RealtyBizNews - Real Estate Marketing and Beyond
Real Estate Marketing & Beyond
Home » Real Estate Resource » Should you Hire an Out of State Movers Company or Just do it yourself?

Should you Hire an Out of State Movers Company or Just do it yourself?

By Jamie Richardson | April 18, 2019

When you start thinking about the costs involved in making an interstate move you may be tempted to cut corners by moving your own furniture and worldly goods, rather than paying out to hire a professional, experienced long distance removals company.

In some circumstances this is the most sensible idea – say, for instance, if you don’t have a lot of possessions. If your plan is to drive to your new home, you can comfortably fit everything into your vehicle, and the new property will be ready on arrival then it makes perfect sense. There are other circumstances where a self-move may work equally well, so here we look at the case for and against both options – which are to either hire a professional out of state moving company, or to take on the task of doing everything involved yourself.


The main benefits or advantages of hiring an out of state moving company

  • Your possessions are covered by the moving company’s insurance. (Do check what kind of coverage you can pay for, and whether this applies to self-packed items too).
  • The moving company staff know how to lift, carry and secure large, heavy, fragile and awkward items in the truck to minimize the risk of damage.
  • A professional company should be able to deal with things such as removing windows to remove or install large items.
  • Someone else does all the heavy lifting.
  • Professional movers can work much more efficiently than you can.
  • Your stress levels are generally lower on all fronts.
  • Should the removals truck be damaged in some way you are not liable.
  • There’s less chance of things such as damage to the floor of your existing property during the furniture removal process.
  • Professional out of state movers are used to driving long distances.
  • They can also provide secure storage for your items if necessary – often by packing things into crates which are then removed from the truck. This reduces the need for a second session of moving furniture – saving time and cash, and reducing the risk of damage to your goods.
  • You don’t need to worry about finding pet and babysitters while you help them move.
  • Presuming you have done some research and comparing before making a final shortlist, the out of state moving companies you are looking at should be more reliable than gathering random people you know together to help.
  • They have specialist and regular equipment to move all kinds of items, as required.
  • You don’t need to even think about driving a large truck a long distance.

The main disadvantages of hiring an out of state moving company

  • It could be expensive if you don’t have very much to move. For some budgets it will be expensive regardless.
  • You have to book services according to a moving company’s schedule and availability.
  • Sometimes there can be delays in actually having your goods delivered to the new location.
  • You need to be able to trust your belongings with strangers.

The main benefits or advantages of just doing an out of state move yourself

  • You get to have total control over all elements of the move.
  • It’s a cheaper option than hiring out of state movers.
  • You can probably make changes to your timeline easier than you could if hiring a specialist company.
  • Rather than having to pack according to a company’s guidelines you have more freedom to do things your way.

The main disadvantages of just doing an out of state move yourself

  • You need to source and pay for a variety of packing materials and boxes,
  • Packing and loading up a truck can be extremely time consuming.
  • Anything damaged during the move may not be covered by your home insurance.
  • You need to be confident about taking apart (and putting back together again) household furniture items.
  • You need to carry heavy items, which could easily lead to personal injury.
  • You are responsible for driving and parking (possibly) a large truck which you may not be experienced at, or feel comfortable doing.
  • Most self-movers rely on friends to help. This can be an issue if they fail to show up, or get injured while helping you with the move. There’s little chance that the same people can help you pack up at one end, unpack and download at the other unless they are staying with you.
  • It can be both physically and emotionally draining.
  • You may not save as much as you think - if you count in the truck hire, gas costs, tolls, insurance, equipment hire, and packing material costs, along with providing food, drinks, and a thank you gift or treat for friends who help out. Plus there’s the time you need to take off work, if that is applicable.

A third option

If you are still undecided between the two obvious choices, it’s worth considering hiring help for the tasks you cannot manage alone and doing at least part of the work yourself. For example, someone confident about packing but unable to physically move lots of furniture and boxes could hire an interstate remover to do what they can’t.

Also, if there are no suitable candidates amongst friends and family to help with the move you could consider hiring people through an agency to help with the lifting and loading. There’s no definite answer to the question - “Should I hire an out of state movers company or just do it myself?”; both options have their own advantages and disadvantages. The best way to make a decision about which things are pretty much essential to you and your individual circumstances and then work around those. Ultimately, finding a good out of state movers is probably going to be the fastest route to peace of mind than other options.

Jamie is a 5-year freelance writer who enjoys real estate. He is currently a Realty Biz News Contributor.
  • One comment on “Should you Hire an Out of State Movers Company or Just do it yourself?”

  • Sign up to Realty Biz Buzz
    Get Digital Marketing Training
    right to your inbox
    All Contents © Copyright RealtyBizNews · All Rights Reserved. 2016-2024
    Website Designed by Swaydesign.
    linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram