Will they still be your friend if they drop your favorite lamp
Asking friends to help you move cuts costs compared to professional movers, but your move will take longer and carries higher risk of injuries or damaged belongings.
Professional moving services cost $240 to $10,000 depending on your move's size and distance, so enlisting free help from friends reduces your overall moving expenses.
When you ask friends for moving help, provide clear instructions, offer incentives like free pizza, and give them several weeks' notice to plan around your moving day.
Hiring a local moving company provides trained professionals who handle heavy furniture safely, protect your belongings with proper equipment, and complete your move efficiently without risking friendships.
Everyone gets by with a little help from their friends, but does that sentiment apply to moving? Moving from one home to another requires significant planning, time, and effort, and it might seem easier to ask your loved ones to carry boxes instead of hiring a professional moving company near you.
But asking your friends for this kind of favor requires some etiquette and courtesies. Consider these best practices when deciding whether to ask your friends or family to help you move.
Moving companies cannot legally sell “moving insurance.” Even though most people refer to it as moving insurance when they purchase it, its technical name is “moving coverage.” Only third-party insurance companies (like the national brands you see on TV) can sell moving insurance.
Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of enlisting your loved ones for help moving your boxes and belongings.
Let’s face it: Moving is an expensive experience. The cost of hiring movers runs between $240 to $10,000, depending on the size and distance of your move. If you need to cut down on your costs, getting free help from friends and family is a tremendous benefit. Even if you still need a small moving team to help with large or bulky furniture pieces, you can reduce the number of paid movers with assistance from friends.
Unlike professional movers, your loved ones are more likely to help you pack or move your belongings after working hours. While you should always be mindful of their time, you can request after-hours help without having to pay a premium for late-night moving services.
Who’s watching your kids or pets when you’re packing boxes or making trips out to the moving truck? That’s when having a friend around on moving day comes in handy. If you need an extra set of eyes to monitor your child or furry friend during the process, you can count on a loved one to be there for you.
Now that we understand the benefits of asking your friends for help moving, let’s review some of the drawbacks that might make you reconsider.
When you hire pros, both parties agree to a start time and the total number of hours spent on the task. But when your moving team is your friends and family, it’s much more difficult to enforce a specific schedule, especially since they’re doing you a favor.
When you account for late starters, long breaks, and sudden exits from your informal moving team, you can expect your move to take much longer than it would if you hire professionals.
Picture your most valuable possession: Would you trust one of your friends to carry that item out of your house without damaging it?
While professional movers have the necessary experience and equipment to transport breakable objects or furniture pieces, your friends probably don’t. That means there’s a higher chance for someone to break or damage your belongings during the moving process accidentally, which can cause tensions to rise.
Note: Many moving companies require insurance to cover any losses or damages during the move, another benefit to hiring pros.
A nightmare scenario is one of your loved ones injuring themselves while they help you move a bulky couch or a heavy bookcase. Moving day injuries are real, but you can avoid them by hiring professional movers who know the correct way to lift and move furniture without harming themselves.
If you’ve decided to reach out to your friends and family for help moving into your new home, consider following these guidelines for the best results.
Whether you need your friends to help you for one hour or two days, be respectful of their time and make the request several weeks in advance. That way, they block off their calendar and plan ahead for your moving day. This step also decreases the chance that your moving team will forget their commitment or double-book their schedule.
Asking a friend to pack or carry moving boxes for you is a big favor, and while they may want to help, they may decline for a variety of reasons. If someone says no to your request, thank them anyway and move on with the rest of your moving plan. Try not to take it personally, and don’t attempt to persuade them to change their minds.
Nothing motivates a friend-filled moving team like the promise of free pizza. To thank your loved ones for volunteering their time to help you move, let them know what type of incentive you’ll provide afterward. While free food or drinks usually works, you can also offer to trade favors, such as babysitting or helping with their future move.
When your friends and family arrive to help you move, it’s your responsibility to give them clear and direct instructions on what to do. Come prepared with ideas of who can perform what task to avoid scrambling on moving day. To avoid any confusion, talk with your moving team ahead of time to review start and end times and expectations about how the day should run.
Unless your friends have professional moving experience, moving a large bookcase or heavy safe isn’t ideal for their health or safety. Some moving tasks are better left to the pros, so plan to hire a local mover to assist your team with more complicated tasks. Instead, ask your friends to perform low-stress tasks, such as carrying light boxes or organizing the moving truck.
I recently moved to another state and chose United Trust Van Lines after comparing several companies. Their team was punctual, professional, and extremely careful with my belongings. I was especially impressed with how they handled my home office setup and fragile items. Everything arrived on...
United Trust Van Lines, LLCShowed up on time and cleaned carpets well, but didn?t move furniture.
Voda Cleaning & Restoration of ColumbusA reliable team for moves across state. My switch to a new place needed careful lifting through tight hallways. The movers checked the doorway first, then carried heavier pieces with slow, controlled movements. Their patience helped prevent damage, and I?d choose them again.
**Would rate a 0 if i could** NEVER USE THIS COMPANY!!!!! They shattered my tv console and dresser, lost a mirror, and never finished the move. The broken furniture cost me over $600 to replace. They left me with 6+ hours of personal labor moving my 1BR apartment, when I was quoted a FULL...
All My Sons Moving & StorageI could not have moved without the help of Jen Stover! I was in my house for nearly 20 years, so the thought of clearing it out while working full time was overwhelming. Jen takes great joy in sorting and organizing while asking the hard questions with patience and compassion. Jen is...
Go and Stow Home OrganizingCouldn't have been a worse experience. 3 of my belongings were lost and 5 belongings were damaged. My furniture was clearly dragged across the ground. The movers couldn't move the furniture I paid extra heavy weight fees for so I had to help them move my own furniture. The manager gave me...
US Interstate and RailExcellent experience for me! They helped me a lot with my move. very reasonable price. Good communication with the office manager is excellent.
Goodview Moving and StorageI was concerned about my possessions safety throughout the move but Bridge View Van Lines took all necessary security measures to make sure everything arrived in mint shape I am really appreciative of their effort and commitment They made my long distance move seem simple
Bridgeview Van LinesThis moving company is the best in Columbus, Ohio! They rescued me when my movers didnâ t show up. Do not ever use Plane Movers! They never showed up for my move, claiming that I never signed the contract. They didnâ t call me to follow up, communication was awful. The people that work for...
All My Sons Moving & StorageOzie and Tyquese were great and worked fast. It was a good move
All My Sons Moving & StorageFrom average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
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