We’re professional movers, so of course we’ve got plenty to say about DIY moving. Surprisingly, we support your decision to move all, some, or just a couple of your boxes by yourself – as long as you’re safe about it.
Some folks want to handle everything themselves. And some folks want full service movers to take care of every step. In this guide, we went for a little bit of column A, and a little bit of column B. You’ll find our checklist for DIY moving, as well as some pointers on what services you might need on the big day.
Ready to get started? So are we. Read on for Moving APT’s furniture moving checklist, made for you, and made with over 20 years of our own moving experience.
The Pros and Cons of Moving Furniture DIY
Before you dive in to a complete DIY job, you should think long and hard about your options. Here are the pros and cons of trying to move furniture by yourself:
Pros
- It’s cheap: Doing it yourself is a great way to save money on moving day. Some moving services can be expensive, especially if you’re moving during peak season and didn’t book far enough in advance.
- You have more control: You’re free to wrap, pack, and box up your furniture at your own pace.
- You know your furniture: You also know your furniture better than anyone else. This means you’ll be extra careful when you’re transporting it… right?
Cons
- It can be dangerous: Never ego-lift on moving day. If you DIY your move, one trip to the hospital is going to wipe out pretty much all of your savings.
- You may not have the instructions: A big part of moving furniture is figuring out what you can and can’t disassemble. Can’t do that if you threw out the instructions!
- Your furniture is heavy: It’s hard to DIY your move if everything takes four hands to lift into the truck. Sure, you can call on family and friends – but can you really count on them?
The Moving APT Furniture Moving Checklist
Before You Even Book
- Downsize: Moving takes a lot of tidying up. Use this chance to get rid of any old or otherwise unwanted items. If you don’t want it, don’t take it with you: don’t waste time packing it up, and certainly don’t waste money by moving it to your new place. (Downsizing tips)
- Put together an inventory list: Make a list of the items you have to move. It doesn’t have to be 100% exhaustive, but if you include all the stuff that’ll take more than one person to carry, it’ll help you decide on the amount of professional help you’ll need.
- Build a list of services: Every move is different, and every mover offers different services. Make a list of your must-haves. Do you need packing? What about help with heavy lifting? Or are you just looking for a truck and a handful of boxes?
When You Book
- Collect quotes: Don’t go straight for whoever’s first on Google. Take your time to research your movers, and try to get at least three different quotes from three different moving companies.
- Ask about additional services: Some long distance movers offer sweet discounts on extra services and add-ons, like storage. If you think you’re getting close to committing to a moving company, ask them if they have any other extras they can offer.
- Communicate about your move: Whether you’re dealing with local moving or a cross country relocation, communication is key. Tell your movers about any stairs, elevators, gates, or parking restrictions so they know what they’re getting into.
Before Moving Day
- Gather your tools: Not just tools for disassembling furniture, also boxes and packing supplies. If you’re doing your own furniture moving, you’ll need to have the right equipment. Look into furniture dollies and hand trucks. Maybe you can rent them!
- Find those instructions: Some people throw away the instructions when they finish assembling their furniture. Hopefully you’re not one of those people. If you are, try to find the model name and number of your furniture, and search for the instructions online.
- Think about your hardware: Where are you storing all those screws, bolts, and other bits? Some folks tape them to whatever furniture they belong to. Others use baggies. Just keep it organized and consistent. We find it’s best to stick to just one method.
- DIY whatever you’re DIYing: Get to work. That furniture won’t take itself apart, and those boxes won’t pack themselves. Start with the biggest and least-used items (typically art and seasonal decor) and work your way to your most-used stuff last.
- Pack an essentials bag: Remember when you saved your most-used items for last? Put all that stuff in one easy-to-access suitcase or backpack. You’ll live out of this bag for a while. Include your charger, laptop, tablet, toiletries, and a few changes of clothes.
