Are Furniture Movers Worth It?

Moving into a new place can be exciting, but there’s a reason some part of you will always cringe at the prospect. We know — carrying a couch down a flight of stairs is no fun for anyone. Enter furniture movers. In theory, paying someone else to do the (literal) heavy lifting is a great idea. But before you hire professionals, it’s wise to sit down and determine if you need them.
Deciding if furniture movers are worth it really comes down to the benefits versus the cost. Here are some questions to ask yourself as you make your decision.

1. Does the Cost of Moving/Shipping the Furniture Exceed Its Worth?

Conduct an honest evaluation of the monetary worth of your furniture. What are similar items going for on Craigslist? On the surface, moving old furniture sounds like it must be cheaper than buying brand new, but it could save you money to ditch your old stuff and start over.
Let’s say you’re moving 30 miles away, and you can handle most of your own move by making several trips in your two family vehicles. You’re tossing your old couch, so the only things you really need help with are your queen-sized mattress and IKEA bed frame. If your movers bill for a minimum of 4 hours at $125 an hour, you’re looking at $500 plus tip. It could be cheaper to sell these items for $300 and start new.

2. Could You Move the Furniture Yourself?

If movers seem too expensive and you don’t want to ditch your stuff you should consider renting a moving truck. Trucks usually have a daily base fee and require that you fill them up with gas prior to returning them. If your two homes are within a short driving distance, you may be able to move all of your stuff over several trips for a few hundred dollars at most.
But, you need to take your own health into account as well. If the furniture in question is solid oak and must go down two flights of stairs, you may throw your back out and shouldn’t try to tackle the job. In that case, hiring professionals who are trained to move the furniture safely and with care is probably your best bet.

3. Does the Furniture Have Sentimental Value?

Do you have your grandmother’s hutch in your kitchen? Is it near and dear to you? In that case, it’s OK to throw your practical considerations out the window and pay for furniture movers. You don’t want to look back in 10 years and wish you still had a piece of sentimental furniture that you donated just to save a few bucks.
Also, if that furniture requires special care when moving, you might want to call in the professionals. Movers will have the experience and equipment to take care of those valuables and make sure they get into their designated places without damage.
But if you can’t afford furniture movers now for a long-distance move, consider storing the item for a few months and then shipping it later. Many storage facilities will help you set up just such a situation.

The Bottom Line

If you’re set on preserving sentimental pieces, moving expensive furniture, or unable to move the stuff yourself, movers are definitely worth it. But if you can handle parting with the heaviest items and wrangle up a few helpful friends with trucks, then you could consider it a good workout and move it yourself!