Moving can mean very different things to different people. For some, it means renting a truck, recruiting a few friends and doing everything themselves. For others, it means handing the entire process over to a professional moving company and letting someone else worry about the details.
Between those two extremes are several different types of moving services. Understanding the differences can help you choose the option that makes sense for your budget, schedule, distance and tolerance for doing the work yourself.
And while the lowest-priced option may look attractive at first, it is important to compare what is actually included in the price—not simply the number at the bottom of the quote.
Option 1: Do It Yourself With a Rental Truck
The most hands-on option is the traditional DIY move. Companies such as U-Haul and other truck-rental providers allow you to rent a vehicle and handle the move yourself.
You pack the boxes, load the truck, drive it to your destination, unload everything and return the truck. You may recruit friends or family to help, or hire temporary labor to assist with loading and unloading.
The obvious advantage is cost. If you have relatively few belongings, a short-distance move and plenty of willing helpers, a DIY move can make financial sense.
But the rental price isn’t necessarily the total cost. You may also need to account for packing supplies, fuel, mileage, equipment, insurance, meals for helpers, lodging on a long-distance trip and the value of your own time. You are also responsible for coordinating the entire move—and for dealing with anything that doesn’t go according to plan.
For some people, that’s a worthwhile tradeoff. For others, the savings aren’t worth the work.
Option 2: You Pack, the Movers Move
The next step up is a professional transportation service where you take care of the packing and the moving company handles the physical transportation.
This can be a good middle ground. You retain control over how your belongings are packed and organized, while professional movers handle the loading, transportation and delivery.
Depending on the company and the type of move, however, you may still be responsible for obtaining packing materials, preparing your belongings, disassembling furniture, packing everything properly and unpacking once you arrive.
This option can reduce some of the physical demands of moving, but it doesn’t necessarily eliminate the work.
Option 3: Hire Movers to Pack and Move
A more comprehensive service is a professional pack-and-move. The moving company sends a crew to your home, supplies the packing materials, packs your household goods and loads them for transportation.
Professional packing can be particularly valuable for large households, long-distance moves and people who don’t have the time—or simply don’t want—to spend days or weeks putting everything into boxes.
But this is where it becomes especially important to understand your quote.
Some moving services are priced using hourly labor rates or separate charges for individual services. If the move takes longer than expected, or if circumstances at the origin or destination require additional work, your final bill can potentially be higher than you anticipated.
That doesn’t mean every hourly-rate move is a bad option. It does mean you should understand exactly what the estimate covers and what could result in additional charges.
Option 4: The All-Inclusive Move
At the other end of the spectrum is a true all-inclusive move, such as the service offered by Compass Moving.
The idea is straightforward: instead of buying a collection of individual moving services, you receive a single price designed to cover the services, materials and associated costs required to move your household from your old home to your new one.
When you book a move with Compass Moving, our all-inclusive price is based on the total weight and volume of the shipment rather than simply charging by the hour. A professional estimator evaluates the move in advance, taking into account the household goods, accessibility and other circumstances that could affect the move. The result is a mutually agreed-upon fixed price.
That distinction can be significant.
Consider the difference between being told, “We’ll charge $X per hour,” and being told, “This move will cost $X.” With the first approach, an unexpected delay can mean additional hours. With the second, the objective is to establish the total cost before the move begins.
What does “all-inclusive” actually include?
With Compass Moving, the all-inclusive package is designed to cover considerably more than simply putting your belongings on a truck.
Our package includes packing materials, professional packing and wrapping, an inventory of household goods, and proper loading. For applicable moves, household goods are secured in sturdy wooden lift-van crates, with transportation and associated services included as part of the move. Port services, ocean freight, terminal charges, fuel surcharges, and delivery are included components, where applicable.
And the service doesn’t necessarily stop when the shipment arrives.
Unpacking, unwrapping and debris removal on the day of delivery are included, along with basic liability coverage. With Compass, our all-inclusive pricing accounts for specialty services or materials that may be required because of the goods being moved or accessibility issues at the origin or destination.
In other words, you’re not simply paying someone to drive a truck.
You’re paying for a coordinated moving service that takes responsibility for many of the individual tasks involved in getting a household from one home to another.
Why the Details of the Quote Matter
When comparing movers, it is tempting to put several prices next to each other and choose the lowest one.
That’s understandable—but it can also be misleading.
A $5,000 quote and a $7,000 quote may not represent the same service. One might require you to pack everything yourself. Another might include professional packing. One might charge additional fees for stairs, long carries or other circumstances. Another might incorporate those services into the agreed-upon price.
The better question isn’t simply “How much does my move cost?”
It’s “What am I getting for that price?”
That’s particularly important for complicated or long-distance moves, where there can be many moving parts between the day your belongings leave your home and the day they arrive at your destination.
Which Moving Option Is Right for You?
There isn’t one right answer for everyone.
A DIY rental truck may be perfect for someone making a short move with a small household, a flexible schedule and plenty of help.
A transportation-only service may work well if you’re comfortable doing the packing but don’t want to drive a truck across the country.
A traditional professional moving service can make sense if you want experienced movers to handle the heavy lifting and perhaps the packing as well.
But if what you really want is to hand over the move and have someone else manage the details, an all-inclusive service deserves serious consideration.
The value isn’t just in having movers carry boxes. It’s in having the packing, materials, inventory, transportation, delivery and other necessary services coordinated as one move—with a fixed price established in advance.
That’s especially valuable when you’re moving a long distance, moving internationally or dealing with circumstances that make the move more complicated than simply loading a truck in one driveway and unloading it in another.
Look Beyond the Price Tag
Moving is one of those situations where the cheapest option isn’t necessarily the least expensive—or the best value.
Before choosing a mover, ask what is included in the quote. Who supplies the packing materials? Who does the packing? Is loading included? What about delivery? Are there additional charges for fuel, terminals, ports, stairs or difficult access? Who unpacks? Who removes the debris? Most importantly, is the price fixed, or could the final bill change as the move progresses?
Compass Moving’s approach is to answer those questions before moving day by evaluating the shipment and circumstances in advance and establishing an all-inclusive price. Depending on location and service area, the estimate can be completed through an in-home survey or a virtual walkthrough with a relocation specialist.
For someone who wants maximum control, DIY may still be the right choice. For someone primarily focused on minimizing upfront cost, a basic moving service may be enough.
But for people who value convenience, predictability and having someone else manage the details, an all-inclusive move can offer something that a simple truck rental or hourly moving service can’t: the confidence of knowing what you’re paying for—and having a professional moving company handle the many pieces required to get you from one home to the next.