Is it Better to Hire a Moving Company or Rent a Moving Truck?

A question you’re bound to face if you’re thinking about moving in the near future: should you hire a moving company or just do it yourself and rent a moving truck?

It may seem like the money-saving answer is to do it yourself, but, depending on how far your move is, and how many belongings you have, that may not always be the case. If money is the main issue, first begin by doing a cost-comparison to see if a self-move will really save you money.

Comparing the costs

The cost of moving is affected by two main things: how many belongings you have to move and how far you have to move them. Most self-move companies provide guides for how large of a truck is required to move an apartment or house, based on bedroom size. So, for example, if you have 3-4 bedrooms, a 24’ truck should work, but if you’re only moving a small apartment, a 10’ truck should be sufficient. Once you know how much the size of the truck will cost, you’ll have to figure out the gas/mileage costs of the moving truck.

A moving truck company will give you quotes based on distance and the truck size. If you have to do a one-way move, your cost can increase by as much as 50%, so keep this in mind when making your decision. Additionally, you have to pay for fuel—which can get pricey for a large truck.

How much is your time worth to you?

If you decide to move yourself, take into account the amount of time (and family/friends you may need to employ to help you) it will take to pack and unpack all of your belongings into the truck. Additionally, if you do a self-move, will you be equipped to move your largest pieces of furniture? If the cost of moving yourself and hiring a moving company is close, the extra amount of time you have to spend may not be worth attempting it yourself.

Do you need on-site storage?

If you have to move everything out before you’re ready to move to your new place, or if you’re moving in phases, mobile storage is a great solution. BoxCart’s mobile storage solutions allow you to conveniently store your belongings at your previous residence or new residence in weatherproof, secure boxes. And, for longer storage needs, BoxCart offers the only 100% air-conditioned, heated and humidity-controlled facility in the metropolitan DC Area.

So, what should you do?

We advise that you go through the checklist—how much you have to move and how far—and then determine how much help you’ll need with the logistics of your move, and whether you’ll need temporary storage. You’ll be surprised at how cost-effective hiring a moving company can be, and, a bonus is that your move will be less stressful.

Don’t forget to save all of your moving receipts. Most moves are tax-deductible!

Looking for a less-stress, cost-effective moving solution? Request a quote from the moving experts at BoxCart.

Source:  http://moving.about.com/od/movingityourself/f/hire_or_not_FAQ.htm

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