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![Moving is a big decision but have you considered options like full service moving or using self storage.](/blog/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fprod-cms-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffull_service_moving_vs_self_storage_62d37f375f.png&w=2048&q=75)
Full Service Moving vs Self Storage
Making the decision of how to move isn’t always that simple. Perhaps you have found your dream home and are ready to pack up and make that journey. Yet, no matter if you are going across town or across the country, everything must fall in line with timing. You need to be able to get everything where it needs to go in no time, but there are often limitations. You may be considering options like full service moving or using self storage. Here are some factors to keep in mind.
Full Service Moving – How It Works
Hiring a full service moving company often means that you will work hand-in-hand with a company that will come to your home to handle virtually every aspect of the process. You can use them for any services you need or let them do the entire project for you.
Though there are differences in the services available and how they work, many full service moving companies can help you with packing up your belongings and actually putting them into trucks or moving vehicles to get them where they need to be. They handle protecting your important belongings, whether that’s ensuring the China cabinet isn’t damaged or making sure the precious collection of art is protected. When they arrive at the new location, the moving company can then unpack items. You just need to tell them where to go and what to do. This helps ensure that all of the physical work is done for you.
The costs associated with a full service move like this are dependent on many things, including the amount of material that needs to move, the distance, and the type of items you’re moving (that heavy piano is going to cost more). Overall, Forbes reports that the average cost of movers is about $1,400. This typically ranges from $800 to $2,500, though costs are very much localized. The longer the distance, the higher the cost is as well.
The amount of time it takes for a full-service move depends on the size of your home, the amount of work to be done, and the location. It could take a few hours for a small apartment or several days for a cross-country trip.
When choosing a company for this type of service, be sure to focus on the insurance protections they offer along with the overall experience they have. Many companies will have you sign a contract that limits their liability in the case of breakage, but you want to be sure you’re protected from those types of risks.
The biggest limitation to keep in mind is booking your movers in advance. Depending on your area, you may need to book at least a few weeks or even a month or more out to ensure you have the help you need.
Consider Self Storage and Its Role
One of the concerns with moving is that it takes planning. You need to make sure the new location is ready in time and still meets the requirements of leaving your current home on time before the lease expires or the new owners want to move in. There are a lot of moving parts to this process, and often, not everything aligns.
That’s where self-storage facilities can offer some help. These locations can offer lots of protection for your belongings – including protection from the elements and theft. They can be located close to your new home so that the distance traveled to move items back into your home is not significant.
One of the best things about self storage solutions like this is that you can add to them over time. If the new house isn’t going to be ready to move into for another week, you have a place to move all of your belongings to over the next few days. You’ll know your items are protected during that process.
Also, note that some self storage companies can work very closely with your moving company. For example, the location may be able to work with your movers during office hours. That would allow the movers to pack up your home and load it into the self storage facility on pallets or bring items individually to the location. The items are stored in your storage unit until you are ready to make the move.
The benefit of using self storage is that it helps to minimize the overall cost of problems when it comes to moving. If the house is delayed, you don’t have to worry about having movers that are available and able to switch their scheduled appointment. Rather, they can make the move on time and just use the storage facility as a stop in between until you’re ready for the full move.
If you are unsure what step to take for your move, reach out to a storage facility to learn more about the costs and features. What you may find is that this is a great way to manage all of your belongings, so you’re not tripping over movers as you try to paint or clean the new home.
You Don’t Have to Choose
Remember, you do not have to choose between using self storage facilities or professional movers. They can work together to help you to get the protection you need for all of your belongings. It may be fast and convenient for you to handle this entire process, too.
We're Your Storage Solution!
Storage Rentals of America is your convenient self-storage solution. So come into our office or give our storage experts a call at 1-800-457-5678. Our call center is available 7 days a week and can help determine which storage unit size best fits your storage needs.