You went house or apartment hunting, found the perfect place to live, paid the deposit, and signed all the paperwork. Now it’s time for the hardest step: moving in.

Moving can take a lot of your time or money—if not both. While having professional movers give you a helping hand is convenient, it can also be expensive. And though it may be tempting to try to DIY your move, the exhausting and stressful process can impact more than just your wallet.

So, all of this might leave you wondering: Should I hire movers or move myself? Let’s break down the basics of self-moving vs. hiring professional movers.

Should I Move Myself?

A self-move is exactly what it sounds like. You pack your things, load them into a vehicle, and then unpack at your destination. While handling the move yourself can be more affordable, it can come with many challenges.

Pros

Many DIY movers are drawn to the cost savings of skipping the moving companies. They may also want to have complete control over the moving process, oversee the handling of their belongings, and be able to move at their own pace.

A DIY move can be manageable if you’re moving less stuff or already have a vehicle capable of handling a heavy load.

Cons

If you don’t have free assistance from family and friends or are moving a lot more stuff, trying to handle it yourself may be more trouble than it’s worth.

No matter how much you’re moving, self-moving can be physically demanding and time-consuming. Dealing with larger and heavier items without professional assistance can be more than just exhausting — it can lead to damage to your property or even injuries.

Beyond the investment of time and effort, self-moving comes with associated costs. These can include:

Renting a moving truck
Covering fuel cost and mileage
Renting equipment like dollies or furniture pads
Purchasing packing supplies like boxes, tape, cushioning, and more

Should I Hire Professional Movers?

Professional movers can load your boxes, move items from point A to point B, and unload your belongings at your new place. This option requires more upfront investment but is also the most efficient and stress-free.

So, is hiring movers worth it? Let’s explore the pros and cons.

Pros

One of the main benefits of hiring movers is time. By handing off the most exhausting and time-consuming tasks to local movers, you have the space and time to focus on what’s important — getting you (and your loved ones) settled into your new home.

Professional movers also bring experience and expertise to the table. Trained professional movers can quickly and efficiently navigate even the most complex moving jobs. From bulky pieces of furniture to fragile boxes, they handle all the logistics for you. While this can come with a higher price tag, the experience of a seamless and stress-free move can be well worth it.

Cons

Even with all the benefits of hiring a mover, remember it takes an investment. It may also cost extra if you move farther away, move with more belongings, or add additional services like packing and labeling.

While it can be freeing for some people to hand over the process to professionals, you won’t have the same control over the moving process that you’d get with a DIY move. (Note that you can bypass some of the costs while still enjoying the benefits of hiring a moving team by working with a smaller group of local movers.)

MASH: The Best Movers in Austin, TX

So, should you move yourself, or is it better to hire the pros? Ultimately, it all comes down to your budget, living space size, and preferences.

You might be able to handle small, simple moves on your own. Hiring a professional can save you more in the long run, taking both the associated expenses and the time-consuming burden of moving off your plate.

At the end of the day, it’s up to you. Trust your gut, but remember that hiring a professional moving company doesn’t have to be extremely expensive; in fact, it might offer more perks than you realize.

Ready to hire professional movers in Austin, TX? Whether moving into an apartment building in the city or a new house in the suburbs, you don’t have to handle your move alone. At MASH Movers, our team of friendly and capable movers want to make your move as smooth and efficient as possible.

Learn more about what we do, or contact us today to schedule your move!

Moving into a new home is often exciting, seldom easy, but always a deeply personal experience. After all, you’re not just adjusting to a new space – you’re physically picking up everything you hold near and dear to move it somewhere else. We’re here to help you feel confident about your next move with packing tips that are sure to help make life easier.

5 Game-Changing Packing Tips for Moving

1. Use What You Have

You don’t need to spend a fortune to pull off a successful move. In fact, you probably already have what you need to protect most, if not all, of your belongings.

Ditch the wasteful bubble wrap and avoid spending money on packing paper by wrapping your items in clothes, towels, bedding, etc., for extra protection.

Of course, this won’t always be the best course of action for all items (like your great-grandmother’s precious china), but it can still help you significantly cut back on the supplies you buy.

2. Think Outside the Box (Literally)

Moving boxes are a tried-and-true option for packing your stuff efficiently, but they’re not the only option. Pick a packing vessel that makes sense for the items inside, and don’t be afraid to get creative. There are no rules here!

For example, instead of stuffing a box full of heavy books or cans, try packing up a large suitcase so that you can roll it instead of struggling under its weight.

Pack clothes and small items in your hampers, trash cans, or baskets. Consider buying reusable moving bags or totes to store large or oddly-shaped items (and to make it easier to carry things up steps).

3. Label Like a Pro

Save yourself a huge hassle down the road by labeling your moving boxes. Creating a color code system with labels, markers, or sticky notes is a great way to tackle this.

If you’re feeling extra committed, label not only the room the items should go to, but also what you’re putting in each box. Unpacking your items by room is much easier than opening random boxes one at a time.

4. Don’t Toss Those Cardboard Tubes!

You can find little moving helpers all around your home, including in your kitchen or bathroom. The cardboard paper tubes from paper towels and toilet paper rolls are handy storage tools that you can use to keep things rolled up and in place.

This works great for everything from chargers to cords, jewelry, and even posters. Look around your home for other hidden gems that might help make packing easier – you might be surprised by what you come up with!

5. Hire Professional Packers

At the end of the day, packing isn’t for everyone. Maybe you don’t have the time or ability to manage packing all by yourself, or maybe you’d just prefer to have some help.

No matter what, there’s no shame in hiring a professional packing squad to take over or lend a helping hand. How you pack will impact how you move, plain and simple.

More Moving Tips to Save You Time, Money & Stress

Packing is only one piece of the moving puzzle. Here are a few more key moving tips you can use to make the entire process – from packing your first box to breaking down the last – a whole lot easier.

Create a moving checklist. Before you hit the ground running, take some time to sit down and brainstorm everything you need to do to complete your move. Think about when you’ll change your address, for instance, and make plans to do so before things get too chaotic.
Start early. Take whatever timeline you think seems realistic and, if possible, add a few weeks to it. The more time you give yourself to move, the less stressful the experience will be.
Take the opportunity to declutter. If you don’t use it, it’s time to lose it. Moving is a great excuse to let go of items that you don’t need anymore by donating or reselling them. Plus, you’ll have less unpacking to do in your new place.

Pro Tip: Let MASH Movers Make Your Life Easier!

Let’s face it: moving is no small feat. Even with packing and moving tips like these in mind, picking up your whole life to move it somewhere new can still be a big challenge.

MASH is committed to being the best Austin home movers and packers because we understand that the process can be overwhelming. Our best piece of advice is to hire professional movers you know you can trust.

MASH Movers is proud to serve our local community with friendly and professional moving services that take some of the hard work off your shoulders. We know that moving isn’t easy, but we gladly rise to the challenge.

You can count on us to help you protect your belongings and make moving as stress-free as possible. We’re a small team, but we are mighty: our philosophy helps us provide the best-quality services and truly get to know the clients we work with.

Ready to get started? Let’s do it together. Contact MASH Movers today for the best home moving services in Austin.