{"id":32368,"date":"2020-12-08T10:14:42","date_gmt":"2020-12-08T14:14:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mymovingreviews.com\/move\/?p=32368"},"modified":"2020-12-08T10:14:44","modified_gmt":"2020-12-08T14:14:44","slug":"self-service-moving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/self-service-moving\/","title":{"rendered":"Self Service Moving: You Pack, We Ship"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

So, it\u2019s time to move and you need to decide whether to hire professional movers or move yourself<\/a>. In other words, you need to choose whether to spend your hard-earned money on professional moving services (and make your move safer and easier) or spend your time and effort packing, carrying heavy items around, and driving for days on end (and make your move cheaper).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Self
You pack, you load, they drive, you save – and you save not only money, but time, effort, and stress as well.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The odds are you won\u2019t like either option and will be wishing for a different solution – one that you can afford, but that is not so risky, time-consuming, and physically-draining. Fortunately, such a flexible, cost-effective solution does exist – it is known as self-service moving<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self-service moving combines the benefits of self-moving and professional moving services – it\u2019s cheap, safe, and convenient. You pack and load your items and a professional driver transports your shipment to your new address. This \u201cmiddle alternative\u201d allows you to save a lot of money on your move and safely take your household goods to your new home without driving a moving truck yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is self-moving the perfect moving option for you, then? Read on to find out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is Self Service Moving and How Does It Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Self-service moving is a moving scenario in which you get your belongings moved by a professional without hiring a full service moving company. You handle the packing, loading, and unloading and your chosen self-service mover handles the driving to the final destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a self service move?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In a self-service move, you pack your household goods and personal items. A moving truck comes to your home at a pre-agreed date and time and you have a window of time (from several hours to several days, depending on the company you\u2019re working with and on your agreement with the mover) to load your possessions onto the vehicle. Once the truck is loaded, a licensed, experienced mover drives it to your hew home. It\u2019s up to you to unload the truck and unpack your belongings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a word, \u201cYou pack, they drive\u201d moving is the middle ground between full-service moving and DIY-moving. Commonly referred to as \u201cYou pack, we ship<\/em><\/strong>\u201d or \u201cself pack moving<\/em><\/strong>\u201d, this in-between option is ideal for anyone who can\u2019t afford to hire full-service movers (or just doesn\u2019t want to spend too much money on their move), but doesn\u2019t want to drive a big moving truck either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, if you\u2019re looking for ways to cut down your moving costs<\/a> but are less-than-thrilled with the idea of driving a huge, heavy vehicle through parts of the country you\u2019re not familiar with, along narrow city streets and bumpy country roads, through heavy traffic and adverse weather conditions, then self-service moving is your best bet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does a self service moving company do?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Self-service moving companies provide a rather limited service \u2013 they simply drive the moving truck from the pickup to the delivery location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self moving companies, known also as \u201cyou pack, we drive companies\u201d<\/em><\/strong>, transport household goods, but don\u2019t provide labor services (packing and unpacking, furniture disassembly and reassembly, loading and unloading, etc.). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"You
Your self-service moving truck is waiting for you to load your goods.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

They send a moving truck of appropriate size to your home (usually equipped with a loading ramp and accessorial moving supplies, such as a dolly and moving blankets, though that is not always the case – the extra equipment may come at an extra cost) and also send a professional driver to deliver the shipment and take the truck back when you\u2019re done unloading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alternatively, a \u201cyou pack, we move\u201d company may drop off a portable moving container (you can request as many containers as you need to accommodate all your belongings) in front of your home and leave it there for a predetermined period of time (usually a month), so you can pack and load your belongings at your convenience. Once you\u2019re ready, the movers pick up the self service moving containers and transport them to your new home. (See also: Moving containers and pod moving companies<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both self-moving options are very convenient and cost-effective – which one will work better for you depends on the specific circumstances in your case and your personal preferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Full service vs self service moving<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While full-service moving<\/a> is all-inclusive, self-service moving includes only a professional driver and a moving truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike full-service movers who will handle your move from start to finish and will do all the work for you (packing, loading, driving, unloading, etc.), self-service movers will only transport your items to your new address – nothing else. If you require any other moving services, you need to find someone else to provide them (your self-service movers may be able to provide the necessary extra services for an extra fee).