Moving Guides: Hire Moving Truck Or Hire Professional Movers?

Are you debating over whether to hire a moving truck to move yourself rather than hiring professional removalists? Increasingly often, people are looking to save money when moving by hiring a truck and moving themselves.

At a glance, it seems obvious that hiring a moving truck and doing the work yourself will make big savings on your next move – but is that really the case? Hiring a moving truck to move yourself is hard work and you will want to be sure it's a worthwhile exercise. This article explores the pro's and con's of hiring a moving truck to move yourself versus hiring professionals to do the job for you.

Firstly, there's the cost to hire the moving truck. It's generally pretty inexpensive - but what about excess reduction for insurance? Or, heaven forbid, the cost of paying a small fortune should even minor damage occur to the moving truck whilst in your possession? If you do decide to hire a moving truck to move yourself, then ensure that you read the fine print of the rental agreement to make sure that you know what the real costs are.

The cost to hire a moving truck is generally not going to be the only cost you need to factor into your calculations. Have you considered the cost of fuel? Moving trucks are expensive to run and petrol is increasingly expensive and should be factored into the cost of hiring a moving truck. Be careful also that you've completely filled the moving truck before returning it to the hire company. Usually you will find in the fine print that if the truck's tank is not full on return you will be required to pay for the refill at a rate significantly higher than you would if you filled it yourself.

Moving trucks that you hire don't necessarily come with all the equipment you'll need to get the job done safely and without damage. You will need appropriate ties to secure your load. You need purpose specific ties that don't slip, have minimal stretch and are wide and flat to provide good traction without cutting into your furniture. You'll also need padding for your furniture. Furniture removal blankets are best for this but it's likely they won't come with the moving truck you hire. Depending on what you are moving, you may require trolleys to move certain goods. It's unlikely that these come free with the truck you hire. The costs of moving equipment can quickly add up, but skimping on them can cost you more in damaged goods in the long run.

Generally speaking, professional removalists will have the job done much faster than the average person could. While the hourly rate they'll charge for a local move may seem high when compared to that of hiring a moving truck, they can usually get the job done fast. With this considered, hiring a moving truck on an hourly basis or for a full day can quickly reduce the cost difference.

If you hire a moving truck to move yourself you will be assured by the fact that you know your goods are being handled with the care and respect they deserve - but how experienced are you and your helpers with moving furniture? It may appear that little skill is involved. This couldn't be further from the truth. Not only is moving a physically demanding task, but loading furniture on and off the truck to maximise space and reduce the likelihood of damage requires experience and skill. Generally, if you hire a moving truck to move yourself there is a higher chance that damage will occur to your goods during the loading and unloading process or in transit. A single breakage could wipe out any savings that you've made by hiring a moving truck to move yourself.

Hiring a moving truck may seem like the cheaper alternative to hiring professionals on your next move but you should aware yourself of all the potential costs and what your real savings will be before making your decision. Hiring a moving truck to move yourself is hard work – be sure that it's really worth the savings.



Disclaimer: The information, facts and opinions supplied by Web Moves.com.au Pty Ltd have been prepared to provide general information and Web Moves.com.au Pty Ltd disclaims any responsibility for any known or unknown consequences that may result from reliance on any information provided on this site. The information supplied by Web Moves.com.au Pty Ltd is no substitute for legal, medical, or other professional advice. Under no circumstances shall Web Moves.com.au Pty Ltd be liable for any incidental, special or consequential damages, including damages for loss of business or other profits and the like, arising out of the use or inability to use the information.