Self-Moving Services: Get the Basics and Compare Companies
When you're starting to plan your move, it can feel like you have only two
options: either pay a professional moving company to box up your home and hope they
don't tack on hidden fees before returning your belongings or rent a truck
yourself, do all the heavy lifting and then get behind the wheel for a long,
long drive.
If neither sounds appealing, you're in luck. A new form of moving, self-service,
has been growing in popularity thanks to its common sense approach. With self-service
movers, you pack your belongings and they do the hard driving.
The Skinny on Self-Service Moving
The concept behind self-service moving couldn't be simpler. After you've made
arrangements with a company, they drop off a large, weather-resistant crate
(or two, or three, depending on your needs) in front of your home. You pack
your things inside, lock the crate up and the company's truck comes to whisk
it away. Once you've arrived at your new place, the company drops off your
crate and you start unpacking.
Some self-service moving companies bring an empty 28' trailer to the
customer's home. The customer can use as much of the trailer as they need.
Price is computed by linear feet used.
Because self-service movers leave you to take care of the packing and unpacking,
you save on the hourly costs of having a moving crew wrap and stack your furniture
(though for an extra charge, some self-service companies will help you box
up your stuff). The price of a self-service move is assessed by the number
of crates you use and how far you need them to go. Though crate sizes vary
by companies, average ones can hold about 3000 lbs. Generally, making your
move with a self-service company will be less expensive than hiring a full-service
mover and slightly more expensive than doing it with a U-Haul. However, depending
on how much you spend on gas, tolls and other expenses, going with self-service
could be the cheapest of your three options. Some amount of insurance coverage
is factored into the price of your self-service move as well, though more
is often available if you're moving valuables.
In the end, you can't put a price on peace of mind. If you go with self-service,
you won't have to worry about your rental truck breaking down in the middle
of nowhere, and because all your belongings are in a single box, they're much
less likely to be mixed up with other shipments, lost or damaged.
