Moving to a new home is an exciting—but potentially expensive—experience. Because budget is a concern for many Chicago Area residents, they often weigh their anticipated moving costs against the cost of hiring movers. Unfortunately, due to the hidden costs of DIY moves, it’s very difficult to accurately estimate how much you’ll spend on professional movers versus DIY moving.
So then, how do you determine whether moving yourself or hiring movers will be easier on your wallet? It starts by getting to know the hidden DIY moving costs you’ll likely incur.
Hidden Fees and Costs of DIY Moves
When you first start thinking about your moving budget, one of the first questions you’ll have to answer is: Is it cheaper to move yourself or hire movers?
The best way to answer this question for many people is to obtain estimates from local moving companies to get an idea of their pricing, and to compare their price ranges against the cost of moving yourself. As you calculate your DIY moving costs, though, you’ll need to be aware of some hidden fees in DIY moving that are easily missed.
Equipment Rentals
Most people might think of their main DIY move equipment as the rental truck. Even if you have a large enough car to handle some of your boxes, chances are you’ll need to rent a truck to accommodate big furniture like your beds, couches, tables, and chairs.
Usually, renting a moving truck isn’t as simple or inexpensive as paying a one-time fee. There might be hidden and unexpected costs that can add up due to many factors, such as:
- Truck size. The bigger the truck, the more expensive the rental fee.
- Pickup and drop-off locations. There might be an additional fee if you pick up the truck from one location and drop it off after your move.
- Dates. Some truck rental companies have different rates on weekends versus weekdays, and you could incur additional fees if you have to change your dates after placing the order or picking up the truck.
- Mileage. You’ll be charged per mile you put on the truck’s odometer, and in a huge metropolitan area like Chicago, a cross-town move can really rack up the mileage.
- Taxes. You likely won’t see the estimated tax for your rental truck until you’re deep into the check-out process on your rental company’s website. This can add a huge sum to your total truck rental bill.
- Additional fees. Many truck rental services will add costs to your final bill, such as insurance, protection plans, and cleaning fees that you might not anticipate when you’re estimating your DIY moving costs.
On top of all of those hidden fees, you’ll also be charged for using any equipment that’s conveniently located on the truck, like moving blankets, dollies, boxes, tape, and shrink wrap. These costs add up quickly, so if you’re considering a DIY move, be sure to dive deeply into the hidden costs of renting a truck and moving yourself.
Potential Damages
Another unexpected DIY moving cost is to fix or replace anything that’s damaged during your move. There’s a lot that can happen during the moving process: someone might drop a box, furniture might bang together in the truck, or you might dent a wall or scratch a floor at your old or new home.
Damage prevention and protection is one of the largest benefits of hiring professional movers. In addition to having a crew that’s been specially trained on packing, wrapping, carrying, and safely loading and unloading a moving truck, you’ll also be covered by moving insurance.
The coverage you select before your professional movers begin your move will determine how any damage is addressed after the move. However, this coverage means that you won’t be entirely on the hook for damages to your home’s inventory or the home itself. In other words, this is one of the ways hiring professional movers can actually save you money in the long run.
Time Investment
Although it’s not necessarily a financial factor, your precious time is, in fact, one of the hidden fees in DIY moving. Organizing a move takes weeks of planning and a ton of time. Here’s a short list of just some of the tasks you’ll need to tackle:
- Source and rent your moving truck
- Source free or wallet-friendly packing supplies
- Text every single friend and family member for help
- Pack up your entire home
- Pick up the truck on the way to the move
- Schlep heavy items from your old home to the truck, and then from the truck into your new place
- Return the truck after the move
- Address any damage to your belongings or property
On top of all that, you’ll have to account for the expense of pizza and beer needed to bribe your buddies to help you move.
Yes, this task list is daunting, and yes, it’s another one of the benefits of hiring professional movers. A great moving company will take care of the truck, packing, wrapping, schlepping, and any damage that might’ve happened. Plus, some of them will even drop off rental plastic moving totes before your move and pick them up afterwards, so you have an easy and eco-friendly moving experience.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire Professional Movers?
Let’s face it: there are a lot of unexpected and hidden costs of moving yourself that will rack up your overall bill. No one likes surprise expenses, so for many Chicagoans, hiring professional movers is more budget-friendly than a DIY move. Each move is unique, so there’s no universal answer to how much your move will cost, but you can find average costs for moving a two-bedroom apartment and other common home sizes.
One of the reasons many people choose professional movers over DIY moves is the formal estimate. Basically, you’ll fill out an interactive estimate form on the moving company’s website. The form will walk you through each room of your home so you can enter your furniture items, guesstimated quantity of boxes, and key information about your move, like the addresses, flights of stairs (if applicable), and preferred moving date.
Then, you’ll get a custom estimate from the mover. This should detail the number of people on the crew, estimated hours to complete the move, and travel time. The best movers in Chicago also itemize any additional costs, such as piano moving fees, oversized item fees, and materials.
Keep in mind that an estimate is not a guarantee of pricing, and the more accurate the information you provide, the more accurate the estimate will be. When you’re equipped with an estimate and a great move crew, hiring professional movers can save you money over moving yourself.
Don’t Get Surprised by Unexpected DIY Moving Costs. Let Us Handle Your Move!
We’re not just a group of awesome movers—we’re your partner in planning your budget-friendly move. Our estimates are clear and transparent, so you’ll know exactly what costs to expect.
Don’t let the hidden fees in DIY moving sink your budget. Contact us today for a custom estimate for your upcoming move!