At Moving APT, we’ve been helping customers move for over 20 years. This experience has taught us a thing or two about the entire process, including how brave DIYers such as yourself should handle moving day.
This guide is for all you folks who are trying to get out of town on your own dime. Let’s get started and get you on the road.
But First: Is DIY Moving Really Worth It?
Yes and no. If you’re really wondering if it’s worth it to move by yourself, the question you should be asking is whether you’re up to the task (and whether you’re disciplined enough to keep your costs down).
Most people are drawn in by that all-too-enticing low upfront cost. But once you rent the truck? You’ll also have to pay for gas. And insurance. And packing supplies. And food. And lodging. And even if you’re extra thrifty, you’ll still be missing some much-needed paychecks when you’re out there hauling all your stuff to your new place.
So what’s the upside? We’re glad you asked…
The Pros and Cons of Moving Alone
DIY moving isn’t our first recommendation. Granted, we’re professional movers and we’re trying to sell you our services, but even if we weren’t, we’d advise you to be careful.
The Pros:
- Cheap: The big one. DIY moving is cheap. Moving to a new city alone is therefore also cheap. But it’s only cheap if you do it right. Make sure you map out your budget and your expenses ahead of time, and keep yourself extra disciplined.
- Flexible: Moving by yourself is a lot more flexible than working with professional movers. You’re on your own schedule, and you’re also the only person you have to worry about when it comes to packing and unpacking. There’s a lot less moving parts (pun intended).
- You’re in control: Right up there with the flexibility, but slightly different – you’re calling all the shots, so whatever you want to do, you can do. Need extra time to pack? No problem. Want to stop, or take the scenic route, or visit friends on the way? Go for it.
- You know your stuff: As professional as movers can be, you’re always going to know your stuff better than them. When you pack your boxes, you’ll always know which is which. You’ll also have a personal stake in keeping everything safe.
- It can be fun (if you want): Yes, to some folks a DIY move is pretty much a mini-vacation, except they’re transporting a lot more stuff. If you’ve been dreaming of taking that road trip, this is the perfect excuse.
The Cons:
- It’s not as cheap as you’d expect: Remember what we said about gas, food, lodging, and missed paychecks? Don’t forget, you’ll also have to buy packing supplies, and maybe even moving insurance and parking permits. All these expenses add up.
- It’s a ton of work: We’re not gonna sugarcoat this: DIY moving is a PITA. You’ve gotta pack up every item you own, you’ve gotta load it all into a truck, and you’ve gotta drive god knows how many miles before doing it all over again in reverse order.
- Traffic is not fun: Speaking of driving, traffic jams are bad enough, but long-haul moving behind the wheel of a rented truck is not fun. If you’re not sure of your capabilities, don’t risk your safety (and the safety of others) by biting off more than you can chew.
- There’s no safety net: If anything goes wrong, the only person to blame is yourself. And moving insurance can only go so far to cover for anything that you damage en route. You need to be sure you’re up to the job – and up to the extra responsibilities.
- You’ll still need help: And of course there’s the matter of your heavy items. A trip to the hospital is going to be way more expensive than hiring full service movers – or even just moving labor for the tough stuff.
The Step-by-Step Guide to Moving Alone
Alright, this is what you came here for in the first place. Here’s your guide.
2 to 3 Months in Advance
- Put together a spreadsheet (or two): Everyone says crap like “Be spontaneous,” or “Live in the moment.” They also end up having meltdowns when all that spontaneity catches up to them. Plan carefully. Make spreadsheets for expenses and deadlines.
- Downsize as much as possible: You’re trying to get a fresh start, right? Why would you take all your old stuff with you? Sell it off, junk it, donate it, whatever. Remember Marie Kondo? If it doesn’t bring you joy, don’t pack it – and definitely don’t pay to move it. (Here’s how to downsize effectively.)
- Look at a map: If you’re moving to a new city alone, you’ll be driving there alone, too. Hop on Google maps, and look at the major routes you’ll be taking. If possible, go on a scouting mission to your destination to figure out where you’ll park the truck.
- Think about extra services: At about this point, you’ll probably be wondering whether a complete DIY job is a good idea. That’s normal. If you feel overwhelmed, start thinking about à la carte moving services you can book to lighten the load.
- Shop for movers: Now that you’ve thought about those extra services, it’s time to look for moving companies you can trust. Don’t just choose the biggest name or the first search result. Read up on their services, and think about their pricing options.
- Compare multiple quotes: We always recommend getting like 3 – 5 moving quotes from different movers. This gives you a better idea of the average price for your relocation. It also helps you avoid scammers, since their suspiciously low prices will really stand out.
- Book your movers: Once you’ve narrowed it down, it’s time to book. Request a quote from your preferred moving company, and make sure the quote is binding. Binding quotes (or binding estimates) mean the price can’t be changed after the move.
1 to 2 Months in Advance
- Pack (if you’re not paying for packing services): If you’re not paying for packing (which we strongly recommend), you should start packing as soon as you book your movers. Start with your least-used items! Save your must-haves for the last week.
