Updated: 10/14/2024
Moving is a significant life event, often accompanied by stress, decisions, and numerous costs. One of the most crucial decisions is choosing the right moving service for you.
There are full-service movers, DIY moving options, and an option that blends the two: labor-only moving services. How do labor-only movers compare to other moving services?
Table of Contents
What Are Labor-Only Moving Services?
Labor-only moving services provide a team of professional movers who handle the heavy lifting but leave the other parts of the moving process to you. This means they’ll pack up your truck, carry items up and down stairs, and load or unload your belongings. In some cases, they can even pack your belongings for you and do some basic assembly and disassembly. However, you are responsible for providing the truck and any other moving supplies.
In contrast to full-service movers who do everything from packing, unpacking, loading, and driving, labor-only movers focus solely on loading and unloading tasks. They’re a cost-effective option for those who don’t need the entire moving package but still want help with the physically demanding parts of the move.
Pros of Labor-Only Moving Services
Labor-only moving services come with several benefits that make them an attractive option, especially for those who want to cut costs and keep some control over their move.
Affordability
The major draw to labor-only moving services is the affordability of the service. The overall cost is significantly lower than full-service moving options since you’re only paying for the physical labor and not the truck rental or packing materials.
Labor-only moving services are ideal for individuals who don’t want to lift heavy furniture but don’t mind renting and driving a truck themselves.
More Control
Hiring labor-only movers also gives you more control over the moving process. You can plan your own timeline, choose the best truck rental service, and decide how you want to pack your belongings. Furthermore, labor-only movers give you the flexibility to organize things at your own pace, unlike full-service movers, where you rely on their schedules.
Having more control over your move can also help you avoid moving scams. Unfortunately, it’s common to find a fake full-service moving company that will drive away with your belongings or hold them for ransom. Labor-only moving services help mitigate the fear of something like that happening on your moving day since you’re the one transporting your belongings.
Ease of Mind
Moving can be immensely stressful and even dangerous. Hiring a labor-only moving company can prevent injuries and potential damage to your items, giving you peace of mind that your possessions are in good hands.
Attempting to move heavy items or boxes alone is stressful and time-consuming. While hiring movers can be expensive, injuring yourself during a move could be even more costly in the long run. Hiring a moving company is worth it, especially when large or heavy furniture is involved.
Cons of Labor-Only Moving Services
Despite their advantages, labor-only movers also come with some downsides worth considering:
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Expense
While labor-only services are more affordable than full-service movers by about 30-50%, they are still pricier than a complete DIY move. If you’re on a tight budget, doing everything yourself will always be the cheapest option. However, DIY moves require a lot of time, planning, and effort.
Won’t Provide Essential Materials
Labor-only movers will not bring essential moving supplies, such as boxes, dollies, and trucks. So, you will have to find and rent these items yourself. However, this does allow you to get a better deal and even find some of these items for free.
Moving Boxes
Moving boxes are essential for any move. They keep your belongings organized and protected. However, labor-only moving companies do not provide moving boxes, so you will have to find these yourself.
When using moving boxes, make sure you also have packing tape and protective materials (such as bubble wrap and packing paper). This will ensure that all your valuables are protected and organized.
Dollies
Moving dollies are great tools to get your moving boxes out to your moving truck. There are many different kinds of dollies that can help you with a variety of tasks.
If you have large belongings (such as furniture or large moving boxes), having a moving dolly is essential and will make the moving process much faster.
Moving Truck
While paying an additional amount to rent a moving truck after paying for a moving service may seem counterintuitive, hiring labor-only moving services and renting a truck is often still far cheaper than hiring full-service movers.
Brands such as U-Haul, Penske, and Budget all offer competitive rates. Additionally, they have a variety of truck sizes to choose from.
Conclusion
When it comes to moving services, there are so many different choices. While full-service moving companies and DIY moving are good options, labor-only movers provide flexibility while not breaking the bank. Labor-only movers are excellent for individuals who want help with the heavy lifting but prefer to manage the other aspects of their move themselves.
Labor-only moving services balance affordability, more control, and ease of mind. It is a much cheaper option than full-service movers, and you have more of a say in how your belongings are organized and how they get transported.
Furthermore, labor-only moving services are safer than DIY movers for homeowners. By hiring professionals, you can keep yourself and your family from getting injured while moving heavy and large items.
While there are so many advantages, labor-only moving services also have some disadvantages. First, hiring a moving service can be expensive, and a DIY move is much cheaper. Furthermore, if you do choose to hire a labor-only moving company, you will have to take care of acquiring all the moving essentials.
Moving boxes are very important, and having a variety of sizes and types will ensure that you are keeping all your valuables safe and secure. Moving dollies are a great way to speed up the moving process. They are a safe way to move heavy objects. You will also have to find a moving truck. Using a friend’s pick-up truck is a great way to save some money, but there are also fair rates when using a U-Haul, Penske, or Budget moving truck.
Hiring a labor-only moving company is a great way to get the help you need while still having control over your moving process. It is a fantastic option and should be considered when planning your next move!
FAQs
Many moving companies do provide supplies such as boxes, packing materials, and other moving equipment for an additional cost. This can be convenient for individuals who prefer to have everything provided by the moving company. This saves them the hassle of sourcing these items themselves. However, not all moving companies offer supplies as part of their standard services. Labor-only moving companies only focus on providing labor. This leaves the responsibility of finding moving supplies to the customer.
Labor-only movers specialize in providing the manpower for loading, unloading, and other physical aspects of the move. Labor-only movers are responsible for efficiently and safely loading items onto the moving vehicle and unloading them at the destination. They know how to handle heavy and bulky items such as furniture, appliances, gym equipment, and other large belongings. If needed, labor-only movers can assist with moving items within the property, such as from one room to another. When unloading, labor-only movers can help with placing furniture and other items in the right rooms.
In general, reputable labor-only moving services will have some form of insurance coverage to protect both their workers and the items being moved. However, the extent of this coverage can vary from one moving company to another. Many labor-only moving companies carry general liability insurance and provide workers’ compensation for their employees. So, in the event of an accident, the moving company’s insurance should provide coverage. When you hire a moving company, ask about their insurance coverage and request proof of an insurance policy before hiring their services. This can help you understand the extent of the protection offered and provide peace of mind knowing that you are covered in the event of an unforeseen incident.
Labor-only movers specialize in providing manpower for tasks. Loading and unloading, heavy lifting, furniture assembly/disassembly, and other physical aspects of the move are common tasks for the moving company. This flexibility allows individuals to hire labor-only movers for just certain parts of the move. Then, they handle the other aspects of the move themselves.
I am originally from a small town in Western Maryland. Currently, I am a senior at the University of North Carolina Wilmington studying Communication and Pre-Law, and will be attending law school in Cincinnati in the fall. In my free time I love to try out new coffee shops, go to the beach with my friends, and spend quality time with my family.
Caroline is an undergraduate at the University of Iowa studying Business Management and English Publishing. When she's not studying, she spends time reading, hanging out with friends, working out, traveling, and calling her family. After college, Caroline will enter the publishing industry, where she will help authors and their stories find their perfect audience.
