By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group
· How busy are you?
· How much time do you have?
· How naturally organized are you, or will the boxes arrive in complete disarray if you pack for yourself?
· What about your partner, family members, or other responsibilities?
Some people enjoy packing and moving themselves, some could not pack their way out of a paper bag. We all have individual talents and circumstances that will determine if DIY moving or a professional moving service is right for you.
Let us look at the key elements of a move, and you can judge for yourself whether you'd rather tackle them solo or acquire the expert help of professionals to make your move go smoothly.
No one packs with the speed and precision of a professional mover. Packing services are there for people who do not have time to pack, are relocating remotely, physically cannot pack for themselves, or prefer to delegate. If you know that packing on your own would take many days or weeks of weekends, professional movers can make this problem disappear in just a couple days of dedicated work.
Organization matters a great deal when moving. The order with which you pack boxes determines the ease of unpacking. Will you be unpacking random piles of stuff or know exactly which box to open for needed items upon arrival? Those who are naturally disorganized benefit the most from a packing and moving service because your boxes will make sense when it is time to rebuild your household. Each box will be neatly labeled with the contents, sorted by room and purpose. Tackling a DIY move means also tackling this organization. If you have a passion for color-coded tape and detailed labels, self-packing might be your jam.
Another big hassle of the move is scheduling. You need to coordinate the arrival of the moving truck with the availability of the house and your own arrival with household members and delicate items. If everyone does not arrive together, or in a complimentary cascade, then hassle occurs. DIY moves are the most likely to have people arriving long before (or too long after) the moving truck. In contrast, a professional moving company can handle the schedule for you. All you need to do is get yourself and your car to the new house in time to meet the truck, and movers will help you plan your road trip or flight accordingly.
Stress runs high in a move, and especially for DIY moves where you oversee everything. It is hard enough to get yourself and your personal items to a new home, much less the contents of your entire house. Professional movers can take a lot of that stress off your shoulders by taking over the most stressful tasks: Packing, loading, and driving the truck on schedule.
Then there is your furniture and equipment. Each piece needs to be either disassembled and padded or padded and secured to travel safely in the truck. Do you know how to take apart your furniture and put it back together in the new location? If you do not, that is okay, because your professional movers do. Assembly and disassembly services are part of a full-service moving package.
If you have never loaded or unloaded a moving truck, prepare to be amazed. For the inexperienced, it is not a fast or easy task. First time-movers often lose a day of drive-time by underestimating how long it will take to load the truck, including rest breaks. Professional movers are conditioned to the task of moving an entire home of worldly possessions and stacking into the back of a truck.
Not to mention securing. Even DIY moves should have someone experienced check the ropes on your secured boxes so that nothing tumbles tragically while on the road.
Driving the truck is the final challenge for many DIY movers. For most, a rented moving truck may be the first and only time they ever drive a cargo vehicle without a rear-view mirror. Therefore, even those who pack and load a truck themselves may hire a professional driver, and why a full-service moving company provides a local or long-distance driver for the truck. This is a large vehicle holding all your household furniture and goods. If you are not confident at the wheel, leave it to a professional with a guarantee.
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Should your next move be DIY or with the help of a professional moving company? There are some energetic, skilled, and experienced households that can quite capably move themselves across the country. For everyone else, professional moving companies have you covered. Whether you do not have time or just want it done right, we can help. Contact A-1 Freeman Moving Group today to regarding your upcoming moving plans.
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