- Get all the paperwork done: When you move, don’t forget about all the paperwork and admin stuff. Did you forward your mail? Did you transfer your utilities? Did you sign your new lease and cross all the Ts on your rental agreement?
1 Month to 1 Week in Advance
- Essentials bag, staging, and last day lead-up: It’s the final stretch to moving day. Pack your toiletries and everyday essentials in a backpack or suitcase, and get used to living out of it for a while. Take some time to stage all your boxes in one place, too.
- Moving day: It’s moving day. If you hired pros, just sit back and relax. But if you’re DIYing it, remember to take plenty of breaks, stay hydrated, and don’t rush. Don’t forget to do a final check of all your rooms to make sure you’re not forgetting anything.
After the Move
- Get settled in: You’re done with the hard part, but there’s still some work to do – especially if you didn’t pay for furniture reassembly. Unbox in the opposite order that you packed in: Steadily unpack starting with your most-used items to your least-used.
Must-Have Services for Moving Solo
You may be doing it yourself, but we won’t tell anyone if you call the pros for a few must-have moving services.
1. Moving Labor
Since you’re moving alone to a new city, you’ll probably need some help with all your heavy stuff. Moving labor like hiring a professional moving company to do everything but the driving and packing: You hire a team of movers, and they take care of whatever you can’t lift yourself.
Moving labor is surprisingly affordable for the amount of convenience you’re getting. Just make sure you get in contact with a team at your destination as well, or you’ll be stuck with a bunch of stuff in your truck.
2. Last-Minute Moving
We’re not going to pry into your personal life. We don’t know why you’re trying to move to a completely new city without any backup. But we definitely know that these sort of fly-by-night, “I’m starting over without you” sorta things usually require last-minute movers.
In an ideal world, you’d be able to stick to the timeframe we recommended up in our step-by-step guide. But 2 or 3 months of prep time is a luxury for a lot of folks. Last minute movers may cost more, but they’ll get you out the door ASAP.
3. Junk Removal
Of course, if you’re moving in a hurry, you may not have time to tidy up and cover your tracks. This is why we also recommend junk removal services. This is oftentimes bundled with other moving services, and it’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like.
Junk removal is great for when you’re moving out, but it’s also pretty useful if you’re moving in and the previous homeowner left a huge mess. Whatever the case, it saves you some extra trip to a recycling center or the dump.
4. Car Shipping
Moving alone means a long time spent on the road – unless you book car shipping and just fly to your destination when the job’s all done. There’s a couple options for car shipping, from professional driving services to covered trailers for a full-on VIP experience.
Car shipping is also a must-have if you have more than one vehicle. Y’know, since you can’t drive more than one car at a time. Professional car transport will save you from having to double back and make the same trip over and over again.
Book with Moving APT
We know you’re trying to DIY this whole thing, but let’s not land ourselves in the hospital. If you want to move to a new city alone, you can still find some helping hands with Moving APT. Check out our moving cost calculator – you may end up saving more than you expected.
Solo Moving FAQs
How much does it cost to move?
It can cost as little as $400 to move a studio apartment, and up to $12,000 and beyond if you’re transporting a 5-bedroom house across country. Your final price depends on how far you’re traveling, and how many belongings you have to move in the first place.
Fortunately, since you’re DIYing the whole thing, you’ll probably want to downsize and get rid of any excess for the added convenience anyways.
What kind of hidden fees should I look out for?
If you pay for professional movers be on the lookout for access fees if your movers have to deal with long hallways, elevators, gates, or any other inconvenience. You may also need to pay a shuttle fee if your city doesn’t allow large trucks to park on your street (this means your movers will have to use a smaller truck for the in-city transport).
Aside from that, there’s service fees for add-ons like packing, specialty item handling, car transport, and more. If you need storage? Storage fees. And if you need a rush delivery? Last minute or rush fees may apply as well. Look over your quote carefully.
When is the cheapest time to move?
Winter and spring are usually the cheapest seasons to move, as long as you avoid major holidays. Try to schedule your move far away from any long weekends or vacation times. You’ll get a good deal if it’s mid-week, mid-month.
Do I really need moving insurance?
Yes. Fortunately, interstate moving companies are legally required to provide basic coverage free of charge. Sure, it’s only good for like… $0.60 per pound of damaged goods, but it’s better than nothing.
If you think your stuff is worth more than that (spoiler: it is), you can pay for full-value coverage. This can range from a couple hundred bucks to a few grand, but it’s a much better safety net in case of emergencies.
Is there anything my movers can’t transport?
General rule of thumb: Professional movers won’t carry anything that’ll damage their trucks. Flammable materials, pressurized containers, perishable foods (imagine the smell lol) live plants, animals, children – the list really goes on.
This covers most the bases, but it’s still a good idea to call ‘em up ahead of time to make sure they don’t have any company-specific bugaboos.
