Are Movers Worth It?

Moving, whether it’s across town or to a different state, can feel overwhelming—and so can deciding if hiring professional movers is worth it. Considering the logistics of packing, heavy lifting, and transportation is enough to make anyone stressed. Local moves might seem simple, but they require careful planning. Add long distances, and moving can become even more complicated. Professional movers can help by taking the load off (literally) so you’re free to think about other things.

To help consumers make smart moving-related choices, we looked into the pros and cons of hiring movers, including what impacts the cost of hiring movers, red flags to watch out for, and the truth of any misconceptions about the industry.

When To Hire Movers

Below are a few instances where you may want to hire professional movers rather than go the do-it-yourself (DIY) route.

You’re Moving Long-Distance

When moving long distances, hiring a moving company offers the most value. Most national moving companies specialize in long-distance and interstate moves, leaving local moves to rental truck companies or smaller outfits. The best interstate moving providers offer convenient services like vehicle transportation, custom crating for fragile items, specialty movers for pianos and fitness equipment, and assistance with other tasks you may not be able to arrange independently.

You’re Uncomfortable Driving a Large Truck

Renting a moving truck may seem practical until you get behind the wheel. Many individuals without experience driving large trucks feel unsafe behind the wheel, especially on the interstate. You might benefit from a moving company even if you prefer to do most of the packing and loading yourself.

You’re Moving With Large or High-Value Items

Hiring movers may be worth it if you have a lot of heavy furniture or a collection of artwork, antiques, instruments, or other high-value items. Disassembling, loading, unloading, and reassembling large or fragile items is better left to the professionals, as trying to do so on your own can harm yourself or your belongings.

You Have a Lot of Belongings

If you’re moving to a large home—like a three-bedroom or more house—hiring movers will speed up packing and transporting your items. Not only will it take much longer to do it yourself, but it will also require physical labor that you may not be able to perform as efficiently as professionals.

You’re Under a Time Constraint

Some moves have a time limit. You may need to vacate your current home before the end of the month or be in a new city in time to start a new job. Hiring a moving company with a guaranteed pickup and delivery window can alleviate stress and give you time to prepare for your relocation in other ways.

You’re Moving Internationally

Moving to a new country comes with a separate set of challenges. Because of the logistics of moving and managing freight across international boundaries, a professional moving company with experience in international moves is almost a requirement.

When To Do a DIY Move

For some, hiring professional movers isn’t necessary. In the following instances, hiring a self-service moving container company, renting a moving truck, or going DIY might make more sense.

You’re Moving Locally

Most of the best national moving companies have long-distance or interstate moves in mind. A large moving company may not offer much value if you move locally or intracity. It often outsources your move to a local mover in its network if it holds broker authority. Renting a moving truck or using a mobile moving-and-storage company may be a better option. That said, local moving companies can still save you time and effort.

You Have a Limited Budget

Hiring a full-service moving company can be expensive, and movers may not be worth it for people on a tight budget. If you don’t have the finances to pay movers, it’s more practical to go the DIY route. As an alternative, some companies allow you to pick and choose which services you need to save money. For example, you can handle all the packing yourself and hire a company only to help with loading, transportation, and unloading. One of the best cheap moving companies can be perfect for moving on a budget as well.

You Have Free Help

Hiring a moving company may not be necessary if you have friends and family ready and willing to pitch in. The most physically demanding aspect of any move is loading and unloading your belongings into and out of a truck, trailer, or container. If you have enough willing participants to get the job done quickly and safely, it could be worth it to save money.

You Want Control Over Your Belongings

Hiring a moving company means entrusting strangers with your possessions for an extended period. It is nerve-racking for some people to leave their belongings in others’ hands that long, even if they are professionals. Consider a DIY move if you prefer complete control over your belongings and timeline.

You Have Time

Hiring movers usually means getting your belongings out of your old home in a single day. If your new home is nearby and you have time to move your belongings at your own pace, you may not need to hire a moving company. Moving your items bit by bit can save you the stress of moving everything all at once and the money of hiring professionals.

Other Considerations

Remember a few more things before making the call on whether movers are worth it in your situation.

Your Physical Capacity

Even if you’re physically able, moving heavy items such as large appliances, sofas, bed frames, and mattresses is extremely taxing and can cause injury if done improperly. In almost all cases, you need at least one or two people to help you lift and load heavy boxes, furniture, and other items. If you have limited physical capacity, hiring professionals may be more of a necessity than a luxury.

Your Reason for Moving

Your reason for moving can impact your decision to hire professionals. If you’re relocating for a job, you may have a moving stipend from your new employer that you can use to pay for movers. If you’re moving to start fresh in a new city and have sold, donated, or tossed most of your belongings, you may not need to hire assistance.

Further, if you have a set window of time in which you must complete your move, or if your move is unplanned or otherwise unexpected, movers can help by quickly packing, loading, and transporting your items for you.

Your Stress Tolerance

Moving even a small home or apartment to a new location comes with aggravations, and some people can’t deal with the stress. Hiring a moving company can remove much of the anxiety of organizing your relocation if you have a demanding job, young children, or another obligation that requires most of your time and attention.

Types of Movers

Deciding to hire movers is only the first step. When researching moving providers, you’ll come across several options. Besides choosing between a moving broker and a carrier, you’ll also have to determine the level of service you require. We break down the different types of movers below to help you decide if movers are worth it.

Brokers vs. Carriers

A broker acts as an intermediary between you and a third-party mover. A broker does not have in-house staff or a fleet of moving trucks; the company will contract out your move to a moving carrier in its network.
Conversely, a carrier handles moves directly. A company registered as a moving carrier has a fleet of trucks and handles all moving services with its employees. Some companies are brokers and carriers, providing in-house moves in some areas and contracting out moves to partner carriers when necessary.

Whether you should hire a broker or carrier for your move depends on your preferences, moving budget, and type of move. A broker may offer more services and will be able to hunt for the best price, but customer service and support may suffer when you work with a third-party carrier. A carrier with a fleet and dedicated customer support personnel will offer better service; however, with limited staff and trucks, you may have to schedule your move early or miss out on a few desired services.

Full Service vs. Self-Service

You can choose from self-service, partial-service, and full-service movers when moving. Your decision may depend on your budget, the size and distance of your move, the number of bulky items you have, whether you can enlist friends and family members to help, and other considerations. Here’s a breakdown:

Our Conclusion

Hiring a professional moving company makes a lot of sense for some individuals; it’s not essential for others. Moving companies have the skills and logistics needed to get your move done quickly and safely, but they can be expensive, and you’ll have little control over your belongings during the process.

Movers are worth it if you’re moving a large home or business with many heavy furnishings over a long distance. If you’re moving a small dwelling across town, you likely won’t get the same value. One cost-effective alternative is hiring a mobile moving-and-storage container that handles transportation but leaves packing and loading to you.

FAQs About If Movers Are Worth It