Many people claim that renting a truck is cheaper than hiring movers. However, rental companies do not cover other costs. You will have to calculate these costs separately. These expenses include tolls, meals, hotels, insurance, fuel and mileage, risks of breakdown, truck insurance, and insurance rider. And while shorter trips and smaller loads certainly cost less for rental companies, there are still other factors to consider before committing to do-it-yourself moving.

Efficiency

Time

Since you are not a professional, assuming you do not work for a moving company yourself, you will inevitably spend more time packing, moving, and unpacking if you rent a truck than if you hire professional movers. You could instead be using this time to get acclimated to your new job, tour your new city, or figure out how you want your furniture to be arranged when you get to your new place. If you are moving a family or an emergency situation, you do not want to spend too much time planning and packing things.

Energy

Would you rather spend your energy dealing with the planning required to rent a truck and pack it yourself, or do you want to relax before your move? If you do everything yourself, you will have to rent tools and calculate other costs the rental company does not cover. You will need to plan how to pack your boxes, plan how to pack your truck or U-Haul or trailer, and plan how to unpack everything. Some of your goods may require custom-made crates. Moving furniture down stairwells, out of windows, and through doorways may require more lifting power or a rope-and-pulley system. Unloading and reloading your rental truck may also be necessary if you find you do not have room for everything in the truck.

Safety

Moving is already stressful enough. It should not also jeopardize your safety. This can happen, though, if you can not handle the lifting required to remove furniture and household items and hoist them into a rental truck. Driving the truck is also a safety hazard if you do not know how to operate a vehicle that big. The safety of your cargo is also important. While you may want your belongings compartmentalized in a certain way, professional movers will know how to pack boxes and the moving truck so that all items are safe. They will be able to pack twice as much as you can as they have the materials necessary to safely move your goods, including dollies, furniture pads, styrofoam peanuts, bubble wrap, and new boxes, among other tools.

Reliability

The most reliable option, even for moving small loads, is to get a quote from a moving company. This way, you know what you owe upfront and are not liable for a company’s property. Instead, the moving company is responsible for your possessions. If you read reviews of companies or are referred to one by a friend, there is little to worry about.