Moving comes with a lot to juggle. Between packing, work, family, and getting the new home ready, you may want help with the heavy furniture while handling the smaller things at your own pace.
At Harrington Moving, that’s a common request, and we’re happy to build a move around it.
Hiring movers for just the big stuff can save time and money. You don’t have to have every detail figured out before reaching out. We can talk through your plans and help you decide how much support makes sense.
What counts as “just the big stuff”?
Most furniture-only moves focus on bedroom sets, living room furniture, and dining room furniture.
The rest depends on your vehicle, the distance you’re moving, and how much you want to handle. If you have a pickup truck, you might move lightweight patio furniture and kitchen chairs yourself. If you have a regular car, those items may need to go with the movers.
During the estimate, we’ll go through the items together so you have a clear idea of what we’ll handle and what you plan to move yourself.
How much time can moving the small stuff yourself save?
Based on our experience, moving the boxes and smaller items yourself can reduce moving time by roughly 25%. That’s a planning estimate, and the actual difference depends on your inventory and the layout of both homes.
The heavy furniture may look like the hardest part, but small items add plenty of trips. Two movers might carry a couch in one trip, while those same two movers could spend a similar amount of time carrying four boxes. Repeat that across a house full of boxes, lamps, and odds and ends, and the time adds up.
Give yourself some flexibility as moving day gets closer
It’s completely understandable if your plans change. You might expect to spend a few evenings moving boxes, then find that closing details, work, or family need that time instead. That doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong. Moving is a busy time, and it’s hard to know exactly how much you’ll be able to fit in.
If more items need to go with the crew, let us know so we can discuss the additional work and how it affects your estimate. For example, a four-hour furniture-only estimate could become a six-hour move if it expands to include boxes and other belongings.
One way to give yourself more breathing room is to ask for an estimate for the whole move, even if you intend to handle part of it yourself. That gives you a starting budget that includes the smaller items. As you move things on your own, the work left for our crew decreases, which can bring your final bill below the estimate.
The goal is to help you plan with less pressure and fewer surprises. We can talk through both options and adjust together as your plans take shape.
A few ways to get ready
A little preparation can help the crew get started quickly, but you don’t have to do everything yourself. During the estimate, we can talk through what you’d like to handle and where you’d prefer our help.
- Empty furniture of non-clothing items. Remove jewelry, electronics, and anything that can shift around inside.
- Take furniture apart beforehand if you’d like to save crew time. We’re prepared to disassemble beds and other furniture if you prefer us to handle it.
- Keep boxes and smaller belongings out of the crew’s working paths.
- If some boxes are coming with us, grouping them in a designated area makes them easy to identify.
An Aurora move that finished $1,000 below the estimate
We recently completed a furniture-only move in Aurora where the customers had already handled their smaller belongings and had the furniture ready for the crew.
With clear paths and an easy-to-follow moving list, we were able to work efficiently and finish the job for $1,000 less than the estimate.
That result is specific to that move, but it shows how much preparation and a clear inventory can help.
Choose the amount of help that works for you
Some customers want to handle parts of the move themselves. Others would rather have the crew take care of everything so they can focus on getting settled. Both are perfectly reasonable, and we’re happy to help either way.
If you’re undecided, we can start with an estimate for the whole job and talk through where you might save by handling some items yourself. Whether you need help with a few large pieces or your entire home, we’ll work with you to put together a plan that fits.
For an initial planning range, try our Moving Cost Calculator and select “Just the big stuff.” For an estimate based on your actual furniture, access, and moving plans, request a quote from Harrington Moving.