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you hire full-service movers, they will provide any accessorial moving services you may need – from crating and hoisting to furniture disassembly and disposing of packing materials (the specific services you request for your move will be included in the full service moving company quote).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To sum it up – full service movers take care of everything for you, while self service movers take care of the driving only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pros and Cons of Self-Service Moving<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Efficient and affordable, self-service moving may seem like the perfect choice for any relocation. It does indeed offer many considerable advantages, yet the coin has a flip side too. To be able to make an informed decision for your move, you need to be aware of both the pros and cons of self-service moving:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefits of self-service moving<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cU pack, we drive\u201d moving is a convenient, cost-effective alternative to full-service moving and do-it-yourself moving which gives you flexibility and control over the moving process while also saving you the time, effort, and stress of driving a moving truck to your new home. It helps you not only save time and money on your move, but also reduce the risk of damage to your possessions as they\u2019re safely transported by an experienced professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Self
When you do the packing and loading yourself, you can do it your way<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1) Lower moving costs<\/strong> – Self service moving is a great money-saving option for your move – self service moving services are much cheaper than a full moving service. You pack, you load, they drive, you save – simple as that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See also:<\/strong> What is the average moving cost?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2) Flexibility and control<\/strong> – In a self-service move, you pack and load at your own pace and have full control over how your belongings are packed and organized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can take your time sorting your items and preparing them for moving; you can organize them in a way that is meaningful for you; you can pack them with utmost care and provide them with maximum protection. And it is up to you to decide how to best pack the moving truck (or the portable moving container) and optimize the available space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See also:<\/strong> Advantages of DIY-packing<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3) Safe delivery <\/strong>– If you hire a moving company that drives for you, your belongings will be transported by a qualified professional who knows how to safely drive the heavy moving vehicle and how to overcome any difficulties that may occur along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The risk of damage to your items will be smaller, your shipment will be delivered in a safe and timely manner, and you will have your peace of mind that your cherished possessions are in good hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See also:<\/strong> Reasons to hire a professional moving company<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4)<\/strong> Convenience<\/strong> – With \u201cyou pack, we ship\u201d moving, you\u2019ll save yourself the hassle of renting a truck, picking it up, driving it all the way to your new home, and returning it. And leaving the tricky driving part to someone else will take a big burden off your shoulders – you won\u2019t have to spend days on the road (if you\u2019re moving cross country), won\u2019t need to worry about the traffic, weather, and road conditions, won\u2019t have to deal with road tolls and parking permits, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See also:<\/strong> Tips for driving a moving truck<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All in all, self-service moving means two great things for you – more money and less stress.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, it may not always be the perfect relocation solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Downsides of self-service moving<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite its numerous advantages, self-pack moving has some significant drawbacks as well:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Self
This is:
a)Difficult; b)Risky; c)Exhausting;
d)All of the above<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1) It takes a lot of time<\/strong> – When you opt for a self-service move, you need to pack your items yourself. And you should not underestimate the amount of time it takes to pack up a household – such a Herculean task cannot be completed in a day or two, you\u2019re going to need weeks to pack all your earthly possessions in a safe and efficient manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You need to start packing as early as possible – a month or so in advance – so you don\u2019t end up frantically throwing your items in boxes in the last minute (which will greatly reduce their chance of surviving the relocation in one piece).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And you need to spend several hours a day on the task – you will have the liberty to decide when to pack what and how much time a day to dedicate to the job, but you should not skimp on time or efforts when it comes to ensuring the safety of your belongings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2) It takes a lot of effort<\/strong> and hard work<\/strong> – Packing is a laborious task – it requires a lot of elbow grease and patience. If you want to provide good protection to your items, you need to work with care and diligence and spare no effort on the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s more, with \u201cyou pack, we ship\u201d moving, you\u2019re responsible not only for packing your belongings, but also for loading them onto the moving truck (or the moving container). This means that you have to do all the heavy lifting yourself – and risk getting hurt in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See also:<\/strong> How to lift and carry heavy boxes and furniture<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3) The risk of damages is bigger<\/strong> – As careful as you may be when packing and loading your items, there will be a greater risk of damage to your belongings and your property when you\u2019re doing these difficult moving tasks on your own:<\/p>\n\n\n\n