- Use a staging area: While you’re packing and disassembling everything, don’t just spread it around your house willy-nilly. When boxes are finished (or furniture completely taken apart), place your ready-to-move items in one accessible corner or bedroom.
- Don’t forget the admin stuff: Moving is about more than just carrying boxes. You’ve got to transfer your utilities, forward your mail, and make sure you don’t end up paying two electricity bills for two different places. Don’t forget the paperwork.
Moving Day
- Get plenty of rest and hydrate: If you’re doing your own loading, hauling, and long distance moving, get plenty of rest and make sure you take plenty of hydration breaks. Actually, even if you’ve booked full service movers, make sure you do that.
- Sit back and watch the pros: If you’ve booked professional moving services, now’s the time to just sit back, relax, and watch them work. Don’t forget to provide some snacks, and don’t forget the tip. 15% to 20%, to be divvied up across the crew.
After Moving Day
- Get settled in: If you haven’t paid for furniture reassembly, this is when you put everything back together again. Note: If you paid for professional furniture disassembly and reassembly, this will already be done for you.
- Consider junk removal: Moving generates a lot of trash. (That’s why we like eco-friendly moving solutions like reusable containers.) You’ll need to get all those empty boxes to a recycling center. Fortunately, some movers offer junk removal.
Must-Have Services for Furniture Moving
You may be DIYing your furniture moving, but moving day will go a lot easier if you book some of these extras and add-ons.
1. Furniture Disassembly/Reassembly
It’ll be a lot easier to move all your furniture if you’re able to break it down into smaller pieces. It’ll be a lot easier to put your furniture back together if you broke it down according to the instructions, rather than, y’know… literally breaking it. This is where professional furniture disassembly and reassembly comes in handy.
When you book professional disassembly and reassembly, you won’t have to worry about finding those old IKEA instructions – or even finding the right tool for the job. Your movers will show up with everything they need to disassembly your stuff, and they’ll put it all together again once you get to your destination.
2. Specialty Item Handling
We’ve been in the moving business for over 20 years. Over all that time, it’s safe to say we’ve seen some… interesting… items. Sure, there’s the odd pool table or grand piano. But there’s also display cases full of anime figurines and (possibly haunted?) old wardrobes. Whatever you’re moving, you’re gonna have a few items that need extra TLC. This is why you book specialty item handling.
Specialty movers come well-equipped with all the tools and supplies to keep these precious items as safe as possible. We’ve seen them hoist big pianos out of windows, and we’ve seen them build custom crates around vintage motorcycles. If you have anything high-value, heavy, or just plain awkward, specialty item handling is a must.
3. Full Service Packing
When we say packing is the hardest part of the job, believe us. There’s a lot to go wrong if you’re DIYing it, and breaking your items may actually be the least of your worries. Do you know the difference between double-walled and single-walled boxes? What boxes should you use for your bedding and pillows? Do you even have boxes, tape, and bubble wrap to begin with?
Protip: Book full service packing, and you never have to answer these questions.
Full service packing makes everything easier. Since you won’t be tied up doing your own packing, you’ll be able to focus on other aspects of your move – like administrative stuff (transferring utilities, forwarding your mail) – or fun stuff (exploring your new town, throwing that goodbye party). Your movers will handle the packing and boxing, and you’ll get way more spare time for other must-dos.
4. Moving Labor
Let’s say you’re super committed to the whole DIY thing. You’ve wrapped your glasses and dishware in old t-shirts (lol, good luck with that), you’ve used a bunch of old Amazon boxes, and you somehow managed to disassemble the big furniture without losing (too many) screws and other bits of hardware. Great. Now how’s it getting in the truck?
Sure, you can bribe your family and friends to help out. But family and friends have a nasty habit of being “busy” on the one day you need some extra hands. If you don’t want to deal with the flakiness, book moving labor. It’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like.
Movers show up, they help out with the heavy lifting, and they get out of your way so you can DIY the rest of the job. Call ‘em up again at your destination, and they’ll get everything out of the truck, too.
