Moving into a new space is exciting. Moving day is stressful. You have to pack up all your belongings, disassemble large furniture, move heavy items onto a truck, and then repeat that process in reverse. Whether you’re moving from an apartment to a house, from a college dorm into your first apartment, or relocating across town, one of the biggest decisions you’ll make is whether to handle the move yourself or hire a full service moving company.
Both options have their advantages, but many people underestimate the time, effort, and hidden costs involved in moving on their own. Understanding the differences between a full service move and a DIY move can help you decide which option best fits your situation.
If you’re planning a move in or around South Bend, this guide will help you make an informed decision.
The Cost of DIY Moves
Many people choose a DIY move because they assume it will be cheaper than hiring a company. Moving yourself does save money in some situations, but the actual cost is often more than expected.
Common DIY moving expenses include:
- Truck rental fees ($30-$50/day + $1 per mile)
- Fuel costs
- Insurance for the rental truck
- Moving equipment rentals (dollies, blankets, straps)
- Packing supplies such as boxes, bubble wrap and tape
- Pizza & beer or some form of payment for the friends helping you move
One hidden cost when moving yourself is the potential for damaged furniture or belongings. Without professional packing techniques or proper moving equipment, items can easily get scratched or broken during a DIY move, while walls or floors can get damaged and require repairs as well.
When all is said and done, your out-of-pocket cost for a DIY move is going to be a minimum of $100-$200 and can easily be upwards of $500. When you add to that the value of your time and effort, the cost difference between DIY moving and a full service move may not be as much as you think.
Safety Considerations
Moving a full home of furniture and belongings is a physically demanding job. Injuries are surprisingly common during DIY moves, we’ve seen it happen.
Improperly lifting heavy furniture, navigating tight stairways, and loading bulky items into a truck can lead to:
- Back injuries
- Strained muscles
- Dropped furniture
- Damage to walls, floors, or door frames
As professional movers, we are trained to handle these situations safely. We use specialized equipment such as furniture dollies, lifting straps, and protective padding to reduce the risk of injury and damage to our employees and your property.
These safety considerations can be especially important for people moving out of third-floor apartments or buildings with narrow staircases. When you choose a full service moving company, our trained professionals manage these challenges safely and efficiently.
Time Savings
One of the major advantages of full service moving is the time savings.
Packing an entire apartment or home by yourself can take days or even weeks. On top of packing, you also have to coordinate transportation, recruit friends to help, and manage the logistics of loading and unloading on moving day.
As professional movers, we streamline the entire process. Our years of experience allow us to pack and move any size home efficiently. What might take an inexperienced group of friends an entire day can often be completed by professional movers in half the time.
This can be especially valuable if you are:
- Working full-time
- Moving on a tight schedule
- Managing kids and/or pets during the move
- Coordinating a lease start or end dates
For many people, the time savings alone is worth the investment in a professional moving company. Students leaving Notre Dame campus housing or busy professionals don’t have a lot of extra time to devote to planning, packing and moving. Instead of spending multiple weekends packing boxes and a full day of manual labor, hire a professional moving company and focus on preparing your new home and settling into your new neighborhood.
When a Professional Mover
Makes the Most Sense
One of the biggest benefits of full service moving is that professional movers take care of nearly every aspect of the moving process. Instead of coordinating multiple tasks on your own, a moving company handles all the heavy lifting and logistics.
A typical full service moving package may include:
- Packing your belongings safely and securely
- Supplying packing materials such as boxes, tape, and padding
- Disassembling large furniture
- Loading everything onto the moving truck
- Transporting your items to your new location
- Unloading and placing furniture in the appropriate rooms
- Reassembling furniture when needed
Choosing between full service moving and a DIY move depends on your budget, schedule, and the size of your move. DIY moves can work well for small moves. But while handling everything yourself might seem like the cheaper option at first, hidden costs, safety risks, and time commitments can quickly make your DIY move more challenging and costly than expected.
Professional movers like Around the Bend Movers provide expertise, efficiency, and peace of mind throughout the entire moving process. From packing fragile items to safely transporting heavy furniture, our wide range of moving services help ensure that your belongings arrive safely and your move goes smoothly.