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Other Options to Hiring a Full Service Moving Company

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Executive Realty 91362

Alternatives to Hiring Professional Movers

Are you trying to decide between hiring a professional mover or doing it yourself? Moving from one home to another can start to look very expensive when you get quotes from movers. On many occasions, you will need to worry about everything from getting climate-controlled storage or a POD, to getting a moving truck. There are many vital decisions to be made when you're moving.

Professional moving companies can charge around $2,500 for a straightforward local move. If you are moving to another state, you are looking at an average bill of between four and five thousand dollars.

With such large costs involved, many people look for alternative moving options to save money. Hiring a moving truck and doing it yourself is an option, but it isn't an easy one. Moving a large number of heavy boxes in or out of your home is hard work. Then you have heavy and awkward furniture to try to fit through doorways and load onto the truck.

If you rent a moving truck, there are other moving options than trying to do everything yourself. There are companies ready to give moving assistance, providing as much help as you need to make your move a success. Following some tips to save money when relocating a long distance will be well worth the effort.

Let's take a look at the other options besides hiring one of the full-service moving companies.

Truck Rental Extras

Many rental companies offer moving help to their customers, as well as the trucks. If you know you are going to need extra help, you can order this when you reserve your vehicle. Check the add-on section of the truck rental site for what they have to offer.

If they don't provide what you are looking for, or their prices seem higher than you expected, there are other moving options. U-Haul is an excellent company with a solid reputation. They would be one of the do it yourself companies I would highly recommend. See the resource at Maximum Real Estate Exposure on everything you need to know about renting a U-Haul truck.

Moving Help

The Moving Help website allows you to search for local alternative moving choices. It links you to companies willing to help you pack, unpack, load, and unload your rental truck. You might also be able to find someone to help with the driving or people to clean your home if you need it. They can help you move your items to your new home or into storage.

The site operates with a star rating system, and customers can leave comments. This allows you to check that you are hiring reliable moving helpers. Moving Help is one of the more well-known alternatives to hiring a professional full service moving company.

HireAHelper

Similar to Moving Help, the HireAHelper website lets you search for moving labor in your area. You can pick from moving companies that just offer the labor and full-service companies that supply their staff for this sort of work. This means that you will have professional movers, that should ensure your items are taken good care of.

As further protection, the site offers extra cover for damage should the movers not resolve the issue to your satisfaction. This cover is based on 60 cents per pound for repair or replacement of your items. On top of this, they guarantee the service you receive, offering to reimburse you the full cost of the job up to $1,000 if you are unsatisfied with your movers.

HireAHelper has grown into a desirable moving alternative to those who have a budget they need to work within.

College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving

The College Hunks is a national moving company that helps people with packing and unpacking, loading and unloading a truck, as well as full service moving. They also specialize in donation pickups and junk removal, they are fully licensed, insured, and trained whichever service you need.

If you only need help with a few pieces of furniture, you can use their services by the hour. Making the most difficult part of your move easier at a low cost. They promise professional service, making sure your possessions are in the best hands. They have had over 1.3 million customers, with over 100,000 5-star reviews.

A Little Help from Your Friends

If you really want to make the largest possible saving over the professionals, your friends can help. This is the cheapest of your alternative moving options, and also gives you the most control.

It does also mean the most work for you, and more of a chance that things could get damaged in the move. Unless your friends are experienced movers, there is going to be a greater chance of things being broken. Though with the money saved, you should be able to repair or replace anything that gets broken.

More control does mean more responsibility, however, with all the risks on your shoulders. Movers will have insurance to cover breakages and will handle your move professionally. Though doing it yourself does mean you won't have to worry about meeting the guidelines of the movers, and you can be more flexible about when and how the move takes place.

Not using full-service movers may seem like the best option for you if the costs involved are concerning. You will also need to do a lot more work to make sure the move goes to plan.

When you're moving out of state it is probably going to be harder to find friends to help as you probably won't know many people yet. These are all central considerations when trying to make the correct moving choices.

Final Thoughts On The Options Besides a Moving Company

Moving can be a very expensive proposition as summarized here. If you are not well off, looking at various ways to save money makes a lot of sense. Hiring professional movers is generally going to cost you a lot more money than doing it yourself. This is especially true when you are moving out of state over a long distance.

Hopefully, you have found these other moving alternatives to be useful.

 

Posted by

With three decades of experience, Bill Gassett is an authority in the real estate sector. Bill writes informative articles for numerous prestigious real estate sites to help buyers, sellers, and fellow real estate agents. His work has been featured on RIS Media, the National Association of Realtors, Inman News, Placester, Realty Biz News, Credit Sesame, and his own authority resource, Maximum Real Estate Exposure. Reach out to Bill Gassett for his real estate, mortgage, and financial expertise.

Comments(8)

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Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Bill, one of my favorite colleagues has a son who founded College Hunks and they have saved my back on many occasions.  And generally, I am a strong advocate of hiring professional movers.  There is too much that can get dropped down a flight of stairs! 

Sep 16, 2020 06:51 AM
Bill Gassett

Wow, that is really cool Patricia. I understand that College Hunks does a great business.

Sep 16, 2020 07:18 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Bill - there are always alternatives but being aware, knowledgeable and doing research remains important.  Whether it's moving, real estate or deciding if one is going to exit from under the covers in the morning - look at the options.  And take that first step!

Sep 16, 2020 07:05 AM
Bill Gassett

Moving is so expensive. It is nice to at least have some other alternatives to choose from when you have a restricted moving budget.

Sep 16, 2020 07:19 AM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Great info and I am glad you included a little help from your friends too!

Sep 16, 2020 07:07 AM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Kristin Johnston - REALTOR® I am glad you enjoyed the moving tips.

 

Sep 16, 2020 07:19 AM
Dan Hopper
Dan Hopper - Gold Way RE - Westminster, CO
Colorado Broker / Referral Services

This is one topic that all buyers / sellers should really pay attention to.  Having a moving firm options is very helpful.  We always include a list for our clients... thanks for the posting,  .

Sep 16, 2020 08:20 AM
Bill Gassett

True Dan - references for things related to movers is a common question among buyers and sellers.

Sep 16, 2020 09:56 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Good afternoon Bill Gassett -  yes, I know there are some alternative including some container type arraingements.

Sep 16, 2020 10:43 AM
Ervin Smith

Oh, the whole moving process is really nerve-wracking. The first time I decided to do everything myself, and I instantly regretted it because I had to pack everything, and it was way too time-consuming. But I'm glad I decided to work with cross country moving companies in san francisco the second time, and it was definitely worth the money.

Dec 20, 2021 09:00 AM