10 thoughts on “a tiny moving rant.”

1. I hired movers for my last move and afterward wondered why I never had in the past.

   Unless you’re 21 and moving out of a dorm room, I think having professional movers (whether they pack for you or you pack for yourself) is the adult thing to do. The way I look at it – once you’ve hit the 30 mark – do you want to be responsible for a friend putting his or her back out trying to move your sofa?

   And how much is your time worth? Getting moved in a day is a big job, even moving over several days is ridiculously time consuming. The professional movers I hired were quick, efficient, and managed to move a very large sofa down a narrow hallway and into a narrow doorway – something I know for a fact my friends and I could not have accomplished on our own – not without at least ripping the sofa and bashing up the walls.

   My last move I had the movers do the furnishings and bigger items but I moved the smaller boxes and things myself. Next move I’m having the movers do the entire job and would highly recommend it.

   Hope your move goes well!

2. Movers are paid to handle your physical baggage. Friends are volunteers to handle your emotional baggage (and sometimes throw it into the lake, when neccessary). That said, I would have happily helped wrap your delicates and take the day off to drink champagne and eat pizza while watching men in t-shirts lift heavy things. Way better than going to the movies.

3. You, Ms. Karen, have offered repeatedly to help, and this we love (you made me puddle-eyed the first time.)

   That said, you can come do the rest of that stuff without having to move or handle any objects, anytime. :) I’ll hire men in t-shirts to like, mow the lawn or something.

4. Merlene — totally. We’re packing everything ourselves, and just getting them to move the big stuff (major furniture). We’re taking small stuff back and forth in a Zipcar the night before (delicate items, clothing, kitchen things, etc.) Gradon will be here with the movers for a couple hours getting everything out (while I’m working). Then I’ll come back when everything is gone, and clean the place (while he’s doing other stuff).

   We’re kind of a “movers / DIY” mashup, I think.

5. Darn tootin’. It really isn’t worth the time and hassle to do it yourself. Or to ask friends to do it. And the same goes for hiring pros to do the final clean after you’re out of your old place. Just make sure they’re reliable…

6. Moving without movers is false economy. The wasted time, energy, and stress cost far more than what you pay the movers. And it’s true that they somehow can accomplish in 3 hours what it would take mere mortals 18 hours to do.

7. Hey, coming over here from your wonderful comment on ejroundtheworld’s post about the Airbnb burglary. It was nice to see a kind voice in the midst of all the blaming and shaming comments.

   Anyway, I just moved two months ago, and if I could have afforded it, I would have hired movers, no question. Moving sucks, and I have a chronic pain condition and little physical strength, so I have to rely mostly on friends to help me move the big things, which makes me feel guilty and useless. If I were paying someone, I wouldn’t have to deal with that. I would also hire a cleaning person if I could. You said it best–it’s about priorities. We all make those choices.

8. I’m with Merlene – no one older than 30 should ever ask friends to help them move!

9. Finally saw you on Twitter! Just a quick few comments. Congratulations on the up-and-coming marriage! Yes, hire the moving van. It’s just too much sanity to miss out on. I’m doing the same next move, because my husband’s idea of packing and moving is like an episode from The Beverly Hillbillies. How many loads piled on pickups? Never again.

10. For some reason my feeder link to you is not working so a bit late on this post. Hiring movers is so worth every single penny! Saves so much time and STRESS!