5 Reasons Why A Self-Move Might Not Be In Your Self-Interest

Whether you're moving across the country or across the street, you're probably asking yourself if you should hire a moving company or tackle the task of moving your belongings on your own. For some people, a self-move seems more economical than relying on professional movers. However, going at it alone also has its share of disadvantages. The following outlines several reasons why moving on your own might not be the best option.

Moving On Your Own Takes Time and Energy

Whether you need to move out by lease's end or be in your new place soon enough to start your new job, you might not have a lot of time to devote towards moving. Nevertheless, you'll end up wasting more time on your move if you decide to handle it on your own. In most cases, you'll actually save time by hiring professional movers since they're able to get the job done faster.

Packing and moving all of your belongings by yourself can also take up a lot of your energy along with your time. The stresses involved in making sure everything's packed up and keeping track of everything as you move can also wear on you mentally and physically. Hiring professional moving companies can lift much of that stress, leaving you less worried and more relaxed about your move.

It Also Takes Plenty of Manpower

When it comes to moving your belongings, you could use all the help you can get. This is pretty easy if you're hiring a moving company since you'll get at least two pairs of strong, reliable hands out of the deal. It's a lot harder if you're trying to recruit friends and family to help out with your move. Sure, you could have a couple of friends pitch in for the price of a pizza and refreshments, but you'll also have to deal with no-shows or slow and inexperienced helpers hampering your moving schedule.

You're More Likely to Be Injured

Approximately 80 percent of all Americans will likely experience back pain at some point in their life, especially when engaged in lifting heavy objects. To make matters worse, most Americans aren't well versed in how to properly lift and carry heavy items. Trying to wrestle heavy furniture or tote overloaded boxes could increase your likelihood of being injured, which could definitely put a halt to your moving plans.

Professional movers, on the other hand, are specifically trained to lift and carry various items without putting themselves at risk of injury. They'll also have a variety of tools, including hand carts and dollies, that make it much easier to lift and move heavy objects.

You're More Likely to Damage Your Belongings

Professional movers are trained to carefully pack and move a wide range of fragile items, from fine china and crystal to sensitive electronics, antiques and musical instruments. These items can be more than a handful for the average person to pack, load, and transport on their own. It's not unusual for couches and other upholstered furniture to get nicked or for wooden furniture to be scratched or otherwise marred in the process of a self-move.

If you plan on moving these items on your own, you'll also have to plan for the moment these items are accidentally damaged while in transit. There's insurance available for self-movers, but it's relatively limited in coverage when compared to the insurance plans that are available when you hire a moving company.

It's Not as Cheap as You Think

Cost is one of the biggest reasons why so many people attempt to move their own. But while you think you're saving on the hourly rates for a moving service, those savings can be eaten away by other costs. These include the cost of renting your own moving truck and keeping its fuel tank topped off, along with purchasing packing materials and renting hand carts and other moving equipment. It may even cost you in lost wages if you take time off from work to pack and load your belongings.

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