Houston Moving Resource

Moving into a new house is both exciting and stressful. After house-hunting and mortgage paperwork, there are still the hassles of changing addresses, signing up for utilities, and finding services in a new neighborhood. Of course, one of the biggest challenges remains: moving a life’s worth of possessions from one place to another. 

There are two basic methods to execute a move: doing it yourself, or hiring a moving service. Most people are familiar with the process of moving themselves, which involves lots of boxes and hopefully enough friends and family to make the heavy lifting bearable. However, not enough people look into why using a moving service makes sense.

So: why use a moving service? The simplest answer for why to use a moving company is the convenience. Moving companies pack the boxes, load the truck, drive, and unload while the customer relaxes and gives a few instructions.

A key consideration on why using a moving service makes sense is the cost. Self-service truck rental companies often attract customers by advertising low rates, such as $19.95, but those rates never detail the full cost of moving. The truck rental fee for renting a self-service truck for a cross-country move will actually cost well over $1,000.

The rental fee is only the first consideration. Gasoline and diesel fuel are expensive, and a long-distance move will use a lot of fuel. A typical 20-foot truck, which is recommended for moving a three-bedroom house, generally gets at best ten miles-per-gallon, so even short moves will generate significant fuel costs. For a trip that will take longer than a day, food and lodging should also be considered, keeping in mind that a trip will most likely take longer in a truck than in a car due to slower average speeds of novice truck drivers.

Risks should also be taken into account. An unappreciated reason to use a moving service is insurance. Moving companies are required by law to carry liability insurance. If something is damaged during a move, the moving service can provide compensation because of this coverage. During a do-it-yourself move, any damage is just an unfortunate side-effect. Do-it-yourself moves also increase the likelihood of damage, as moving services are run by professional movers who have experience in packing and protecting boxes. They also know how to load their truck to minimize the chances of shifting and breaking.

Finally, a lowered anxiety level is a great reason why to use a moving service. Packing boxes is stressful. Heavy lifting is stressful. Loading a truck so everything fits is stressful. The most stressful part of a do-it-yourself move, though, may be actually driving the truck. Amateur truck drivers often have a hard time navigating narrow streets, checking blind spots, and avoiding accidents.

Why use a moving service? Moving services are convenient, economical, less risky, and lower in stress. Before deciding on a do-it-yourself move, it makes a lot of sense to consider all the reasons to use a moving service instead.