Hire A Mover or Do It Yourself?

Call the Movers – A Cautionary Tale of Moving By Yourself

I was asked recently, in over 20 years of experience and over 1,000 real estate sales transactions, what do you see people have the most difficulty with? There was no hesitation in my mind. The answer just popped right in there. Without question we see over and over and over again, they have the most difficulty with moving.

People typically don’t move all their stuff that often and as the years go by, they forget what they went through on the last move. Add to that, their stuff multiplied during those years.

They consistently underestimate how much stuff they have to move, how big a truck to get if they are doing it themselves, and how long the whole process will take. Also, they almost always underestimate the cost. The closest they get to get the cost right is if they hire a professional moving company. Those guys know how to figure out what is needed and how much time it will take to do the job and get a much more accurate estimate of cost.

We see this scenario over and over again: They decide using professional movers is too expensive. They can save a lot of money by doing it on their own. They go into the process full of energy and excitement. Then, once they are well into the process, they discover that it is actually costing much more than they thought and the packing, loading, driving to the new house, often multiple times, and back again, often multiple times, goes from exciting to exhausting. After it is all over or even before it is over they wish they had paid to have it done for them.

We know it’s coming every time. This is what they’re going to say: “That’s the last time we move by ourselves! Next time we’re calling the movers.”

During the home sale process, we’re asked our advice on hundreds if subjects. Rarely though are we asked for advice on the moving portion. We always try to gently share our experience, though. We just want to help. Once in a while, they will listen and take our advice. Those who do are always happy they did.

Our advice – call the movers!