stress, more protection and better predictability.
Pros of Hiring Professional Movers
Unsurprisingly, most folks find moving to be easier and more convenient when they use a professional interstate mover. All the heavy labor, including packing, loading, transport and unloading, is taken care of by experts. Those experts also handle the logistics of your move and provide the necessary vehicles and equipment. In the end, all you need to worry about is getting yourself to the destination in time to receive your goods.
Another perk that moving companies offer is superior insurance protection. Federal laws require moving companies to provide multiple liability options that cover all or part of the value of your property in the event it is lost, destroyed or damaged.
Finally, if you need to move items that are fragile, heavy or require special handling, professional movers, like those at Bekins, know how to pack, load and unload them in a way that minimizes the risk of damage.
Cons of Hiring a Moving Company
The biggest drawback of hiring a moving company is the higher cost. A full-service move can be expensive, especially for cross-country relocations.
You also must give up some control and flexibility. Your move is only one part of a moving company’s larger professional schedule, and working together with them often requires some degree of compromise on dates and times.
Seeking a moving company can also open you up to potential scammers or unreliable operators. Due diligence measures, such as checking if an interstate mover is registered with the FMCSA, are necessary to ensure you and your belongings don’t fall victim to bad actors.
Cost Comparison: DIY vs. Professional Moving Services
Since cost is one of the most important factors separating these two options, it’s helpful to compile a complete price comparison before making your decision. By researching the going rates and costs for each of these items in the markets you’re moving between, you can get a better idea of what you will actually spend or save in each scenario.
- DIY Moving Costs
- Moving truck rental
- Fuel
- Tolls
- Lodging for each night spent on the road
- Meals for each day spent on the road
- Packing supplies (boxes, tape, padding)
- Rental equipment (dollies, furniture pads)
- Potential extra fees (late truck return, mileage overages)
- Professional Mover Costs
- Base moving company quote (distance- and weight-based pricing)
- Additional services (packing, unpacking, furniture assembly)Insurance and liability protection options
- Storage fees (if applicable)
Often, DIY is most cost-effective for smaller moves. Fewer belongings, smaller homes or apartments and short distances all tend to equate to greater savings when you go DIY. On the other hand, hiring professional movers tends to be more cost effective when moves get bigger. Large properties, long-distance and more complicated moves, like senior or family relocations, tend to benefit the most from professional help.
Other Considerations: Timing, Logistics & Risk
If costs alone aren’t enough to help you decide between hiring a moving company and doing it yourself, then it’s time to consider other factors. Start by thinking about the time constraints each option poses. A DIY move requires significantly more time and planning, making it a less viable choice when your schedule is tight.
As for logistics, ask yourself if you’re prepared to drive a moving truck the entire distance by yourself. You can also think about your confidence level regarding your planned move schedule. If you believe there’s a decent chance you may not be able to move your property within the planned times and dates, are you ready to figure out a storage solution on your own? Or would you feel better knowing you have movers that can provide integrated storage solutions as needed?
You may also want to consider whether you want to have sole responsibility for your valuable property. Going the professional route means you don’t have direct control over all your property for at least part of the moving process. On the other hand, professional movers have expert training in handling fragile and valuable items, and are backed by stronger insurance protection.
When to Consider a Hybrid Approach
In certain circumstances, it may not be necessary to choose one option over the other. At times, a hybrid approach can help you access the benefits of both solutions. For example, you may want to elect for a partial DIY move, where you hire movers for loading and unloading but drive the moving truck yourself.
You can also opt to rent a portable moving container. In this scenario, you would be responsible for handling the packing and unpacking, but professionals would handle the transportation. This can be a good solution when you don’t have exact move out and move in dates or when you want to take your time packing your belongings.
How to Choose the Right Option for You
When you’re making your final decision, use this checklist to help you confirm which option works best for your situation.
- Is this option within my budget?
- Can I spare the amount of time this option requires?
- Am I comfortable with the personal responsibilities this option requires?
- Am I capable of the physical work this option requires?
- Does this option provide the amount of liability coverage and protection I want?
- Does this option provide the degree of flexibility I want?
Choose Bekins for Premier Professional Moving Services
Ultimately, choosing between DIY and hiring movers usually comes down to a mix of practical needs and personal preferences. In general, DIY is better suited to smaller moves, while professionals are better suited to larger and more complex moves. However, everyone’s situation is unique. So rather than following a one-size-fits-all recommendation, we encourage you to think through your move’s particulars.
Determine what you absolutely need from your moving plan and the extras that would be nice to have, then determine which solution provides the most reliable route to meeting those needs and wants.
Get a free moving quote from Bekins Van Lines to help you make your decision!
