By / OVM TEAM

Hire a Professional Mover or Call Friends?

When it comes time to start thinking about an upcoming move, depending on the size and complexity of the move, it’s not uncommon for many of us to ask ourselves whether we should call a professional mover, or borrow from the proverbial “favor bank” and ask some friends and family for a lend of their pick-up truck and extra sets of hands.

Usually the reasoning behind even considering this option is an attempt to reduce costs, and for some people, especially those who’ve never really done a full-blown move (with a house full of furniture, appliances, valuables and breakables) – they simply underestimate the amount of time, effort, and level of stress that a move can amount to.

We don’t have the exact stats, but making a good guesstimate, we’d say that the average Canadian moves about eight to ten times in their lives. That includes students changing apartments during college or university, moving in, and then out, with the “love of your life”, moving across the country for that great job, realizing it wasn’t what you had hoped, and then eventually moving back home. It all adds up. And before you know it, you’re an expert mover! You’ve learned some valuable moving tips and tricks, and usually, you quickly learn the best answer to the question – “should I hire a professional mover or call my friends with the van to help?”

Questions to Ask to Help Determine the Best Moving Option

Each option for your upcoming move surely has its list of advantages and disadvantages, but before deciding, we encourage you to dig a little deeper and ask yourself these essential moving questions:

• What’s the distance of the move? Are you moving across Ottawa or out of town to the next city – Montreal, Toronto, Kingston?
• Are there a lot of stairs and narrow hallways and entrances to navigate in both your old place, and your new home?
• Do you have access to moving blankets, dollies, pads, straps?
• What kind of a moving budget are you working with?
• Can you really count on your friends on moving day?
• Will your helpers be careful with your household items so as not to cause breakage or damage?
• Are you willing to step up and return the favor when it comes time for them to move?
• Will you be okay, and are you factoring in the cost, if things get broken?
• How much time do you have for the relocation process?
• Are you familiar with Ottawa moving companies?
• Have you ever hired a professional mover/had a past experience with a moving company? Remember: As with anything else, there are good moving companies, and bad movers – do your research!

Consider the Real Cost of Moving

At the end of the day, whichever route you decide – to hire a professional mover, or call on the help of family and friends –  what’s most important is that relationships are intact, and not compromised for the sake of “saving” a few (well-spent) dollars. And of course, we understand that this depends largely on the answers to those important questions.

We have been successfully moving students, young professionals, seniors, and companies from A to B, since the 90s! Reach out if you’d like to receive a quote for your upcoming move.