Book Your Move with Moving APT
You’ve seen the checklist, and you’ve seen the extras and add-ons that’ll make your life easier. Now, it’s time to book professional movers who know what they’re doing.
At Moving APT, we’ve been helping customers move for over 20 years. We know what it takes to get your furniture to point B in one piece, and we’re ready to get you on the road. Check out our moving cost calculator today for a free quote.
Furniture Moving FAQs
How much does it cost to move?
Moving can cost between $400 and $12,000, but don’t freak out – that $12,000 is mainly reserved for super big moves from coast to coast, with like… 5 bedrooms worth of stuff.
Your final amount comes down to the physical dimensions of your belongings, and the miles you have to travel. Packing and hauling a one bedroom apartment to the next state over is going to cost a lot less than packing and hauling a 5-bedroom McMansion from Maine to California.
How long does moving take?
Moving can take anywhere between 1 and 21 days. That “21 days” figure is kind of a CYA cop-out, but in some cases, it really can take that long. The big factors behind move duration are the amount of stuff you’re hauling, and the distance you’re traveling – but they probably don’t affect your move time as you’d expect.
As it turns out, it usually takes longer to move less stuff. This is because of bundling. Movers don’t want to send half-empty trailers all over the place, so they’ll stack multiple moves in the back of the truck (while keeping everything separate and secure, of course) and take care of multiple dropoffs and deliveries on the same route. Not the most time-sensitive approach, but it’s way more fuel efficient than just hauling dead air.
What is the cheapest way to move to a different state?
Cheapest way? Doing it yourself. Is it the easiest way? Not by a long shot. Plus, you’ve got to stay super disciplined if you don’t want your savings to melt.
When you DIY a move, you have to shop smart at literally every step. Truck rental? That’s gonna take a bit of time to shop around, compare quotes, and eventually book. Packing supplies? Unless you’ve got a ton of bubble wrap already, you may need to do some shopping also. And of course, there’s the food, gas, and lodging along the way. Sometimes it’s just easier (and more efficient) to hire the pros.
Where can I find free moving boxes?
If you’re extra strapped for cash, you can find free moving boxes in a few places. But before you go dumpster-diving, always remember to avoid boxes that appear water-damaged, or with overly-creased edges and corners. You want the box to hold up to heavy transport!
- Liquor stores: Yes, seriously. How do you think liquor stores get all those bottles of booze? You guessed it: Sturdy, cardboard boxes. And they might be willing to part with a few spares if you ask them nicely.
- Bookstores: Just like liquor stores, bookstores get a lot of heavy, high-volume inventory. If it’s sturdy enough to carry a dozen hardcovers, it’ll be sturdy enough to carry your paperback of Eat Pray Love.
- Office parks: Downside: You’ll look kinda weird asking around a random office park unless you work there already. But on the plus side, those office boxes are super nice. Usually double-walled, with a separate lid.
When should I book my movers?
We recommend booking your movers between 2 and 3 months in advance. It may seem excessive, but look at it this way: That’s only like 8, 12 weekends for all your packing, planning, and prep.
When you’re booking a move, the earlier the better. Not only will there be less competition for the exact time slot you want, but you may be able to score a sweet discount for your flexibility. And of course, all that extra time to work with means less stress during the lead-up to the big day.
Will a Moving Company Move One Piece of Furniture?
Yes, many moving companies will move just one piece of furniture.
Whether it’s a heavy couch or a delicate piano, you can hire small-scale movers who specialize in single-item moves. Just keep in mind that minimum charges may apply depending on the company and distance.
How to Wrap Furniture for Moving?
To wrap furniture for moving, disassemble what you can, cover it with moving blankets or pads, then secure it with plastic wrap and tape. Protect corners, keep small parts in labeled bags, and avoid placing plastic directly on wood. Load heavier items first for safety.
