Around 40 million Americans move every year, either locally or from state to state. Once you go through the process of finding a house with all the right features, it’s an exciting time.

Of course, that excitement is often tempered by realities of transporting everything to your new home. As a general rule, you can either take on the task of moving by yourself or hire movers.

Keep reading and we’ll give some pointers on making the best decision.

Moving Yourself: Pros

Moving yourself offers several potential upsides. For one thing, you control the process. You decide what gets packed with what and how it gets packed. You also control the schedule, within reason.

Moving yourself can also prove a cheaper option if you’re moving for a job and you’re on a budget. While some companies offer financial help with moving, not all do. That can make saving some money a big deal on arrival.

Moving Yourself: Cons

Ironically, one of the downsides of moving yourself is that you control the entire process. You must book the truck and arrange for storage if you won’t move in immediately. The sheer volume of tasks involved can overwhelm a person if you must keep working while you prep for the move.

You also get saddled with actually putting everything on the truck, which is physically demanding.

Hiring Movers: Pros

Hiring a residential mover offers different benefits. You avoid the physical demands of loading the truck. Some companies will even help you pack and provide storage at the other end if you need it.

Moving companies must also provide insurance for your belongings. Companies that perform interstate moves must register with the government and remain in good standing.

Hiring Movers: Cons

As with other businesses, movers have slow and busy seasons. That means you must often schedule a move well in advance to secure a mover’s services. At the very least, you’re at the mercy of their existing schedules, which may or may not accommodate your leave date.

It’s also pricier than moving by yourself.

Making the Right Choice

The right decision hinges a lot on your specific circumstances.

If you must move quickly for a new job or your professional movers will tax your finances to the limit, moving by yourself might prove the best option. If you own a number of delicate or valuable items that need special care, you might also choose a DIY move.

If you’re in the position of having more free money than time, hiring professional movers makes sense. A move that you plan well in advance often benefits from hiring pros, since you can work around their schedule with greater ease.

Parting Thoughts on Moving by Yourself vs. Hiring Movers

The choice between moving by yourself or hiring movers will largely be a matter of timing, available money, and how much control you need. Regardless of which route you plan to go, check out our list of things to do when you move into a new house.