Moving can be an exciting yet stressful adventure. Luckily, several types of professional moving services exist to make your move seamless.
Full service, shipping, DIY truck or a moving container? Choose the best moving option for your needs and budget
Knowing your options (and the perks and downfalls of each one) can help you save money and safely transport your belongings.
Option 1: Full-service moving companies
Hiring a full-service moving company is a low-stress way of getting all your belongings from Point A to Point B. Professional movers manage the logistics of loading, driving, and unloading your things for you. Some full-service movers even offer extra services like packing. This is an excellent option if you’re short on time and need more assistance with your move.
Pros:
These trained movers can safely pack and transport large, delicate items (like pianos and antique furniture). They can also move items into hard-to-access areas, such as upstairs or down long, narrow driveways. Best of all, all the heavy lifting will be done for you.
Cons:
The downsides of hiring a full-service moving company are the cost and the time it takes to complete a move. This is usually the most expensive way to move your belongings. If you are making a long-distance move, it may take movers several days to deliver your items.
Option 2: Shipping your belongings
If you’ve managed to whittle down your belongings to a few boxes or suitcases, shipping them is a cheap and easy way to move—especially if you are moving across the country, points out Consumer Affairs. MVS Canada has information on shipping items to another province.
Pros:
Big-name package shippers often charge a premium to ship large or heavy boxes. But other companies, like long-distance bus lines, may offer cheaper services. Some shippers will pick up boxes from your home and drop them off at your new address for an extra fee.
Cons:
Boxes shipped by ground may take several days or even a few weeks to arrive at their destination. In addition, this isn’t a good option if your boxes contain fragile items.
Option 3: DIY truck rentals
A truck rental company could be a good choice if you have more oversized items but still want to DIY your move. Truck rental companies will provide you with a truck or trailer of an appropriate size, but you’ll be responsible for the packing, loading, driving, and unloading.
Pros:
This option is less expensive than hiring professional movers. Depending on your travel distance, it may be cheaper than hiring a moving container service. Check out online moving calculators to help you estimate costs.
Cons:
Loading and unloading a truck is physically demanding. Having friends and family nearby willing to help load and unload your belongings can save you time, money, and energy. However, if you have any large or unwieldy items, they could be damaged if they aren’t packed, loaded, and unloaded correctly. To address this, you can always hire professional movers to help you load and unload the truck most safely.
You’ll also need to feel comfortable driving a moving truck, which is probably much larger and heavier than your regular vehicle. This can be stressful even for experienced drivers, and you might need extra insurance for accidents or damage. If you choose this route, add gas, insurance, and lodging to the truck rental company's quote for an accurate view of the total cost.
Also, be sure to pick a moving truck company you can TRUST!
Option 4: Moving container services
Moving container services could be ideal if you are uncomfortable driving a rental truck to your new home. Moving container services bring a portable storage container to your home. You fill it up with your belongings, then the company transports it to your new location, where you unload them.
Pros:
These companies usually give you a few days to load and unload. They can also store your container for a fee if you need time to find a new house in your new city. They are less costly than a full-service moving company, and you don’t have to worry about driving a big truck to your new home. Find a portable storage unit company you can TRUST.
Cons:
To take advantage of moving container services, you’ll need space. If your current or new home has no parking or a driveway on a steep incline, this option might not be feasible. Some moving container services offer professional movers to help load and unload your items if you pay an extra fee. However, paying the fee may make the moving container service more expensive than a full-service moving company, so be sure to do your research.
